Hey there! Thanks for stopping by! Tiny House World is all about – you guessed it – tiny houses! If you’ve found yourself here, you’re likely among the rapidly growing crowd of people fascinated by small, unique, unconventional dwellings, and I am here to share tiny living inspiration!
What is a tiny house?
Size-wise, opinions vary widely on what exactly qualifies a house as “tiny”. Generally anything under 400 square feet is considered a tiny house, though it’s really a matter of opinion. Tiny houses can take many forms, from cabins to yurts to houses on trailers.
How are tiny houses different from RVs?
While there are often many similarities between tiny houses and RVs, tiny houses are built to last as long as traditional houses. A typical tiny house is constructed with the same techniques and materials as a traditional home, but on a much smaller scale.
Why tiny houses?
The tiny house movement represents a lifestyle shift toward simplicity and affordability. The average size of homes in the United States has steadily increased over the last several decades despite the decrease in the average family size. A large majority of Americans spend the greater part of their lives working to pay their bills and mortgages, and if there’s any money leftover, to support an unnecessarily frivolous lifestyle. In our complicated world, more and more people are attracted to the idea of simplifying their lives, reducing debt, and enjoying the freedom of living small.
Here are some of the biggest reasons the tiny house movement has gained so much traction in recent years:
- Affordability – tiny houses are cheaper to purchase and maintain than larger houses. Many people have successfully built their own tiny house, saving even more on upfront costs. Smaller dwellings also mean cheaper taxes and lower heating and cooling bills.
- Sustainability – living tiny means leaving a smaller environmental “footprint”. With the small square footage, tiny houses consume fewer resources in construction and maintenance.
- Mobility – many tiny houses are relatively easy to move around without the hassle of buying and selling a home when relocating.
- Financial freedom – without the burden of large bills, tiny houses offer their inhabitants the freedom to work less and enjoy life more, to save more of the money they earn, or spend it on traveling and other life goals.
About Tiny House World
I am a mom, military wife, serial entrepreneur, garden geek, book addict, sustainability blogger, and house plant hoarder. I have been fascinated with tiny houses ever since I started my other blog in 2012. Tiny houses became a big part of that blog, and have always been one of my favorite things to write about. I started this site to focus exclusively on tiny homes and to help those looking for inspiration and information about “going tiny”!
I spent many years as a single mom and I lived in a small (not tiny, but very small) house that I was able to pay cash for. It took a great deal of downsizing to make that house work, as I had lived in a much larger house previously.
The feeling of simplifying your life and owning your home without debt is indescribable and unbelievably empowering. With less financial stress comes more freedom to pursue your passions in life.
For me, those passions included the ability to stay home with my children while building a business I love. I had to learn some quick lessons in frugality then, and am thankful for that now. We grew much of our own food, having turned almost our entire back yard into a garden. We heated our home through rugged South Dakota winters with firewood we gathered and split ourselves. I was able to walk my kids to school most days and we spent much of our free time just enjoying the outdoors.
On Tiny House World, I typically write about dwellings under 400 square feet. Also, I love the variety found in small homes, so you’ll find all kinds of different tiny houses here – cabins, yurts, and even gypsy caravans! I post what inspires me, and I hope you are inspired, too. If you have a tiny house you’d like me to feature, contact me. I’d love to hear from you!
