Tiny houses have been around for a while, but with an increasing awareness of the environmental impact of living in large houses and apartments, tiny homes are becoming more popular than ever.
Tiny house living is about embracing minimalism and reducing your carbon footprint, but it’s also about having fun with your space and making it feel like home.
Whether you’re planning your first tiny house or moving into one that has already been built, here are 11 tips to make sure your layout is as efficient as possible:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Living in a tiny house can simplify your life and save you money. |
| Downsizing to a tiny house can have many benefits, including lower living expenses and a smaller environmental footprint. |
| Building a tiny house on a budget is possible with the right resources and planning. |
| The tiny house movement offers a sustainable and affordable solution to the housing crisis. |
| Hosting events in a tiny house can be challenging but with the right tips and tricks, it can be done successfully. |
| Further reading resources like books, checklists, and guides can be valuable in navigating the tiny house lifestyle. |
1. Plan Your Tiny House Layout
Designing a floor plan is probably the most important step you will take while planning your tiny house. If you have never drawn a floor plan, don’t worry! It’s actually pretty simple once you get into it.
Once you’ve decided on a layout for your home, make sure to consider what kind of space will work best for your needs and lifestyle. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What kind of activities do I want to do in my tiny house?
- How much storage do I need?
- Is there any way that I can maximize this space by adding built-in furniture or cabinets?
Downsizing can be a great way to simplify your life and save money. If you’re interested in the benefits of living in a tiny house, check out our article on The Benefits of Downsizing to learn more.
2. Remember To Frame A Door And Windows Into Your Floor Plan
Framing is not just a way of improving the look of your house. It’s also important to help keep it safe and sound over time, as well as making sure that you have enough headroom for any rooms with windows or doors.
Framing can be done by yourself, but if you don’t have experience in construction work then having someone experienced around to help out makes life a lot easier.
They could even give you some ideas on how they would approach framing the house depending on their own experiences with building tiny homes before!
3. Remember The Kitchen Island In Your Tiny House Layout
If you’re planning on having a kitchen island in your tiny house, it can be used for any or all of the following:
Storage. The kitchen island is really handy for storing items that are often needed but don’t need to be kept out in the open. For example, if you have a large family who eats together every night, it might be helpful to have the microwave and blender stored on an island in order to make more room at the dining table.
Dining table. The kitchen island can also serve as a dining table—it just depends on what size table and chairs you prefer! If everyone likes having their own space while they eat and drink (which is totally understandable), then adding seats around the edges will work perfectly well too!
Workspace/tabletop area. If your job requires some office time during the day or if you simply want somewhere else where you can get work done without worrying about making messes (whereas working at a desk could result in spills), using part of an island as workspace makes sense because there won’t be anything else around anyway!
Building your own tiny house is an exciting project, but it can be challenging to do it on a budget. Our guide on How to Build Your Own Tiny House on a Budget offers helpful tips and resources to get you started.
4. Think Ahead And Measure Everything
Measure the space you have. Remember, tiny houses are small and they don’t take up much space, but they do need to fit into a lot more square footage than normal houses.
Don’t be afraid to measure every inch of your property as well as inside walls and ceilings if you’re considering building one on a permanent foundation.
Measure all of the things that you want to fit in a tiny home. If you have any chance of moving into one bedroom apartments or dorm rooms when you go off to college, then measuring what fits in those spaces is important too!
5. Consider How You Are Going To Heat And Cool Your Tiny House
Now that you have a plan for your tiny house’s size, it’s time to figure out how it will be heated.
Heating and cooling costs can be one of the biggest expenses in your budget. The first step is to consider the climate where you live and how much heat or cold needs to be countered. Are there seasons where temperatures drop below freezing?
If so, are there also seasons when temperatures rise above 80 degrees? How do these extremes affect your daily life?
Also think about if you will be using a wood burning stove, propane or electric heaters as well as what kind of budget (or lack thereof) is available for heating and cooling.
Living in a tiny house may seem daunting at first, but it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Check out our article on 10 Surprising Benefits of Living in a Tiny House to learn more about the advantages of this unique lifestyle.
6. Consider Insulation For Energy Efficiency And Noise Control
Insulation is one of the most important things you need to consider when building a tiny house. It helps keep the heat or cool in depending on your location and climate, so you can reduce your utility bills by using less energy for heating and cooling.
Insulation also helps reduce noise from outside sources, like traffic or neighbors, which can be great if you want some peace and quiet within your home.
You can add insulation to all parts of your tiny house including walls, floors and ceilings as well as windows and doors.
There are several different types of insulation materials available today such as cellulose fiberglass batts (or rolls), mineral wool batts, loose fill blown in cellulose insulation (LOFCI), rigid foam board panels (foam insulators) or spray-in foam insulation that expands within cracks while curing between studs creating an airtight seal against air infiltration from outside sources!
| Insulation Type | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Spray Foam Insulation | Provides excellent thermal insulation and air sealing, reducing energy loss and noise transmission. |
| Fiberglass Insulation | Cost-effective option that provides good thermal insulation but is less effective at air sealing and noise control. |
| Cellulose Insulation | Made from recycled materials, provides good thermal insulation and some noise control. |
| Rockwool Insulation | Offers excellent thermal insulation and noise control, is fire-resistant, and does not promote mold growth. |
| Polyurethane Insulation | Provides excellent thermal insulation and air sealing, reducing energy loss and noise transmission, but can be more expensive. |
7. Choose Flooring That Is Comfortable, Easy To Clean And Water Resistant
There are many options for flooring that is comfortable, easy to clean and water resistant. Some popular choices include:
Carpet – Carpets can be made with different materials and thicknesses, so it’s important to do your research before choosing this option.
Make sure there is enough padding between you and the flooring material so that you aren’t in direct contact with any wood or metal parts in place underneath the carpeting.
If possible, have a professional remove old carpeting prior to installing new flooring so that they can check for mold or asbestos problems as well as general safety issues related to things like wiring or pipes underfoot.
Hardwood – If your home has hardwood floors already installed then it might make sense simply keep what’s there without having anything replaced due its durability over time compared against other types of flooring materials such as laminate or linoleum which tend not last nearly as well over time without proper maintenance procedures being followed regularly throughout their lifespan (see below).
With the housing crisis affecting many communities, tiny houses offer a sustainable and affordable solution. Our article on How Tiny Houses Can Help Combat the Housing Crisis explores the potential benefits of this growing movement.
8. Go Vertical With Storage Options In Your Tiny House Design
There are several storage options you can use in your tiny house. You can have built-in cabinets, or you may want to get some portable options for items that aren’t used daily.
For storage space, think about the size and shape of what you will be storing in your tiny house. Will it be a small tub? A tall dresser? A set of shelves?
For example, I could have bought an entire closet unit from Ikea that would fit perfectly into my closet area (the doorless section), but instead opted for a simple shelf system on wheels and two wire baskets that fit easily under it without taking up any floor space at all!
| Storage Options | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Loft Storage | Makes use of vertical space and can be used for sleeping or storage. |
| Wall-mounted Shelves | Saves floor space and can be used for books, decor, and other small items. |
| Hanging Storage | Utilizes ceiling space and can be used for pots, pans, and other kitchen items. |
| Under-stair Storage | Maximizes space under stairs and can be used for clothing, shoes, or other items. |
| Built-in Cabinets | Offers custom storage solutions and can be tailored to fit your specific needs. |
9. Be Mindful Of Lighting In Your Layout
You can also use lighting to make your space feel more spacious.
Make sure the lights in your tiny house are the right kind of light bulbs. For example, fluorescent tubes are great for task lighting because they provide a lot of illumination with only a small amount of energy.
In contrast, incandescent bulbs generate more warmth and cosiness but aren’t as efficient (they’re also pricier).
Think about how you’ll use each room and plan accordingly: if it’s just going to be used as storage space or an office, you don’t need fancy lights; but if you want it to double up as a bedroom then investing in some attractive spotlights that wash over surfaces could help create a romantic atmosphere.
10. Open Up The Space In Your Tiny House With Mirrors
It’s simple, but it works. Mirrors are a great way to open up your tiny house and make it feel bigger.
Here are some ways you can use mirrors to create that sense of space:
Use mirrors to reflect light in a room with dark spaces, or lots of windows (like the kitchen). You’ll be amazed at how much brighter your home is when you do this!
Reflect the outside world into your house as well—you might even be able to see other buildings from inside! It’s like having an entire city at your fingertips while still being surrounded by nature.
Take advantage of what natural light there may be coming in through windows by placing full-length mirrors directly opposite them, so that they reflect all that lovely sunlight right back into the room. Or maybe just make sure you’re always wearing clothes made out of reflective materials like chrome foil…
Create a reflecting pool in which small fish swim around peacefully all day long! Just kidding; we don’t actually recommend doing this (unless you have experience keeping fish alive).
But if you did want an indoor pond, then building one would definitely require some creative uses of large rectangular pieces of glass or acrylic sheeting—and perhaps even some additional lighting elements if necessary—to make sure things stay nice and bright inside there too.”
The tiny house movement has gained popularity in recent years, but its origins date back much further. Check out our article on The Tiny House Movement: A Brief History to learn about the roots of this unique lifestyle.
11. Customize Quirky Nooks And Crannies In Unexpected Ways
Use a nook as a reading corner. This can be as simple as adding an armchair or chaise longue and placing it in front of a window, or it could be something more elaborate like setting up comfortable seating for two people with room for bookshelves and lamps.
Use a nook as a cozy place to curl up with your favorite book. This can take on many forms: from small cushions on the floor next to the couch where you read to reading lights above your head when you’re lying down on the bed (which is probably where I spend most of my time).
Use a nook as a place to sit and read by yourself or with someone else (and maybe even cuddle). As long as there’s enough space for both people, this could work well in any tiny house!
It might also be useful if one person wants peace and quiet while another prefers company the right amount of privacy will make everyone happy without being too private or public at all times.
Use this space not only as storage but also decoration; put pictures up around these areas so they feel more homey instead of just utility rooms!
Conclusion
Tiny houses make it easy to live a simpler, more frugal lifestyle. They are also great for those who are looking for a solution to the housing crisis or are just tired of renting. With these tips, you’ll be able to plan your very own tiny house layout in no time!
Further Reading
Tiny Houses: The Comprehensive Guide to Living in a Tiny House with Examples and Ideas of Designs: This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in tiny house living. It offers practical advice and inspiring design ideas to help you make the most of your small space.
Tiny House Building Checklist: Building a tiny house can be overwhelming, but this comprehensive checklist breaks down the process into manageable steps. It covers everything from planning and design to construction and finishing touches.
Tiny House Living: The Ultimate Guide to Throwing a Perfect Barbeque Night: Hosting a barbeque in a tiny house can be challenging, but this guide offers tips and tricks for making it a success. From menu planning to seating arrangements, this article has everything you need to know.
FAQs
What is a tiny house?
A tiny house is a small, often mobile, dwelling that typically measures less than 400 square feet. They are designed to be space-efficient and often include innovative features like multi-purpose furniture and hidden storage.
How much does it cost to build a tiny house?
The cost of building a tiny house can vary widely depending on factors like size, materials, and location. However, many people are able to build a basic tiny house for around $20,000-$30,000.
Can you legally live in a tiny house?
The legality of living in a tiny house varies depending on local zoning and building codes. In some areas, it may be legal to live in a tiny house as a primary residence, while in others it may only be allowed as a secondary dwelling or vacation home.
How do you finance a tiny house?
Financing a tiny house can be challenging since they don’t always qualify for traditional mortgages. However, there are options like personal loans, RV loans, and crowdfunding campaigns that can help you fund your project.
What are the benefits of living in a tiny house?
Living in a tiny house offers many benefits, including lower living expenses, simplified living, and a smaller environmental footprint. Tiny houses can also be mobile, allowing you to travel and explore new places without sacrificing the comforts of home.
I am Hellen, I’ve been passionate about sustainability for as long as I can remember. It’s something that my mom taught me from a young age, and it’s something that has shaped my life in so many ways.