Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (2024)

FAQs

What is the best size building for a tiny house? ›

The average size of a tiny house is 400 square feet or less, while a tiny home on trailers is 8.5 x 40 by 13.5 feet or 320 square feet overall. You could expand as large as 1,000 square feet assuming you wanted to. However, this size is more common for smaller houses. It all varies depending on what you need.

Inside your tiny house, the kitchen and bathroom are often the costliest areas, just like in a traditional house, Dobrowolski says. You can opt for smaller versions of appliances and fixtures, but the plumbing and electrical work will cost roughly the same as in a traditional house.

PVC wall panels – the ideal interior wall panels for tiny homes. Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard is an ideal tiny house wall panel material. It's lightweight, yet amazingly strong and durable, plus its bright, white finish reflects all natural available light and delivers a clean, crisp interior look.

The average cost of a tiny house is a reasonable $30,000 – $60,000, although they can cost as little as $8,000 or up to $150,000 depending on the amenities you choose to include. It's typically cheaper to build a tiny house than to buy one prebuilt, but don't get too caught up in the savings.

The build-out process typically takes between three and five months, but depending on how the other stages of the process go, buyers may need to allot up to 12 months for the home to be finalized. After deciding to purchase a tiny home, one of the first steps a buyer should take is to choose a builder.

The Lowest Cost Option

For those who want to build their tiny house on the lowest budget possible, there are several options available. One of the most popular is to build the home yourself using reclaimed materials. This can be done by sourcing materials from salvage yards, second-hand stores, and even Craigslist.

The homes may be small, but by no means frail and dainty. As per SPINDRIFT HOMES, with proper maintenance, you can expect the tiny home to last for 30 to 50 years. However, a tiny home's longevity depends on many factors. Tiny homes on a foundation tend to last longer than mobile ones.

Start with a Neutral Color Palette

Colors like whites, grays, and beiges help rooms feel airier and larger than they actually are because neutrals reflect light well.

If your land has high groundwater, a crawl space foundation is a good choice. Also if you live in a dry climate or are building in an area where soil is compressed and hard to dig, installing a crawl space foundation can be a good option. A crawl space is basically a short basem*nt but generally above ground.

Check if the tiny house builder has necessary certifications or licenses required to build legally. Ask about shop facilities and what equipment is available for use during construction. Discuss the project timeline and ask about availability in case of changes or issues.

What is the best square footage for a tiny house? ›

Common Sizes of Tiny Houses

Some of the popular sizes include: 100-150 square feet: This size is perfect for those looking for an efficient living space with minimal amenities. It typically includes one room with a kitchenette, bathroom, and sleeping area all combined into one space.

Some specific types of tiny houses include:

Mobile tiny house - mounted on wheels and mobile (similar to mobile homes) Mobile home chassis - also equipped with wheels, but mainly for precise alignment. Bungalow - typically single-story. Microhouse - with a solid foundation and a living area of up to 50 m2.

What Qualifies As A Tiny House? Although tiny houses seem pretty self-explanatory, they're more specifically defined as any home that falls under a maximum of 500 square feet. They can also be built on either a mobile platform or a permanent house foundation.

Homes under 1,000 square feet can and often are used as primary residences. Empty nesters looking to downsize might appreciate a tiny house plan that requires little upkeep.

The Optimal Square Feet Per Person For The Ideal House Size

This means for a family of three, the ideal house size is 1,800 – 2,100 square feet. For a family of four, the ideal house size is between 2,400 – 2,800 square feet and so forth.

The tiny home for low-maintenance living

A 600 to 700 square foot home won't typically include a large chef's kitchen, huge walk-in closets, or a separate tub and shower in the bathroom, but most homeowners looking for this size home are doing so for the convenience of it, not the amenities.