What is a Tiny Home?

Have you ever dreamt of leaving the city and all its clutter behind to adopt to a minimalistic small-space living? Well, if your answer is in the affirmative, then you may want to learn more about tiny homes. On the contrary, if small spaces make you feel suffocated, this may not be for you. Whether it is out of sheer curiosity or because you are seriously looking into mortgage-free living options, it is worth reading this detailed guide on ‘what is a tiny home?’

What is a Tiny Home by Definition?

Here is the thing about tiny homes – they do not have an exact definition as they serve more as a symbol of simplistic living. So, a tiny home can vary in size, shape, interior, and even form depending on the owner’s taste and preferences. But at the very core, tiny homes are significantly smaller than an average house.

The biggest benchmark, in theory, is that it should be less than 1000 square feet, but when you go out in the market and look at most tiny houses that already exist, you will realize that they are usually less than or equal to 400 square feet. To put this into perspective, on average, an American lives in a house that is 2500 square feet! So yes, a tiny home is quite aptly named.

Speaking of names, a tiny home is also referred to as a ‘Tiny House’, ‘Micro House’ or ‘Small House’ – all terms referring to small-space living with minor differences. For example, as the name shows, a Micro House is an even smaller mobile dwelling unit. Similarly, a Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW) can be moved and is built on wheels, but you are not meant to travel in it. A Small House, on the other hand, is bigger than a Tiny House and is built on a foundation.

How did it All Start – The Tiny Home Movement

The Tiny Home Movement originated in the United States, driven by the need for flexible and affordable housing, particularly in response to the economic crises and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, which shook the housing market. Two leading pioneers of the movement, Jay Shaffer and Dee Williams, were among the first to build a tiny house in a trailer.

The first tiny house was built in Jamboree in 2015, and about 40,000 people have visited the place now. Today, the Tiny House Movement has gained massive popularity worldwide, with people in the UK, Australia, and even the Netherlands, shifting to off-the-grid living that bypasses housing regulations, is eco-friendly, and much more inexpensive.

What is the Tiny Home Philosophy?

Tiny Home philosophy is rooted in a happier and simpler lifestyle. It is based on minimalism – to be content with having just enough and not chasing after that which is unimportant. It is aimed at finding a lifestyle that promotes free and sustainable living.

Pioneers of the Tiny Home Philosophy noticed how the size of an average American house has gotten bigger, despite the family size getting smaller. Consumerism has led to unrealistic living standards of having a big house and filling it with several items that one does not really need.

According to the Tiny Home Philosophy, you built room in your life by embracing small-space living, which is affordable for all. It shifts focus from material possession to spending more time in nature and making an environmentally friendly choice for sustainable living for all.

What Does a Tiny Home Look Like from the Inside?

If reading about the Tiny Home Movement and Tiny Home Philosophy has conjured images of a single bed and stovetop and rather shabby living standards – you couldn’t be more wrong. A tiny home is a fully functional and furbished dwelling unit designed with clever ways of utilizing space.

It usually comes with a bathroom, kitchen, living room, and a lofted bed. The only catch is that all of these spaces are shared, and they open into each other. Owners usually have to hook up the house to a utility outlet for electricity, but many tiny homes are self-sufficient with attached solar panels.

Why Tiny Home?

People opt to live in a tiny home for several different reasons, but some of the top motivators are the following:

Cost

A tiny home costs anywhere between $200-$400, whereas an average regular house is $2000-$4000. This alone is a huge difference for most people who do not want to pay a mortgage that equals 15 years of work. Secondly, the maintenance cost is much lower as there are neither many accessories nor space to take care of.

Freedom

Tiny Homes built on wheels can be taken with you wherever you want. This does not mean you spend the rest of your life as a nomad, but many people like the idea of having the freedom to shift to a new place for a new job easily. Others like to travel once in a while but would still like to have a place they can call home and return to. A tiny home offers that type of flexibility and freedom.

Simplicity

Small-space living is not for everyone. Most people who make this decision are internally driven by an urge to live simply. Minimalism is a popular way of life that has been gaining popularity around the world. People who opt for a tiny home want to strip away the unnecessary material possessions, and the standards of modern-day living conflict with their values of leading a simpler life.

Sustainability

Sustainable living is a conscious choice, and people who decide to spend their lives in a small house are often determined to reduce their carbon footprint and make this planet livable for future generations. Only the waste produced in building an average house is equal to the material needed for building two tiny homes. People who downsized to a small living space reduced their energy consumption by 45%.  Sustainable living is a primary motivation for embracing this lifestyle.

Our Final Thoughts

The Tiny Home Movement has given rise to an amazing living ideology much needed by our planet today. Tiny Houses save money, space, planet’s resources and, most importantly, shift focus away from consumerism and unrealistic living standards that people spend their entire lives trying to achieve. While the Tiny Home Philosophy may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it certainly points toward how we can cut down on the stuff that does not serve us for a simpler lifestyle.