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6 Secrets to Tiny House Success
Looking to downsize in unique fashion? Here's all you need to know to make it a resounding triumph
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Small-space living isn’t just about being inventive with storage solutions and creating innovative designs, it’s about embracing a whole new way of living that’s more affordable, more energy-efficient, and often more environmentally friendly. From tiny houses on wheels to shipping containers, granny flats to garden cabins, the Tiny House movement is a whole new miniature world of sustainable living.
Feeling inspired to downsize? Then kick-start your small living plans here, with these key considerations to take on board before you commit.
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► For tickets to the upcoming Melbourne Home Show including a special Tiny House Expo, 16-18 August, click here
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Feeling inspired to downsize? Then kick-start your small living plans here, with these key considerations to take on board before you commit.
________________________________________________________________
► For tickets to the upcoming Melbourne Home Show including a special Tiny House Expo, 16-18 August, click here
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1. Have Your Reasons
First things first, be clear on the reasons you want to live in a tiny house, so that you’re prepared for the huge lifestyle adjustment. Are you doing it to get on the housing ladder, save money and have a better standard of living? Or is your impact on the environment a big concern and you want to tread more lightly on the earth? Maybe you’re craving a more humble lifestyle, with a home that’s easier to maintain and offers a simpler life all round that’s in harmony with nature?
Whatever your reasons for downsizing into a tiny home, stay focused on your goal and you’ll cope better with the lack of space, as well as becoming more creative with the ways in which you entertain friends and family.
Bonus tip: This year’s Melbourne Home Show features the exciting new Tiny House Expo, which will blow you away with inspirational ideas and clever solutions. Talk with other tiny house dwellers, plus meet builders and the owners of these innovative creations, and ask them to share their experience with you.
First things first, be clear on the reasons you want to live in a tiny house, so that you’re prepared for the huge lifestyle adjustment. Are you doing it to get on the housing ladder, save money and have a better standard of living? Or is your impact on the environment a big concern and you want to tread more lightly on the earth? Maybe you’re craving a more humble lifestyle, with a home that’s easier to maintain and offers a simpler life all round that’s in harmony with nature?
Whatever your reasons for downsizing into a tiny home, stay focused on your goal and you’ll cope better with the lack of space, as well as becoming more creative with the ways in which you entertain friends and family.
Bonus tip: This year’s Melbourne Home Show features the exciting new Tiny House Expo, which will blow you away with inspirational ideas and clever solutions. Talk with other tiny house dwellers, plus meet builders and the owners of these innovative creations, and ask them to share their experience with you.
2. Plan, Plan, Plan
The planning and brainstorming phase is vitally important to any building process, but even more so when the logistics of a tiny house are somewhat restricted.
The location of the plumbing, electrics and any energy-efficient considerations are all key construction steps that need to be made at the beginning – as are innovative design solutions that will help improve the space, such as hidden storage and mezzanine levels. All these important aspects need to come together, so taking the time to plan is crucial in the overall success of the project.
The planning and brainstorming phase is vitally important to any building process, but even more so when the logistics of a tiny house are somewhat restricted.
The location of the plumbing, electrics and any energy-efficient considerations are all key construction steps that need to be made at the beginning – as are innovative design solutions that will help improve the space, such as hidden storage and mezzanine levels. All these important aspects need to come together, so taking the time to plan is crucial in the overall success of the project.
Pictured design by Build Tiny
By determining your true needs from your small house at an early stage, such as how many bedrooms, bathrooms and amount of communal living space you’ll want, as well as identifying what you can’t live without, such as plenty of natural light and loads of storage, you’ll be able to come up with a draft floor plan that you can then discuss with designers and builders.
Bonus tip: Set yourself a realistic budget at the start so you have a target, and hold back at least 10 per cent as a contingency fund, in case of unforeseen costs.
By determining your true needs from your small house at an early stage, such as how many bedrooms, bathrooms and amount of communal living space you’ll want, as well as identifying what you can’t live without, such as plenty of natural light and loads of storage, you’ll be able to come up with a draft floor plan that you can then discuss with designers and builders.
Bonus tip: Set yourself a realistic budget at the start so you have a target, and hold back at least 10 per cent as a contingency fund, in case of unforeseen costs.
3. Research Clever Storage Solutions
With so many new materials and innovative products constantly arriving onto the market, offering ways to make tiny house life easier, it’s worthwhile spending plenty of time researching clever solutions that might solve your space conundrums. Have you considered modular furniture that doubles as seating, storage and work surface? Or maybe a mezzanine level that can offer an extra bedroom? There are solutions out there for nearly every space problem.
Take inspiration from this tiny house in Brisbane, for example, which includes a retractable bed and nifty storage solutions. The owners now live relatively off-grid as the house processes all its own grey water for use in the garden, has a composting toilet, and is wired for solar power.
Bonus tip: Attend a seminar by a tiny house expert and get tons of product and design inspiration, while also probing them with a multitude of questions.
With so many new materials and innovative products constantly arriving onto the market, offering ways to make tiny house life easier, it’s worthwhile spending plenty of time researching clever solutions that might solve your space conundrums. Have you considered modular furniture that doubles as seating, storage and work surface? Or maybe a mezzanine level that can offer an extra bedroom? There are solutions out there for nearly every space problem.
Take inspiration from this tiny house in Brisbane, for example, which includes a retractable bed and nifty storage solutions. The owners now live relatively off-grid as the house processes all its own grey water for use in the garden, has a composting toilet, and is wired for solar power.
Bonus tip: Attend a seminar by a tiny house expert and get tons of product and design inspiration, while also probing them with a multitude of questions.
4. Less is Always More
If you consider living in a tiny house that has no space for all your stuff as a positive rather than a negative, then you’re already on your way to success. For living with less stuff and clutter around us is known to lead to a more fulfilled life of quality, not quantity. Decluttering expert, Marie Kondo, believes that ridding yourself of multiples of things and keeping your physical spaces tidy, allows you to tend to your psychological space. Something we all need to do more of!
Going digital with all your household and business matters will also avoid the need for tonnes of files and paperwork, while following the one-in-one-out rule means you’ll only keep what you need and never clutter up your limited spaces.
Bonus tip: Think about adding multipurpose furniture throughout your tiny house and you’ll benefit from extra room when needed. For example, the owners of this cabin on wheels in the Yarra Valley built the furniture to suit their lifestyle. A pull-out dining table, which also acts as a kitchen bench and craft table, can be swiftly put away to create a cosy sofa area and space for yoga.
If you consider living in a tiny house that has no space for all your stuff as a positive rather than a negative, then you’re already on your way to success. For living with less stuff and clutter around us is known to lead to a more fulfilled life of quality, not quantity. Decluttering expert, Marie Kondo, believes that ridding yourself of multiples of things and keeping your physical spaces tidy, allows you to tend to your psychological space. Something we all need to do more of!
Going digital with all your household and business matters will also avoid the need for tonnes of files and paperwork, while following the one-in-one-out rule means you’ll only keep what you need and never clutter up your limited spaces.
Bonus tip: Think about adding multipurpose furniture throughout your tiny house and you’ll benefit from extra room when needed. For example, the owners of this cabin on wheels in the Yarra Valley built the furniture to suit their lifestyle. A pull-out dining table, which also acts as a kitchen bench and craft table, can be swiftly put away to create a cosy sofa area and space for yoga.
5. Ask the Experts
Visit the Tiny House Expo and meet industry experts who have direct experience with planning, designing and building small homes. Step through their incredible stands displaying their unique tiny homes for first-hand experience and be amazed and surprised at the solutions available.
Take along any floor plans or moodboards and discuss your ideas with the professionals to gain more valuable inspiration.
Bonus tip: From information on local laws, building costs and eco-friendly considerations, the Tiny House Expo Seminars are not to be missed as you’ll discover all the practicalities of ‘going tiny’.
Visit the Tiny House Expo and meet industry experts who have direct experience with planning, designing and building small homes. Step through their incredible stands displaying their unique tiny homes for first-hand experience and be amazed and surprised at the solutions available.
Take along any floor plans or moodboards and discuss your ideas with the professionals to gain more valuable inspiration.
Bonus tip: From information on local laws, building costs and eco-friendly considerations, the Tiny House Expo Seminars are not to be missed as you’ll discover all the practicalities of ‘going tiny’.
Pictured design by The New Jonses
6. Stay Space-smart
As well as spending plenty of time on the practicalities of your tiny home, it’s also worth spending time on the aesthetics to maintain a sense of space and avoid it feeling too claustrophobic.
Applying design tricks, such as mirrored splashbacks and glossy surfaces, will help reflect the light and blur the boundaries, while skylights in the ceiling and wide, glazed doors will further expand the edges of the small space.
Bonus tip: To ensure your compact spaces stay calm and inviting, use plenty of soothing natural tones and organic materials. Lush houseplants will also encourage tranquillity, and to save on floor area, display them up high or in hanging plant holders for more interest.
6. Stay Space-smart
As well as spending plenty of time on the practicalities of your tiny home, it’s also worth spending time on the aesthetics to maintain a sense of space and avoid it feeling too claustrophobic.
Applying design tricks, such as mirrored splashbacks and glossy surfaces, will help reflect the light and blur the boundaries, while skylights in the ceiling and wide, glazed doors will further expand the edges of the small space.
Bonus tip: To ensure your compact spaces stay calm and inviting, use plenty of soothing natural tones and organic materials. Lush houseplants will also encourage tranquillity, and to save on floor area, display them up high or in hanging plant holders for more interest.
Pictured design by Nordic Huts
Looking for more expert advice on tiny home design? Visit the Melbourne Home Show for live presentations from industry experts, where you can probe them with your questions. Tour the tiny homes on display at the Tiny House Expo where you can share your ideas and get your key questions answered.
Your turn: Do you have your eye on a tiny house? Tell us in the Comments.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Looking for more expert advice on tiny home design? Visit the Melbourne Home Show for live presentations from industry experts, where you can probe them with your questions. Tour the tiny homes on display at the Tiny House Expo where you can share your ideas and get your key questions answered.
Your turn: Do you have your eye on a tiny house? Tell us in the Comments.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
You’ll love Australia's largest Home Shows! They're gigantic, packed with the best products and new releases from... Read More
You’ll love Australia's largest Home Shows! They're gigantic, packed with the best products and new releases from... Read More
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With storage, it is really important to use the height of your room and walls to make the most of the area.