With costs for housing becoming out-of-reach for many, people are starting to consider non-traditional ways to build their own space. While it’s not for everyone, the “tiny home’’ movement has gained a lot of attention over the past few years.
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House On the Go
The evolution of the tiny home trend began with the tiny house-in-tow. Simply attach your house to the back of your vehicle and go wherever you want. As long as your vehicle has enough hauling power to manage the hitch and weight, this housing alternative allows you to park it in one place and when needed, take it with you and move to another place.
The size of a house-in-tow is usually between 300-500 square feet. Most offer a full-sized, three-piece bathroom, galley kitchen, living room/seating area and lofted bedroom. Typically built to accommodate two people, they can have space for a family of four.
Be wary – there are often ordinances limiting where tiny homes on wheels can be parked. So before you hook up and venture out, check with your local government to make sure you don’t encounter problems down the road.
Shipping Container Homes
This is another one of the trendiest repurposing concepts. Buy a few empty shipping containers, stack/arrange them in a unique configuration or build a roof structure between two (or more) and you have a decent starting structure for your new home. With multiple units, you can create the house size that most interests you and the space you desire.
Don’t let the look of the container fool you; once you cut out space for the windows and doors and with the addition of optional siding elements, your new place can have a stylish and modern look.
The land and foundation represent a major portion of the total budget for building a container home. But, with good foresight and conscientious planning, you will have a great space for you and your family to create many enjoyable memories.
Van Dwellings
Do you find yourself always on the go? Remember those large Chevy vans from the ‘80s? Well, people are buying them and converting them into mobile homes. By insulating and installing vent fans and mini-split AC/heat units, people are able to have a small space they can call their own that is mobile, without the need to tow it behind their vehicle.
Van dwellings are not all that new – most people would just call it an RV; but since these vans are not originally built to accommodate a bed and small kitchen, people are able to modify them as needed for their individual lifestyle.
People who build van dwellings love them for the freedom they offer. By having all of their stuff in a single location, they tend to live a very minimalist lifestyle. One benefit is how much more time they get to spend outdoors, and travel with pets is easier. (I am not sure if van life would be great for a cat, but maybe?)
