The Tiny House Movement: Why Are People So Into Tiny Homes?

Tiny House in Virginia

Simplify and de-clutter your lifestyle. Save money. Leave less of a negative impact on the environment.

These are a few of the reasons (and benefits) people give for downsizing into a small or tiny home.

The tiny house isn’t a new concept, but it didn’t really gain traction and attention until after the 2007/08 financial crisis. As new home loans were handed out like Halloween candy, inciting people to buy above their means, the counter movement to “bigger is better” slowly made its’ voice heard.

And heard. And heard some more. In fact, it’s hard to flip through channels and not see some TV show dedicated to tiny homes and the lifestyle that tends to go along with them.

Our Tiny Houses

Oddly enough, we started building tiny homes before we realized we were building tiny homes! A customer came with some custom requests about turning our Heritage pool house model into a tiny home complete with sleeping area, kitchen, and full bathroom to be used as a guest house and mini-getaway on their property.

It was an exciting project, and the type that we’ve had a chance to do several similar proects, along with tiny cabins. We’re looking forward to creating more of these micro homes as we develop our own concept and plans. You can visit our new Tiny Houses page here for a look into so of our work.

Side note: We’re especially looking forward to designing something that can be used as a THOW (tiny house on wheels)!

The Benefits of Downsizing to A Tiny House

While there is no set definition to what makes a tiny house, it’s generally accepted that anything under 1000 sq. feet could be considered tiny living. It's typically broken down that anything from 400 sq. feet to 1000 sq. feet is a small home, and anything under 400 sq. feet is a tiny home.

So in a country where, for decades, the concept of “bigger is better” and “he with the most toys wins” has reigned supreme, what is causing this shift to simpler living?

It’s doubtful that any one reason has contributed to this movement. It’s more likely that a variety of things going on has led to it, including the desire to escape the fast-paced pressure that modern technology has brought with it.  There is also the call to decrease our individual environmental impact by greener living. Not to mention an urge to invest more time and money into life experiences rather than material things.

There are definite benefits to investing in a tiny home, whether as your main dwelling or as a secondary one:

Financial Freedom: Tiny Homes cost less, period. They cost less to upkeep, they cost less to run, and they cost less in property taxes.

Simplicity: Downsizing forces you to get rid of all that stuff you really don’t need. Less stuff and less house means less maintenance and cleaning!

Environmental Impact: Tiny homes use less energy and resources overall than a regular house, making them very eco-friendly.

Property Value: Adding a tiny home as a guest house or rental property (referred to as an ADU or accessory dwelling unit), can be a great way to supplement your income.

Family Responsibility: A tiny house on your property is a great alternative living space for elderly family members who can no longer live independently.

Adventure: A tiny house on wheels gives you the freedom to travel where you want, when you want – indulging your adventurous dreams without having to give up the comforts of home.

 

 

The appeal of tiny home living is clear – and the appeal of getting to design tiny houses, the challenge of how to make the most out of a very small structure is one that we’re excited to embrace! If you're interested in what a tiny house might cost you, contact us at (877) 272-7252 or visit our Contact Us page.

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