Building The Tiny House Blog
how-to guides, tutorials, and resources for your tiny house journey
13 Creative Alternatives to Kitchen Cabinets for Tiny Houses
If you've been dreaming of living in a tiny house, or if you're currently working on your build, you've probably been on the lookout for clever space-saving ideas. And while you might have come across fold-out desks, under-bench storage, and stairs made out of drawers, I wonder if you've considered alternatives to regular kitchen cabinets.
Skip the Trailer: Should You Build Your Tiny House on Skids?
When they think of tiny houses, most people think of tiny houses on wheels. These portable homes have become the symbol of the tiny house movement. They're popular because building a tiny house on a trailer enables you to get around pesky building requirements and zoning laws.
Tiny House Hunting: 9 Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Tiny House
While my focus is on helping people to build their own tiny houses, I do recognize that not everyone wants to or indeed should build their tiny house. Building a tiny house is a huge thing to do. It requires a lot of time, effort, patience, and skill. If you're even slightly unsure about doing it, you probably shouldn't go there.
Should You Build Your Tiny House Yourself or Should You Have it Built for You?
Once you've decided you want to live in a tiny house, the next big question is, “should you build your tiny house yourself or should you have it built for you?”
Towing a Tiny House: How to Do it Safely & Simply
One of the most obvious benefits of living in a tiny house on wheels is that you can move house, quite literally! But towing a tiny house isn't no simple task. If you've ever towed any kind of mobile home, you'll know that a lot goes into making sure it will be safe while it's on the road.
10 Bunk Bed Ideas for Tiny Houses
I'm often asked how families or couples with children can all fit into one tiny house. Others want to know how they can find the space to host guests in their tiny houses. Well, it's not easy to find extra bed space in a tiny house, but if you get creative with bunk beds, you might just be able to do it! I have therefore compiled a list of bunk bed ideas for tiny houses.
Tiny House Plans: Where to Get Them, What to Look for and What to Do with Them
One of the questions I'm asked most frequently is, “where can I buy tiny house plans?” And while I ended up working with an architect to design a completely custom tiny house, you may not know that, before that, I bought plans for the Tumbleweed Fencl (now called the Cypress). I've also collaborated with lots of brilliant tiny house builders, many of whom have put their tiny house plans up for purchase.
How to Get Hot Water in a Tiny House: Choosing a Tiny House Hot Water Heater
Hot water. Most of us just take it for granted, but when it isn't there we realize what a luxury it is. And if you're seriously planning a tiny house, you'll need to decide on a tiny house hot water heater. In this post, I hope to help introduce you to all of the...
Tiny House Living: Cooking in a Tiny House
A lot of potential tiny house owners have concerns about cooking in a tiny kitchen. I'm often asked what it's like to cook in a tiny house, so I thought I'd give you an insight into what it's like to whip up a meal in my tiny house.
Tiny House Security: How to Secure Your Tiny House on Wheels
While tiny houses are cute and a lot of people fantasize about living in one, houses on wheels do come with a few downsides. Often these downsides are tradeoffs for the benefits that come from tiny house living.
Introduction to Tiny House Living: What it's like living in a tiny house
I've been living in my tiny house on wheels for close to two years now, and that means I've lived through a lot. Hot summers, high winds, rain, and two of the coldest winters in recent memory on the East Coast. It wasn't until I spent a few days with my friend Jason...
How to Use Craigslist and IFTTT to Find the Best Salvaged Tiny House Materials
One of the most popular ways of bringing down the cost of building a tiny house is by using salvaged and recycled materials. Craigslist is a great resource for finding such materials, but it's also a very popular resource. That means you have to be quick if you want to get your hands on the best items.
How to Find Parking for your Tiny House on Wheels
When I started building my tiny house on wheels, I had no idea where I would park it. I followed my instincts, which where that if I built it, the land would appear. And I was right about that: I was able to rent the ideal piece of property in the town near where I...
Why Tiny House Living Might Not Be For You
While everyone seems to enjoy looking at Pinterest photos of tiny houses, not everyone would enjoy living in a tiny house. And you may assume that the only people who shouldn't live in tiny houses are those who flat out aren't interested in this way of life. But it may surprise you to hear that even if you've got your heart set on tiny house living, this lifestyle might not be for you.
An Unexpected Love Story: Me, Myself, and My Tiny House
Note from Ethan: This is a guest post by Miwa Oseki Robbins Like many tiny house builders I see out there, my dream to build a house started with a partner. We were going to build our small, off-grid, sustainable house and live happily ever after. You could even say...
16 Alternatives to Tiny Houses
While I really love tiny houses, I don't think they're for everybody. I recognize that some families simply couldn't fit into a home of just a couple hundred square meters. I recognize that not everyone finds tiny houses as aesthetically pleasing as other buildings. And I recognize that there are cheaper homes you could build.
How to Get the Benefits of Living in a Tiny House without Actually Living in One: Psychological Benefits
I often hear from people who would really like to live in a tiny house but who can't, whether that's because they can't afford it, their health won't allow it, or they have commitments that prevent them from moving.
How to Get the Benefits of Living in a Tiny House without Actually Living in One: Practical Benefits
I get a lot of emails from people who have fallen in love with the tiny house way of life, but who, for whatever reason, cannot build and live in a tiny house. Often it's a case of money, but other times it's to do with age and mobility, responsibilities and ties, family and relationships, and so on.
5 Money-Saving Ideas for your Tiny House (and 3 to Avoid!)
Have you ever heard the saying "you get what you pay for?" In a lot of ways, I think that saying is very true. Even though there is a wealth of building materials available for cheap and even for free, by using them you are accepting some serious trade-offs in your...
Tiny House Kitchen Video Tour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsmUgdwzUOM&feature=youtu.be I had such a great time shooting my last Relaxshacks video, that I decided to do it again! In this installment, I strap on the gopro and give you a point-of-view tour around my tiny house kitchen. I show...
