You’ve heard about the tiny home trend, of course. Whether you love it in theory, just love pics of the itty-bitty interiors or you’re already pricing options for your own mini-mansion, this article shares our own team’s insight.
Our favorite rationales for a tiny home range from the practical to the wildly implausible—but that’s the beauty of going small—you’re not likely to break the bank or suffer too many sleepless nights from an investment of this size.
Are Tiny Homes Practical?
Tiny living makes ownership in an expensive city much more doable. Think NYC, London, Paris or anyplace coastal. You can scrimp and save and wait, or you can get in the market sooner and build equity. Desirable locations like these rarely suffer huge real estate swings. And if you transfer away for work or get the travel bug, leasing to a long-term tenant or using the property as a temporary rental are often possibilities.
Size Can Tip the Ownership Odds in Your Favor
On the other side of the spectrum, we know some folks who’ve fallen in love with a getaway location and made ownership a reality with a small parcel of land and a tiny home built by a local contractor. Whether it’s peace and quiet among tall trees that you crave, or a little desert oasis, size can really tip the ownership odds in your favor. Anyplace that’s easy for you to get to often enough to enjoy has potential.
It may sound crazy, but if you’re feeling the need for a first or second (or third!) place of your own, and your local market is not where you want to invest right now, start looking at 4-hours or under driving distances and check direct flights from your local airport. We know people who rent in the larger metropolitan areas of Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and San Diego, yet own tiny places in beautiful Baja towns.
Earn Short-Term Guest Income
We also know people who are putting their large yards in popular cities to work for them; by building a tiny house that’s nicely spaced from their main home, they’re earning short-term guest income and paying off what will become an in-law unit for aging parents. That’s smart planning.
Even if you’re not ready to leap into tiny living, the appeal of seeing how small spaces are decorated is undeniable. It’s akin to asking the question “If you could only take 5 things to the moon, what would you choose?” Peering into these little places lets us be voyeurs, looking at what other people prioritize as necessities.
Tiny is Simple
And then there’s always the appeal of decluttering. The busier and more “connected” we are, the less time we have for upkeep and home maintenance, and the more we need our homes to be calming and retreat-like. Small takes us back to a sense of security, and many times to memories (or to eras that we’ve seen in films and photos) of how it was “when things were simpler.”
Maximize Your Small Space
To get that feeling in a tiny home you’re contemplating or in your current space if you’re square-footage-challenged, here are some of team Pfister’s favorite small home looks and pieces we love that maximize our own small spaces.
Acrylic furniture. Smaller rooms and spaces that do double duty feel lighter and more open with fewer hard lines and darker colors. These barrel chairs from CB2 are durable and adaptable, by adding colored cushions.
Multi-use small pieces like end tables that have built-in magazine storage or sleek marble tops that work as upscale nightstands are durable, practical and help you minimize clutter.
Bathroom fixtures like Tenet add organic elegance to sinks and simple counter tops, so that smaller spaces have a focal point that’s high-quality and unique.
Simple bookshelves keep more than books organized. These inexpensive metal hanging ones make the most of your wall space and hold bathroom products, sauces or desk accessories.
Rugs are cooler than ever, tying together colors as well as making small rooms feel more spacious. This beauty from Safaviah is well-priced and made for higher traffic areas.
Tiny kitchens become high-end masterpieces of functionality with the tall, narrow footprint of this sleek Stellen faucet, featuring an auto-on sensor that’s perfect for multitasking with your hands full.
Have your own tiny living tips, tricks or photos to add?
We’d love to share your point of view with the world of Pfister fans.
Add your comments below or tag #PfabulousPfister on social media to have your kitchen or bath featured. You deserve credit for your good taste and creative thinking!
