Understanding the Tiny Home Movement

Nov 30

One of the best-known living crazes to sweep the country in the last few years is tiny homes. More than an architectural movement, the shift toward tiny houses represents a social phenomenon. A large percentage of the population is deciding that large, expensive homes and the maintenance that comes with them are not worth it anymore.

Beyond those that choose tiny homes for their aesthetic and lifestyle appeal are those who must inhabit tiny homes by necessity. As housing becomes more expensive and residential space becomes a premium in many places, some people feel they have no choice but to scale down and embrace small living.

What is the Tiny Home Movement?

The tiny home movement (also called the tiny house movement or tiny living movement) involves more than just buying a small house. It is an approach to living that encourages minimalism, self-reliance, sustainability, and financial freedom.

Many people who choose to “go tiny” do so out of a desire to spend less on their living situation. A tiny home costs considerably less to build than a conventional home. It is cheaper to heat, maintain, and run utilities like gas, electricity, and water.

Others enjoy the simplicity that comes with scaling down their lives, living frugally, and purchasing only what they need. Tiny homes force you to own less. They force you to simplify. As a result, you spend less time worrying about what you own, maintaining what you own, or buying more stuff.

Most people who subscribe to the small living movement are also interested in DIY, self-reliance, and sustainability. A tiny home is an attractive option for people looking to build their first home and those interested in living off-grid.

How Big is a Tiny Home?

“Okay,” you might be thinking, “my house is pretty small. Does it qualify as a tiny home?”

Technically, a house is considered a tiny home if it is less than 600 square feet. To put that into context, that is about the size of a three-car garage. Many homes are smaller than this, and most utilize two stories to achieve this space, so the actual footprint of the house may be considerably less. The average size of a tiny home in America is 225 square feet. His is eight times smaller than a typical home in the States.

One other thing that most tiny homes have in common is that they are built on wheels. This allows the owners to get around zoning laws that require a house to be a minimum size. It also makes it easy to travel—something that many people in the tiny house movement are also passionate about. Some people opt for a tiny home versus an RV when planning their retirement or extended travel.

That being said, many in the tiny living movement are pushing for the legalization of permanent tiny homes by more municipalities. These people want tiny homes to become a mainstream living alternative and for the movement to distance itself from camper vans, RVs, van living, and other alternative lifestyles.

Tiny Homes vs. ADUs

You might have heard people talking about tiny homes and ADUs (accessory dwelling units). Both are small, alternative living spaces becoming more popular yearly. But what’s the difference between a tiny home and an accessory dwelling unit?

Image by Building An Adu via buildinganadu.com

An ADU has an actual foundation and is either a stand-alone tiny dwelling or attached to the main residence on a property.

A tiny home does not require a foundation, can typically be moved easily, and requires few-to-none permitting and zoning compliances.

Financial and Environmental Benefits of Tiny Homes

The homeowner's biggest up-front cost is the home's initial purchase. In today’s market, that cost can climb upwards of $1 million in some places. The average cost of an American home today is over $300,000. By comparison, a tiny home can cost between $20,000 and $50,000 to build, although the cost can rise significantly depending on the level of luxury you want in your tiny home.

Beyond the initial savings, a tiny home offers continued financial benefits in the form of lower utility costs, lower energy costs, and reduced maintenance. Tiny home owners do not pay the same taxes on their homes as regular homeowners and are not subject to county or other local fees.

Environmental Benefits

By drawing less power, tiny homes save their inhabitants money and have less environmental impact. Not only that, they require fewer materials to build, making them more environmentally friendly to build.

Because many tiny home advocates are also advocates of off-grid living and sustainability, many tiny homes are solar-powered, made from recycled materials, or feature compositing toilets or water-conserving sinks, showers, and faucets.

Making Your Tiny Home Sustainable

If you own a tiny house or are interested in building one, you may be wondering how to make your tiny home sustainable. The good news is that by building a smaller home, you’re already positively impacting the environment by using fewer resources in your construction.

Eco-Friendly Materials

You might build your home from reclaimed or recycled materials or choose materials like thermally treated wood instead of plastic or concrete. Opting for sustainable materials when constructing your home results in fewer resources used, less energy consumption, and less waste.

Solar Power

Another thing you can do to improve the sustainability of your tiny home includes installing a tiny house solar system. This can be done through solar panels or by making your house a “passive solar tiny house” by using quality insulation materials that maximize the efficiency of nature to heat and cool the space.

Array offers a variety of solar modules that can be added to your tiny home to increase sustainability. Whether you plan on being tied into a city grid for net metering benefits or want to be completely off-grid, Array can provide you with the right solar solution.

The best part of a solar-powered tiny house is that the house requires very little energy, so you can save a lot on the upfront installation cost.

Sustainable Systems

Finally, if you’re a bit more hardcore about eco-friendliness, you might consider installing a composting toilet, building a gray water recycling system, or switching to electric appliances wherever possible.

Tiny Homes for Homeless

If you’re interested in getting involved in the tiny house movement but aren’t ready to move into a tiny home yourself, you could get active in your local community’s effort to make tiny homes living solutions for unhoused people.

As housing costs rise and cities face mounting homelessness, tiny homes are popping up in many states to combat the housing crisis. California, Indiana, Missouri, Oregon, Wisconsin, and other states are embracing tiny homes as an affordable way to get homeless people off the streets, particularly during winter.

Tiny houses have been proven to be safer than homeless shelters and improve their inhabitants' lives. Some tiny home communities offer a path to homeownership for their members.

Q&A with a DIY Tiny Home Builder

We had the opportunity to provide solar modules to Elizabeth when she built her tiny home in Spain. We thought it would be fun to have a little Q&A with her about the experience of building a tiny home. Read on to learn about a real DIY tiny home builder’s perspective of tiny living and building your own tiny home.

I came to a point in my life where I knew things needed to change. I was lost in the system that we are told we must follow, as well as in my own mind. I had lost nearly everything, so it was like a time to start over. I chose to build a tiny house so I’d never feel ‘homeless’ again and because when I was young, I dreamed of building a small wooden cabin in the forest. Like a den! Despite having no building experience and hardly any money, I just knew this was the time to start.
It chose me! Actually, both the original location and its final home, where it is now chose me.
The original location was a friend of mine's land who agreed to let me build it there as it was in the middle of the wilderness, so the construction noise wouldn’t bother anybody!
It since has been relocated to my own land that I stumbled across when I’d given up looking. (There’s a lesson in there!) I knew immediately that it was the place. It’s wild and beautiful and set in a valley with a sort of bowl of mountains around it that I think of as nature’s giants protecting me.
Once I’d bought the land, I moved my tiny house there, and miraculously it survived the journey across mountains unharmed!
I now live in an old farmhouse on the land that I renovated too, and rent out the tiny house to help people find themselves again, get in touch with nature and creativity, and show them a different way of living.
It was all such a challenge as everything was new to me. The hardest part was keeping going day after day with just myself for motivation. It seemed relentless at times, but I made it in the end!
In the words of Edith Piaf, I have no regrets! I don’t regret anything in life, even the awful things, as they are all lessons and part of the journey.
Knowing everything I know now, I would definitely build it differently if I was to build another one, which I can’t imagine I will!
I love the ceiling and roof that I based on an old railway carriage. It was difficult to make, but it’s so unique. In the day, it floods the cabin with light, and at night you can lie in bed and watch an ever-changing sea of stars..maybe even a shooting star if you’re lucky!
Do it!! Even if it’s just for a time, there is beauty in simplifying life into 12m2! A small number of possessions can lead to much freedom, within and outwardly.

Is a Tiny Home Right for Me?

There are many benefits to tiny home living but many downsides too. Small living is not for everyone. Before you sell everything and begin construction on your fully sustainable, eco-friendly dream house, take a moment to consider whether a tiny home is right for you.

Remember, while tiny houses are legal in all states, getting approval to build a tiny home on an existing lot can be very difficult. If your home is on wheels, finding a place to park can also be tricky. If you’re not willing to put up with the potential headache of moving your home or struggling to find a place to put it, a tiny home on wheels might not be the best choice for you.

Tiny homes are excellent choices for young people, retirees, and couples without children. These three groups of people often have more flexibility in where and how they choose to live because they do not have a lot of ties to a particular location (work, kids’ school, etc.) Young people, in particular, may have the time and financial flexibility to experiment with tiny living and face fewer repercussions if the experiment doesn’t work out.

If you crave a little financial freedom and are prepared to deal with the potential downsides of tiny home ownership, or if you’re interested in building a sustainable, affordable home that promotes minimalism and a simple lifestyle, a tiny home may be right for you.

Sierra Eberly