30 fantastic tiny homes built with recycled materials

The DIY tiny house movement is all about reducing consumption. Check out some tiny homes that took it a step further by building with recycled or reclaimed materials.

School buses are a favourite for DIY tiny house builders because they already have wheels. But what’s more amazing is the amount of space a school bus can offer, including room for a separated bedroom and living area like this school bus conversion. Plus we love how the knives are magnetised for easy storage on the refrigerator.

You’ll never believe that this tiny home was built from an old horse trailer. The interior is so ornate and detailed, it’s hard to imagine the house’s equine origins. There is, however, an homage to the dwelling’s past life – in the form of a galvanised steel stock tank as a tub inside.

Learn how to make rustic industrial-style shelves from reclaimed wood. 

You’ll stay cool in this old refrigerated truck. The conversion made it completely solar-powered, so it’s an especially eco-friendly option.

This 1967 Airstream trailer has been overhauled to look like a country cottage, complete with a roomy kitchen and a clothes washer. We love the white mini subway tiles in all the wet areas.

Shipping containers have become a viable option for conversion into tiny homes because of the low cost of the containers and the amount of space they can provide. This 20-foot container melds indoor and outdoor space and makes excellent use of reclaimed wood.

Take a look at these 5 creative projects that repurposed household items. 

Macy Miller started building a tiny home in 2011 and it has since expanded to include a family. She and her husband utilised shipping pallets for siding originally and reclaimed windows. Tiny homes are great for those motivated to downsize.

Aaron Maret’s Pocket Shelter DIY tiny home puts an emphasis on using recycled and reclaimed material, from the pine floor to the barn wood siding. The entry doors are also reclaimed material.

Building materials for this recycled house include pieces salvaged from construction jobs, windows that come from an old horse farm, and a kitchenette stove/refrigerator from a history museum.

Lifehaus is a prototype home with recycled tires as some of its material. Pallets and old utility poles also get thrown into the mix as building material for the house, which seeks complete self-sufficiency. It recycles water and incorporates wind and solar power. It’s an ambitious project for founder and architect Nizar Haddad, who is determined to reduce the carbon footprint of humans with the home.

Learn how to install solar deck lights.