Tiny Houses: Which One Would You Live In?: 144 Square Feet

By: John Riha
8Comments

Thinking of downsizing? Attracted to the idea of a smaller space with less maintenance, lower cost to heat, and fewer corners to accrue clutter? These 10 houses are perfect for your tiny-space-loving spirit. Did we say small? Some of these cleverly designed sugar shacks are less than 80 square feet. Total! With the tiny house movement growing and new-home square footage shrinking, small is the new big.

Because of its small size, the compact EPU House from Tumbleweed Tiny House Co. doesn’t qualify as a bona fide house suitable for a foundation. Instead, it’s built on a trailer as a quasi-mobile home. Nonetheless, there’s a kitchen, bathroom, and fireplace inside, and you can take it wherever you go.

Credit: Tumbleweed Tiny House Company/photo by Jack Journey
Intended as an office or getaway retreat, the Morhaus prototype features a shed roof design that simplifies construction and cost. There’s no bathroom, but larger models can accommodate a composting toilet. South-facing clerestory windows allow solar access that helps heat the cabin.

Credit: Craig W. Isaac
This beachfront chalet features soft wood walls and floors, and a ceiling that adds a rustic modernity to the interiors. A space-saving range, refrigerator, and stacking furniture open up floor space to prevent this Studiomama house from feeling cramped.

Credit: Studiomama/photo by Nina Tolstrup
For those who don’t have their feet on the ground (and that’s not a bad thing!), curling up in a hanging globe may be the perfect lifestyle. These 10-foot diameter spheres from Free Spirit Spheres feature beds and electrical hookups, but there’s no small bath in this little round nest.

Credit: Free Spirit Spheres Inc.
Tiny house ownership shouldn’t put the kibosh on entertaining. This motorized bed zooms to the ceiling with the touch of a button, making it a space-saving storage solution that carves out room for your guests.

Credit: Cornell University Solar Decathlon Team’s Silo House/Photo by Chris Goodney
The micro compact home fits a kitchen, dining table, TV, double bed, storage, shower, and high-tech toilet into its diminutive dimensions. The anodized steel siding covers polyurethane wall insulation to keep this cubistic hovel toasty in cool temps.

Credit: micro compact home
What you give up in floor area you’ll gain in self-sufficiency with the winged ZeroHouse. That balcony roof is actually a solar panel that powers the house for up to a week when sunshine fails. A 2,700-gallon cistern gathers rainwater for bathing, and a composting toilet turns waste into usable compost. Triple-pane insulating windows help keep the ZeroHouse warm in winter.

Credit: Specht Harpman
Based on the simple backyard shed, the Modern-Shed comes in many sizes, from a mere 80 sq. ft. to 640 sq. ft. Top-quality materials, such as fiber-cement and cedar siding options, make these sheds as livable as they are cute. But to outfit them with bathroom and kitchen facilities, you may want to consult an architect.

Credit: Modern-Shed / Photo by Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli photography + design
If mobile living gets your gypsy blood stirring, then the wheeled Don Vardo house from Portland Alternative Dwellings may be your ticket to ride. French doors, radiant-heat floors, and a cedar deck make the Don Vardo the home that roams. You’ll have to pull into a rest area for nature calls — there’s no bathroom aboard.

Credit: K. Wolf, Portland Alternative Dwellings
If you’re looking to set up by your own Walden Pond, the Hermit’s Cabin from Arevsund may tickle your muse. It comes insulated, but for the ultimate in luxury, order yours with the optional wood stove and curtains.

Credit: Arvesund
If you like these, you may want to take a spin through HouseLogic’s library of slideshows.

89 Square Feet
144 Square Feet
388 Square Feet
53 Square Feet
500 Square Feet
76 Square Feet
650 Square Feet
192 Square Feet
70 Square Feet
80 Square Feet
Like our slideshows?

89-square-feet
144-square-feet
388-square-feet
53-square-feet
500-square-feet
76-square-feet
650-square-feet
192-square-feet
70-square-feet
80-square-feet
more-slideshows

Image: Tumbleweed Tiny House Company/photo by Jack Journey
Image: Craig W. Isaac
Image: Studiomama/photo by Nina Tolstrup
Image: Free Spirit Spheres Inc.
Image: Cornell University Solar Decathlon Team’s Silo House/Photo by Chris Goodney
Image: micro compact home
Image: Specht Harpman
Image: Modern-Shed/Photo by Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli photography + design
Image: K. Wolf, Portland Alternative Dwellings
Image: Arvesund

- Print
- Facebook Twitter Email Share
  - Email
  - Twitter
  - Facebook
  - Digg
  - Linkedin
- Print
- Facebook Twitter Email Share
  - Email
  - Twitter
  - Facebook
  - Digg
  - Linkedin
- Print
- Facebook Twitter Email Share
  - Email
  - Twitter
  - Facebook
  - Digg
  - Linkedin
- Print
- Facebook Twitter Email Share
  - Email
  - Twitter
  - Facebook
  - Digg
  - Linkedin
- Print
- Facebook Twitter Email Share
  - Email
  - Twitter
  - Facebook
  - Digg
  - Linkedin
- Print
- Facebook Twitter Email Share
  - Email
  - Twitter
  - Facebook
  - Digg
  - Linkedin
- Print
- Facebook Twitter Email Share
  - Email
  - Twitter
  - Facebook
  - Digg
  - Linkedin
- Print
- Facebook Twitter Email Share
  - Email
  - Twitter
  - Facebook
  - Digg
  - Linkedin
- Print
- Facebook Twitter Email Share
  - Email
  - Twitter
  - Facebook
  - Digg
  - Linkedin
- Print
- Facebook Twitter Email Share
  - Email
  - Twitter
  - Facebook
  - Digg
  - Linkedin
- Print
- Facebook Twitter Email Share
  - Email
  - Twitter
  - Facebook
  - Digg
  - Linkedin

Comments

(8)

I just love #7 and want one. I lived in a 580 sq ft Apartment for 3 years, and it was fine for me. It encouraged me to not spend all my time in the house. I just wish 7 didn't cost so much :( I currenty live in one room of someone else's home and pay them rent. I have a 10 x10 storage bin, and am debating on getting rid of everything in it.
Posted by Lia on February 05, 2012

Kathy, I believe that what Angele is saying is, make good use of the apts. in the urban areas. They are already there, and can be made to be 'green.' It is FAR better to 're-do' those apts., than to take up more 'GREEN SPACE' in the rural areas.... I agree, WHOLE HEARTEDLY! We live in the 'sticks.' We see what 'city folk' do to try to 'citify' their surroundings, once they move out here. After they move out here, they want to have the 'city' conveniences that they are used to. And they don't like the 'smells', the schools, the neighbors (property) etc... The more land they take up in the rural areas, the LESS land available for the wildlife that live there. We must SHARE the land with the animals, and not encroach upon it and then call animal control to KILL them, so that WE may live on their land!
Posted by nica on November 30, 2011

I have a small one bedroom and I'm about to be evicted and homeless due to nearly 3 years of sporadic or no employment and no unemployment benefits 'cause I'm self-employed painter....a very, very good painter!!! I'd be very happy w/#'s 2,3,5,6,7,8. I would need a full bath and a wood burning stove or fireplace though. These are so creative and lovely. Thanks for the inspirations.
Posted by Mark on November 23, 2011

Angele, those who live in rural areas understand and pratice substainablility far more than city dwellers, have you ever grown and picked your own fruit, vegeatables, your had fresh eggs from your chickens ?. probally not you depend on it being shipped to you, ulitizing fossile fuled vechiles to make the long halls then shopping in 24 hour grocery stores using power to keep things fresh... get a clue these small homes are more eco-friendly then any apartment in a city
Posted by Kathy on October 28, 2011

These are cute but If you really care about the environment you would move to an urban environment and leave the remaining wildlands alone to continue functioning properly. Living in a city apartment requires less use of energy for you and for the building, and you can work with your community to make your environment less toxic and harmful to your ecosystem. for example: urban rooftop gardens. They can reduce stormwater runoff and increase everyone's quality of life. I am working on this in downtown Seattle: ecofashionseattle dot blogspot dot com
Posted by Angele on October 16, 2011

Show All 8 Comments