I live in a tiny house – here’s what most people don’t know

Tiny houses aren’t only capturing people’s attention – they’re turning into a full-on movement. People from all walks of life are choosing to downsize their lives by living with less and in less space. So, just how tiny are tiny homes? The typical tiny house is usually between 9 and 37 square metres. (Yes, you read that right.)

My husband and I have been in our 18-square-metre home for a year and a half. Our reasons for choosing this lifestyle include the financial freedom that comes from mortgage-free living, more free time because we have less house to maintain, and clean living in a more eco-friendly and sustainable dwelling that aligns with our focus on the environment. Plus, because we save money from not having to pay rent or a mortgage, we are able to travel more frequently. Of course, there are also some challenges that come with living in a tiny house, but we’ve figured out a few key ways to make this lifestyle work for us. Here’s what it’s all really like.

To make living in a tiny house work, you really have to like the outdoors. We are generally outside all day and sometimes consider our home just the place where we sleep. We are always walking or hiking, and I’ll cook outside when the weather is nice. The winter can be different, but snow doesn’t keep us inside – we both have a good pair of snowshoes! When it’s raining or storming, it can get hard, but the wood-burning stove changes the ambience of the house. Yes, we can get stir-crazy on bad-weather days, but that can happen in a house of any size.

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With both of us working from home, sometimes we have to get creative finding our own individual space. I work for myself as a communications consultant primarily with charter schools, and my husband, Todd, works in construction project management. Because we spend a lot of time outdoors, it has worked out well, but everyone needs their alone time. Todd travels for work, so that’s one way we have time to ourselves, but one of us can also simply go for a walk or a run or meet with a friend and do something on our own.

Overall, living in a tiny house has been great for our relationship. We both believe that we have become better communicators. Because we are in such close quarters, we resolve issues quicker by diving headfirst into whatever arises. I also tell people that you really have to like your significant other if you live in quarters this small. I mean, not just love the person, but also really like them!

Our loft is made up of our king-size bed. (Bet you never thought you could fit a king-size bed in a tiny home!) The headboard even acts as our dresser and can be used for other storage. While neither of us can physically stand up there, it is possible to sit up without hitting your head. Changing the sheets can be a struggle, though. It takes a lot of manoeuvring, and it’s definitely a one-person job.

A lot of tiny homes don’t have traditional septic tanks; they instead utilise a composting toilet. Disposing is really simple. A composting toilet turns solid waste into compost by creating an oxygen-rich environment where aerobic bacteria break down the waste pile. And there’s no portable toilet smell because a continuously running fan pulls the air out.

When it comes to water, each house operates differently. Many tiny homes will source water from a town water line, a well, or an RV hookup. Our water – for the sinks, shower and washing machine – all comes from the same source: the well on the property. We connected to that, and we simply use that water source; we don’t need a filter.

When we moved, we each pared down our wardrobes by about 80 percent. If it hadn’t been worn in a year, it had to go. We have a closet in the loft, and we also store stuff in bins in the storage shed attached to the house for the different seasons. Now, if we buy something new, something has to go, and we only keep clothes that fit. Remembering those rules helps keep our wardrobes minimal. I don’t usually buy fast fashion and prefer items that are well made and will last for many seasons or years. While I wouldn’t say that my wardrobe just consists of the basics, I would say that I am very intentional about what I purchase. I only buy items that I really love and that make me feel good when I am wearing them.

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Many people are surprised by how much storage we actually have. You find that you can store things almost anywhere. Drawers built into the stairs, under-the-couch cushions, and the headboard all become potential places to store things. It was part of the planning. You utilise every inch so there is no wasted space. Renting a storage unit to keep stuff wasn’t for us, as doing so defeated the purpose of why we wanted to live in a tiny house.

Here are 15 ways to squeeze more storage out of small spaces. 

When your tiny house is in an area that gets all the seasons, this can present a challenge when entertaining, especially in the winter. We do the bulk of entertaining in the summer when we can utilise the outdoors, but inside, you really have to maximise the seating. We once had six people in the house at once and that felt tight, so I’d say four people are the maximum number we can fit comfortably inside.

In Upstate New York where we live, winters can be brutal, so we plan ahead – way ahead. I remember stacking wood on the hottest day of the year! Since our wood-burning stove is our primary heat source, wood is on my mind all year long. We have wood stacked all around the house, and it is a constant job bringing wood closer to the house. You really work for your heat, but I don’t mind this chore because 1) I get to be outside and using my body in a way that I know will yield a benefit later, and 2) I love the idea that I am doing work that will keep me warm. I hate being cold, so seeing a huge stacked pile of wood reassures me that we will be warm all winter!

More broadly, though, I see the process from beginning to end rather than simply turning up a dial on a thermostat. I feel a little more connected to my life and the processes of my home. There is an idiom that says something like: “Heating with wood warms you twice” – once when you cut and stack and then again when you burn it.

In general, a tiny house is a lot easier to maintain because of its size. But dirt and clutter build up quicker and noticeably faster. In a small space, you clean more often. But, that said, since it’s a small house, it doesn’t take as long, and a good handheld dustbuster is all you really need. It takes about an hour – max – to get everything clean.

Regardless of the size of your home, here are 20 spring cleaning tasks you can do in a minute or less.