The tiny house trend is here to stay! It is attractive to many people for many different reasons. Some are looking to downsize. Some want to live a more minimalistic life and reduce their carbon footprint. And some are looking for a way to become debt-free and save money. Whatever your reason, there are many things you need to consider to be able to sustain tiny house living. Read on to see some of our top tips.
1. Strive for Clutter-Free
In order to live in a tiny home, you will need to make the most of limited space. Small messes will overwhelm your space and look like big messes very quickly! To prevent this, be sure to consider what purpose each space will be used for and what needs to be kept in that space. Strive to have at least one space that you can keep clutter-free and clean to escape to. For example, in tiny homes, the kitchen and living areas often flow into each other and are used for multiple things (cooking, living, office, hobbies, etc.). In this example, the bedroom could be your space to always keep neat and simple with only a few necessities (bed, nightstand, a few books) where you can easily escape a mess from the other room.
2. Use Multipurpose Furniture
When living tiny, every item, especially furniture, needs to be carefully considered before using it in your space. And since space is so limited, you will need to get creative and find items that will be multifunctional. Pieces can be as simple as a couch that turns into a bed or storage chest used as a coffee table. Or maybe you’re looking for a space-saving dining set that folds into self when not in use. Whatever it may be, look for pieces that can serve multiple purposes in your tiny space and hopefully create extra storage for you from hidden spaces (attachments inside doors, shelves underneath tables, or drawers that slide under beds or couches).
3. Create the Illusion of More Space
We all love natural light and many windows in our homes and living tiny should be no different. One could argue that it’s especially important when living tiny! To combat feeling cramped, you can find ways to let the outside in and illusions to expand your space. Be sure to select window coverings that allow for maximum light to come in and don’t overwhelm your space. And look to hang mirrors opposite of a window to create visual depth in your room.
4. Storage as Décor
If you haven’t already noticed a theme throughout this post of keeping things simple and clean, we will reiterate here. You don’t want your décor to overwhelm your space! One way to achieve this is to incorporate storage as the centerpiece of your room. A beautiful wall storage unit will allow you not only the necessary storage space but a way to display some favorite items (photos, books, etc.).
5. Rethink, Reuse and Repurpose
Living tiny will not only force you to make the most of your space but as we’ve stated before, it will force you to think about each item brought into your space. Many people who choose to live tiny are embracing a minimalist lifestyle. They try their best to look at everything they have and decide if it can be reused or repurposed before looking to buy something new. If they do purchase something, they often adopt an “item in, item out” motto. If something new is coming into your space, something else must go.
With that said, you may not be fully ready to get rid of all your possessions yet, especially ones with treasured memories attached. If this is the case, or if you think tiny living will just be temporary for you, you should look into temporary self storage to house your extra belongings. Tiny house storage will always be a challenge, and if you’re not sure if tiny living is 100% for you, it would be wise to save some money in the long run and not have to repurchase everything if it doesn’t work out for you. Whatever the reason, Sunshine Self Storage is happy to help with your short- or long-term storage needs. Please contact us today!
