Tiny houses have gotten incredibly popular in recent years. With the costs of traditional homes rising, and many people rejecting the idea of wasting money on rent for an apartment or condo every month, a tiny house seems to be the perfect alternative. Tiny houses vary in size, from super tiny homes no larger than a small trailer or RV, to homes the size of an average one or two-bedroom apartment, about 500 square feet in total. The size of a tiny home is totally dependent on the preferences of the owner. Tiny homes can be perfect for cheap vacation spots, an extra back house for guests, or to hitch up to a truck and take on the road. Though the affordable price point may be enticing, one has to ask, is living in a tiny home actually worth it? If you are thinking about trading in apartment rentals for a tiny home, or downsizing and heading out on the road, read on to assess the benefits, and drawbacks of living in a tiny home.
Undeniable cost benefits.
First and foremost, the main benefit of living in a tiny house is how affordable it is. Most traditional homes start at a minimum of a hundred thousand dollars, while prefabricated tiny homes can be purchased for a fraction of that price. Besides the initial price, there are plenty of cost benefits of living in a tiny home. Tiny homes require less furniture, they have less expensive power and water bills due to the small amount of water and power they require to function, and they encourage a space-saving lifestyle which leads to a smaller amount of clutter. Often the cost benefits of living in a tiny home are due to the fact that the owners often realize that they can only buy the absolute necessities in order to keep their tiny home clutter-free. This often leads to less impulsive buys, a reduction in wardrobe, as well as less time spent in the house using resources. Because tiny homes can be cramped, tiny home residents often create beautiful outdoor patios and decks in order to enjoy the space of the outdoors.
The downsides of tiny house living
The affordable lifestyle of tiny home living may have you ready to sell your current home and move into a tiny house. Before you make the big sale though, there are plenty of downsides to consider. Most notably, is the fact that things in a tiny house are unreasonably small. Appliances like showers, stoves, and toilets that may look like adorable miniature toys and seem fun at the beginning, can begin to wear on your nerves as you have to use them every day. Additionally, there is the simple fact that many tiny homes are not exactly friendly to those who are not entirely able-bodied. Many physically disabled folks would find it difficult to move around a cramped tiny home and scale the ladders to the loft where one will often find a bed in a tiny house. Tiny houses are even annoyingly inaccessible to able-bodied people who may be above average in height or weight. Nothing is worse than slamming your head on a loft ceiling as soon as you wake up, which would be the reality of a tiny home for taller individuals. Essentially, while tiny home living may be a cost-effective and exciting prospect, the simple reality is that tiny homes often are not created to be enjoyable, merely functional.
How to decide if living in a tiny house is worth it?
There is no one reason that will determine whether or not a tiny home is the perfect fit for you, but there are some factors that you can consider when making your decision.
The first factor is your lifestyle, in essence how you use your home. If you are always out with friends, work long hours, and use your home as merely a place to sleep and eat, a tiny house could be an awesome option for you, On the other hand, if your home is where you spend most of your waking hours, or if you work from home- you may find a tiny home to be rather cramped and claustrophobic.
You might also want to consider the factor of how many people will be living in your tiny house. If you are a single person who doesn’t take up much space, a tiny home could be perfect. But, if you have a large family, lots of animals, or frequently host guests, you may find that a tiny home simply does not have enough space.
Lastly, you should consider why you actually want a tiny home and see if you can use some of the principles of tiny home living to reduce the amount of clutter in the home you already have. Using the tiny home principle of a simplified life with just the essentials is a great way to add space and function to your everyday life, without having to move into a box.
Whether you are looking to design the tiny home of your dreams or want to use some of the principles of tiny home living to design a more traditional home, Gulf Coast Home Designs has the ability to make your home design dreams a reality.
