The Big Growth of the Tiny House Movement!
If you’re on a budget, an American idea that is becoming popular in England is the tiny home movement, where people build small but perfectly-designed homes (often on wheels) that feature on mod-cons, and you can take them with you, if you move.
They don’t ‘increase in value’ like most homes, but they are far more affordable, and are very popular in the US island of Nantucket (30 miles from Cape Cod) where most properties are over $1 million.
Read The Big Tiny. This is the story of Dee, an American who had spent years doing up a big dilapidated home in the Pacific Northwest. After having a heart attack in a grocery store (age just 40), she sold it and built/built a tiny home.
Today she has a far better quality of life, it takes 10 minutes to clean her and her bills are around $10 a month. And in the evening, she sits on her (tiny) porch and enjoys watching the sun go down with her dog (and a cold beer).
Prefab Tiny Homes
Prefab homes are made in a factory, then delivered on-site and can be moved again on wheels, if you move. The only bugbear is finding suitable land to live on, year round.
Prices start at £30,000 and should last decades, though likely won’t increase in value, but are a good option if you just want a stable affordable home to call your own, with low maintenance fees.
Most include thick insulation, double-glazed windows and eco-heating, for far lower energy bills and comfort in different weather.
- Heb Homes offers 40 designs, all made with green materials. Airigh design is inspired by Scottish Highland huts, and often allowed, when conventional house builds are not. They also good for outbuildings, home offices and annexes.
- Tiny Eco Homes supplies ‘tiny homes on wheels’ which include beautiful bathrooms, heated towel rails and underfloor heating, along with a nice lounge, bedroom and kitchen..
The Nest Pod (from a Scottish tiny house designer) has gone viral, and for good reason. If you want to be tempted by the joys of tiny house living, just take a look at this gallery!
Decorated in natural woods and pastel colours, this features a lounge with a wood-burning stove, a full-size couch and roll-out desk, along with a loft-accessible bedroom, tucked away from the main living area.
In the living area is a wood-burning stove, full size couch, and a roll-out desk. The bedroom loft is accessed by stairs that are tucked away from the main living area. Who would not want to live here?
Molly of Slow Scottish Stories writes one of Substack’s most popular blogs, and lives with her boyfriend and dog in a tiny home in the Scottish Highlands. Her life seems idyllic, and you’ll be drawn in, within a few posts!
BOKLOK Homes from Sweden
The most well-known prefab home company is BOKLOK, which was created by Swedish furniture giant IKEA.
These are quite beautiful, and most of us would likely enjoy living in such homes. These are bright, clean and light and although small, beautifully designed so each spare inch of space is used. They either have gardens, or blocks of flats have communal green space.
BOKLOK homes are designed to be very energy-efficient and have beautiful kitchens with built-in appliances as standard. This is not only better than dingy bedsits with dodgy gas ovens. But it has a knock-on effect.
If you have a nice home and a nice kitchen with good appliances and worktops, you’re likely to spend less on food as you can buy fresh food to cook yourself, which also benefits long-term health for all who live there.
The homes also have good insulation to keep homes warm and cool (insulation also protects against outside noise).
They also feature water-saving taps, showers and toilets. They are fitted out with high-spec lights and fittings, and carry a warranty of 10 years. People who live there even enjoy the services of a free ‘handyperson’ service.
Other Affordable Prehab Home Kits
Italy’s MADI homes can be be built in 3 months, and are even earthquake-proof, so good to house homeless people abroad after natural disasters).
In the UK, SoloHaus homeless pods are light and airy modular homes that are quick to build and easy to transport, and can be adjusted in size or added together, to accommodate homeless families. They are delivered fully-furnished with fitted kitchens, low-energy white goods and cabling for broadband and TV.
