Just as the name suggests, tiny houses are indeed tiny. But what exactly is a tiny house? At no more than 500 square feet, tiny houses offer functional designs wrapped up in an aesthetically-pleasing package.
There are two main types of tiny houses; tiny houses on foundations and tiny houses on wheels. Tiny houses on foundations offer homeowners all of the comforts of a residential home in a smaller space. Although tiny houses on wheels offer similar amenities, these types of tiny houses are built securely on a trailer. Questions? You wouldn’t be the first. Let’s take a look at some tiny house FAQs to see what it’s really like to live in a tiny home.
How Do I Fit Everything I own in a Tiny House?
The easy answer is: you don’t. Part of the beauty of tiny living is in downsizing. It’s often said that less material things lead to a happier life. If you reduce on what you own, you’ll find you end up with the things that matter most to you. The idea is you have everything you need and nothing you don’t. No need to get rid of absolutely everything! Many tiny homeowners keep seasonal items and other important items in storage units, or at a relative’s home.
How Does a Family Fit into a Tiny Home?
Tiny houses aren’t just for singles and couples. In fact, one could argue that tiny houses are a wonderful way for families to get closer–quite literally. One one hand, family dinners are easy to have. With so little room, you get an opportunity to communicate more than you might normally. On the other hand, there aren’t too many places to get alone time. Use this opportunity to take a walk outside or to let loved ones know you need the sleeping area to yourself for a few hours. Communicate! It’s important to let others know you need your space when cohabitating in a home of any size.
Are the Bathrooms Small and Smelly?
Image source: with permission from Sun Bear Tiny Homes
It’s a fair question. In most of our experiences, porta-potties are small toilet facilities with a certain odor that doesn’t smell like roses. This is absolutely not the case when it comes to tiny houses. Tiny house bathrooms are just like a regular bathroom, only smaller. Some even come with freestanding tubs, waterfall shower heads, and vanities. Just because a space is small, doesn’t mean it can’t have it all!
How Do You Entertain in a Small Space? 
While a small space isn’t built to fit a large number of guests, this doesn’t mean you can’t have a dinner party or two! One way tiny homeowners get creative when entertaining, is by adding outdoor seating to spread out the party. Enhancing the outdoor area with benches and a firepit is a great way to ensure it doesn’t get too crowded inside. Another great way to entertain successfully, is to stick to one or two pot meals. This will reduce the amount of clutter you have in the kitchen. Additionally, serve meals you can eat in bowls; this will also provide more space on the table. A clever sectional bench can separate into additional indoor seating.
On a side note; it’s important to use party decor that doesn’t clutter surfaces or get in the way when moving around. String lights are a wonderful addition to any small space. Just be sure to hang them high enough so they don’t hit anyone’s head!
Have you ever lived in a tiny house? Let us know what it was like in the comments below!
Author: Molli McGee
Bio: Molli is a U.S. citizen currently living in Cape Town, South Africa. Aside from writing about tiny houses, Molli loves to be at the beach and eat food (often at the same time). As an avid surfer and beach-goer, she does her best to promote a sustainable way of living.
Website: www.tinysociety.co
January 17, 2019 at 1:12 pm
Sһe picҝed up a pair of scissors from the windowsill.
May 20, 2019 at 11:17 am
Smaller homes are less expensive than larger ones in terms of taxes and building, heating, maintenance, and repair costs.