In addition, these homes are often off-grid and implement sustainable technologies such as solar or rainwater harvesting 

These tiny homes are often architecturally unique, customized homes where the homeowners often have an entrepreneurial, do-it-yourself attitude. They have been popularized on television and are typically fully-functional and independent from other homes. Tiny houses creatively utilize interior space and often implement the use of innovative technologies. Tiny homes usually have a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom area, living space, and porch. They tend to have higher quality materials than typical movable dwellings and can be built to operate off-grid, unlike most trailers, mobile homes, and recreational vehicles. They are constructed either by an individual themselves as a DIY project or purchased from a building company. 

The cost of a tiny home can vary greatly depending on who builds it and what amenities it provides. Some tiny homes can be made or bought for $20,000 or less, while some can cost as much as $100,000. 

Currently, there are over 60 tiny home building companies in the United States. Some of these companies can fully customize and build a home, and others provide do-it-yourself kits and plans. These builders are scattered across the country but are currently densely located in Colorado, Texas, Florida, and California. Most tiny home builders will ship their completed tiny homes anywhere in the United States, especially those built on mobile trailers.

Historical Context 

The popular tiny house movement is akin to the 20th-century mindset that “less is more.” It is important to note, however, that the concept of living “tiny” is not new. The core principles behind this movement have been evident for centuries and have roots in the 19th-century movements of romanticism and transcendentalism of Ralph Emerson and Henry Thoreau. In recent years, there has been an architectural movement exploring standalone homes that mimic a modern home on a smaller scale. This movement has been gaining momentum as tiny home festivals, conferences, workshops, television shows, and more have become commonplace. This movement is not only becoming popular in the United States; other countries such as Australia have witnessed a recent surge of interest in tiny homes. 

Rising Demand for Tiny Houses

To illustrate the increased interest over time, Figure 1.1 shows the Google Trends increase for the search term “tiny houses” every month between January 2004 and January 2019.