Sometimes downsizing can be something that signals a new step in life. Tiny homes are an excellent way to express who you are, while still keeping things simple. They gained popularity in the 1970s and have steadily grown in favor with people around the world. Widely appreciated for their customizability, affordability, and their positive impact on the environment, the number of tiny homes around the world grew. There are more than 10,000 tiny homes in the U.S. alone.
Megan Becker is someone who found an interest in tiny homes from the beginning. It was a casual thing, watching shows and Pinterest pages. However, in November 2019 she got her chance of building her very own tiny home.
“When you start really getting into what people can do with them, you can see just how creative people can be with such tiny spaces and how people’s perspectives are so different.” says Becker. “It really is affordable, which is why so many people like it.”
“You don’t need a lot of things to be happy,” said Nathan Huening.
Huening created his own tiny home and a tiny home community. Having built so many tiny homes, he has a lot of advice for those looking to build or purchase their own.
“We bought a lot of extra land and have spent the last two years working with the county to make a full-time legal tiny home community in North Carolina. We’re approved up to thirteen and expect to welcome the first seven this spring.”
He says that planning and having a clear vision are some key elements in building a tiny home.
One of the most common reasons for building or moving into one is its affordability. Without a need to pay a mortgage, the cost of building or living in a tiny home is anywhere from as low as $30,000 to as much as one is willing to pay.
“The amount of work that you can do yourself with friends and family, without having to contract someone to do it, has a lot to do with the overall cost. That and what your ideas are for the tiny home,” said Becker.
Things like custom kitchen cabinets will cost more than ready-built ones or if there are any specific wants or needs that will be needed to be custom made. There are, however, ready-made tiny homes that are available for purchase that work for just about anything.
“Almost infinitely customizable. You can do anything you want,” stated Mr. Huening.
Customizability is one of the many things a tiny home offers, like any home decisions about the exterior are fully up to the owner. This was one of Ms. Becker’s favorite things about tiny homes, the sheer amount of personality they can hold. Wall heights and door frames will no longer be an issue when they are custom tailored to the owner. All the custom designs can end up raising the overall cost, however, when compared to a regular-sized house, it seems much more reasonable.
Small design choices can utilize and maximize the amount of space available for everyday use. Turning space, which would commonly be left untouched, into a cupboard or drawers can really increase the amount or working space.
There are so many options that Ms. Becker said she couldn’t choose just one.
Often owners opt to build their tiny homes on top of a trailer, which allows them to be mobile when attached to a vehicle. They can act both as a mobile home or a stationary one, another feature that is very popular with the consumers. The freedom of this feature is unlimited. With the correct permits and registration, the road can be a home to travel. Although not always long-term, the options for parking a tiny home are about the same for a trailer attached to a vehicle, RV parks, renting land, or just constantly traveling. Many choose to rent land big enough for their trailer to set on rather than traveling around, which is also a wonderful option. There is no need to worry about buying a new house when the one you have can come along.
As Ms. Becker said, “You can treat it just like a trailer.”
Numerous people have this misconception that downsizing to a tiny home means a complete change of life. That hobbies and activities have to be forgotten and that a whole new life needs to be made. Both Becker and Huening stress that this is not the case. Yes, when downsizing, some things need to be left behind, however, it is not life-changing things, more like leaving behind all the random clutter items gathered over the years. Things like miscellaneous kitchen items, workout equipment, and decorative pieces, although not completely necessary, can be worked into more space saving compartments and storage options. Not everything has to be given up; life can continue as normal, just on a smaller scale.
“The biggest misconception is that you’re giving up a lot of things to live in a tiny house, which you are in a way, but you’re also gaining a lot too.” said Becker.
“I absolutely loved the idea of a tiny home, and thought someday I wanted to live in one. I didn’t think I’d get my wish,” said Heuning.
So, whether a dream from childhood or motivation from better affordability, tiny homes offer a range of great of attractive benefits.
(Becker built her own personal tiny home from floor to ceiling; everything is of her own design. The following gallery shows off her process.)
