Whether you're committed to the minimalist lifestyle or you like the price of tiny homes relative to traditional homes, you may be struggling to make it work. Even though the tiny home life isn't for everyone, you can still have everything you need if you know how to consolidate your belongings and decorate accordingly. Unfortunately, you can't decorate and furnish a tiny home the same way you would a traditional house, but you can still make it look great with all of the necessities. Read on for eight dos and don'ts when decorating your tiny home to cultivate a big life in a small space.
Why a Tiny Home?
Despite it becoming a popular choice for many young people across the country, others can't seem to wrap their heads around why anyone would want to live in condensed quarters. Whether you live on your own or with your partner or spouse, you may consider living in a tiny home for the following convincing reasons. Read on to learn whether or not tiny house living may be a suitable lifestyle for you.
You're on the Move
Because many tiny homes are on wheels, you can move around and live wherever you like. You can think of it as being similar to an RV, except it looks like a legitimate house on smaller terms. Whether you travel continually or have a piece of land to call home, you may love the freedom of living in a tiny home. If you want to go on a road trip, you can take your home with you and save money on lodging; however, you must always find a legal spot to park and stay for the night.
You Can Live Off the Grid
A life off the grid may or may not sound like a good idea to you, but it's refreshing and liberating for many people. If you're one of these people, you should consider what it's like to live off of the grid in a tiny house. Not only can you remove yourself from society and disconnect for as long as you want, but you don't have to deal with traditional bills.
Great for Minimalists
If you're a minimalist, you may find yourself living in a relatively empty house. With that said, you can opt for a tiny house and still have everything you need. Whether you're new to this lifestyle or you're a long-time minimalist, you'll probably feel right at home in a smaller space.
Spend More Time in Nature
Because you're on the move, you'll have the opportunity to spend more time in nature in various areas of the country. If you want to connect with nature more frequently, you may love staying in a tiny house. In fact, living in small living quarters is a surefire way to force you to get outside for fresh air more often.
Reduce Your Stress Levels
Believe it or not, a lot of our stress comes from external factors—a major one being our homes and family life. If you have less house to worry about and maintain, you're likely to have lower stress levels, which is good for your mental and physical health.
Now that you have a few reasons to live in a tiny house, you should know the dos and don'ts of making it feel like home. Follow along for the best and most useful tiny house tips!
Do: Choose Multi-Purpose Items
Multi-purpose items are going to become your best friends when it comes to living in a much smaller space. Although you could have a coffee table and a chest for blanket storage in a traditional home, this may not be an option in your tiny house. Instead, you should consider choosing a coffee table that has a decent amount of storage inside of it.
Don't: Sacrifice Comfort for Utility
Although it may be more difficult to make a tiny house feel just as cozy as a traditional home, you shouldn't always sacrifice comfort for utility. Even though you may spend more time outdoors than indoors, you still need a comfortable space to relax and lay your head each night. With that said, you should opt for a comfortable bed and a small, comfortable sofa to cultivate a place of safety and coziness.
Do: Play With With Lighter Color Palettes
Because the space is so small to begin with, you shouldn't work against the area you have. Unfortunately, darker colors create shadows, which makes a room feel much smaller than it is. With that in mind, you should opt for a lighter color palette to create as much light as possible. Otherwise, the walls may feel as if they're closing in on you.
Don't: Block Natural Light
Your tiny home will likely have windows, and you should use them to your advantage. Rather than covering them with dark curtains, consider choosing sheer ones to let in as much natural light as possible. After all, you may have to rely on solar electricity, and it's best to conserve it as much as possible.
Do: Add Elements of Nature
Even though nature is just a few short steps away at all times, you can still add elements of nature to your living space to make it feel and look more refreshing. Whether you have plants inside or opt for contemporary wooden chairs, you'll love how beautiful nature can be indoors.
Don't: Over-Decorate or Create Clutter
The goal of tiny house living is to reduce clutter in your home and your life; therefore, you should avoid over-decorating. You don't have much wall space to work with, and you may only need a few small decor pieces to make it feel like home. Clutter is your worst enemy, and over-decorating is the best way to make the place feel too small.
Do: Make Use of Vertical and Ceiling Space
You already know that you don't have much square footage, but you can make use of vertical and ceiling space by creating storage above your living space. Whether you build storage systems vertically or put your bed into a lofted area, you'll be grateful for the extra floor space.
Don't: Forget the Power of Mirrors
Mirrors are an excellent addition to your tiny house walls, as they have the power to make the space look much more open by reflecting light. Simply hang a few mirrors in the living space to see how it makes your place feel slightly more open despite the space constraints.
After reading through these eight dos and don'ts when decorating your tiny home, you're ready to get on the road and adopt the minimalist lifestyle. While it's not for everyone, it makes for a different life path that many people have grown to love. If you’re looking to furnish your tiny home, check out Harmony Modern selection of contemporary home furniture today.
