Are Tiny Homes a good idea?

Tiny homes absolutely fascinate me.  Could I live in one? How would I really feel sleeping so close to the ceiling?  How on earth do they fit everything in? 

After a recent trip to a Tiny Homes expo, I discovered a creativity and ethos around the whole concept that I can really appreciate.   I discovered that even if I’m not sure about fitting our current lifestyle into 15ish Sqm metres, we can learn a lot from this movement around lifestyle and design.

What lessons can we take from the tiny home lifestyle?

·        They are purposeful with space and therefore can free up our time    

Do you want you spent less time or money on cleaning?  A smaller space always comes with a lifestyle benefit of less to clean, maintain and fix

·        Relish simple living

If your inside space is on the small side, you’re more inclined to use what’s outside and already in your community  

·        Keep only what is essential 

You absolutely cannot exist with clutter in this space.  Decisions need to be made about what says and what goes and will ultimately leave you feeling lighter and freer.  This could mean saying goodbye to the slushy maker you got for your birthday 12 years ago!

·        A smaller footprint gives greater financial freedom 

Not just in the purchase price, with the maintenance, the bills, the products you purchase for the home.   So, if your home is on the smaller size – celebrate this as a win for the finances.

So, what actually is a tiny home?

The Australian Tiny House Association defines a tiny house as a movable dwelling suitable for permanent residential use, with self-contained amenities and services and the option to be grid connected.  They can be as small as eight square metres!

Are tiny homes legal in Australia?

·        Yes! But there are council approvals required as the majority of tiny homes are classed as caravans and living in one will need a permit from your local council that covers sewage output, fire safety, flood risk and drainage. The rules are different in each state, and sometimes each council

·        While permanent structures are available, many people prefer to build mobile tiny houses on trailers to increase flexibility with council regulations

Are tiny homes a good investment or profitable?

That depends.

On the plus side

·        They’re more affordable to purchase than a house, at about $60,000 - $120, 000

·        They cost less to run and maintain

·        You could see a potentially higher rental yield if renting it out

·        Much less maintenance

On the downside

·        As most tiny homes are classified as a caravan / or vehicle they tend to depreciate rather than gain value, as it’s land that gains value over time not a structure or vehicle.

·        Sometimes the cost per metre price to build is not as cost effective as you’d like due to all the custom-built design options

·        Funky council regulations could impact the way you want to use a tiny home.

I may not be ready to buy a tiny home yet, but now that I’ve seen what’s possible in a small space, I’ve been shamed into a proper declutter, a blitz on my current storage options and will seriously appreciate my comparatively enormous lounge room!

This week consider if your home could benefit from some clever storage ideas to help your home shine.