Tiny Homes are replacing the McMansion
Many of us remember the surge of "McMansions" popping up in the 90s. A McMansion is a prefabricated home over 3,000 square feet. They are often made from low-quality building materials. These houses have a mash-up of many different styles and are poorly designed. McMansions were many people's way of living the "American Dream". Yet, many people are referring back to a simpler way of life and going tiny. Tiny living is changing the way we think about housing for the better.
What is tiny living?
The great thing about tiny living is that it has different meaning to each homeowner. Tiny living means living in a smaller space. It also means being more conscientious consumer. For many tiny living owners, this means storing your goods in a space smaller than 500 square feet.
Tiny livings many forms
Tiny living isn't just living in tiny homes. Tiny living can be in studio apartments or even retrofitted vans.
What are tiny houses made of?
Tiny houses are made from lightweight, quality materials. Many tiny houses are made to be mobile but are a lot more luxurious than any RV. These houses feature lofted bedrooms with smaller kitchens and living spaces. Although the tiny houses are smaller, many have very nice features. These include granite counter tops, farmhouse sinks, bathtubs, intricate woodwork, and tile work. Tiny homes incorporate craftsmanship that McMansions don’t. For many people, this is the way they "can have their cake and eat it too.”
Living small in Studio apartments
A lot of people choose to try tiny living in studio apartments first. Many people are willing to sacrifice space for living in great locations. For young people, it is a great choice to live in a studio apartment. This is because it affords them to live in prime real estate locations. This allows them easy access to restaurants, bars, and much more.
Tiny living in vans
Some people are choosing to take tiny living even further. Retrofitting vans is another way living small. These vans can include full-sized beds, two burner stoves, a small refrigerator, and a small sink. They usually do not include bathrooms. Van lifers opt for gyms memberships that have showers they can use. There are also apps that tell them where it’s safe to park without attracting attention.
Minimalism plays a role
Downsizing is a big part of going tiny. Marie Kondo instructs people to only keep possessions that bring them joy. She also tells her clients to thank the objects that they don’t keep for their service and send them on their way. She has a systematic way of instructing her clients to downsize their possessions.
Swedish Death cleaning takes a different approach. This is another technique that tiny living people can use to downsize. The concept is to imagine what objects you are leaving behind after you pass. You then decide if they would be things that your loved ones would like to keep. Regardless of the method, people who choose to go tiny become minimalist experts.
Tiny living can be green
Some people decide to live tiny because it’s more sustainable. With solar panels, many tiny homeowners are able to live off the grid. They have developed their own water catchment systems. It’s also possible to create a tiny farm or hanging garden in the windowsill. They also don't have to worry as much about the impact they have on the environment. Going tiny is a great way to live a more sustainable, purposeful, and low waste lifestyle.
Tiny living can get you out of debt
People are choosing tiny living as a way to get out of debt. With the rising cost of living nationwide, tiny living is a great alternative. Some people have chosen to sell their homes and possessions to live a simple, debt-free life.
For many, tiny living means there is more to life than participating in the rat race to fortune. Tiny living means freedom from debt, possessions, and being tied down to one location. People are adopting the tiny way of life as a means to a new lifestyle, and they do it pretty convincingly.
