The tiny home lifestyle has been romanticized as a simple and more attainable solution to the search for more affordable homes. Building a tiny home and converting to life in a smaller footprint can be rewarding, but it isn’t always as easy as it sounds. If you’ve been curious about the pared-down living situation and minimalist lifestyle that comes with a tiny house, you’re not alone.
Whether it’s a primary residence or a vacation home, a smaller space takes some serious getting used to—and there are plenty of factors you might not have considered. To learn more about tiny house living, we spoke to two tiny home owners and experts about the advantages and drawbacks of these popular structures. They’re sharing their best advice about what to expect from the switch, along with information they wish they had known when starting out.
1. Prepare for Unexpected Costs
Tammy Sons purchased a tiny home on a lake in Tennessee two years ago. She primarily uses it for weekend getaways and as a second home, but there were some unexpected costs when she first began the journey.
“I wish I’d known land prices had increased so much before we got our hearts set on one. Land prices have skyrocketed,” Sons says. In addition to hefty land costs, Sons recalls a few other key expenses that surprised her.
“The septic cost us thousands. That was totally unexpected,” she says. “Also, hiring a contractor to wire was very costly. It didn’t impact us because we didn’t have to finance it, but I could imagine it would otherwise.”
2. Embrace Design Challenges
With a footprint under 400 square feet, designing a tiny home can be like a puzzle. Unfortunately for some, it’s not until you’re living in a space that you realize you made poor choices. “The kitchen has taken up most of our space, which was a mistake,” Sons says. “Because of its size, our bedroom and bath are tiny.”
Alaska Wagoner, a real estate agent focusing on helping others buy and sell tiny homes with her business The Tiny House Concierge, says there are ways to design your space beautifully, even though it’s smaller.
“I’ve learned that functional art is everything in a tiny home,” she says. “When you have beautiful versions of things you use often, like salt and pepper shakers, they can live in plain sight. You don’t have to store them, they are easily accessible, and they serve as a daily reminder of how you’ve chosen to elevate your life.”
3. Maximize the Space You Do Have
To maximize her space, Sons invested in storage solutions. “I bought mounted-top storage containers, under-bed containers, and also have wall cabinets for added space,” she says.
Wagoner says that while storage is definitely a concern for many living in tiny homes, the focus should instead be on reducing the amount of storage needed in the first place. “I used to view things as benefits by default, but now I view them as responsibilities,” she says. “Whenever I invite something into my life, I have to store it, maintain it, repair it, and eventually dispose of it.”
Instead, she says living in a tiny home has forced her to change her mindset. “I’d say my best tip for maximizing storage is to stay attuned to what you value most,” she says. “I also find it helpful to keep a laundry basket in the trunk of my car. That allows me to collect and easily donate unused items when I’m out running errands.”
4. Consider Your Routine and Lifestyle
While Sons and her family use their tiny home as a secondary living space, she sometimes misses her regular single-family home. “Even though it’s for weekend use, it’s fun, like camping, I am very eager to go outside because I sometimes feel claustrophobic,” she says of the tiny home. “ I try to stay mindful and enjoy the time away.”
The biggest adjustment has been two key rooms in the house. “The most challenging things were a small shower and a full-size bed,” Sons says.
Wagoner said the biggest lifestyle change for her has been about fixing the bad habits she already knew she had. “In the beginning, it felt like my house was pointing out my bad habits every few minutes. If I left a towel on the floor, I’d trip over it ten seconds later,” she says. “If I ordered takeout, I’d overflow my tiny house trash can in one go. My house put boundaries on my life where none existed.”
But, she says it didn’t take her long to adjust. “It took a minute, but I now hang up my towel every single time and only get takeout from places that don’t use a ton of packaging,” she says. “It isn’t always easy, but the house has helped shape me into the person I’d always meant to become.”
5. Seek Out Tiny Home Communities (Or Don’t!)
Sons says there are tiny home communities in her area, but she has yet to join. In the meantime, having a tiny home has changed her social life on the weekends when they stay.
“We have no room for company. It’s made life much more peaceful, and we can spend quality time together,” she says.
6. Learn from Past Mistakes
Sons says if she were to do it all over again, there are a few key things she’d change about the design and building of her tiny home. “I’d want a larger bedroom and bath and make the kitchen areas smaller,” she says.
She also cautions tiny home converts to do their homework before choosing a builder. “Make sure you go to a reputable company before buying anything and check around for prices; they fluctuate tremendously,” she says. “Watch for the quality of materials. Some tried to sell you pressboard, not plywood. The pressboard will rot easily.”
7. Work with an Expert
Wagoner says that the tiny home movement is still very much in a pioneering stage. “The rules and best practices surrounding this type of housing are still being developed,” she says. “That makes tiny homes tricky to research because these things are constantly being updated and a ton of context is needed to make educated decisions.”
Wagoner used to work as a real estate agent before she began helping others buy, sell, and navigate this new type of housing. She says working with someone familiar with tiny homes as you look to buy or build then is key.
“Lastly, I’d say that if the tiny house lifestyle is in your heart, don’t give up. My life was getting bigger, faster, and more expensive, but thanks to my tiny house, my life is now simpler, more connected, and more fun,” she says. “It was tricky to set up the pieces, but living in a tiny house is 100% the best thing I’ve ever done.”
