The tiny house movement has led to several discussions on what ownership means. For new families, it felt like a good idea to go with cost-effective mobile homes, despite the problems that arise from them not owning the land their mobile home is set on. Even those who have a real house, albeit being on a small plot of land, have to struggle with making their whole life fit in such a small space.
Perhaps it would be best to talk about some pain points associated with the build of these small houses for owners to appreciate them.
Planning a Livable Interior
There is limited space in a tiny house, but it should be livable. These two seemingly opposing requirements give architects in Portland the smallest breathing room when it comes to designing the spaces. There needs to be enough headroom, and ventilation should also not be an issue. They turn to building commissioning for the plumbing and electrical layout of the small house, and they need to custom-fit multi-function furniture to give owners a home that will adapt to their needs when they need it.
Wise Use of Space
The way tiny houses are planned is clever. It is not just a matter of treating areas like jigsaw pieces, where the bed has to go wherever there’s enough room for it. Things have to be more systematic and logical than that.
A tiny kitchen, for example, may have a foldable dining table attached to the wall opposite the stove. This way, there is no danger when a person needs to use the dining table as a makeshift work desk while cooking.
Gravity and Safety
Foldable designs are common enough in tiny living, but they are not the only solution to space-saving problems. Houses also take advantage of the height of the building for storage.
Often, you will see the bed, which may be the bulkiest part of the house, positioned up top, with a narrow staircase leading up to it lined with cleverly hidden storage in each step. This requires that the bed has a steady base or otherwise, it might be a dangerous place for the residents of the house.
Cabinets pushed up top to leave room for movement also need to be secured. A handy step ladder can help with reaching in and accessing these storage spaces, but positioning them lower will simply make residents more prone to bumping into them.
Utilities
It wouldn’t make sense to live in a tiny house, but pay an expensive utility bill because the property has not been planned properly to take advantage of passive heating and natural lighting. Windows are chosen and positioned where they will benefit the house the most. A water collection system might also benefit the house to help the family control their water consumption.
A small house built creatively and smartly is no less difficult to design than a spacious house. If anything, it takes more effort to make all the important parts of a house fit in such limited space.
