A Few Suggestions
While floating through the sky and enjoying a view of the night sky certainly sounds like a luxurious way to live, Spencer also offers a few suggestions for people considering moving into a tiny home. First, he says that it is a good idea to “find someone who has a tiny house that you admire and reach out to them. We had help from others before we moved into our home, and this was invaluable. Moving into a tiny house can be unpredictable and intimidating. You definitely want to talk with someone who has lived the experience.”
He also advises people to budget a bit more money for landscaping around their tiny homes. “The great outdoors is a big part of tiny house living, and it’s very annoying having to wait around for funds to beautify that space. At the same time, there’s a lot you can do with natural resources to set up zero-scapes free-of-charge,” he mentions.
While tiny homes are certainly less expensive than regular-sized homes, Spencer also urges future tiny home homeowners not to go cheap on the initial costs. “Try to design and build the best home you possibly can. I think there’s a big risk of fatigue if your tiny house environment is too boring. Try to create something that sparks your imagination. Dream up a place that excites every bit of your mind.”
Spencer offers one final suggestion: “It’s also important to stop thinking about maximizing your square footage. Instead, maximize your perceptual space. Many tiny houses are designed with double lofts, but we think this actually makes the homes feel much smaller. You have one big room that you can never get out of. If you create lots of differentiated spaces within the home, there are many exciting places to go throughout the day. In the end, actual space isn’t a problem. It only matters how the home feels once you are inside.”