Tiny houses are all the rage these days. No matter whether tiny house living is your dream or your nightmare, you can still probably see the appeal. Fortunately, there are a few tiny house principles that you can apply to your own custom home, no matter what side of the fence you’re on.
1. Have a place for everything and everything in its place
Tiny houses are so small that it’s absolutely necessary to have a designated location for every item to “live.” In tiny spaces, just a couple pieces of clutter can be overwhelming. The same principle should apply to every home. Each item you own should have a place where it belongs and can be easily stored away. You may need to do some decluttering and reorganizing to make this happen, but it will be well worth it in the end.
2. Reduce waste
One main reason folks choose to live in tiny homes is to reduce the amount of waste they produce each year, and no matter where you live, you can also work to reduce the waste you and your family produce. If you’re not sure where to begin, start by reducing your food waste. The USDA says that 30-40% of the food produced goes to waste. You can work to decrease your own food waste by being more mindful of the food you buy and consume, donating any leftovers or even composting.
3. Amplify natural light
One thing tiny house builders do well is making full use of windows and natural light, probably because no one wants to feel like they’re living inside a shipping container. But increasing the amount of natural light we have in our homes is important for everyone. Not only does natural lighting save on energy and money, but it has also been proven to improve your physical health as well. In fact, studies have shown that natural light reduces your blood pressure, reduces stress and anxiety, and even boosts your immune system. Convinced? Here are a few ways you can increase the amount of natural light in your home, short of cutting in more windows.
4. Fill your space with things you love
With so little space, tiny houses require you to be strategic about the items you surround yourself with — a principle that should apply to your custom home as well. If you know anything about Marie Kondo, you know that she famously — or infamously, depending on your point of view — asks her clients if items in their households bring them joy. If they don’t, they have to discard them. Imagine how much happier you’ll be if you’re surrounded by things you love, rather than things you feel you have to keep out of obligation or guilt. In a tiny house, you have no room for those. This is one tiny house principle we’d like to apply everywhere.
5. Live outdoors, too
Now that you’re convinced natural light is something you don’t want to miss, imagine what a boost being outdoors will do for your health. One thing that tiny home dwellers do so well is transforming their outdoor spaces into extra living zones. There’s no reason the rest of us can’t do the same. With fairly minimal effort, you can make your patio an extra cooking and entertaining space or a place to relax as a family.
These tiny home principles are simple ones that we can easily incorporate into our own custom home plans. Have a question about designing your dream home just the way you want it? Contact our team today!