The Tiny house Blog

How to Make the Most of Your Tiny Home

By
Jason Francis
Designed and built over 100 custom tiny homes, lived on a sailboat for 9 months, and loves to live life to the fullest with his wife and their 4 kids.
Updated on:
June 6, 2023
Small home with roof off

Whether you are a tiny home enthusiast or simply prefer to live a more minimalist lifestyle, creating style and infusing personality into your small living space is within your reach.

One way to make your small home look bigger is to choose light, neutral colors and decor. This will help the space feel more open and spacious.

Tiny Home and Minimalism Benefits

Minimalist homes are becoming increasingly popular as a way to live in more meaningful ways. They are often smaller than average sized homes, and are often built from scratch.

One of the key components of minimalism is to eliminate excess. Having too many things can make you feel cluttered and stressed, and it can interfere with your day-to-day life.

A minimalist home is a great place to get rid of those things that are not important or that you don't use. You can also make space for those things you do use. And you'll have more to spend on the things that are important to you.

With more money, you can buy higher-quality clothes and other items that are more meaningful to you. 

You'll find that your life is less stressful. You'll have more free time to do the things you want, and you won't have to worry about debt or impressing others. You'll be able to focus on yourself and your family. This can be an extremely rewarding lifestyle choice.

Tiny Home Design Tips

Tiny home interiors are a great way to express your personal style and make your living space feel more cozy. However, it is important to follow a few small home design tips to ensure that you get the most out of your space.

The first is to avoid going overboard with decorations. Having too many items in a tiny house can quickly clutter it up, so keep your decor to a minimum.

Another tiny home interior design tip is to choose a light color palette for your walls. This will help open up the space and give it a more spacious feeling.

If you’re looking for a subtle and fresh hue, consider an on-trend sage green. This shade is soft yet fresh and will look great in a North facing room.

This color also works well with wood accessories. The natural hue adds a touch of warmth and keeps the space feeling modern and cozy.

A long rug can amplify the perceived size of your tiny home by keeping the eye moving throughout the space. This is a great tiny home interior design tip that can be applied to any room in your house.

Another great tiny home interior design tip is to use appliances that are proportionate to your home. This includes everything from small size stoves and refrigerators to washer/dryers.

Small Room Convertible Furniture Ideas

Living in a tiny house can be challenging, especially when it comes to furnishing. However, with the right furniture, you can maximize your space while still keeping a stylish design. 

The Importance of Space-Saving Furniture

When it comes to small spaces, every inch counts. Therefore, it's essential to make the most of your space by incorporating furniture that can transform into multiple uses

The result is a room that feels functional, comfortable, and looks good too.

Furniture Pieces

With convertible furniture pieces,  you can quickly and easily switch up your space to meet any need. Convertible chairs, sofas, desks, and tables are ideal for small living spaces where you need to maximize your available square footage. 

Transformable Sofas

Transformable sofas are the perfect solution for a small living room. Some designs come with a hidden bed, such as a pull-out bed or a convertible loveseat, that can easily transform into a guest bed. 

Others offer storage space under the seat or armrests, such as a storage chaise sofa or a storage bench. These designs provide options for additional seating space and efficient storage, making these sofas both practical and stylish.

Multifunctional Beds

In a tiny room, a bed typically takes up most of the space. Transformable beds like a Murphy bed, a loft bed, or a trundle bed offer an innovative solution. 

A Murphy bed folds up against the wall when not in use, freeing up space for other activities. 

A loft bed provides a platform for sleeping and freeing up floor space for additional uses like storage, a desk, or a seating area. 

A trundle bed is a pull-out bed built underneath a regular bed, providing an extra sleeping area without taking up any additional space.

Beds for Small Rooms

Extendable and Folding Tables

Dining tables that expand or fold up when not in use are perfect for small dining rooms or kitchen areas. 

Some designs, such as a gate-leg table, drop-leaf table, or a console table, are versatile, offering multifunctional usage, such as a work desk or additional storage space.

Compact and Convertible Chairs

Multipurpose seating options are crucial in tiny spaces. Compact and convertible chairs that can transform into a step ladder or a stool offer a variety of uses in a limited amount of square footage.

Choosing the Right Furniture for Your Room

When selecting furniture for a small space, consider the room aesthetic and individual needs. Choose pieces that are sleek and streamlined with minimal embellishments to provide an uncluttered look. 

Using light or neutral colors in furniture and decor can also help a room appear more spacious. Consider dual-purpose pieces that can work as both storage and seating, such as a storage ottoman, that will reduce the amount of furniture needed in the room.

Home Gym in a Tiny Home

Creating a fully functional gym can present a challenge. Here's a comprehensive guide on setting up a home gym in a tiny home without sacrificing space for stretching.

Room dimensions

In tiny homes, every inch counts. While a commercial gym would typically require 50sq ft of space per person, a tiny home workout area can be as small as 15ft x 15ft. This space should be well-ventilated and have a flat floor without any tripping hazards.

Equipment essentials

Investing in multifunctional and compact equipment is essential to maximize space. Essential equipment for a home gym includes:

  • Adjustable dumbbells
  • Resistance bands
  • Yoga mat
  • Cardio equipment (jump rope, mini trampoline, or a treadmill if space allows)
  • Stability ball

Optional additions

While not essential, these pieces of equipment can add variety to a workout:

  • Suspension trainer
  • Kettlebell
  • Rowing machine

Safety measures

Safety should be a top priority to ensure no injuries occur in the workout area. Proper weight distribution of equipment and storing them securely can prevent accidents. 

Placing a mirror in the workout space can assist with correct posture in exercise.

Space saving techniques

Maximizing vertical space, sliding some equipment under the bed or keeping them stacked, wall-mounted shelving or hooks, or using foldable pieces of equipment such as a foldable bench are excellent ways to save space.

Stretching exercises

Stretching is essential before and after a workout session. Incorporate stretching into your compact workout area by:

  • Using stretching straps or resistance bands for assisted stretching
  • Doing yoga poses
  • Incorporating a stretching machine like a Stretchmate when space is tight can be a lifesaver. 
  • Using creative space-saving products

Some innovative products like a door-mounted pull-up bar or wall-mounted gym for resistance training are space-saving and effective options to consider when designing your home gym.

Repurpose the Attic of a Tiny Home

Keeping up with maintenance on a large house can be a time-consuming and arduous task. But tiny homes require much less upkeep, which means you will have more free time for other things.

One way to make the most of your attic is by repurposing it as an extra bedroom space, home gym or library. If you have kids, your attic may be the perfect place to add a few bunk beds for them. Or, if you are a crafter, you can use the wall space in the attic for your workspace.

You can also use your attic to store extra items that you don’t need on a regular basis. Often, tiny homeowners are happy to part with knickknacks and other possessions that they don’t use or need on a regular basis.

Small homes require fewer materials than large ones, which can have a big impact on the environment. This is especially true if you use recycled or repurposed building materials, which take up less energy to produce. 

Takeaway

Tiny homes are often much easier to maintain than larger houses. This is because they use fewer resources to build and consume less energy to heat or cool. Moreover, they can also be built on trailers so that they can be moved from place to place without being too expensive to ship.

Tiny home owners can also experiment with alternative energy sources such as solar power. This can help them live off-grid and save money on their utility bills.

Tiny homes are easy to maintain and are great for a green lifestyle. They can provide a unique look that is unlike any other style of home. 

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