Tiny houses have transitioned from a housing trend to a full blown movement. Tiny homes are less than 400 square feet, and the tiny house lifestyle allows you to save money, go green, and live a more minimalist lifestyle. There are plenty of benefits of joining the tiny house movement, but it’s not for everyone. Take a look at four reasons to join the tiny house movement and three reasons it may not be for you!
4 Pros of Tiny House Living
1. You’ll Save Money
When you live in a tiny home, you’re able to save money- tons of it! Not only does it cost less to buy a tiny home- many tiny home owners are able to live mortgage free, it also costs less to furnish, maintain, and you’ll enjoy lower expenses, cutting back on your utilities and energy bills. These savings will allow you to spend more on luxuries such as travel, work less, and save for retirement.
2. There’s Lower Maintenance
Less home means less maintenance. A tiny home is easy to take care of, with less space to clean and fewer appliances to repair. There’s less dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, and even laundry, so you can spend your time doing more of what you love.
3. It’s Environmentally Friendly
A tiny home allows you to live a greener lifestyle, which is increasingly important to many homeowners these days. Tiny houses take less to construct, less to heat and cool, and they take up less space. The tiny house movement goes along with the environmental movement, with your electricity, fuel, water and waste disposal all considerably decreased.
4. A Minimal Lifestyle
More and more people are becoming attracted to a minimal lifestyle. They want to get rid of all the clutter that’s taking up space in their homes. More stuff often leads to more stress, whereas with a tiny home, you can pare down to the things you really need and that enrich your life.
3 Cons of Tiny House Living
1. Less Living Space
You won’t get your big, dream kitchen or master ensuite in a tiny house, so if those things are on your wish list, tiny house living may not be for you. Tiny houses often don’t have full sized kitchen appliances or bathtubs and can become quite tight when an entire family is occupying one. They’re ideal for singles and couples, but when there are a bunch of people trying to share a tiny space, it doesn’t always work well.
2. Less Storage Space
Storage space is also a concern. If you’re downsizing to a tiny home, you’ll have to get rid of a lot of belongings, and those items aren’t always junk. Many people have to get rid of things like exercise equipment, kids toys, designer bag collections and other belongings that they have come to love.
3. Not Ideal for Entertaining
If you love to entertain, you’re going to have a tough time inside a tiny home. Big family dinners and visitors needing an extra bed are no longer a possibility. If you don’t mind waiting until the warmer months, you can create a large outdoor entertaining space to host your guests!
There are pros and cons of tiny house living, but it’s easy to see why so many people are joining the movement. What do you think- is it for you?