PLAN YOUR CUSTOM TINY HOME

So, you have decided to join the tiny house community. Here are the tips and best practices when planning for your small custom home.

There could be many answers to why one would want to live in a small house. The leading reasons would be to live minimally, save money, and reduce carbon footprint. However, some people do so simply for the joy of designing and building. Regardless of your reason for choosing this lifestyle, one thing is for sure: you would want to live in a space you are happy and contented with. You would have to go through a thorough planning process to get there.

Your plan dictates your success in building your tiny home. If you go through this endeavor unprepared, many could go wrong during the process. That may mean spending resources that you could have saved or, in the worst-case scenario, having your money, time, and efforts wasted.

Table of Contents

Can you Design your own Custom Tiny Home
Should You Hire for your Tiny Home
How do you Design and Build a Tiny Home
How do you Best Make use of your Space
Is it Possible to Buy a Tiny Home

Plan Your Custom Tiny Home

CAN YOU DESIGN YOUR OWN TINY HOME?

One of the most common questions from people planning to live in a tiny home is whether they can make their own design. That includes the exterior to the interior, the layout, the design, and the most minor details. While it may require time and effort, it is possible. In fact, it could even be advantageous to you in many ways.

If you do the designing and building processes yourself, there is no need to pay someone else for labor. You will only have to focus your budget on the materials needed for construction. You can ensure that your tiny home is 100% unique and everything matches your preferences. You can even gain new skills along the journey and feel a sense of accomplishment once the final product is completed.

SHOULD YOU HIRE HELP FOR YOUR TINY HOME?

One of the most common questions from people planning to live in a tiny home is whether they can make their own design. That includes the exterior to the interior, the layout, the design, and until the most minor details. While it may require time and effort, it is possible. In fact, it could even be advantageous to you in many ways.

If you do the designing and building processes yourself, there is no need to pay someone else for labor. You will only have to focus your budget on the materials needed for construction. You can ensure that your tiny home or adu is 100% unique and everything matches your preferences. You can even gain new skills along the journey and feel a sense of accomplishment once the final product is completed.

HOW DO YOU DESIGN AND BUILT A TINY HOME?

Before getting started with the planning, many factors should first be considered. One of the most important is the available space or square footage. When deciding on the size, you must have enough room for all your needs while considering the number of people who will stay inside the tiny home. At the same time, check the local laws if the dimensions are enough to eliminate the need for building permits.

Start your plan by determining your purpose for starting this in the first place. For example, you may be one of those who build small custom homes for traveling purposes. If so, your considerations are different from those going for a permanent foundation. That includes the optimal weight for traveling, the arrangement and fixture of furniture, and the materials to be used. It will also be easier to decide beforehand whether you prioritize aesthetics or practicality, quality or costs.

When it comes to custom-built tiny homes, here are other essential factors to note in your plan. First, where are you going to place your pipes and electrical lines? Decide on whether you want your own fresh water and grey water tanks or connect to the city water supply. You should also choose between utilizing batteries or other environment-friendly energy sources and hooking up to the grid for electricity.

Look for layout and design inspirations for custom-built homes to get a clearer picture of what you want for your tiny house. Specifically, here are some examples of what you should focus on.

Floor plan and layout
Natural and artificial lighting options
Bathroom amenities
Kitchen appliances and dining necessities
Couch, bedroom, and other furniture styles
Storage options
Flooring, carpeting, wallpaper, and color scheme
Outdoor seating area or decks

HOW DO YOU BEST MAKE USE OF YOUR SPACE?

You only have limited space for your tiny home, so you must make the most of it. That may mean considering multifunctional furniture. Some examples are storage beds and bookshelves that can alternatively be used as tables. Portable or folding furniture can also maximize your walking area when not in use. You can eliminate door swing space as well using sliding doors.

It would be regrettable if you could not fit your needs inside your tiny home. This is why it is essential that you make a plan with your necessities in place. Start by making a list of what you want to include per room. If you are planning to make the floor plan yourself, note the measurements of the furniture, appliances, and other objects on the list. Make sure to scale them accurately and allocate space where needed.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO BUY A TINY HOME?

There is an industry specifically for businesses that custom build homes. If you do not have that much time or skills to design and build the house yourself, you can ask for professional help to handle things before building your new home. You can even be confident in the quality if you browse for ready-made custom homes. Either you purchase an existing tiny house or be involved with creating the plan and design and leave the rest to the experts.

If you want to be more in control, you can buy a tiny house shell or kit, including the home’s trailer, sheath, framing, and layout. You are then in charge of the interior and basically finishing the house.

At the end of the day, it is your home, so you construct your plan according to the best options fitting your circumstances and preferences. Still, you can always ask other people, especially those belonging to tiny home communities, if you need help or tips.

Regarding providing assistance for planning, designing, and building tiny houses, you can ask for services from Small House Solutions at any time. The team will ensure that you see your big ideas for your tiny home taking form in real life.

Accessory Dwelling Units / ADU’s