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The Big Future of Tiny Houses, Part I

A five-part series exploring the mini phenomenon that's taking the world by storm, and enabling women everywhere to follow their dreams. Part 1: what even is a tiny house??

By Chiara TorelliPublished 5 years ago 6 min read
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Tiny houses are having a massive impact as an ever-increasing number of people re-assess their lifestyles to better line up with their values.

The growing popularity of tiny living can be seen as a symptom of the generalised unease around the personal, social, and environmental consequences of our modern values. It powerfully demonstrates a rejection of the materialism and consumerism that have been a hallmark of the 20th and 21st centuries, and, most importantly, could form a part of the solution to endemic social issues such as homelessness, urban density, and poverty.

Many women, from young professionals to business owners, creative entrepreneurs, and stay-at-home-mums are jumping onto the tiny living bandwagon, taking the opportunity to downsize their environmental footprint, their debt, their bills, and their belongings—freeing themselves up for Life.

What Is a Tiny House?

Realistically, there is no single answer to this question. Tiny houses come in myriad shapes and styles, materials and locations. From homes built on trailers or boats to converted shipping containers, railway carriages and boats, every tiny homeowner's experience is uniquely tailored to their needs, values, and priorities.

In general, though, tiny houses are independent habitable structures, which can be entirely self-contained and off-grid, although many are built with the option of being connected to the grid if necessary. Some tiny houses are built on wheels, some on foundations; some are stationed on land owned or rented by the owner, and others on their own parking lots.

While there is, as of yet, no official regulation regarding the size of tiny houses, it's generally accepted that anything under 46m2 and 4.5 tonnes makes the cut.

What Is the Tiny Living Movement?

The tiny living movement has been a growing trend ever since 1999, when Jay Shafer built one of the first tiny homes on wheels, and kickstarted what would grow into a mainstream living solution for many people. More than an architectural trend, it's a social movement asking us to refocus our lifestyle priorities from materialism and consumerism to personal and financial freedom, low-impact living, and a more conscious attitude towards resources.

The movement, which really spread its wings in 2014, was primarily a result of economic unease, and a growing awareness of our environmental impact. People wanted to live free from debt, own their home, decrease their ecological footprint, and move towards a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Today the movement is even transforming government procedures. Local councils are implementing tiny-house friendly land-rental or ownership policies, and increasing the RV-friendliness of their planning schemes. Tiny homes are also being considered as a solution to social issues like homelessness.

The popularity of down-sized living is highly evocative of the burdens that the modern rat race imposes on women living in more established economies. The treadmill of university debt, inflated rental prices, all-consuming jobs, and crippling mortgages seriously removes us from a lifestyle that leaves room for us and the people we care about.

The allure of materialism and consumerism is also waning as women become more aware of the social and environmental consequences of our purchases. The tiny living movement coincides with slow, ethical, and sustainable retail trends; a shift towards slow, humane, and natural foodstuffs; and the rejection of a consumerist attitude to status. Decluttering and downsizing our space is tantamount to decluttering and downsizing our lifestyles, simplifying our relationships with our finances, our values, and our goals.

It's not just a phase, Mom!

Many assumed that the tiny house movement was just a phase, a fad which would come and go as many trends are wont to do. However, to this day, the movement is only growing in popularity, with more tiny homeowners joining the community every year, and people adapting tiny house principles to their current living situations. Local councils are joining in, seeing the potential of tiny living to address issues like homelessness and urban density.

Why are tiny houses such a popular alternative for homeowners, especially young entrepreneurs and creatives? The reasons can be divided into three main categories, which all overlap symbiotically: financial, environmental, and personal well-being.

In rejecting traditional housing options, especially in this day and age of soaring rent and real estate prices, women can achieve the peace of mind of owning their own place without the high purchase price, crippling mortgage, and inflexibility of committing to a location.

The initial cost of a tiny house can be markedly lower than buying a full-sized home, and is quickly recouped, while utilities and maintenance costs are massively reduced. Tiny houses are much cheaper to heat and insulate, and if you work towards being off-grid, you can significantly lessen your reliance on main water and gas.

Picture it: a life free from rent, mortgage, and bills! A lower cost of living can help reduce your overall debt. You can dedicate a more significant percentage of your paycheck to living and saving, rather than merely surviving. In the USA, 68 percent of tiny homeowners have no mortgage, and 77 percent have more in savings than the average citizen! Furthermore, you can own your home without needing to own any land.

From the environment's point of view, a smaller house means decreased consumption, and reduced demand on non-renewable natural resources.

Environmental concerns being one of the principal motivations for many people to go tiny, most builds are designed to consume as little water, gas, and energy as possible. Many tiny houses are in fact intended to be completely off-the-grid, generating their own electricity from solar power, and capturing rainwater. Greywater is often recycled, and most tiny builds are equipped with composting toilets, which massively reduce your water consumption.

The mental and emotional benefits of living a life of financial freedom and reduced consumerism are undeniable. Unburdening ourselves from debt and worry about our economic future lifts a great weight from our shoulders, reducing anxiety, and enabling us to live more powerfully in the moment. Financial concerns cease to be the guiding pillars of our lifestyles, and are replaced with our passions and values.

Similarly, the items that we own exercise a surprising amount of pressure on our emotional landscapes. People usually don't notice it until they free themselves from it. Owning less means less emotional, physical, and financial energy is dedicated to objects, clutter, and materialism. More mental space can be devoted to pursuits that bring us joy and fulfillment.

More financial and emotional freedom means more time, energy, and focus to dedicate to the work, business, or projects that give our lives meaning and impact. Tiny living is helping empower women to shape their lives around their values and priorities.

I think tiny houses are here to stay.

Stay tuned for more information about things to think about if you're considering tiny living!

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About the Creator

Chiara Torelli

Student of Life, thalassophile

Multi-national polyglot

Books, outdoor sports, arts and crafts, food and wine/cocktails

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