Typically, small houses tend to be less than 1,200 square feet total for a three-bedroom, two-bath home. However many small homes are as small as 65 square feet! Small house building is gaining in popularity as homeowners are realizing the many benefits of sacrificing living space in order to save money. Small house building is also important to those with environmental concerns as they realize how scaling back on space can save in gas, electricity, cooling costs and even building materials. People who choose smaller dwellings often report a feeling of freedom, as they are no longer working to pay for the high maintenance costs of a larger home. Most small home dwellers also find that they spend more time outside of their four walls actually participating in more active lifestyles.
Small houses are extremely affordable to build. With fewer materials needed, an automatic savings is evident at the beginning of a small house-building project. The total cost for a tiny house can be as little as $10,000.00, which is less than what most people would pay towards a mortgage in one year. Because less money is needed to own a small house, people are finding that they can own a home sooner, work less, and even retire earlier than most of their peers. Small houses are even easy to relocate if an owner ever desires a new neighborhood.
The 392 square foot “Z-Glass”
from Tumbleweed Tiny
House Designs
Also, many small house builders realize that they save on the costs of hiring expensive contractors to build their dream home as many are opting to build small houses themselves. As their popularity grows, small house building plans are becoming increasingly available at reasonable costs of less than $100 for most. Or, for those who don?t opt for a do-it-yourself home-building project, many prefabricated houses can be purchased and delivered to a location with very minimal additional assembly required.
Small houses are much easier to maintain as there is less space to heat or cool, less building materials required, less electricity is used and, generally, repairs are less costly since the entire concept of a small home is geared toward simplicity. Small houses are also easier to clean and their occupants spend far less to decorate them as there is less space to fill. This is also an attractive quality to those intent on backing away from a consumer culture in favor of spending money on things like traveling, supporting social causes, or even investing in other important goals such as college tuition or retirement funds.
Owning a small home and simplifying one’s life doesn’t mean that style has to be compromised either. As small house building is becoming more popular, designs are created to fit the varying tastes of small house enthusiasts. For example, one popular architectural designer offers plans for a 392 square foot dwelling that is both spaciously designed and features a side paneling of glass that covers almost the entire side of the house (see inset above). It’s not hard to imagine that such a design is great for nature lovers who desire a spectacular view and loads of sunshine flooding their home. The modern, yet simple, design of this home is an architectural beauty proving that small houses can be space efficient and stylish at the same time.
Anyone interested in a small home building project or purchase is encouraged to visit the growing community of small home enthusiasts on the Internet and learn more about what a small home lifestyle can offer. A number of small house architects and builders offer information on designs and online forums abound where you can actually interact with people who are already living their small house dreams.
The freedom and the possibilities that small homes offer make owning one a smart choice for anyone interested in experiencing a liberated lifestyle while reducing their carbon footprint at the same time.