Tiny homes are loved these days because some people want to downsize and simplify their lifestyle. The structure, design and style are awesome and can mean important cost savings when building … and when moving the units as well. Let’s take a look at these 10 gorgeous micro home designs.
These lovely tiny homes are built by companies we’ve already indexed in our Prefab Home Designers and Builders Directory. You can go there and search out the name of the company, and also find builders near your area.
Cool tiny house
Designed and built by Wheelhaus Wedge
Simple home
Designed and built by Scott Newkirk
Creatively Designed Home
Designed and built by Floating Wooden Exbury Egg House
Fabulous dwelling with breathtaking views
Designed and built by Prentiss Architects
Lovely Cottage Tiny House
Designed and built by Alex Scott Porter Design
Extraordinary mobile abode
Designed and built by dmvA Architects
Spectacular Hawk House
Designed and built by Alex Wyndham
World’s Most Narrow House
Designed and built by Jakub Szczesny
Cute eco-house
Designed and built by Blue Forest
Amazing Nomad House
Designed and built by Ian Kent
What is this small house prefab on the water? It’s 70 square meters of laminated timber construction, wooden deck and terminal base. Four meters in height where even the skylights can be opened.
“People want to stay rural in the summer – but still want all the facilities like toilets and showers. We have been striving for simplicity and a sense of freedom so that you experience the difference between cabin homes and permanent homes,” said Johnny Andersson and Michaela Tengblad, who created the summer house.
Johnny and Michaela, who work at Earth Architects, have designed this small prefab house for summer fun. Notice the housing structure with large glass windows including the roof. The idea is that you should feel that you have the sky as a roof. The large room should feel like a studio or greenhouse, a place where you can paint, pottery and work. Without a lot of sofas that you do not use. When you socialize as you sit at the dinner table. Living rooms are often the least used – if not the television is there.
A starting point for Michaela’s and Johnny’s prefab house design work has been to find the difference between permanent residence and holiday home at the same time they wanted to meet the requirements of convenience. Therefore, there is a toilet, shower and kitchen, but the shower is outdoors and the simple kitchen counter is more workbench which continues outdoors. The house has no hall with a definite admission, but outside several doors and sliding windows can be used. The bedroom’s surface is minimized but a bench in the main room is both storage and can serve as extra sleeping.
“When we designed the house we started from what we ourselves could afford. Therefore, we have worked with simplicity and rugged materials. But to build simple is usually difficult because you cannot hide the errors,” said the designers.
The basic concept of this prefab home design is a 70-square-meter small house, but it can be made larger and designed by the owner’s wishes. One part is built in wood and the other is the concrete foundation and steel structure. The house is winter insulated and equipped with a stove.
“We think that the house is equally suited to lie on a beach in a forest glade or in a holiday home area.”
Johnny sees no problem with having large skylights in the small house. “On the contrary, it is well amazing to hear the rain and watch the snow fall and experience the weather.”
Earth Architects work broadly with everything from private homes to prefab house designs to sheltered housing, from the landscaping to the design of the door handles. The team is Johnny Andersson, 47, who co-founded the architectural firm in 1999 in which nine people work today. Johnny’s dream home is a town house in New York, a hybrid between villa and apartment with its own entrance and terrace; and Tengblad Michaela, 40, who has been with the company for six years. Her dream home is a custom-designed, climate-villa in rough concrete and plywood.
Are you on a DIY high and ready for your next challenge? Forget the crafts, furniture, or decorative figurines. Its time to challenge yourself with a tiny house project! Pin Up Houses is a company that provides you with step by step directions to build your very own tiny home! So, if you don’t know where to start or what to buy, you’re covered! There are several plans for you to choose from that can reflect your personal style. I have chosen 5 plans to fit five different uses to show you that tiny homes are not just for downsizing.
Plan 1: The Lookout.
For the little minions in your life. Video games, television, and technology seem to be taking over many childhoods these days. Many parents or relatives are finding it difficult to get their kids outside for playtime. The Lookout is a great solution to this problem, and a wonderful fit for a curious child. At $690.00 it’s designed to be a tree-house without the tree. The difficulty of the build is 2 out of 5 which is good news for any beginners out there! Six feet off the ground with a stair case. No need to worry about kids falling from a flimsy ladder. From top to bottom it stands 15 feet tall and has two windows for a nice view. Inside you will find a 48 sqft open area, perfect for a table and a few chairs, or maybe a cool rug and a some bean bags. The house will be supported by four beams and a roof that provides over hang, so there is a good amount of covered space for all the outdoor toys currently taking up your garage. Keep the wood exposed and embrace the tree-house style, or paint and provide a personalized hideaway for your little one! Once you are done it will definitely be a ‘brag-worthy’ piece for your kids!
Plan 2: Irish
Give him the man cave of his dreams and take back your living room! This tiny home is 55 sqft of potential freedom. Let’s be honest, you can’t make his xbox look stylish and one television is not going to play both your shows. So, here is the space he can have to hang all the mismatched decorations and catch his favorite games. The Irish is styled to mimic the design of an Irish pub, hence the name. He can build it himself regardless of his talents because it’s difficulty is only 1 out 5. At $770.00 it’s a good choice for a duel gift (worth two occasions), or you can simply remember that you have probably spent more money on the furniture in your home. The structure stands 11ft tall from top to bottom and has a window on each of the four walls to bring in natural light. Inside you could furnish with a small couch or two recliners. If the man who is getting a cave is not interested in electronics, you could use the space as a mini bar with seating, or a small library with all his favorite books!
Plan 3: Alexis
This tiny home is the perfect getaway spot! It is a great choice for a summer home, lake house, or weekend getaway in mountains. This build is more expensive at $9,500.00 , but it is also larger with 394 sqft and a 54 sqft loft. Its a more difficult build with a 3 out of 5 rating, but with your step by step instructions from Pin Up Houses it can still be done! The A-frame structure creates a unique space with an eye catching exterior. Inside you will find a large open space filled with natural light from the large front window. Towards the back of the home there is a small kitchen, bathroom, and a ladder that accesses the loft upstairs. The low ceiling on the sides due to the A-frame design are a great opportunity for extra storage. This means all your vacation accessories such as kayaks, dirt bikes, or outdoor gear can be safely stored away. The front and back porch both have coverage from the roof which can provide outdoor seating or more storage. The home stands tall at 15 feet and 9 inches with a front window to match. This gives a great view from the loft as well as the downstairs. Place this tiny home a top a mountain or on a waterfront property, and you will have a view that makes it hard to go back home!
Plan 4: Mae
Here’s one for the workaholics out there! A tiny home office to get you a little closer to your own front door. For $1,400.00 you can put this 10 ft tall tiny home in your backyard to avoid your office on the weekends and get home in time for dinner. If the house is noisy and unproductive, and the office is chilly and suffocating, why stay? Make a warm and productive work environment for yourself. This house has plenty of windows so you won’t have to feel like an office shut in. There is 102 sq ft of space for you to spread out with a large desk and organize all of your important paperwork. A one room house to keep you focused on your work. If you are not an office body and more on the creative side consider this as studio space. The difficulty level on this project is only a 1 out of 5 so anyone regardless of occupation can get this job done! Get creative and get work done in your own private backyard office!
Plan 5: Joi
Get that extra storage space without paying monthly for it. Storage units these days can costs upwards of $100.00 a month, but building a Joi in your backyard will be one payment of $280.00. This unique shaped shed will give you the storage you need without a high demand of backyard space. It is very small at only 20 sq ft. You can lock up your bike, garden tools, plastic bins filled with items that no longer fit in your house, or anything else in this tiny shed! Standing over six feet tall and a little more than 3 feet wide, you will have just enough space to put things away. Shelving on the exterior can provide more space or an opportunity to create a decorative element to the shed. It is an easy build at 1 out 5 rating for difficulty. Just paint this project to match your home and you’re done! Say goodbye to clutter and hello to your new tiny shed!
By Alison LaPaglia
For more information on Pin Up Houses plans, find them in our tiny home directory
Imagine looking out your bedroom window at a different view every month, week, or if you want, every day, from a tiny house like this. Imagine being able to travel to, and live in any place with room to park. A large suburban home is a huge commitment, a luxury city loft is a huge cost, and a summer home is a seasonal enjoyment that comes at an extra expense. So save your money and don’t feel pressured to choose one. Pick them all by getting the perfect tiny home!
The Vintage by Escape Homes is a farmhouse — or farm-tiny-house — on wheels. It is 315 sq ft of all your at home comforts with the obvious bonus that other homes can not offer. It can take you anywhere. It is built to withstand extreme weather conditions.
So it will not be a problem if you don’t plan on moving south for the winter, or if you stay south for the summer. In the Vintage tiny house, you do not need to give up your full size fridge, queen bed, or storage space, as all of these luxuries are provided. No space is wasted, and with twelve windows there is plenty of natural light to make your home feel larger.
The style of this tiny house build allows you to customize your space. So for the individuals who wish to go green, you can choose solar power! All in all, you can get exactly what you want, and go exactly where you want for an introductory cost of $59,800.00. A much lower cost than a home. So to summarize, the tiny home will meet your needs, take you to new places, and not bust your bank account!
For more information on Escape Homes and the Vintage tiny home find them in our tiny home directory.
Technology never ceases to amaze us, but you may still find yourself surprised when you learn of this chic tiny home. It is the perfect combination of technology, style, and architecture. It is so clean and efficient you will find it hard to believe it’s ready for you to move in right now! The Koda is a home that can move where you move. It is built to protect its inhabitants from the elements and bacteria outdoors. It has style that is versatile enough to meet a variety of uses, and the size of the windows alone are a reason to fall in love.
Tiny homes have huge potential and typically they come with some really unique features. So what makes the Koda stand out among the rest? The health benefits seem to be the most unique feature of this tiny home. No need to carry those over priced seasonal allergy medications. The Koda has been built with a sturdy door and vacuum-insulated concrete walls to keep noise, dirt, bacteria, and environmental factors outside. Inside you will be able to control the strength and tone of your lighting. Also the Koda will keep the humidity in your home at the correct levels. Like many tiny homes, the Koda also utilizes eco-friendly technology such as LED lights and solar panels. It is a good choice for those of us looking to leave in a clean, comfortable, with a small carbon footprint.
The design mission by the makers of Koda was to provide a home in which residents could move wherever they pleased. This means that the assembly and disassembly is made simple, and only estimated to take four to seven hours.
If you wanted to rotate your Koda for a better view the process would be even faster. My personal favorite element of this tiny home is the ability to make it whatever you want. The design build was anticipating several uses for the structure. Office space, vacation spot, primary residence, gallery, or studio could all be possible uses of this tiny eco-friendly space. This tiny home is a fresh, clean space that will provide the worry free environment you need to focus on the things you love.
Tiny houses, because living large is hard. It is expensive and a lot to maintain. Is your search for the right home coming up empty because the cost of living is too high? Maybe your price point is not the issue. Thinking small may be your answer.
“The 50,000.00 San Francisco Home” by Nathan Lewis, discusses a budget model that would allow high cost areas to house more people at an affordable rate. A renters rate of a $50,000.00 home would only be $400.00 to $500.00 a month. The catch? We need to give up on “keeping up with the Jones'” and embrace a smaller lifestyle. Spaces range from 120- 500sq ft depending on location. After all, the supply is determined by the demand. The more demand you have in your local real estate market, the more the supply will cost you in the end. If you go small you can get the perfect location for an affordable cost.
For some of us, small spaces may not be a desirable concept but there big benefits to living small. For example, costs go down when you downsize. In Lewis’s article he references a family who once occupied a 1,500 sq ft home and are now debt free with almost no living expenses in their 165 sq ft space.
Another benefit to living in a smaller space is free time. If you were to spend less time cleaning you would have more time for the things you enjoy. If you are a big spender a smaller space might be even more beneficial to your savings account considering you will not have excess space for excess items. Individuals with an environmental interest should appreciate the small living option as it leaves a much smaller environmental footprint.
Last but not least, a smaller tiny home living space could provide the quality time many families yearn for, or just the right amount of bonding a couple needs. All in all, there are many reasons for us to step out of the “living large” culture and into something a bit more cozy and affordable! Think small to win big!
By Alison LaPaglia
For more information about Nathan Lewis and Strong Town’s tiny homes, find them in our tiny home directory.
The point of a vacation is to escape our day to day lives, experience a different area, and sometimes get quality family time that we miss when we are working. We leave the sights and sounds of our city or town behind to experience something new and different; however, most us swap out one city for another and wind up with a similar experience.
A PurePod, on the other hand, is a truly unique and private experience based in New Zealand. It is a tiny house made of glass, placed in a remote location, and crafted with eco-friendly technology. Here you will have all of your necessities provided.
Safety and security are just as much of a priority as privacy. There are three locations to choose from and each one gives a stunning view, and an opportunity to explore your outdoor surroundings.
To those of you who are afraid this vacation may be too rustic, think again! The glass used for the floor, ceiling, and walls makes the tiny house feel much larger, and the rich natural beauty outside adds an extravagance to the venue. The Purepod also uses eco-friendly technology that ensures clean water and waste management. This means no bath houses or out houses! Maybe some of you are concerned about the vulnerability of a remote area, but in New Zealand there are no large animals or snakes to act as prey. There is no “roughing it” in a Purepod.
A quote from some couple who stayed in one:
“As we approached our PurePod, we could not believe our next 24 hours would be spent in our own isolated paradise, totally immersed in nature in this incredibly innovative eco-luxury glass chalet. We could hardly contain our excitement at our new find, not knowing whether to spend our time inside or out – in the end it was apparent that it really didn’t matter which we settled for because this was an experience where the outside world met the inside one.” – Derek & Emma
Where do you see your next vacation? On a crowded beach, a crowded city, or in a beautiful setting with the one(s) you love? Turn off your television, put away the phone, and escape to a Purepod for the luxurious relaxation that dream vacations are made of!
By Alison LaPaglia
For more information about Purepods, as well as about Derek and Emma, find them in our tiny home directory.
Design can play a significant role in the overall impression of a tiny house or other tiny structure. In this case this tiny house building is a studio — it’s outfitted with couches instead of beds, but there is any number of possibilities for how the interior of these tiny dwellings are finished.
This one is called “Orchid Studio” and it’s by design team First Lamp. It’s an outbuilding — it’s not attached to the main house structure. It could be used just as easily as a guest house or reading room.
The team was brought into this project in order to get a nice design for the tiny house-style one-room building. And it does serve as a guest house if needed.
It’s connected to the main house by a diagonal path through the backyard garden to the corner of the yard where they situated the tiny dwelling.
The budget on this project was limited, which limited the amount of bells and whistles added to the basic tiny structure. One thing unusual was the use of Douglas Fir for the rafters, which were left exposed to provide an eventually-red wood accent to the white walls and siding outside.
Living a simple life means having more beautiful moments with family members. This is what small houses offer. Aside from intimacy, tiny homes have lower ecological footprint which is certainly great for our planet. Heating and cooling system is easily maintained since there is less space. Also, minimal expenditures for repair and home improvement are required. And where coziness is felt within the family members, a more loving relationship is created which is the ultimate goal of an ideal family.
This lovely 431 square feet cottage is exquisitely designed and built by The Wee House Company. They specialize in designing and building adorable tiny and small homes all over the United Kingdom.
This reputable company build homes in-house and deliver to home buyers’ vacant lot. They will install and set the house professionally. This process of designing, building, delivering and installing will take around two weeks.
The interior of this cottage is so charming that residents will surely love living in this tiny home. There’s a mud room, a nice living room, full kitchen, a comfortable bedroom and bathroom. Isn’t wonderful to live in this tiny lovely cottage with your loved ones?
This girl worked this renovated camper for a summer, making it as comfortable as she could, and spending only $500.
The girl who did the work for this camper is 14-year-old Ellie Yeater of Williamstown, West Virginia. She saved up the money for the camper and camper renoation from birthday money and being paid for chores around her house.
The camper itself cost $200, and Ellie found it in a local camper for sale ad. The other $300 was spent on paint, flooring, fabric, and decorations.
Her dad Larry helped by buying the wood and rubber roll for the roof. Free labor doesn’t hurt when you’re trying not to spend very much money.
But Ellie also did a lot of work on this refurbish job. She has some carpentry skills learned from her grandfather.
For more details, visit HomeTalk. Photos by: Lori Yeater
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