The trailer of a tiny house is an aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked because this serves as the foundation.
Your tiny house trailer is where your tiny house journey begins. This is because the trailer serves as the foundation of your tiny house. And, a good foundation is very important in every new venture.
There are a lot of things that go around when building a tiny house. As unique as each tiny house is, having them built on trailers has become popular throughout the years.
There are actually a few types of tiny house trailers that you can choose from. The choices might be few, but it can surely confuse you most especially when you have no idea about such things. With this in mind, we have created a list of the types of tiny houses trailers and some other things that you need to know before settling into one.
4 Popular Tiny House Trailer Choices
When choosing a trailer, make sure that you will get what it fitted to the design of your tiny house.
1. The Deck-Between Trailer
The Deck-Between trailer has a flatbed in between the wells of the two wheels. This means that the bed sits a little lower from where the tip of the wheel well reaches. Due to this, the tiny house bed can’t be wider than the space between the two wheels.
The width of the bed is confined by how far apart the wheel wells can be. With this, the floor of your tiny house will be very limited.
The advantage of using the deck-between trailer is that it sits nicely to the ground since it is very low. This makes it easier to build a taller tiny house in as much as it makes it possible to build a two-story tiny house.
2. Deck-Over Trailer
As the term implies, the deck over trailer is a trailer type where the bed is placed above the wheel wells. Typically, such trailer types measure around eight feet wide.
The deck over trailer gives extra space on each side of the tiny house. But, it is too far from the ground which means that a loft is not advisable. This means that the only choice for you is a one-story tiny house.
3. Dove Tail
The dovetail trailer can either have a deck-between trailer or deck-over trailer. What makes a dovetail trailer different from deck-between and deck above trailers is that it has angled towards the ground sections on the rear.
This feature is usually found on trailers that were once used to move around cars, trucks, or any other vehicles. The benefit of the dovetail section is that loading this trailer is much easier compared to other trailer types.
On the other side, the dovetail section makes it a little awkward to build a tiny house on the flatbed. But if you still want to pursue this type of trailer, then you will have to apply additional welding in as much as modifying the dovetail before building your tiny house is a must.
4. Gooseneck
This type of tiny house trailer can either be a deck over model or a deck between trailers. It was named after special hitches that it has. Moving around this trailer type requires you to have a pickup truck.
The head of the pickup truck has a ball hitch. The trailer’s gooseneck then reaches the tailgate of the truck in order to be attached to the installed hitch.
This type of trailer is well-fitted for the tiny house for a few reasons. First, moving it around is easier due to the pick-up truck. Second, it is light. And lastly, it’s size is real for tiny houses.
Gross Weight Vehicle Rating
Regardless of what trailer type you would like to use as the foundation of your tiny house, knowing what Gross Weight Vehicle Rating or GWVH is very important.
Basically, the GWVH is how much weight the axles are able to carry. The axles are the parts of the trailer that attach the wheels. It is also known as the weight limit for your specific vehicle which was set by automakers.
In computing the GWVH of your trailer truck, the base curb weight of the vehicle and the weight of any optional accessories, cargo and passengers are added. To be safer, you should not load your trailer truck more than what it is capable of.
If you overload your trailer truck then the breaks might not be enough to stop it when needed. The suspension components might not work. It is also possible that break under the added strain which might make the tires generate more heat for it to explode.
GVWR is not the total weight of the trailer. The total weight of the trailer is called gross vehicle weight or GVW. GVWR is constant while GVW is changing.
To understand further, take a look at this example:
You and your friend are riding the same vehicle. Your friend went out of the vehicle. Since your friend exited the vehicle, the GVW is reduced while the GVWR still remains.
One thing to always keep in mind when towing your tiny house trailer is that the total weight of the trailer is not a part of the GVW of the vehicle. However, the weight of the part of the trailer that is attached to the trailer hitch known as the tongue weight is part of the GVW of the vehicle. Neither of the two affects the GVWR.
Trailers have their own GVWR. If you want to find out the GVWR of your vehicle, labels are usually found in the area where the driver’s door latches. If you can’t find it there, you can look for it on the internet.
Things to Consider
There are a few things that you have to consider in order to choose the best trailer for your tiny house.
There are a few things that you need to consider when choosing a trailer for your tiny house. First things first, the trailer should have a place where you can place your license plate and brake lights, of course. Otherwise, you will be legally charged for it and you won’t even make it long on national roads.
So, here are some of the things that you have to consider when buying a trailer:
1. Size of Your Trailer
Ideally, you should already have the design of your tiny house before buying a trailer. However, there are limitations to trailer sizes that you need to know.
Legally speaking, the maximum width for trailers is 8’6″. Also, in most states, tiny houses are only allowed 13’6 inches off the ground. But in some Western States, they allow as high as 14′.
The allowable measurement for trailers is 53′. If it goes beyond that, a special permit is needed.
With that in mind, trailers for tiny houses should not be more than 28′. When choosing the trailers, do not forget to consider the length of your hitch as well.
2. Hitch
There are five different types of trailer hitches available. But regardless of what type of trailer you end up with, the only hitch that you can use for a tiny house is the Class V trailer. The Class V trailer hitch can max out as much as 17,000 pounds, enough for your tiny house to be moved around.
Hitches have this so-called tongue weight which refers to its own capacity for weight. In other terms, this is the total weight the hitch can shoulder. Make sure that you consider this factor into your final trailer weight calculations.
But before you can calculate the final trailer weight, you must know first that too much or too little tongue weight affects the rowing of your tiny house. If you already know the weight of your tiny house, you can simply ask the towing vehicle manufacturer the right amount of the tongue load.
This means that your ball mount and hitch ball should be rated for Class V too. Thankfully, these are available in almost any auto body store at a very affordable price.
3. Towing Vehicle
The towing vehicle might not be connected to the trailer at all times but it is needed in order to move around if you want a mobile tiny house. In most cases, a full-sized truck is enough to do the job.
If not a full-size truck, a large SUV is a good choice too. But if what you have is a gooseneck trailer, then what you will need as a towing vehicle is a pickup truck.
There is no such thing as one size fits all when it comes to towing vehicles. This is because the towing vehicle that you will choose has something to do with how heavy your trailer, your tiny house, and your things are.
Here is a guide on how you will choose a towing vehicle for your tiny house.
a. Light to Medium Duty
Light to medium-duty vehicles refers to either light trucks, minivans, or sedans. These vehicles can handle more or less 3,500 pounds. Honestly speaking, it is almost impossible for a trailer truck, a tiny house, and all your stuff to just weigh 3,500 pounds.
b. Medium to Heavy Duty
Medium to heavy-duty vehicles should handle as much as 5,000 pounds. Usually, these vehicles have two dual axle trailers or one large axle. The problem is, such towing vehicles come in different types. These vehicles could vary when it comes to towing capacity by as much as 3,000 pounds.
c. Extra Heavy Duty
Extra heavy-duty vehicles refer to commercial vehicles that can tow up to 10,000 pounds. Using an extra heavy-duty towing vehicle will take so much controlling power which you have to find out from the dealer or manufacturer.
d. Super Heavy Duty
If the total weight of your tiny house and trailer is more than 10,000 pounds, then certainly, you will need this type of vehicle.
The good thing about towing vehicles is that knowing their capacity is not a guessing game. And, if you can’t afford to buy a towing vehicle at the moment, you can simply hire one as long as you have your own hitch.
4. Cost
An average trailer cost around $3,000. But if you can’t afford the price, you can settle for a used one. You can also modify it if you want.
Trailers have been long debated because basically, it serves as the foundation of a tiny house. Some people choose to spend more on it while others prefer to allot more to the tiny house itself.
Ideally, you should know the price of different trailers first before you settle into one. This will help you know what goes within your budget or how much you need to get the trailer that you want.
5. Tiny House – Specific Trailers
The popularity of tiny houses gave birth to trailers specifically for them. These trailers ensure heavy-duty steel construction and axles, unlike regular trailers which barely have wood decking. Tiny house-specific trailers have steel beams where the tiny house is secured.
There are already a few companies that build such trailers. Aside from the better features that these trailers have, they can also be of help to figure out the other aspects of a tiny house that you need to understand.
6. Where to Park
One of the most important factors to consider when it comes to trailers and tiny houses is where you are going to park it. The answer lies in the zoning regulations that each state has. Each state has different zoning laws and regulations which makes it very important to find them out before you park.
Some of the thing you have to look into include:
a. Minimum square footage for tiny houses
b. Legal parks for RVs
c. Whether you can live temporarily or permanently in an RV or tiny house
f. If the accessory dwelling unit or ADU is allowed or not
Conclusion
Choosing the right trailer for your tiny house is a very important decision. This is because the trailer will serve as the foundation of your tiny house. And, foundations should be strong and made out of high-quality materials to ensure safety. At the end of the day, what you will choose tells how your tiny house will last.
Related Questions
What size trailer should I use for my tiny house?
The average dimensions for a tiny house trailer are 20 to 24 feet long, and 90 inches wide. But still, each state has specific rules when it comes to the size of a tiny house trailer that they allow so, check it out first before buying one.
Do you need a permit to build a tiny house on a trailer?
Yes, most states require a permit to build a tiny house be it on trailer or not. This means that you have to secure a permit first and know existing laws and regulations to be sure that everything is legal. Be careful with this as a different state has different laws, regulations, and requirements for tiny houses.
How do attach a tiny house to the trailer?
The basic steps when attaching a tiny house trailer are flashing the underside and attaching the subfloor. Flashing the underside means securing the subfloor by installing a metal barrier under. In attaching the subfloor, it is recommended to add a steel flange along the side edges of the trailer to be more secured.
Best Tiny Houses: 20 Jaw-Dropping Tiny Houses That Will Leave You Wanting One
If you’re planning to build or buy one, get inspiration from these jaw-dropping tiny houses.
Best Tiny Houses: Top 20 Jaw-Dropping Tiny Houses
These 20 structures captivated our eyes and our curiosity. If you’re thirsty of inspiration, take a squeeze out of these breathtaking and interesting houses.
1. “The Lily Pad” by Creative Cabins LLC
The Lily Pad will keep you cozy.
First on our list is this dark but inviting vacation rental in Ohio. The Lily Pad is a tiny house made of shipping containers by Creative Cabins LLC.
Located in Hocking Hills, Logan Ohio, it’s open for renting to couples, families, and individuals who want a peaceful retreat in the woods.
The Lily Pad is small but packed with amenities. For cozy nights with your buddies, you can crack a cold one open at their covered outdoor living space, gas grill, and swing bed.
It even has motorized blinds if you need privacy real quick. And if you’re feeling a bit social, you can also rely on their internet for a quick Snapchat update.
If you ask us, this would be a perfect spot for reunions of small groups of friends who are also adventurous. The Hocking Hills is home to waterfalls and cliffs and all of its parks are free. So, you would totally enjoy your time here if you’re a hiking junkie.
2. “Helm” by CargoHome
The Helm, a lovely tiny home.
Helm is another wonderful shipping container rental, which you can find in the most tiny house-friendly state, Texas.
At first glance, its glass-wood exteriors will make you think it’s a modern house from the pages of BluPrint. You wouldn’t think you can get something that looks big in such a small package.
Built by CargoHome, it welcomes vacationers in its two-bedroom premises. It also has two bathrooms, a dining room, and a living room.
It even has a deck where you can read a book and share a cig with your significant other. Any couple or family can enjoy a great time in this fully-functioning tiny house.
Would we rent Helm? Of course! Its spacious bathroom is especially our favorite, considering it’s a bathroom in a tiny house.
The interiors don’t also scream “cargo container”, which is a good thing. It’s certainly one of the best tiny houses out there.
3. “Coodo Homes” by Coodo
The future is finally here with Coodo’s designs.
Do you know that dystopian Netflix TV series, Black Mirror? Coodo’s modular mobile homes look exactly like it came straight out of Black Mirror. However, don’t let this alarm you. These houses won’t suddenly come alive—they just look futuristic.
The Coodo 32 series, the company’s flagship series, will make you gasp with its clean, round features made of white Aluminum.
The frontal design of the three models, which resembles the teeth of a USB connector, looks that way to let more natural light in. Meanwhile, if you’re not fond of the white Aluminium series, they also have a wooden series made of Siberian larch.
Would we buy a mobile house model from Coodo? Yes, it might look like a giant USB connector from Apple, but the specs aren’t too bad. Every model also comes with its own water tank, solar panels, wind turbines, and even a recycling station.
With those features, it’s easily one of the best tiny houses these days. The Jetsons would downsize, they would probably choose this series.
4. “First Light Tiny House” by First Light Studio
There’s a Yin and Yang quality to this tiny house on wheels.
This tiny house on wheels designed by First Light Studio’s Anna Farrow can be deceiving.
On the outside, it can look stand-offish with its black corrugated steel exteriors. However, on the inside, the soft glow of the interior lighting and birch plywood walls are comforting and welcoming. Truly breathtaking.
Handcrafted by Build Tiny, a tiny house builder, this off-grid ready house comes with a full kitchen, which shows the client’s affinity for whipping up meals and pastries.
It has a wall oven and grill complete with a range hood. The kitchen sink has a folding table beside it. At the top of the loft, of course, sits the solar panels.
The First Light Tiny House is a real standout, not only with its aesthetic quality but also with its functionality.
Confused about whether you should choose a mobile or stationary house? This model has the best of both worlds, making it one of the best tiny houses nowadays.
5. “The Getaway” by Tiny House Building Company
The Getaway brings you retro vibes from the 80s.
If you want to downsize but also relive the 1980s’ bubblegum pop aesthetic, The Getaway could be your permanent home.
The pink door, the big chill retro pink appliances, the awning, and the walls—these will remind you of a Barbie dollhouse or an ice cream parlor toy set.
Inside, the white and grey trimmings help in lighting up the room. If you want to secure your stuff, you can put them in the storage steps and the hitch outside. And if you are sleepy, you will feel comfy at the two king-size lofts.
Your very own dollhouse. Now available.
The Getaway also comes with a customized chandelier package, a bathroom with the Best washer and dryer and a fully furnished kitchen. You can use the freezer, microwave, and electric cook-top as well.
The Tiny House Building Company has a wide array of tiny houses on wheels, but The Getaway is unique for bringing that vintage, homey vibe in a mobile home.
If you can’t start your nomad lifestyle, this tiny house will bring that comfort in every ride. It’s another bright example of the best tiny houses at the moment.
6. “Athens 520” by Park Model Homes
Get ready to live like a thinker in Athens 520.
Like its regal-sounding name, Athens 520 comes in a larger size than the others on this list. Nevertheless, it’s still a tiny house; however, its wrap-around porch, in which the fireplace and the chairs are located, makes it appear bigger.
Crafted by Park Model Homes, Athens 520 is one of the 15 models in their Champions series. It’s also one of the most popular ones, qualifying as one of the best tiny houses you could purchase today.
Inside, Athens 520 has a wood-burning fireplace, perfect for those cold December nights. After hanging out with your siblings or children in the comfy living space, you can snuggle with your partner in the king-size bedroom.
If it were up to us, the Athens 520 would be an ideal space for granny or grandpa. There is no loft, so any climbing would be unnecessary.
Moreover, the wrap-around porch would be a perfect avenue for breezy afternoon teas and gabfest with their amigas.
The look of Zion fits its name—it’s modern design screams luxury. Notably, it doesn’t look too brutalist like other tiny houses. You can liken Zion to a shrunken version of a modern residential structure in a suburban neighborhood.
Despite being a premium park model, Zion’s white exterior walls, dark brown roof, large french doors, and wooden porch will make you reminisce of grandma’s house in the summer.
However, going inside the house, the refreshing in-the-now fittings, amenities, and furniture will greet you.
We think Zion is definitely one of the best tiny houses for couples who want to start a family. You and your partner can share pancakes and sip your coffee at the breakfast counter.
Besides the master bedroom, it also has a loft that is spacious enough for two toddlers. Mustard Seed Tiny Homes can also quote you some upgrades if you request it.
8. “Bellevue” by West Coast Homes
It’s always sunny here in Bellevue.
When you think of tiny houses, you might instantly imagine tight spaces. Bellevue goes the other way. With its open floor plan, Bellevue’s design reflects the gregariousness of the west coast lifestyle.
This high-end park model by West Coast Homes is apparently a refreshing take on their older unit, San Juan. It now features an extended porch, a deck you can access through a stair outside, a spacious main floor, and a loft for sleeping.
Inside, you can whip up your meals in the single-wall kitchen and store food in the cabinets beside the dining area.
This model is a good choice for couples because of the open floor plan. It wouldn’t be a problem if only the two of you can see each other’s business, right?
Besides, if you have guests, the extended porch and the deck is available for small parties. If they get too boozed up, they can always stay the night at the loft. With its versatility, it’s one of the best tiny houses one can opt for these times.
9. Modular Shipping Container Homes By Cocoon Modules
Live, work, play, or hide in this Cocoon house.
If you’re going for all-out minimalism, these transportable 320 square feet houses by Cocoon Modules might fit you. The Modular Shipping Container Homes are just like a turnkey giant block of wood with a few glass doors and windows.
Like the Bellevue, it has a simple open floor plan—the kitchen, living area, bedroom, and bathroom are all beside each other. At the rear end of the house, there’s an additional glass door.
Set up a lounge outside this tiny house.
Moreover, because it’s tiny and rectangular, it also boasts energy-efficiency and earthquake resistance. Cocoon Modules even has a class A certification in energy-efficiency.
This mini container house is suitable for those who are dead serious about downsizing. Everything is tiny in this house; but if you can find a spacious lot, you can park there, set up a lounge area, and host a film viewing for the family. It’s certainly one of the best tiny houses made of shipping containers.
There is bliss in this Ty Kelly shipping container house.
This Ty Kelly project in Seattle is another minimalist wonder. In the day, it’s an undeniable piece of modern architecture.
Up close, you can see the gorgeous patterns of the wooden panels and neon green details. Inside, the house is full of symmetrical features and design. The Shipping Container House comes even more alive at night.
Even though it’s not that tiny, it has the elements of good design, which is so much better than being tiny just for the sake of it.
Isn’t that a nice contrast of neon green and light wood?
Going inside, you will see a wide common area with eye-catching artwork on the walls. Just beside the living room is an island kitchen that also serves as a breakfast countertop. There is even an extended porch at the front.
We believe the Shipping Container House is one of the best tiny houses because it’s the epitome of container architecture done right. It’s obvious that the designer did not sacrifice form for the sake of function. Who says you can’t have debonair in sustainability?
11. “The Wedge” by Wheelhaus
Spend time with your significant other in The Wedge on a peaceful night.
From one quick look, The Wedge looks like a small luxury beachfront cabin with its 400 square feet size. However, one would be surprised to find out that it’s a fully functioning one-bedroom unit, complete with turnkey appliances.
This cornerstone model by Wheelhaus is designed with timber and steel. It has exterior siding and higher ceilings made of reclaimed Wyoming snow fencing, which is unique for a tiny home.
The windows and sliding glass doors are also designed to welcome sunlight. The private deck is an inviting addition, like a cherry on top of a sundae.
If you’re into natural materials without sacrificing contemporary elements, this turnkey model could be your dream tiny house. Truly, it’s a convenient luxury for tiny house enthusiasts.
If you’re tired of the common notion about tiny houses having poor quality, then you can buy this house and rub it off the naysayers’ faces.
12. “The Brillhart House” By Brillhart Architecture
The Brillhart House is brilliantly crafted.
Despite its magical simplicity, The Brillhart House is one decorated house. It won the AIA Miami Honor Award in 2014 and the AIA Florida Honor Award and the Best Single Family House in 2015. Phew. It must be that great, right?
Well, it truly is. The Brillhart House is a bigger tiny house, but its mystique oozes even from just one glance. The front facade has a wide porch covered with rows of shutters. That very porch, apparently, brilliantly connects the indoor and the outdoor spaces.
Sunlight falls on this well-designed house.
Inside, there’s a glaring, wide living room, a kitchen with earthy tones, and a zen bedroom, which is separated by glass sliding doors from the rest of the house.
The true magic of the Brillhart House lies in its functions. The house itself was designed with the purpose to provide an essential habitat for an individual and a community. Beyond that, it was crafted to reduce environmental impact.
The result is a beautiful house with a winning design and superior efficiency. And the awarding bodies clearly agree that it’s one of the best tiny houses they have seen.
13. “Cahill Cabin” by Cushman Design Group
It’s not just a cabin in the woods!
The Cahill Cabin by Kelley Osgood and Chad Forcier is an actual cabin, but it has a unique quality to it.
Like The Wedge, it’s a fully functioning house with complete amenities. That, together with its warm contemporary elements, made it qualified to be featured in Katie Hutchison’s “The New Cottage”.
Inside the cabin is a dining area, living room, and kitchen, all wrapped with glass sliding doors. You can stay warm by the fireplace while enjoying the outside view of the greenery and the river.
The Cahill Cabin is located in a fishing camp in rural northern Vermont. Its two bedrooms mainly have wooden furniture and walls.
Not only is the Cahill Cabin a good vacation dwelling but also a functional and compact home. It gives a new meaning to cottage living, which is often misunderstood by many, unfortunately.
With that defining quality, it’s one of the best tiny houses you can find today.
14. “Highlands Escape” by Benn and Penna Architects
Escape into this small but voluptuous house.
All these rectangular tiny houses… Where are the curvy ones? Enter Highlands Escape. This sophisticated dwelling by Benn and Penna Architects is anything but boring.
From one look, you might mistake it for a Zaha Hadid piece because of its wavy design. Zaha Hadid designed the famous Heydar Aliyev Center in London.
However, Highlands Escape is a unique delight on its own. Its wavy exterior look with horizontal lines is actually corrugated Colorbond, which is a famous long-lasting roofing material.
It has an extended porch, which leads you to the front door. Because of its curved shape, the interior space allows the occupants to contemplate. In fact, the living room is surrounded by a wall of bookshelves.
The designers of Highlands Escape were apparently inspired by Marion Mahony Griffin. Like his quote, “a tiny house, like a tiny temple, can be the perfect work of art”, the architects crafted Highlands Escape in such a way that it’s a tiny masterpiece. It’s undeniably one of the best tiny houses that’s built today.
From wavy to whimsical, we now discuss the quirky Honey on the Rock. Unlike the others, the Honey might look like a McDonald’s play place, but make no mistake—it’s a working tiny house!
Daniel Weddle went all out with wood on this project. Inside, you’ll be met with detailed wooden paneling, circular windows, and rustic metal accents.
With its tiny size, you’ll be delighted to know that a second-floor deck exists, which you can access through the outdoor spiral staircase. Had enough quirk? We’re not even finished yet—there’s a secret door inside the sleeping area!
We can definitely see creatives living in this house. They will be inspired to remain deviant to the mundane with The Honey’s design. However, they won’t be uncomfortable because it’s still a functioning house in which one can live.
A visual representation of Cali Duo 2 by Sustain Design Studio
We’re done with the curvy and the quirky. Let’s go back to the elegant rectangular houses. First up is the Cali Duo 2, which is a larger tiny house with a front porch. Like the earlier houses that we listed here, it’s like a modern suburban house that’s been shrunk into a more compact size.
For a prefab model, Cali Duo is a 10/10 looker. It has gorgeous Cedar siding and deck, Baltic Birch Ply interior walls, and cork floors. This model also comes with appliances such as a dishwasher and a fridge.
As for energy efficiency, it’s equipped with a tankless hot water heater and a ventilation system. You can also let them install an air-to-air heat pump.
A small family who’s cautious with their environmental impact can surely move into this large tiny house.
In the Cali Duo 2 structure, Sustain boasts of an absence of vinyl, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and drywall. An off-grid system will also depend on the homeowners.
17. “Working Amp House” by Brian Crabb
This groovy tiny house will rock your world.
With its look that resembles a giant amplifier, the Working Amp House is one groovy tiny home.
Its violinist owner, Asha Mevlana, hired the services of her brother, designer Brian Crabb to create a tiny house with a unique look and function. She didn’t just want an ordinary tiny home, hence the amplifier-shaped house.
The Working Amp’s main house is shaped like an L itself, but the other star here is the extended deck. This is where Asha can host mini-concerts for her friends, family, and neighbors in Arkansas.
She’s also planning to invite other local musicians for music festivals in her home. Inside the house, you will admire the high ceilings.
This is truly a unique piece of work. If it were up to us, it could even become a rental property that will draw a lot of renters because of its fun look. It could also be a tourist attraction if Asha decides to move to a new tiny house.
18. “AirShip 002” by Roderrick James Architects
The unique rental, AirShip 002 | Photo courtesy of Hypebeast
Have you ever dreamed of being an astronaut or a pilot? How about going to Mars? You may not reach that dream now, but you can take inspiration from this tiny house that’s shaped like an aircraft. The AirShip 002 is a one-of-a-kind tiny house that will instantly turn the heads of passers-by.
Designed by the Roderick James Architects, the AirShip 002’s exterior is made of stainless steel and aluminum.
Inside the house, you’ll feel like flying because of the circular windows that resemble those in airplanes. Interestingly, the walls and furniture are a combination of wood and metal, giving you that rustic feel, somehow.
Make no mistake about the AirShip 002. You might think it’s not a liveable house, but once you go inside, you can see that the elements work together just fine. There’s even an island counter that serves as a breakfast table.
The AirShip 002 is available for rental on AirBnB.
19. “The Slim Fit” by Ana Rocha
The Slim Fit at dusk.
You’ve seen tiny houses that are whimsical, curvy, shaped like an amplifier and an airship… Now, brace yourself: a vertical tiny house!
The Slim Fit is a tall tiny house, with its three floors and 538 square feet of liveable area. Indeed, its name is very fitting. Pun intended.
Ana Rocha of Ana Rocha Architecture crafted this house with Ayous hardwood and birchwood. Outside, it resembles a stack of Jenga blocks and a wooden version of The Powerpuff Girls’ house.
But even though it has an intimidating look, this house is notably a downsizing wonder with its small carbon footprint. In fact, each floor is only 176 square feet!
The Slim Fit is ideal for people who want something out of the ordinary, but still a comfortable and practical living space.
It’s certainly not for those people with mobility difficulties or people with worsening back pain because of the stairs.
20. “Wave House” by Abdolrahman Kadkhodasalehi
Side view of The Wave.
We have finally arrived at the final house. Since this list is colorful with the different designs of tiny houses, why not end it with an oddly shaped tiny house?
The last one on our list is the Wave House, which is, you’ve guessed it—a wavy tiny house.
The Wave House was actually a competition winner. In February 2019, the Wave House won the Ryterna Modul’s Architectural Challenge. It was a contest for the houses with the least impact on the environment. The Wave House beat the others with its curved structure and large glass windows.
The Wave House is truly an architectural feat not just because of its shape but also because of its recycling technology. It has a refinery tank, which recycles and purifies the used sink and shower water.
The curved structure also serves as a storage for the water supply for the heaters. The design is nothing but revolutionary.
Best Tiny Houses: Design Trends in 2020
Do you want your tiny house to stand out in the crowd despite its size? Tiny houses are known to lose value quickly. Therefore, if you’re planning to make it a rental business in the future, you have to spruce it up. A well-maintained property will retain value easily.
You can take a hint from these 2020 design trends.
1. Scandinavian interiors
Scandinavian interiordesign has been a superstar in the design world for a long time now. However, it never goes out of style because of its roots in minimalism, functionality, and impeccable style.
For your tiny house, you can embody this design movement using light wood, warm textiles, metallic-wood accents, and neutral-colored flooring.
2. Pop a color of Jester Red
And do it in small doses. In a tiny house, neutral colors are ideal since they create the illusion of a larger area. However, too much beige will become boring eventually.
As a result, you have to breathe life into your rooms. Why not try Jester Red? This maroon-red hue will bring an elegant and sexy atmosphere to a tiny house washed with muted colors.
3. Grandmillennial Style
Grandmillennial Style is another term for a “New Traditionalist.” This design trend incorporates the elements of a granny’s lifestyle and home decor. However, this time, they’re adding a Millennial twist to it.
We’re talking about floral wallpapers, botanical prints, chandeliers, vases, etc. It may sound like this trend is about clutter, but you can avoid that by being selective with your statement pieces.
Another hot trend is mixing old and new interior decors. More homeowners are grabbing luxurious period pieces and partnering them with contemporary lighting, rugs, and couches.
This approach is not new, but if you can pair contrasting accessories with each other, then it will never stay out of touch.
5. Gravity-defying furniture
Furniture pieces without legs or with unusual shapes are becoming big. As more people are being into granny pods and container houses, their furniture choices will also downsize.
The good thing about going “legless” is that they look lighter in the house. They are also easier to clean. The only drawback is that if they’re mounted on the wall, you can’t easily move them.
These tiny houses are not just homes—they can also be works of art.
If you are still planning to build or buy a tiny house, you could borrow an element or two from any of the dwellings we listed above.
Remember, a tiny house could also be your investment, too. Why not opt for something special when you’re planning the design, right?
Do you know any other awesome tiny houses that exist? Share them to us below!
Related questions
Where can you find tiny house floor plans?
You can find free tiny house floor plans on Pinterest. If you want to go DIY and if you have prior building experience, you can take inspiration from them. However, having a custom floor plan by a pro will give you peace of mind. If you want to buy blueprints, House Plans sells them on their site.
What is the average cost of a tiny house?
The average cost of a tiny house lies between $30,000 to $40,000. Depending on the materials, craftsmanship, and location, tiny houses can cost you up to $180,000.
One of the factors that heavily affect the cost is the location. The cost of building one will be determined by local building codes. Therefore, if your state is not yet open to tiny house living, then you might have to pay for more just to live in one.
Tiny Homes Living: How to Live and Adjust to a Tiny Life
As beautiful as it sounds, adjusting to the tiny house lifestyle could be easy as long as you are well prepared.
In most cases, the decision to move into a tiny house is due to financial reasons. Nowadays, the cost of housing keeps on rising. It has become unaffordable to everyone most especially to those who are earning limited income. But with tiny houses, the cost of living is drastically reduced.
And while money matters keep most things rolling, there will be times that the process of owning a tiny house will become more personal. The focus will drift to the challenges of how you and your family will make it living in a tiny house. How will you start living in a tiny house then?
At first, you will find yourself lost in the middle of nowhere. But eventually, you’ll find the track soon. You might find the transition hard since you’ve been living differently before but in no time, things will get better.
Living in a tiny house will make you scrutinize the things you own and how you spend your time. This means that you have to thoroughly go through the possessions you have collected and the habits you have developed throughout the years.
Here are some things that will help you adjust to your tiny house lifestyle.
Preparation Tips
1. Go Spend Time in a Tiny Space
Obviously, you just can buy or build a tiny house without looking for one that is already built and complete. Ideally, you should not just take a look at it but you should take your time staying in it.
The tiny house lifestyle is not one size fits all. It is not for everyone. So, it is best for you to spend your time living in one to get the vibe and find out if it works for you.
Spending your time in a tiny house first before having your own is much better. This will save you from wasting your time and money into something that is not fitted for you. Also, this will give you a grasp of how living in a tiny house is.
If you are wondering where you can find a tiny house where you can stay for a few days, you can easily find one online. Just make sure that you are booking with a legit owner. Perhaps, this is one of the best ideas to give you a glimpse of how your life will be once you live in a tiny house.
2. Determine What’s Really Important in Life
If you already have decided to live in a tiny house then it’s high time to start figuring out your wants and needs in life. Tiny houses are around 400 to 500 square feet only. This means that your space is very limited.
This also means that you have to let go of some if not most of the stuff that you have. This includes the things that you are not actually using that have been piled up in your cabinet.
You will find yourself choosing between wants and needs. But of course, since you will be living in a tiny house, your needs should be your priority. Having your wants means less space for you.
Which of the things that you have are you willing to let go? Answering this is very hard most especially when you are sentimental. But you have to go through this process when you want to live in a tiny house.
Determine the ones that really matter, the ones that are important, the ones that you really and set aside the things that you don’t actually need. Practice living the minimalist lifestyle because you’ll be living with it as long as you are staying in a tiny house. You have to keep things as minimal as possible for lesser clutter and to make your tiny house look better as well.
Living in a tiny house is a big step that is not easy to take when you are not prepared.
3. Start Getting Rid of Your Stuff
Most probably, decluttering is one of the hardest preparations for living in a tiny house. Letting go of your stuff, even just the ‘junk’, is not as easy as it sounds. But believe us, it feels good to let go of the things that you have accumulated through the years – the ones that you are not using and just displayed there.
Just the mere fact of taking out the clothes you are not using is hard. But this will give you satisfaction. It will make you rejoice for how far you’ve come due to your tiny house living plans.
If you are already living in a tiny house lifestyle, you are already used to being a minimalist. If it is your first time, you’ll have a head time, but don’t worry, you’ll get there.
You might find your closet lacking before but actually, you have more than what is needed when living in a tiny house. All this time, you are living with too much stuff because you believed that you needed them when in reality, you don’t.
You thought that it makes your house look more beautiful, but it just made it look cluttered. You are so used to every single thing that is placed inside your house that letting go of any of them is difficult. But that is how it goes. You have decided to live in a tiny house, so bear with it.
No-fuss. Living in a tiny house could be one of your best decisions ever. Your stuff might mean something to you, but you don’t have to dwell on them forever. Besides, it will just make your tiny house small.
So, go. Pack the things that you need and let go of the things that you don’t need. You won’t regret it, promise. The results will make you thank yourself for doing it.
4. Learn to Ignore the Critics
Critics won’t just go anywhere. They will always be there. They will always have a say on everything you do. So, ignore them.
Most probably, they will have something to say again with your decision to live in a tiny house. They will get every single chance that they have to question your decision to live in a tiny house. Do not let them change your plans. In simpler terms, do not listen to them.
Do not let them decide for you. You, for sure, know what you want. Go for it.
Instead of listening to their nonsense opinion, listen to people who support you with your decision. Be with the people who share the same interest as you. The ones who know how the tiny house lifestyle is.
At this point, negative vibes are not welcome. As always, stay on the positive side. Let’s face it. Deciding to live in a tiny house is scary, but is not as scary as letting others decide for you.
5. Stop Being a Crazed Consumer
Nowadays, living in a big space feels like a must, and owning a lot of stuff is a need. But realistically speaking, living in a big space with a lot of stuff depends on how responsible you are in maintaining them.
The society today is very consumerist. You believed that you have to buy more and more to be happy and satisfied. You believed that you need to own a lot of stuff to be on top.
It is very important that you stop this lifestyle and do not fall for this notion again once you live in a tiny house. Admit it, you are as guilty as us when it comes to us. But it is time to change that lifestyle and start being a minimalist.
Their offer might sound good but that’s how it really is. Marketing is their forte, always remember that. You don’t actually need the latest and most innovative products to keep you living. They are not the air that you breathe or the food that you eat.
Stop being a crazed customer. Start purchasing the ones that are just really needed. You don’t have to live with the hype.
With such limited space, having your own personal space is almost impossible not unless you are creative and resourceful.
6. Define Your Idea of Meaningful Space
In the house where you are living right now, which of the spaces that you have mean so much to you? What part of the house do you spend most of your time? Which space could you not imagine not having?
It’s time to start figuring out the spaces in your house that mean a lot to you. This will help you come up with the best plan for your tiny house and tiny life.
Traditional houses have a lot of spaces which you can’t have in a tiny house. Besides, the spaces that you have in a tiny house is the miniature version of everything. So, which of the spaces are you willing to let go of?
Knowing the space that means a lot to you is your very first step towards planning your tiny house. This is very important in order for you to maximize your tiny house. This will also keep you away from wasting any space.
Remember, every inch of space matters when you are living in a tiny house. It is understandable that you want every single part of a traditional house, but you just can’t. So, start weighing which of the spaces are the heaviest to you.
7. Find Your Tiny House Community
Just like you, there are a lot of people who want to live in a tiny house too. They are everywhere, waiting for you. And, they are very ready to give you all the information that you need to kick start your tiny house life.
With them, you will get the advice that you need in order to begin. How will you find them out?
Start by searching for tiny homes near you. Find groups of tiny house owners on Facebook. Get in touch with bloggers of tiny houses. Ask people you know in case they know someone who owns a tiny house.
There are actually a lot of things that you can do to widen your connection with tiny house owners. This step is very important when preparing to live in a tiny house. Why?
More or less, these people are the ones who know about building codes, zoning, and constructing and living in a tiny house. With them, you can get the information that you need in order to keep you going. It’s time to outsource all the information that you need in order for you to survive the tiny house lifestyle.
Things to Consider when Planning to Live in a Tiny House
There are a lot of things that you have to consider when planning to live in a tiny house for a smoother transition.
1. Toilet
Living in a tiny house isn’t exactly the same as living in a traditional house. This means that you have to deal with problems you are not dealing with before. And that includes problems with a toilet.
Choosing the right toilet for your tiny house is a very important and critical decision that you have to face. Having the right toilet in your tiny house will not just make you feel comfortable but will also save you from any problem soon. If you want to travel from one place to another with your tiny house, then you have to look for a good alternative to the traditional flush toilet.
Keep in mind that you have to keep your toilet at a limited space due to your already limited space. Soundproofing your toilet also matters. Sure enough, you don’t want to be embarrassed with the sounds that you make when using the toilet.
2. Personal Space
If you have tried living in a dorm, you probably know the struggle of not having your own personal space. Having time on your own is very difficult given the tight same that dorm rooms offer. And with the limited space that tiny houses have to offer, you have to be as creative as you can to have your very own personal space.
A good way to have your very own personal space on your tiny house is to divide your house strategically. You can use curtains to have some privacy. You could also make use of wall dividers if you want.
Also, in as much as possible, do not let anyone enter your room. Keep that space for yourself only. You could share the rest of the space with others but at least have something you can call your own.
3. Lights
It can be very easy for small spaces to feel and get dark. This makes it very important to have a light source wherever it is possible. The light source could either be natural or not.
Have big windows in your tiny house where natural light can pass through. Natural lights can do magic. They can easily lift up and set the mood of your tiny house.
When you have a good number of windows, do not cover them up with curtains. It is even better if you don’t put curtains at all. If not, use blinds to cover-up your windows during the night.
To control the amount of light in your tiny house, install recessed lighting that has dimmer switches. You could also put string lights in nooks and lamps in corners. When setting up lights, it would be better to have them hanged to save space and expand the space visually.
4. Maintenance
In maintaining your tiny house, don’t let yourself stay in repair mode. Fix any damage repaired as soon as possible. Do regular maintenance checks as well.
Doing regular maintenance check is very important in order to find out any problem and prevent it from getting more serious. Living in a tiny house doesn’t mean that you are exempted from maintaining it. Besides, you have to be more keen on it most especially when you are on the move.
Some of the things that you have to regularly check include roof leaks, appliance upkeep problems, and plumbing and electrical issues. If what you have is a mobile tiny house, the tires, brakes, and bearings also have to be checked.
When planning or already living in a tiny house, do not forget to maintain it. Maintaining your tiny house plays a pivotal role in how long your tiny house will last. It also has something to do with your safety, so make this your priority.
5. Lifestyle
The tiny house lifestyle isn’t the same as the lifestyle you’re used to. Remember, your tiny house isn’t just a house, it’s a lifestyle. And, you have to adapt to that lifestyle.
If you are into the arts, then make sure that everything will still look clean and organized once you are done doing your stuff. If you can’t live without a dryer, then you should have a bigger space. In such a case, it would even be better to have your tiny house built on a foundation.
Do not forget that you can always customize your tiny house. Do not settle for anything less. Feel free to do whatever you want with your tiny house. Just make sure that you do not overdo anything.
Tips For Adjusting To Life In A Tiny House
IT is not easy to adjust to the tiny house lifestyle, but being prepared will make it easy.
Over the past few years, the tiny house movement has become a very trending topic. It’s growing popularity has invited a lot of people. But, they just see this as a bigger dollhouse, not something that they could see themselves living in.
This is because the idea of transitioning from a big house into an ultra-small one isn’t attractive to others. But then again, tiny houses exist for a reason – the so-called “modern conveniences”. So, how will you adjust to living in a tiny house?
Here are some of the most common questions asked about the concept of tiny house living which will help you prepare and adjust to this lifestyle.
1. How Do You Fit My 3-Bedroom Lifestyle into a Tiny House?
At a maximum, tiny houses only measure 500 square feet. This means that you have to put everything you necessarily need in such a limited space. This could be not your piece of cake.
This means that you and your family should figure out the stuff that you necessarily need in order to live. Regardless of your effort, it would be impossible to put everything you have with such a limited space. So, minimalism is the key.
Bring only the ones that you really need – from clothes, the decorative pieces, and more. It would also be good if you do the one thing in, one thing out practice. This way, your tiny house will not look cramped.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t have a little luxury. Of course, you can. You just have to keep things at a minimum. Remember to focus on the quality over the quantity of the items that you have.
2. Where Do You Put Your Clothes?
Just like everyone else, you probably have a lot of clothes. Some, if not most, of these clothes are still unused yet you just can’t let them go. This is because you thought you could use it one day.
But once you have decided to live in a tiny house, this mindset is not applicable. Living in a tiny house entails reducing the number of clothes that you have. But this does not necessarily mean that you have to eliminate all the clothes you have.
This does not also mean that you should have four outfits only. That’s not how it goes. When loving in a tiny house, it would be better if you go for an interchangeable wardrobe. You could also opt for multipurpose clothes.
This way, you save space and money at the same time. You can also go away from getting frustrated by deciding what you should wear.
3. What about Cooking and Cleaning?
You might be wondering how you will cook in your tiny house. Cooking in a tiny house doesn’t mean that you will cook on your child’s tiny range. There are a lot of compact appliances that you can purchase for your tiny house.
In fact, there are already appliances that are specifically made for tiny houses. These appliances will perfectly fit your tiny house as long as it is designed well. This means that you can still cook the way you do in your big house.
You could also have an outdoor cooking space if you want. An outdoor kitchen is perfect if you want to camp or grill every now and then. You can also custom build your kitchen in a way that will perfectly fit your kitchen appliances.
4. Are the Bathrooms Outside?
Not unless you want to have your bathroom outside, the bathroom of a tiny house is inside. Tiny house bathrooms have been well adapted to tiny houses. Besides, most tiny house builders customize the bathroom in order for it to fit in a tiny house.
Despite their size, tiny houses are still equipped with the smaller version of the necessities of personal hygiene. And throughout the years, tiny house builders have come up with creative ways to incorporate bathroom luxuries into tiny houses. These luxuries come in compact sizes.
The toilet in a tiny house is compact but is not as tiny as you think. You can still use them comfortably. You do not have to worry that you will be getting out of balance. There’s no big difference in using a regular toilet.
5. Am I Supposed to Live Without a Garage?
There is no such tiny house rule which stops you from owning a few properties. You could still have separate space as you want and need. Have a different or adjoining room for spaces such as your office, craft room, garage and so much more.
Living in a tiny house, but this doesn’t mean that you have to stop doing what you love just because you do not have the space to do so. You could always have a separate space for that. Besides, living in a tiny house could save you money which you can use to meet your other needs.
When you have a car that requires you to have a garage, feel free to have one. You could have it adjoined into your tiny house or place it in a different place as long as it is near you.
Conclusion
Deciding to live in a tiny house is one of the bravest things you can do. The start may be hard but you’ll enjoy it as time goes by. Do not let the challenges bring you down, let it be your inspiration to go through.
Related Questions
How long does it take for me to adjust to the tiny house lifestyle?
Adjusting to the tiny house lifestyle could take months or years. It all depends on you. Adjusting could be easy if you have planned to live in a tiny house for so long and if you are very willing to go through the process as well. Just remember that forcing yourself to adapt to the lifestyle won’t help. Let yourself adjust naturally. Adjusting is a step by step process, not a one time process.
Is it better if I live alone first in a tiny house?
Ideally, you should have someone with you in the first few days that you will be living in your tiny house. This will help you adjust faster to the tiny house lifestyle. Living alone right when you moved into your tiny house could make it hard for you to adjust.
Tiny House Living: 8 Clever Ideas to Maximize Your Space
Maximizing the space of a tiny house isn’t as hard as you thought – just be creative.
Living in a tiny house means having limited space. This also means that you have to be very smart and clever to put everything you need in there. But how?
The answer relies on how you will get the most out of the spaces that you have. Yes, space is limited, but your imagination and creativity are unlimited. You just have to be creative and imaginative to come up with amazing ideas on how you can maximize your space.
It might be a little bit challenging, but once you get its rhythm, it will come out easily. Plus, it is fun too especially when you do it with family and friends. So, here are some of the things that you could do to maximize the space in your tiny house.
1. Find Space Storage in Unique Locations
Unlike traditional homes, tiny houses don’t have basements or attics where you can store your stuff. You don’t have all the space you need to accommodate all the luxurious items that you want. Besides, living in a tiny house will require you to look for storage in spaces you never thought are useful.
Thankfully, interior designers and architects have taken the challenge of creating storage space in very small spaces. So, if you can’t handle this problem, the best thing to do is ask for professional help. This way, you can maximize the space that your tiny house has to offer.
But if you do not have the budget, you can do it yourself instead. For example, instead of having a dish cabinet in the counter, you can opt for a hanging dish drying cabinet. This way, you can save counter space. It looks posher as well.
There is actually a lot of space in your tiny house. Some of them are waiting for you to discover them. You just have to figure them out and start using them creatively. Who knows, the space under your table might serve a purpose, right?
2. Go Vertical
In most homes, vertical spaces are of no use. But when it comes to tiny houses, vertical spaces are very useful. These vertical spaces are basically empty canvasses waiting for you to design it the way you wish.
Using vertical spaces for storage purposes is a very practical way to store your stuff. And at times, they save you from spending too much just to fill all your things in your tiny house. Here are some ways on how you can maximize the vertical spaces of your tiny house:
a. Add a vertical garden
Adding a vertical garden in your tiny house is a very practical way to maximize your vertical space. With this, you are saving money and getting the most out of your space at the same time. You will no longer find yourself lacking any of the spices that you need when cooking.
You might not have considered it yet, but your doorway can actually store some of the stuff that you have. When doing so, you have to make it look more open first. This is because you will be placing items at an eye level.
You can simply add a shelf and there you go. You can already display the stuff that you have such as bowls, vases, and other decorative items that you have. Shelving your doorways is a very practical way to redecorate your tiny house.
c. Think thin and tall
If your tiny house offers a lot of vertical space, then ideally, you should incorporate tall pieces rather than the wide ones. Doing so does not just add visual variation but it also makes your tiny house more interesting.
Thankfully, you do not have to splurge your hard-earned cash on expensive furniture just to achieve this look. You can simply stack several pieces of art. You can also add framed family pictures vertically to add height to your vertical space.
There is a lot of vertical space in your closet that is being wasted. So, how will you get the most out of the space in your closet? Shelving is the answer.
Shelving gives you easy storage for your personal items such as shoes, handbags, and the like. High-end closets are obviously expensive. Luckily, there are a lot of low-cost closet organizers that you can easily find in stores.
Too much stuff will make your tiny house bedroom look cluttered. It will also make it look even smaller. If you want to maximize the space in your bedroom, adding bed risers is your best bet.
Bed risers instantly give you space where you can store stuff you do not frequently use. This is more practical rather than buying other furniture where you can place your stuff. Besides, this is a perfect way to hide clutter from your eyesight.
Maximizing the space of a tiny house will require you to think outside the box.
3. Slatwall Shelving
Slatwall panels are a superb way to maximize the space in your tiny house. These are flexible storage spaces that can accommodate different items for you. From books to vases and more, Slatwall shelves are your perfect go-to for your tiny house.
Slatwall is also a good alternative to a nightstand table. You just have to figure it out if it works on the space where you will be installing it.
Aside from giving you more space in your tiny house, Slatwall shelves also make your room more aesthetic. They can make your tiny house look more spacious.
Slatwall shelves are very easy to install. And because they are made of aluminum, they are very lightweight yet extremely durable and versatile.
Ideally, heavier Slatwall systems are better. This is because they allow virtually endless space storage for almost anything. They can be custom designed as well.
Slat walls can be used as anchors for hooks, hanging rods, shelves, and any other thing that you want to display in your tiny house. Best of all, they are more affordable than traditional shelves.
4. Creative Outdoor Storage
Sure enough, you have outdoor stuff that you need to store as well. Bringing these things inside your tiny house is not advised due to the limited space that you have. What will you do then?
In such cases, what you can do is to make the most out of your outdoor space. For example, your outdoor stairs can be used as a shoe store. Or, you can store your gardening tools and supplies there.
This will not just save you indoor space but it also helps you secure your outdoor items. Thus, you do not have to worry so much about them.
Here are some of the things that you can do to maximize the outdoors of your tiny house:
a. Use a hanging organizer to store gardening tools
A hanging organizer is like baking soda—it literally fixes everything. Having a hanging organizer outside your tiny house is very helpful.
You can use it to store your crafts, cleaning supplies, shoes, winter accessories, and so much more. In addition, hanging organizers can also be used to store gardening tools and supplies. This includes twine, gloves, clippers, seed packets, and plant stakes.
In most cases, living in a tiny house will require you to use compact items in order to fit the space.
b. Have an outdoor cooking space
An outdoor cooking space is a good idea if you want to have more space when cooking. It is also more ideal if you love camping. This will make cooking, grilling to be more particular, a lot easier.
Baking is also possible. An outdoor cooking space is perfect for anyone who loves the outdoors. Besides, staying outdoors will help you save electric bills for air conditioners and the smoke system as well.
Check out this very conventional CUISINART CGG-888 Grill. It’s perfect for the outdoors!
c. Have a hammock
Having a hammock outside can make your tiny house look bigger and wider than it actually is. It also gives you extra space to relax during the day or even when the night is still young. It is also a fun way to enjoy the outdoors of your tiny house.
5. Go for a pull out bed
If you want to maximize your floor space in your bedroom, you can use a pull out bed. A pull out bed is easier to manage on a daily basis especially when you want to keep things organized most of the time. Pull out beds can also accommodate more, so, you will not need any additional beds.
You will also have more space during the day and have enough sleeping space for everyone during the night. This is a good option aside from beds with storage under them.
Pull out beds are very versatile. It can convert the living room of your tiny house into a guest room or a compact bedroom. With this, you can enjoy your living room while you can easily sleep at any time of the day.
It is also very ideal if you want to stay up late at night to watch a movie. This is because this allows you to stay in a comfortable position. It is also a perfect choice if you work at home since you can just lie down and take a break in between shifts.
6. Buy furniture that is multifunctional
Having a bed with bookshelf on its headboard and drawers below it is already three furniture pieces combined into one. Using multifunctional furniture in your tiny house is very useful given the limited space that you have. With such furniture, you have more space for other items while saving money.
The more furniture you have, the more clutter there will be. The chance that your tiny house will look disorganized is also higher. These things will make your tiny house even look smaller.
Having multifunctional furniture pieces in your tiny house helps you reduce clutter. This is because the number of furniture pieces in your tiny house is reduced. It also highlights the beauty of your tiny house, making it more inviting and bigger.
In addition, multifunctional furniture is also easier to clean and maintain. You only have a few pieces to clean so, you won’t be rushing just to clean your entire place. Cleaning your tiny house will take you less time, so you can dedicate the rest of your time to other things.
The holy grail to having more space in your tiny house is to keep items off the floor. Of course, you can still put rugs or furniture on the floor. Keeping items off the floor means not using the floor to store your stuff.
Do not use the floor of your tiny house as storage. In no time, your floor will end up as a dumping ground. And, your tiny house will look messy with no space for other things.
The best thing that you can do is to do shelving. This will make your tiny house less cluttered. Doing so also makes cleaning the floor easier.
In as much as possible, keep things off the floor – including your shoes. Learn to put them into organizers or shelves. If that is not possible, at least keep items on the floor as minimal as possible.
8. Declutter
Less is more is very applicable when it comes to tiny houses. Actually, having a small space is the problem. Having too much stuff is the issue.
Letting go of the things you have is very hard. This is because you think that you can use them one day. But, when is that one day coming?
If you want to maximize the space of your tiny house while keeping things peaceful, calm, and uncluttered, learn to declutter. Declutter by figuring out first the things that you actually need and the things that you will not use now or soon.
Start by finding out all the things that you have and separating the items that you necessarily need from the items that are useless to you.
Decluttering might be hard to start but it is very freeing once you are done with it. Remember, your space is very limited. Your tiny house can’t accommodate all your items.
The best way to keep your tiny house look organized is to declutter. This will also help you maximize the space of your tiny house. So, go, purge as much as you can’t.
The space in your tiny house is very limited. You might find it almost impossible to fit all your necessary things in there. But as long as you know how to get the most out of your limited space, fitting them all won’t be as hard as you think.
Related Questions
Is it possible to cook in a tiny house?
Yes, it is very possible to cook in a tiny house. In fact, tiny houses have kitchens which you can use to cook all the food that you want. You can cook in your tiny house whenever you feel like doing so.
If you are into cooking, you can have your tiny house designed with a bigger kitchen. This will give you enough space to move around while doing what you love. Space is the only difference that makes tiny houses different from traditional houses.
What is best: propane or a wood stove?
Propane is more favorable. This is because wood stoves need to be tended from time to time. They also need more clearance to the wall so your space becomes more limited.
Propane, on the other hand, is directly mounted to the wall. Thus, less space is required.
10 Unique Ideas for Your Tiny House Interior Designs
Designing interiors of your tiny house is challenging and fulfilling at the same time.
Who does not like the idea of making their home feel bigger than it actually does? Because really, in order to have an airier and lighter home, a bigger space is needed. But how will you achieve such a thing in your tiny house?
Thankfully, you can still beautifully arrange your tiny house without compromising style. Yes, you can achieve that amazingly beautiful interior with the limited space that you have.
Interior Design Ideas
Designing the interiors of your tiny house could be a little challenging. But if you know exactly what you want, then it would be so easy for you. Here are some ideas to help you kickstart designing your tiny house.
1. Opt for an Accent Wall
At the very heart of almost all homes with amazing interior design is an anchor. Anchors could range from an accent wall to a statement piece of furniture. A good way to anchor how your tiny home is designed is through an exposed brick wall.
You might be wondering how you could have an interior brick wall in your tiny home. Well, the brick wall does not necessarily have to be true. You might now know it, but you can actually fake exposed brick walls.
How? Thin brick tiles and grout will do the trick. With these two materials, you can already give your tiny house a facelift.
What more? You don’t have to hire contractors as well which means that you can see money out of it. Installing brick tiles on your walls is very easy and is very affordable too. Besides, you can install it yourself.
Alternatively, you can opt for stickers with a brick design. They look so real, you would not notice they are not real bricks.
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Given the limited space that you have, purchasing a full set dining set is a big NO. Instead, you should only buy furniture that you actually need.
When buying furniture sets for your tiny home, you should always opt for the ones that are compact and can be transformed or folded. In short, go for multifunctional furniture not just to save space but to save money as well.
If your tiny house has a very limited dimension, your best option is to go for custom-built furniture. Custom-built furniture sets are more expensive but most of them serve different functions.
Also, your furniture sets do not necessarily have to match. Always feel free to mix and match them to come up with an eclectic feel. Doing so also saves space.
Always remember that the more space you have saved in one corner, the more space you’ll have for other items in your tiny house.
Dark colors are not suitable for small spaces. This is because dark colors make small spaces look even smaller. But this does not mean that you can’t go for the color scheme that you want for your tiny house.
Your dream of having navy colors in your tiny house is still possible. Your best bet is to have your walls accented with single navy color. Then, keep the rest of your walls a tone lighter.
To add more dark colors into your tiny house, add things like throw pillows and rugs with the color that you want. Just make sure that you are not overdoing it. Keep it to minimal only to have more space and for your tiny house to feel bigger.
Whether you are living a minimalist or not, you are surely going to need storage. Do not forget how important storage is even when your tiny house is still being built. More so when you are purchasing furniture and other items for your tiny house.
So, how will you use the space that you have in your tiny house?
First, mount your television on the wall instead of using a television stand. Mounting it on the wall saves space which you can use to store books or magazines. You could also style the space to add more drama. Or, you can mount your television to your wall.
Second, get the most out of the stairs. If your tiny house has stairs, you could use the space under it as storage. The space under it is perfect for tall cabinets that can be rolled from one place to another.
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The stairs itself could also be a storage. It could be used as a built-in drawer where you can store your stuff. You could have it made as a built-in drawer while your tiny house is still being built.
Third, raise your bed frame high enough to store plastic tubs. If not plastic tubs have it made as a built-in cabinet where you can store your clothes. With this, you no longer have to use wall cabinets thus, you can use the space for other things.
The very core of getting the most out of the limited space that you have is creativity. So, be as creative as you can when planning how you will use your tiny house space wisely.
5. Make the Most of Vertical Space
Are you into books and reading that you want to have your own library right at your tiny house? But the thing is, how will you make it happen given the limited space of your tiny house? Is that even possible?
Well, yes! Your dream of having a library in your tiny house could happen. You can both have a stylish house and a functional library all at once.
Since your space is very limited, you have to make the most out of it. Making the most out of your very limited space means using all the wall space from the floor to the ceiling. You could use the floor to ceiling walls to create shelves where you can store your books.
Floor to ceiling bookshelves makes your tiny house look aesthetic. It also allows you to expand your library space.
Your tiny house has a lot of vertical spaces. You just have to think of ways on how you could use these spaces well. Sometimes, a little creativity is all you need to maximize all the vertical spaces that you have.
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You might be wondering why pocket doors are better when living in a tiny house when in fact, a regular door does not take up a lot of space. But when it comes to functionality, a door needs a wide berth.
There are two possibilities when it comes to this. First, keeping the area clear which sacrifices your space. Second, keeping the door open which sacrifices your privacy. Are you willing to give up either of them?
If not, then your choice is to use pocket doors. Pocket doors give you more functional space in your tiny house since it directly slides into the walls. With pocket doors, you can both have the privacy and the space that you need.
Pocket doors are also safer when you have kids.
7. Let Your Furniture Do Double Duty
When planning how you will set up your tiny house, you probably have considered the furniture that you will have. A table in the kitchen, a small desk for work, a bed in the room, a cozy couch in the living room, and so much more. If you could put all of these things into your tiny house, then congratulations to you!
If you don’t have plans to get a smaller version of the furniture pieces in your tiny house, then at least have them built for multiple uses. Buy a daybed which could also serve as a couch. Use the space under your couch for storage.
Work at the kitchen table instead of having another desk for work. Use your staircase as storage by creating drawers beneath it. Do the same with your bed.
Your tiny house is small but has enough space for you and all of your needs. Just be creative and selective.
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There are a lot of decorating ideas that you could use to your advantage. These decorating ideas don’t just make your tiny house look aesthetic but it also makes it feel bigger.
Placing a piece of art, like a painting, higher up on the walls draw the eyes upward. This creates an illusion that space is bigger or wider. Add this beautiful Modern Gallery Wall Decor Print White Flower piece to your tiny home.
As much as possible, keep all your spaces open. Keep the doors open to give an illusion that the entire space flows together. For floor-standing furniture, choose those that have legs.
If you can’t find one, add them on your own. Having furnishings with legs is much better than keeping them directly fitted on the floor.
Having such a thing allows you to see the space under them every time. This also makes your tiny house appear bigger than it actually is.
9. Add Mirrors
An age-old styling trick for making your home feel more spacious is by adding mirrors into your house. Mirrors never fail when it comes to making your tiny house feel bigger.
Mirrors reflect light which tricks the eyes that the space that you have is bigger than it is. When a mirror is placed facing a window, it reflects the outdoors. This makes it appear that you have another window in the room. And, the more windows you have, the more that your tiny house will look bigger.
Good lighting is very important when it comes to tiny houses. This is because bad lighting makes small spaces appear even smaller. So, if the corners of your tiny house are dark and dingy due to the lack of lighting, then your tiny house will feel smaller.
This is because the dark corners are cut off for being visible. This makes it important to make sure that every corner of your tiny house is well lit. You could do this by having concealed lighting fixtures on your cabinets and other furnishings.
Since you do not have all the space that you need to stand lamps and tables, have your lights fixed on the walls. You could also have them hanging on the ceiling.
Less is more when it comes to decorating your tiny house. When it comes to tiny houses, having a single, larger statement item on display is more attractive than having several smaller pieces.
This is because doing so keeps the area open and airy. It also lessens visual clutter to make your tiny house look bigger and more organized.
Scaling up is recommended when living in a tiny house not just to save space but to keep clutter at a minimum level only as well. So, in as much as possible, practice scaling up to have more space for other things in your tiny house.
2. Don’t Get Something Unless You Really Need It
At some point, we all have bought something that we don’t actually need. Admit it!
But once you are living in a tiny house, impulsive buying is no longer allowed. Not unless you want a cluttered tiny house.
A philosophy that you should practice when living in a tiny house is “If you build it, fill it.” This means that you should only add things to your tiny house as needed. Do not build shelves or cabinets when you don’t actually need them. They will just want you to buy more which will make your space even more limited.
3. Don’t Block the Few Windows
The air circulation in a tiny house is not the same as regular or traditional houses. So, blocking the heater or air conditioning unit is most probably the last thing that you want to do.
With tiny homes, blocking the windows where air passes through is very easy. The furniture sets could easily do the job.
So, if you have the budget, have your furniture custom built to make them work around the windows. This will also ensure that you are getting as much lighting as possible for your tiny house too.
4. Do Use a Lighter Color Palette
As mentioned above, dark colors make the room appear smaller. So, use lighter color palettes instead when painting and decorating your tiny house.
Lighter colors make your tiny house appear bigger. It also makes it look cleaner and is more pleasing to see. You can always combine a few light colors and add one dark color if you wish.
Just make sure that that dark color does not overcome a lighter color. If you an, just stick to lighter colors to avoid any issue.
Your space is limited, but it could still be stylish. How? Choose furniture and accessories that marry function and form.
Do not make your eyes sore by adding accents such as shoe racks and filing cabinets. If organizational pieces are really needed, choose stylish items that serve multiple purposes.
When it comes to living in a tiny house, in as much as possible, the items inside should be multifunctional. This is because your space is very limited to have every single thing inside.
Conclusion
Designing the interiors of your tiny house isn’t as hard as it sounds. The limited space might be challenging but with just a little creativity, you would have it designed the way you want – functional and stylish.
Always keep in mind that your space is very limited so you have to make the most out of it. Do not put things that are not necessary. In as much as possible, keep things simple and minimal.
Related Questions
Can I have full-sized furniture in my tiny house?
Yes, you can as long as the furniture is multifunctional. Putting furniture in your tiny house that is not multifunctional is not economic and is not space-wise. So, go for pieces that serve multiple purposes or if not, go for pieces that are compact and can be folded.
What color is more ideal for tiny houses?
Lighter shades are more ideal for tiny houses. This is because lighter shades make tiny houses appear bigger. Ideally, you should paint your tiny house white or cream. When it comes to the furnishings, you could choose other lighter colors. You could also have dark colors. Just make sure that the darker colors are minimal only
How Many Solar Panels Does It Take to Power a Tiny Home?
There are a lot of ways to power up your tiny house, but most of the tiny housers choose solar panels. Not only are solar panels more conservative but they are also perfect for off-grid tiny houses. But how many solar panels does it take to power up a tiny home? Many are asking, and now’s the perfect time to finally lay the answers straight.
The number of solar panels you need to power your tiny home depends on a few key factors, including your location, size of your roof, orientation and shading of your roof, number of appliances, and you (or your household’s) electric usage.
Clearly, there’s no definite answer to tell you how many solar panels you need. It depends on the variables presented above. So now, let’s dig deeper into these variables to help you out.
But first, let us talk about how beneficial solar panels are for tiny houses.
The Benefits of Solar Panels for Tiny Houses
Many people move into tiny houses in an effort to minimize energy usage. The tiny house movement has moved many, per se, to live a more sustainable and conservationist living, putting the environment first before anything else.
Compared to traditional houses, tiny houses are much smaller. Yet, that doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t need energy. In fact, tiny houses need energy as much as conventional homes. They need power for heating, cooling, lighting, and other appliances.
Tiny house dwellers choose solar panels because they generate clean and free electricity. This way, they cut their energy bills further and save money.
There’s a lot of benefits you will reap from having solar panels on your tiny house. As mentioned already, you can save money on electricity bills. Plus, you can also help protect the environment and take control of your own electricity generation.
If you have a solar panel system, it will help increase the value of your home if you decide to put it on sale in the future. You see, prospective buyers admire free and renewable energy.
Moreover, tiny houses are mobile, meaning you’ll likely move from various places over time. So if you have (or are thinking about building) a tiny house on wheels, then a solar panel system is the way to go!
And because you have your very own electricity, you will not have to rely on power sources wherever you end up placing your tiny home for a bit of time. Instead, you can have a continuous source of energy no matter where you are.
Plus, if the city experiences a blackout, you’ll be in your tiny house relaxing while your neighbors envy the solar power that’s powering your home.
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How Many Solar Panels You Need – Location and Orientation
Now let’s go straight on the factors that will determine how many solar panels it will take to power your tiny home. First on the list is your location and orientation of the solar panels.
Where you are and how your solar panels will be oriented can help you determine the number of solar panels you need. A solar panel will get the most power when the rays of the sun hit its surface perpendicularly. So it’s important that your solar panels face the correct direction and have the right amount of tilt to ensure they will be able to produce as much energy as it can.
If you install your solar panels correctly, then you may need fewer solar panels than if they face the wrong direction.
The solar production also varies by location. Is your tiny house in a place with lots of sun? Or is it inside the arctic circle that only gets 6 months of light time? Or are you in a place with lots of clouds?
If your tiny house is in Yuma, Arizona, then you’re in a good place to use solar panels. Arizona, apparently, is among the places in the United States with the most sun. Interesting fact: Arizona gets 4300 sunny hours a year.
States like Nevada, California, Colorado, Florida, and New Mexico also get a healthy dose of sunlight every day. While states like Alaska, Connecticut, West Virginia, and Michigan are among the cloudiest states in the US.
But regardless of where you are, either in Nevada or New England, you’ll still be able to get enough power to cover your energy needs. Take note, however, that if you live in a place that gets less sun, you will need to have a larger system.
The good news is that many solar panel companies have been able to create solar panels that are capable of producing energy no matter the weather — be it cloudy, sunny, or even rainy.
Solar panels with this feature are usually pricier than the standard panels. So, unless you have the $$$ to purchase top-notch solar panels, you won’t have to worry about your location or the weather.
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How Many Solar Panels You Need – Size of Your Roof and Solar Panels
You can install your solar panels virtually anywhere that the sun hits. The most common place to set them, though, is in the roof since it is substantially exposed to the sun.
Logically, you can’t fit too many solar panels if the size of your roof doesn’t allow it. A typical residential solar panel has a size of 65” x 39”. That’s 5.4 feet by 3.25 feet. A standard tiny home that’s 8 by 20 feet can only have up to 6 solar panels of that said size in the roof.
Solar panels are usually able to produce 250 to 400 watts of power. Say your tiny house is exposed to 5 hours of sunlight a day and your solar panel is able to produce 250 watts, you’ll compute it this way = 5 x 250 watts. In this case, you’ll produce 1,250 watt-hours per day or 1.2 kWh. That’s roughly 430-450 kWh of energy per year.
A 1.5kW solar panel system will need about 6 solar panels, assuming each panel produces 250 watts. In this example, a 1.5kW solar system will perfectly fit a standard tiny house (5.4 ft. x 3.25 ft.).
Assuming a 1.5kW solar panel system isn’t enough to 100% power your home. You would need a solar system with higher kW production. A 3.5kW solar panel system requires up to 14 solar panels, which wouldn’t fit in a standard-sized tiny house.
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The amount of power your solar energy system can produce depends on your location. Again, your location is a key factor in regards to solar production.
If you’re in an area with less sunlight, then you might need high-efficiency solar panels. With high-efficiency solar panels, you’ll need fewer solar panels (which is good if you have limited roof space).
Refer to the table below.
System Size
Number of Solar Panels (Estimated) *250-watt panels
1.5 kW
6
3.5 kW
14
5 kW
20
7 kW
28
10 kW
40
12 kW
48
15 kW
69
How Many Solar Panels You Need – Appliances
A tiny house isn’t always a guarantee that you will be less energy. A tiny house could be small in size but is full of appliances. Or maybe you have a few appliances, but most of them are high-powered, like blender, heaters, or aircon.
So, the number of solar panels you need depends on how much power your appliances consume.
How many solar panels do you need for your household items? The best way to determine this is by listing down all your appliances and see how much energy each of them consumes.
In this example, you’ll be using 21,165 watt-hours per day. That’s 21kW a day x 30 days = 630 kW per month, which is 7.6kW per year.
A 250-watt panel that’s exposed to the sun for 7 hours can produce 1,750 watts per day. So assuming you use 21kW a day, you will need 12 solar panels.
The fewer the appliances, the less energy you need. And the less energy you use, the fewer solar panels you need. But then again, you also need to consider how much power a panel can produce.
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If you choose a 100-watt solar panel, then you’ll likely need about 30 solar panels to cover your 21kW usage. Or if you choose 300-watt solar panel, you will only need 10 solar panels.
You probably cannot use 10 solar panels in a 120 sq. ft. tiny house. So the best solution would be to use a high-efficiency solar panel system that can cover your energy usage with fewer solar panels.
Several factors come into play when it comes to energy usage. You see, the size of your household needs to be considered. The more people living in your house, the higher your power usage will be.
And also, the quality of your appliances can also affect your power usage. For example, an incinerating toilet requires energy, unlike a composting toilet system. Old appliances also tend to use more energy than newer models.
To reduce your power usage, we recommend using energy-efficient household items. They’re pretty easy to identify. Energy-saving items usually have an Energy Star sticker.
Here are some other tips on how you can reduce your power usage:
Open your windows
Opening your windows to let cold air in is one of the best ways to save energy. Instead of turning on your air conditioner, why not let the cold breeze fill your room? Of course, this may not be very ideal if the heat outside is too intense.
Use LED light bulbs
LED light bulbs are energy-efficient and longer-lasting. They look like normal bulbs, except they use minimal energy and more affordable.
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It’s best to finish all your tasks while the sun is still up, so you’ll only use your light bulbs at night for a short period.
Spend more time outdoors
Instead of staying in your room with the aircon on, why not go outside and enjoy the cold wind? Besides, the tiny house movement inspires people to spend more time outdoors. Are you living with a dog? Why not give your pooch a walk in the park?
Solar Panels – Tiny Houses VS Traditional Homes
Solar panels aren’t just for off-grid tiny homes. Traditional houses also use them because they’re convenient and can help save a homeowner from spending more on electricity bills. And as mentioned, solar panels allow you to get clean and free electricity.
And you know what else is great about solar panels? Even if your city or town experiences a blackout, you’ll still have power (mind you, this is a great advantage if the town experiences power outage on SuperBowl).
A typical house that’s 1,500 square feet usually needs about 16 panels to cover the entire electrical power needs. Of course, to fully determine a home’s average energy requirements, it’s best to check past utility bills.
You can calculate how many solar panels a traditional house needs by multiplying the household’s hourly energy usage by the peak of sunlight hours in the area. Then divide the product by a panel’s wattage.
The lower the wattage, the more panels you need. For example, to generate 11,000kWh in a year, you will need 17 370-wattage panels or 42 150-wattage panels.
Take note that solar production, your location, roof size, and battery storage are factors to consider.
A small home in a pleasant climate might use about 200 kWh per month. A larger home, on the other hand, might use about 2,000 kWh per month or more (considering air conditioners, especially if the home is located in the south).
Meanwhile, an average house uses about 900 kWh per month. That’s 30 kWh per day or 1.25 kWh.
A traditional house that uses 30kWh per day will need about 10 to 15 solar panels, assuming the panels are 350-wattages and are exposed to sunlight for 6 to 7 hours a day.
Tiny houses may use 20 to 25kWh per day. Such a tiny house may need 7 to 10 solar panels.
Which of the two uses more solar panels?
It’s easy to assume that the bigger the house, the more solar panels it will use. While that may be quite true, we should not forget the variables that determine how many panels a house must use.
Just because a traditional house is bigger than a tiny house doesn’t necessarily mean it will require more solar panels.
For example, a small house with one or two occupants may use less energy than a tiny house with 4 to 6 occupants. Or, a small house may have fewer appliances than a tiny house.
Again, we need to consider the key factors, including the size of the household, the number and quality of appliances, the location, and where the solar panels face.
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Many people have started to install solar panels, and now you might be wondering if they are worth it.
The price of solar panels has exponentially lowered over the years. Almost a decade ago, a 50-watt panel cost around $215 (or $4.50/watt). But now, you can purchase a 50-watt panel for only $1.50/watt or $75.
However, the panels aren’t the most inexpensive part. What really costs an arm and a leg are the components, including the inverters, mounts, and wirings, which, in an average house, can cost up to $6,500 on average.
An average homeowner will pay anywhere between $2,000 and $5,000 to pay for the installation, permits, and also inspections.
In tiny homes, it’s best to ask your local government about the rules or codes it has regarding the installation of solar panels, especially if your tiny house is on a foundation.
The upfront payment for solar panels can be overwhelming. So you’re probably thinking if it’s worth the pay. Well, yes. With electricity prices continuing to skyrocket across the United States, many have opted for solar power to reduce their utility bills, especially now that solar panels have become more affordable.
Is Your Tiny House Connected to the Grid?
On the grid tiny houses (or those that are situated near or within the city) are able to connect to utility power lines.
The electrical setup works similar to standard residential rooftop systems. As you produce solar energy during the day, it will cover your home’s electricity needs first before sending excess energy out of the grid.
Several utility companies have net metering incentive or NEM. It is a solar incentive that lets you store energy in the electricity grid. So if your solar panels produce more power than you need, the excess energy will be sent to the grid in exchange for credits.
And if your solar panels are underproducing, you pull energy from the grid. Then you can use these credits to offset the costs of that energy.
Solar Options for Your Tiny House
No doubt, tiny houses can really benefit from solar power, especially those that need low electricity needs. If your tiny house uses only a minimal amount of energy and you only need a few panels to cover your energy usage, it’s best if you do a DIY solar panel installation.
There are a lot of companies out there that sell out solar kits. If you don’t know that much about setting up your solar panel system, then we recommend hiring a professional electrician to do the work.
It’s also best to consider working with a solar installer that can help you go through the nuts and bolts. Most solar panel companies offer packages that include the entire solar panel system, labor, permitting, and more.
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Here are a few tips that can help you when shopping for a solar panel system. We understand how the market is already bombarded with solar panel companies that choosing one has become rather overwhelming.
So when picking your solar panel system, consider these tips:
Research, research, research
Shopping for a solar panel system requires a lot of research and consideration, just as how it is when you’re making big-ticket purchases.
There’s a lot of companies out there, and each company has offers that, at first glance, are hard to resist. It helps if you conduct thorough research and review of the companies in your area.
Don’t just take it from the company. Instead, look for reviews from real customers. Sometimes it’s best to choose the products that your friends or neighbor recommended. Chances are they are using the product already and are satisfied with it.
It’s best to compare as many solar options as possible so you can avoid paying inflated prices offered by large companies in the solar industry.
A lot of solar companies offer free quotations via their website.
2. Large companies don’t usually offer the best prices
It’s time that you believe that the bigger isn’t always better. When choosing a solar panel installation company, don’t just stick on brands that are large enough to pay for advertising. According to a report, large solar companies are $2,000 to $5,000 more expensive than small solar companies.
If you receive offers from big installers, ensure that you compare the bids with quotes from local installers. This way, you can avoid overpaying for solar. Again, do your research.
3. Compare your equipment options
Big solar companies do not just offer higher prices. Sadly, they also tend to provide fewer solar equipment options. This can have a major impact on your system’s solar energy production.
So, collect as many solar bids as you can, compare the cost, and calculate the savings you’ll get on the different packages available to you.
Remember, investing in a top-dollar solar panel system doesn’t always guarantee higher savings. The best way to save money and get the best solar option is by evaluating quotes and doing a thorough review.
The Effect of Solar Panel Size
If your roof has limited space for solar panels or if it has an unusual shape, the size and the number of panels are a primary consideration. Clearly, if you have a large usable roof area, you can buy low-cost larger panels.
However, if you have a limited roof area, you can opt for a few yet high-efficiency panels so you can get the most possible power over the long term.
Yes, the size of your solar panel matters, but what’s more important is the efficiency and output.
Now, if you’re having a hard time determining how many solar panels you need and how you must install them, we suggest calling a professional installer to help you throughout the process. They can help you from assessing the right number of panels to your roof to installing the solar panels in the right direction and orientation.
You must also consider net metering if you want to get ROI (return on investment) for your solar system. With net metering, you’ll get credits for producing excess solar energy (especially if your solar panel system is overproducing).
With the credits, you can use a conventional power grid at night. This is essential if you do not have a solar battery storage system.
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The durability of solar panels differs depending on its make. Film panels can last for only 2 to 5 years. Photovoltaic and crystalline solar panels can last up to 25 years.
How much electricity does a tiny house use?
The amount of energy a tiny house use depends on several variables, including the energy usage, number of appliances, size of household, location, and weather. Guaranteed, tiny homes use only 7% of energy compared to traditional houses.
Do solar panels work at night?
Solar panels need sunlight to generate power for your home. If you need electricity at night, you can use your net metering credits or pull electricity from your solar battery storage.
Not so long ago, air conditioning was once considered a luxury, something that is only meant for the big houses. Not only it was seen as pricey, but it also needed an enormous power. Using too much power is probably the last thing tiny house owners want.
But now, technology has since improved. The market is bombarded with various AC units of different shapes and sizes at affordable prices. So, how can you get air conditioning in a tiny home?
Getting air conditioning in your tiny home is relatively the same as that of getting an AC for a traditional home. But of course, there’s a lot to take into consideration.
The temperature of your home plays a vital role in giving you the comfort you need. Hot climate can be a nuisance, but an air conditioning system is just around the corner, ready to save your day.
Everything seems good in your tiny house. You’ve got everything you need, and perhaps, you’re finally living the best life you could imagine.
Not until summer came, and you find yourself dripping in sweat. You opened your door and windows.
And so you opened your fan, hoping it could give you that cool breeze you need to dry off your sweat. But it was rather disappointing, blowing hot air directly to your face. This isn’t cool.
You know going outside isn’t gonna give you that fresh feeling you want. And so, right then, right there, you realized you need an AC unit to cool your tiny house!
The tiny house movement is meant to lead you to a conservationist and minimalist lifestyle. It inspires you to live off-grid and live a sustainable living.
But it’s fair to say that air conditioning systems have become a necessity, especially for those who live in places with a hot climate (hi, Texas!).
Intense summer heat could give your tiny home that green-house effect. This could be a problem, more so if your mobile home is parked directly in the sun.
The good news is that installing an air conditioning system to tiny homes is feasible. But there are some things you should take into consideration.
Things You Should Know
Adding an AC system to tiny houses is not something uncommon. Several tiny home owners have done it, and you can do it as well!
There are, however, several things to consider when getting an air conditioning system for your micro home.
Choosing the Right Air Conditioning
There are several types of air conditioning systems, each has its unique features. Choosing the right air conditioning is crucial to ensure you get the comfort you need without compromising important things like your budget, space, etc.
The style of airconditioning you will choose will impact your tiny house from the beginning. For example, if you want a central air system, that may have to be done during the construction of your tiny home.
Each air conditioning unit also has different power usage. It’s important to select an AC system that your tiny house can efficiently supply power to.
Below are different AC units that work perfectly in any tiny homes:
Central Air System
The central air conditioning system (or simply central AC) is basically like a giant refrigerator for your tiny house. In fact, it uses the same types of materials, systems, components of a fridge!
You can purchase central AC in fully packaged deals. Most tiny houses prefer a central AC system because there are no bulky units that need to be installed inside the limited-spaced home.
The system comes with one large AC unit that will be set outside the house.
What’s really great with central AC is that they can work with your home’s heating system (if you have it).
This means controlling the temperature in your tiny house only takes a few taps in your thermostat. A central AC unit will give you full control of the temperature of your home.
Standalone AC units are best for small space. You can easily move it around the house or store it if you don’t need it.
Standalone air conditioners are simple to use. The only problem would be to find their own window access as the tubing need to have a way outside the home.
If you’re looking for inexpensive AC units, then the window-type air conditioners are the best option for you.
This can be tricky for tiny homes because the windows are not intended to be similar to that in a traditional house.
But tiny house owners have found a solution to that obstacle. There are small window units that can be perfectly fitted in smaller vented windows in tiny homes.
Window AC units are effective and inexpensive coolant
The only major concern about a window AC unit is that it must be installed properly in the window frame.
After selecting the right air conditioning for your tiny house, it’s now time to look for an AC unit in the market.
You may pick whatever you prefer as long as your budget can hold on to it. But more important than the price of the AC unit is its size.
It can be difficult sometimes to find appliances that don’t only fit into your petite home but into your lifestyle as well.
The good thing is that there are now a plethora of small and sleek AC units, and most of them are budget-friendly!
To get the size that best fits your tiny home, you need to know first the style you prefer. And the best way to do that is to see the unit before you buy it.
Utility Fees
It’s important to remember that adding an appliance that requires a large supply of power means accepting higher utility fees.
According to The Nest, traditional homes (with an average of 15,000 square feet floor area) pay $4 a day to cool their houses. In a tiny home, you can expect to spend up to $2 a day to cool your space.
If that doesn’t raise that much of a concern, then you should be fine. Unless you want to save money or go greener, you might want to opt for AC alternatives.
And finally, you should also consider the price of the AC unit itself. This is your chance to take a look at your lifestyle once again. Think about how often you would be using or needing your AC system.
Do you always go out? Or do you stay at home the entire day?
Standalone units
Standalone AC units are portable and easy to store. The average cost of standalone AC units is $200.
Window Units
Window units are relatively affordable. The price of small units can go anywhere from $300 to $400.
Central Cooling Systems
A central AC system is pretty pricey. The unit itself can go as high as $3,000 or higher.
A central cooling system must be installed in your house during the construction. Hiring professional help can add up to the cost.
Maybe you don’t need an AC unit, or maybe you do. But irrespective of whether you have an AC or not, there are things you can do to cool your home and save money from utility bills.
Draw the blinds
Natural light is good, but too much of it can add heat inside your home, especially during the summer season.
Keep the heat out by drawing the blinds during the hottest parts of the day. This can help keep your tiny house cooler.
Appliances you’re not using must be plugged out. This will not only help cool your house but can also help lower utility bills.
Plugged in appliances generate heat even when they’re not in use.
Alternatively, you can use an outlet timer to better control how much you use your appliances without worrying about plugging them in and out.
Use breathable sheets
Breathable sheets can help give you a cool night’s sleep. Silk or sateen, although light, actually traps heat. Use cotton or bamboo bedding materials instead. They’re lightweight and cool.
Air conditioning systems are good, but they’re not for everybody. Some aren’t financially capable of buying one, and others prefer going greener by choosing appliances that have less carbon footprint.
AC units are said to make the environment even hotter. It releases poisonous gases into the environment, including chlorofluorocarbons and hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (both contribute to the greenhouse effect).
Fortunately, there are alternatives you can opt for. These are great options if you want to reduce your energy usage, cut your utility bill, or your tiny house simply doesn’t work with an AC unit.
Fans
Fans are efficient cooler. They’re simple to use and are way more affordable than an AC unit. There’s a lot of fans to choose from. You can buy a table model, a pedestal-mounted type, or a ceiling fan. You can have your fan swing around at different speeds, too.
Bladeless fans work like an aircraft’s turbine engines. They are sleek, powerful, and efficient.
What’s more, they are safe to use and don’t pose any risk to kids. Like conventional fans, bladeless fans are speed-adjustable and have a swing feature.
Bladeless fans are a great alternative to AC units. They are sleek and compact in design.
Bladeless fans can cost anywhere from $50 to $300.
An evaporative cooler uses a water-soaked pad or sponge and fan to blow cool air. You can cool the house by opening the window to allow hot air to escape and leave the cold air.
However, this type of cooler only works where there is low humidity. The more humid the air, the less effective you can cool your tiny house.
Keep Your House Cool Without AC
The first tip is to find a good parking spot for your tiny house (if it is on wheels). Park under the shade of a lush tree. This should help cool your small home.
A fantastic idea to cool your tiny home without AC is to hack your fan. Fill a mixing bowl with ice. Place it at an angle in front of your fan, so the air sweeps off the ice in an extra-chilled state.
Sometimes it’s not the house that’s heating… it could be your body. Check your body temperature. Sipping cold drinks or applying a cold cloth to strong-pulsed areas should help cool yourself from the inside.
Choose breathable clothes. And probably tell your partner not to cuddle you until summer is done?
You can keep your tiny house cool at night by letting the night air in. The temperature may drop during the night in the summer season. If this is the case, make the most of the refreshing nights by opening your window before heading to bed.
And finally, instead of using your oven or stove, grill your meal instead. This is obvious, but we want to emphasize it: using your oven or stove in the intense summer heat will make your house freakin’ hotter!
If it already feels 100 degrees in your house, then the best thing to do is to turn off that 400-degree oven.
More Energy-Saving Tips!
Many people move into tiny houses and off the grid to reduce or eliminate their use of electricity.
But there’s a problem. An air conditioning system is usually a necessity in some places. And AC units use a lot of power, which is often more than what most solar systems can handle.
The idea of not being able to cool a house down can be scary for some people, especially those who may experience intense summer heat in their state.
The good news is that it’s easy to keep a small house naturally cool with proper planning.
Build or park your tiny house near or under a tree
A tiny house that’s well shaded is naturally cool. While it may not always be possible to build or park your tiny home under a giant tree, you can plant shrubs and bushes around the exterior of your home to keep the sunlight off your sidings/walls.
Use light colors
A black-painted tiny house looks undeniably appealing and trendy. But if you want to cool your tiny house without using an AC, then you might want to consider repainting your tiny home to a light color.
A black roof can get 100% hotter than a white roof. Of course, we’re not just talking about roofs but your tiny house in general. The walls/sidings are equally as important as the roof.
Cross ventilation
The concept behind cross ventilation is to allow cold air to enter from one side of your tiny house while hot air exits through the other.
When done correctly, there’s no need to use machines to cool your house.
A bad AC unit has strange sounds, foul odors, leakage, and no cool air. There is also a lack of airflow.
How do I know if my air conditioner needs replacement?
If your AC unit blows warm air, demand for frequent repairs, or makes the home more humid, then you may need to replace your air conditioner.
If the AC unit is old, replacing it with a new model may be the solution.
What should the AC be set at in the summer?
The U.S Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 26 degrees Celsius when you are home. This temperature level will allow you to stay cool and avoid a high electricity bill.
Bedrooms are an essential part of any house. Even tiny homes also have bedrooms. But given its limited space, it begs the question: how many bedrooms can be placed in a tiny home?
A typical mobile tiny home can only have one or two bedrooms. However, if the tiny house has a foundation, it can have three or more because it is not limited to the size of a trailer. Several factors, such as the design and size of the tiny home, could dictate the number of bedrooms you can install.
The standard bedroom in the US measures 132 square feet. However, a bedroom only has to be 70 square feet to be legally considered as such. Hence, you can fit a bedroom even to a 90 square feet tiny house, the smallest mobile home commercially available.
Fitting Two or More Bedrooms in Your Tiny House is Doable
Most tiny homes that sit on a trailer don’t have a conventional bedroom. Instead, they have sleeping quarters, which often have walls to separate it from the rest of the house. The sleeping area usually consists of a bed and things like a night lamp or a small cabinet.
Tiny home bedrooms don’t necessarily need to have the same parts as those of their standard counterparts. Because the goal of a tiny home is to save space, it usually has furniture that has multiple purposes.
Below are some things you can do to save space and fit multiple bedrooms in your tiny home:
Make a storage cabinet under your bed to maximize space. Nothing fancy, and it can be a simple wooden box with casters.
The bed can also be a foldable type that you can store on a wall when you don’t need it. Other tiny home owners use beds that can convert into a sofa.
Install a headboard with storage where you can store your things. Here you can store items such as books, reading materials, trinkets, and other small objects.
Install a double-deck bed if more than one person will use the bedroom.
Keep hammocks and sleeping bags, just in case you have guests who need to stay for the night.
Every square foot you can save from your bedroom can be used by other parts of your tiny home. However, considering that you spend almost a third of our lives asleep, it might be a good idea to maximize the comfort of your bedroom.
Tiny Home Designs that Can Fit More Bedrooms
Generally, the more floor space you have on your tiny home, the more bedrooms you can build in it. There are numerous ways you can add living space in your mobile tiny home despite its size limitations.
Below are some ingenious designs that small home builders used to maximize the available space:
Adding a Second Floor
The largest mobile tiny home can measure more than 500 square feet. Because they have plenty of floor space, you can install pillars which can support a second floor.
The 28-feet long Chalet Shack in Missouri is a 3-bedroom mobile home thay incorporates this two-floor design. Its builders used reinforced framing to support two left areas on the top floor. Meanwhile, the main living bedroom is also quite spacious and stylish.
2. Using Multiple Deck Beds
Depending on the height of your trailer home, you can install double or even triple-deck beds. Again, the idea is to expand vertically and save valuable floor space. However, the main disadvantage of multiple-deck beds is it becomes more difficult to get in and out of bed because of the reduced space.
3. Use Curtains Instead of Walls
Privacy is one of the recurring issues when it comes to a tiny home. However, if you are not too concerned about showing the contents of your bedroom, there is a way to save more space. Instead of installing walls, you can instead use thick curtains.
4. Install Sliding Doors Instead of Hinged Doors
To further maximize the space of your tiny home, use sliding doors instead of hinged doors. The former can be operated without having to use the extra floor space required to turn it open. Moreover, sliding doors are cheaper than hinged doors, especially when they are made of the same material.
Is it Legal for a Tiny Home to Have Multiple Rooms?
The Tiny House Movement is a fairly new concept for the US housing industry. Several states consider them as recreational vehicles, while other states are more leaning to calling them houses. The consensus, however, is if it sits on a trailer, it’s an RV. But, once you settle it in a piece of land and build a foundation within it, then it’s considered as a housing structure.
However, as more people adapt to this style of living, several laws can be passed to define what’s legal and what is not clearly . In the case of a fixed tiny home, numerous states and cities require tiny home builders and manufacturers to follow the building code.
In the US, a room needs to at least have a 70 square-feet area and a height of 7-feet for a one-family dwelling. A tiny house can have multiple bedrooms provided that it strictly follows these specifications and other details set by their state or city government.
Why Multiple Bedrooms Matter for Residences of a Tiny House?
Much like in a typical home, a bedroom is like a personal space for those who use it. If you are a couple with children, it’s important that you have separate rooms with your kids. Having their own room can help children assume more responsibilities. Doing so will help them be responsible for the cleanliness of their room which is a necessary part of growing up.
Sometimes the extra bedroom is met for guests to stay in. Whether it is your child, parents, relatives, or friends visiting, it would be great if they have a room they can stay in.
Furthermore, building numerous bedrooms can alleviate one of the recurring issues of a tiny home- privacy. Furthermore, who doesn’t want a comfortable sleep on top of their own bed?
Conclusion
Tiny homes can have multiple rooms provided that it provided that the structural design can support it. In most cases, however, a tiny home can only have four or fewer bedrooms depending on the floor size available.
Related Questions
Do Multiple Bedrooms Increase the Value of a Tiny Home?
In a way, yes, especially if you’re a buyer is a small family that needs two or more bedrooms. However, there are also instances that a buyer would want functionality over the number of rooms in a tiny room.
What’s the Most Number of Rooms a Tiny House can Have?
We’ve looked around the site of the most popular tiny home builders and manufacturers. The most number of rooms we found was four and it was built inside a two-story trailer home. Maybe in the near future, we might even see tiny houses that will have five or more rooms.
What’s the Price Range of a Multiple Bedroom Tiny House?
The price of a small house that has two or more bedrooms vary based on a lot of factors. However, to give you an idea, a two-bedroom tiny home can cost $25,000 to $30,000. Meanwhile, a three-bedroom mobile house can have a price tag of $35,000 to $40,000.
A tiny home can be adorable and fun, but the lack of storage makes it daunting and rather a challenging place to live. When it comes to storage, we tend to rely on the basement. But a question arises: can a tiny home have a basement?
Of course. Any house – big or small – can have a basement. For tiny houses, there are some caveats.
Not all tiny houses have a basement. Why, you ask? There are plenty of factors that need to be considered when building a tiny house with a basement. These include cost, building codes, lack of mobility, and more.
Your Tiny House Can Have a Basement If…
If it is built over a permanent foundation.
There are two types of tiny houses. One has wheels and can be transported from point A to B. The other is the type that’s built on a foundation, meaning there’s no mobility.
Most tiny house lovers prefer having their home on wheels as it’s easier for them to transport their house to any place under the sun (yeah, just like an RV).
Practically, those who have tiny houses on wheels can camp anywhere. This is a big deal, especially for the intrepid and adventurous people. However, tiny houses on wheels have a significant drawback: you can’t build a basement in it.
The owners of trailer houses need to find other ways of adding storage, probably anything they can think of but not a basement!
On the other hand, tiny houses built over a permanent foundation will let you create a basement, albeit the immobility.
We will talk more about the pros and cons of living in a tiny house with a basement later. For now, let’s discuss why your tiny house needs a basement.
Why Your Tiny House Needs a Basement
Maybe it has always been your dream to live in a minimalistic tiny house. And you probably have anticipated the challenges, like squeezing everything you need in a small space.
As a tiny house dweller, you understand that every corner, nook, and cranny has its purpose. You’ve managed to use items that can double as something else. And you’ve installed bespoke furniture that can be easily stowed away.
Now you truly understand that space is a valuable commodity in your tiny house.
Normally, when we need bigger storage at home, we turn to our basement.
The Pros and Cons of Having a Tiny House with Basement
A tiny house with a basement has its merits and demerits. For one, as discussed already, a tiny house with a basement cannot be transported, which is a downside for the nomads who love to camp.
Let’s compare the pros and cons of both living in a tiny house with a basement (with established address) and in a tiny house on wheels.
Tiny House with a Basement Pros and Cons
MOBILITY
Pros: Your tiny house is built over a foundation, so creating a basement is possible.
Cons: You will lose mobility, meaning you can’t transport your tiny house anywhere.
RESIDENCY
Pros: You can establish a permanent address, which is important when opening a bank account, buying a car, filing a tax return, or getting a driver’s license.
Cons: You will have to adhere to the building codes and ordinances of the place/community your trailer house is in.
CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION
Pros: You have more freedom in designing and making improvements to your tiny house since it is not in a trailer. Adding a deck or veranda is possible.
Cons: You will have to abide by the safety standards set for building or renovating a permanent house.
PROPERTY
Pros: Tiny houses built over a foundation have more chances of residential approval.
Cons: You need to purchase the land/property where you will build your tiny house.
Tiny House on Wheels Pros and Cons
MOBILITY
Pros: Your tiny house on wheels has mobility such as that of an RV.
Cons: You cannot build a basement.
RESIDENCY
Pros: You can camp anywhere you want.
Cons: Your stay is always temporary. Finding parking spots is also a challenge with fees and local ordinances to follow.
CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION
Pros: Tiny houses are easy to design, require less material, and are much affordable compared to standard residential houses. There are plenty of tiny house design ideas available, too.
Cons: You are limited in both space and design.
PROPERTY
Pros: Moving is easy because of the portability of the tiny house on wheels.
Cons: A tiny movable house is more likely to get wear and tear compared to permanent houses.
The Cost of Building a Basement in a Tiny House
Tiny houses are more affordable compared to big, residential houses. They also tend to use fewer resources, saving you a lot of money from bills. Off-grid tiny houses can even save much, much more.
While you can use inexpensive materials for your tiny home, a basement is still a basement. Building it may require the same expenses to get it done properly (and beautifully).
The average cost of building a basement in a tiny house can go anywhere from $5,000 to $23,000. The cost includes permit fees, excavation, concrete, finishings of wall and flooring, sealing, and required inspections.
Utility installations and other potential services may also add up to the cost.
What About the Building Codes for Tiny Home with Levels?
Since your tiny house will be built over a foundation, it will be considered as a permanent home, not an RV.
With that said, you will have to adhere to the building codes set by the local government, which you could’ve avoided if your tiny house is on wheels.
You see, building codes can be a headache. That’s the reason why many tiny house dwellers stay away from permanent foundations, albeit the lack of basement.
When you build a basement in your tiny house, it should meet the requirements set in the codes and regulations.
The codes and regulations vary depending on your locality. But here are some general standards that need to be followed:
Windows
Basement windows need to have a minimum opening of 22 inches. There must also be an emergency escape window from inside the basement.
Stairs
The standard stairs down to the basement will take up about 30 square feet from your tiny house (approx. 3 ft x 10 ft).
Room size
The basement must not be shorter than 7 feet and no smaller than 70 square feet. All electrical systems and structural beams must have at least a 6.6-inch clearance.
Wall construction
Interior finish materials must not have a flame spread rating exceeding 200 units.
If you want to learn more about the regulations in building a basement, then have a good read of this post.
I Don’t Want a Basement, But I Need Extra Storage. What Can I Do?
Great question!
I’ve had friends asking me that exact question. First, what settlement do you have in mind?
Do you want to build a tiny house in a permanent foundation but just don’t like having a basement?
Or do you fancy living in a wheeled tiny house but need extra storage?
If you’ve already decided to live in a permanent foundation but don’t like the idea of building a basement, you can add a small annexed garage or studio instead.
Or if you’ve chosen the latter option, then a cellar or a detachable extra trailer tiny house is a great way to add a room or storage space.
Related Questions
What is the purpose of a basement?
A basement can be used for several purposes. It can serve for storage, laundry room, maintenance room, or as a living space.
How much does it cost to dig out a basement?
The cost can go anywhere from $500 to $10,000. But a lot of factors come into play, including your location, depth, and width of the excavation.
