The tiny house movement is huge in the US, but not so here as yet. However it should be, as it’s a great way to solve the problem of people not being able to afford their own homes. A tiny house is defined as a place from 80 to 400 square feet (if you’re no good at maths, 100 square feet is around the size of a standard garage, so it’s around 4 times the size of a garage, for a luxury tiny house!)
Tiny homes aren’t for everyone. But for people in small households who find one that’s well-designed, it’s a great way to live for less, and have some time leftover from working to live your life. IKEA BOKLOK homes are quite tiny, but every square inch is designed well – they are light and spacious with all mod cons, and when built en-masse, they even outdoor green space to share. Fully furnished, they are also luxurious to live in and cost little to heat. And for other tiny homes, many are built and shipped, then (just like a turtle or hermit crab) you can take it with you, if you move!
American Dee Williams was just 41 when she had a heart attack in her local grocery store. After years of doing up a sprawling old property, the illness made her rethink her life. She sold up, built a tiny home and now spends $8 a month on bills, 10 minutes cleaning her home, and often sits with her dog and a beer on her tiny porch, gazing out as the sunset goes down.
where to buy a tiny home
The problem is not much with buying one, but finding land to build one legally (ask your council). The Qube Eco Tiny Homes has an ‘extra space’ studio you can add for a garden office or art studio, or a larger version with off-grid solar system, water tank and composting toilet. The luxury versions could be used as granny flats or rented out.
Plank Bridge sells huts with a 20-year guarantee (not for the person obsessed with rising house prices). But if you want a nice affordable home, these are beautiful and snug with a living area, shower room, kitchen and bed (there’s a super-tiny 99 square foot cabin). Built by architects to last in British weather, read FAQ for safety info for stoves and drainage.
Madi Home (Italy) is an earthquake-proof tiny home. This has all mod-cons and is popular worldwide, and striking to look at.
books to build a tiny home
- The Beginner’s Guide to Tiny Houses introduces the history of the tiny house movement, a breakdown of styles and profiles of pioneers and their tiny homes. Take the quiz to find the tiny home for you, and fall in low with simple a-frame houses and THOWS (tiny homes on wheels!)
- Living in Tiny Homes has ideas by an interior designer who combines light and space to convert a vana to a house-on-wheels or downsizse from a large home, includes real-world room examples.
Be content with what you have; rejoin in the way things are. When you realise there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. Lao Tzu
