Tiny House Plans, Designs & Interiors in 2022
When we begin planning a new tiny home, the feeling is novel and relatively exciting, which is what it should feel like as it's going to be your new perfect home. However, from the initial ideas of what your home should look like to building a detailed interior plan on paper are two very different things.
So, before throwing down your pen to paper, we should ask ourselves several questions to get real-time answers to our needs, ensuring the end design is everything we want it to be.
In today's post, I wanted to go over the most frequently talked about points to living in a tiny home in question format style. They'll give you ideas, understanding of what you do and don't like, options of possibilities to explore.
Questions You Need To Ask Yourself Before Designing a Tiny House
Does your tiny house need to be on wheels?
If your tiny home is going to be permanently based on a plot of land, then wheels are generally not needed. Houses can be easily craned off a loading truck onto ground pads to make the house look more permanent but in fact it won’t change the planning required as it is a movable structure. However, if you plan on moving your home from one location to another, we would recommend that you have your home placed on wheels. This reduces the need for craning and allows a tractor to tow your home into its new position. For those looking for a great adventure, your home can be placed onto a road legal trailer so it can be moved as many times as you’d like. The downside to this is the weight issue and if your home is built to 3.5T (which is legally required to be road legal) your home will A) will require lighter and more caravan style (plastic finishes) and B) should you add just one extra thing into the home such as clothes, cups, plates etc and the house is over 3.5T and it gets damaged on the road, the trailer company will not cover you as just 10KG over this limit means their warentee is invalid. To be safe, we recommend movable trailers that can hold 6T so you have a high-quality finished home that is movable from field to field.
Which room do you currently spend the most time in?
This question will determine which rooms need extra attention to detail. Some questions to ask yourself, and your family are:
Bathroom:
Can you live without a bath, or would it mean the world to you to have long soaks on the weekend? If you do require a bath, have you considered where you would want to lose space from another room to make it fit? Another thought is your water situation. If you aren’t connected to the grid, it is highly likely that you would never be able to fill that bath with hot water.
Are you considering an environmentally friendly toilet, and if so, have you researched toilet options while understanding what is required of you to maintain an eco-toilet?
Kitchen:
How many people are you cooking for? I.e. how much chopping space, storage space and rings on the hob will you need?
Do you like to entertain? If yes, will you have enough space to store extra plates, cups and glasses?
Have you considered all layout designs, from long, thin kitchens to wrap around kitchens which are usually placed at the end of the tiny home?
Bedroom/s:
How many bedrooms do you need?
Do you have an interest in having guests stay over?
What is your level of Claustrophobia?
Do you need an upstairs or could you arrange everything onto one floor?
If you are claustrophobic, have you considered placing your living space upstairs and your bedroom on the bottom floor for a taller, more open space?
Living Space:
Do you need a multi-functional space?
Do you want furniture that moves?
Do you need a TV?
How much light do you need in this room?
Will you be working in your living space?
Will you be eating in your main living space?
Can you build storage into your living space?
By answering these questions, you'll soon get a better understanding of your needs for a living area.
Other Questions:
How much light do you need?
Will your colour choice determine how bright or dimly lit your home appears to be?
Would you benefit from a skylight?
If you are thinking of having lots of windows, have you considered that your home will take longer to heat and may release heat more quickly, especially if you don't have triple glazing?
Do you have a lot of belongings that you'll be taking with you? If yes, have you worked out where all your belongings will fit, including bicycles, shoes, sports equipment etc.
Our Top Tips for a Successful Custom Build Tiny House
We've been asked several of questions above, time and time again, we do like to offer a helping hand, so, here are some of our top solutions for building the perfect home for all kinds and sized families.
Underfloor Storage:
Extra storage under the floor can be treated like a closet. Slide out draws can be fitted under a kitchen to fit bedding, shoes and other bulky items.
Multi-Use Living Rooms:
In tiny homes, the living space may also be a dining room, chill room, working room and so on, which is why we feel that multi-use living spaces can benefit almost all homes. For example, you can build a full-size drop down dining table for wholesome family meals together. You can get create by looking online for multi-functional products from sofa beds, coffee tables with a built-in work desks, drop down desks and so much more. If you like big open spaces, you could even arrange a retractable staircase that fits along one wall.
Additional Outdoor Space:
While the interior layout of your tiny home is vitally important, that does not mean we should forget about the exterior. Garden roofs, drop-down decking and vegetable gardens may be a few things that you may want to consider, especially if you are planning on permanent base for your home. Another good idea is to visit the space to see where the sun rises and sets, including any shading from other homes or trees. This will give you a direction of where to place your additional outdoor space.
Foldable/Sliding Doors:
Should you need privacy, especially within the bedroom, you may want to consider sliding doors. They can easily be opened to let in more light for a roomy feel and closed to offer warmth and comfort in the colder months.
That's it from us, if we didn't answer your questions or quite possibly, we opened a can of worms by giving you too much food for thought, then feel free to get in touch with us so that we can help break down any concerns, ideas or plans that you may have for your tiny home.