Tiny homes are just what they sound like–small-scale homes with a tiny footprint. Definitions vary, but generally, any home under 500 square feet fits the criteria. The tiny house movement has grown in the last several years after a cultural shift in values away from belongings and toward fulfilling experiences. Along with the change, tiny house interior design ideas have taken off as a practical form of artistry. Many people see the benefits of minimizing their belongings and simplifying their homes to include only the most enjoyable and useful items.
The tiny house movement is both an architectural and social value system. Tiny homes are often designed with a commitment to sustainable living and may include eco-friendly materials, efficient appliances, and renewable energy systems. This allows for the important things: enjoying your surroundings, spending time outside, and keeping close company. Modern tiny house design doesn’t require giving up all luxuries.
1. Recessed Lighting in Ceilings, Floors, and Walls
Recessed lighting is a beautiful way to save space, illuminate important spaces (like inside cupboards or along a hallway), and can be used to differentiate spaces. Inset fixtures allow you to space lighting throughout the room evenly, lighting up the area evenly so you won’t struggle to read your book when the sun sets. Recessed lights come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Change the trim on a typical can fixture to reflect or dissipate light, or opt for a design that resembles a skylight.
2. Walls Don’t Have to be Perpendicular to the Ground
A major benefit of a tiny home is your design freedom with a small structure. Walls don’t have to be 90 degrees with the floor. Work with an architect to design the wall angles to your space-saving benefit. Designs with more cone-shaped walls–or even helical conch-shell influenced–can give you additional storage space or higher ceilings than a typical home would provide. Thoughtful design can use an interior corner to differentiate rooms and create privacy between common areas without committing to a space-closing wall.
3. Use Paint or Curtains to Differentiate Spaces Visually
While your kitchen, dining room, and living area may all share a wall, you can differentiate the spaces by painting the rooms in different colors. Choose a cohesive color palette and get creative! Don’t be afraid to use organic lines or simple murals to break up the room. You may achieve the same benefits by using curtains to divide spaces. Using a sheer curtain will allow light to come through, or choose a heavy curtain for privacy or to keep heated/cooled air in a particular area of your home.
4. Enjoy the Benefits of Passive Solar
Maximizing passive solar principles will benefit your wallet and add comfort. When designing your home, consider your window placement and awnings. You can save on heating and cooling costs by designing your home to capture heat in the winter and maximize airflow in the summer. Using skylights will also cut back on electricity costs. Skylights come in a variety of sizes and shapes–some even allow you to open them, which is great for airflow and stargazing in a lofted space.
5. Lofted Rooms
Sleeping in a lofted space is common for tiny homes. If you want to avoid ladders or stairs around bedtime, consider the benefits of a lofted space for other uses. A lofted office is a great way to create a private quiet space. Lofting your storage space is a great way to keep your outdoor gear accessible without being in your way.
6. Rooftop Space
While not technically a tiny house interior design idea—Don’t discount your rooftop space. Building a rooftop deck is a great way to expand your outdoor living space without increasing your home’s footprint if you live in a climate amenable to flat roofs. Decorate with outdoor furniture, grill on warm nights without heating up your home, start a vertical garden, and enjoy the views! The rooftop space doesn’t have to be wasted if a deck isn’t possible. Consider skylights or solar panels to harness the sun’s energy.
7. Unique Windows
Many people are drawn to the tiny home lifestyle by the promise of unique landscapes and breathtaking views. Large and unique windows allow you to enjoy the scenery. Due to the small scale of the home, splurging on interesting windows won’t break the bank. Think dragonfly windows with a window seat where you can enjoy a book or large sliding doors that can be opened when the weather is pleasant to extend your dining and living space onto your outdoor deck. Check out our picks for the best states for tiny home living, especially if you’re an outdoor enthusiast.
8. Efficient Appliances
Downsizing your appliances will save you space and money. Consider combination washing machines/dryers, an under-sink dishwasher, and a compact refrigerator. Smaller appliances require less space and are more energy-efficient. By keeping your appliances compact, you can save valuable kitchen space for countertops and cabinets. Since you likely will have a smaller wardrobe and dish set, efficient appliances will be perfectly sized.
9. Foldable Furniture
I think we’ve all gone through a period of fascination with Murphy beds. Optimizing space by folding up your bed or other furniture is a great solution for your tiny home. Perhaps you usually eat on your couch but want to host a few friends for dinner now and then–design a table that folds down from the wall with removable legs. Try a daybed or trundle bed if you’d like to be able to have visitors. Desks, tables, and beds can easily be folded, slid, or otherwise hidden out of sight.
10. Get Inspired by Your Environment
Were you drawn to your property due to a unique landscape or natural resource? Perhaps there is a grassy hill with an unbeatable sunset view or a trickling stream that soothes you to sleep. Why not build your house into the hill or on stilts above the stream? Channel your inner Frank Lloyd Wright and meld your home with the place you love.
11. Divide Rooms with Shelving
Using shelves to divide rooms is a great way to differentiate living spaces while giving yourself additional storage. Opt for bookcases with a back to create a private office area. Consider open square shelving for cohesion between rooms, allowing the light and air to flow from one area to another. Since the shelves aren’t permanent, you can change the sizes of the spaces within your home–creating more floor space in the living room when there are visitors and then using that same space to sprawl out on your desk once they’ve left. If you’re going to move shelves regularly, lockable wheels are a great tool.
12. Optimize Kitchen Space
Efficient kitchens and bathrooms are the most significant adjustment to small-space living. Optimize the vertical space in your tiny house design by hanging pots and pans, getting a magnet strip for your knife set, and utilizing corners for triangular shelves. Think outside the box–build kick drawers beneath your cupboards and use a removable butcher block placed over the sink to extend your countertop space when cutting produce. If you’re building your own tiny home, choose custom cabinets that don’t have lost space. Don’t skimp on flavor! Store your spices in a narrow drawer in that gap next to the refrigerator.
13. Splurge on Eye Candy
Minimalism, monochrome, and exposed wood tend to dominate when it comes to tiny house interior design trends. While this keeps the space uncluttered and open, consider a tiny house design plan incorporating inspiring elements you’ve collected on Pinterest or while reading design magazines. Have you drooled over the beautiful iridescent tile resembling fish scale or ogled gorgeous floral-print wallpaper? Now is the perfect time to purchase those and enjoy them. You can maintain a low-cost tiny house interior design budget since you’ll need fewer feet covered.
Follow Small Spaces Great Life
14. Hidden Storage
Floating shelves and hooks are great for storing beautiful items like musical instruments. But what about those handy tools that are only needed occasionally or seasonal outdoor gear? Build cabinets for that space under your stairs, or choose a rolling solution under your bed. Customize these areas to fit your items–skis and other long items can be placed at the back of your under-bed space or in the tallest part of your under-stair closet, while the heavy toolbox gets a spot up front for quick access.
15. Seek Organizational Expertise
It can be hard to figure out how best to organize your space, especially if you’re downsizing from a previous system. If you’re unsure about what to pare down or how to utilize your storage space best, consider seeking an expert’s opinion. The key is for everything to have a designated place. Online consultations are available to help you with organization principles and can get you unstuck and back to enjoying your home.
16. Dual Lofts
Lofting your space is a great way to free up floor space and create privacy. Who says you can only have one loft? Creating a dual-lofted space allows you to enjoy more distinct areas. You can keep sleep, storage, and work separate by having two (or more!) lofted areas. This is a great way to mentally differentiate work from leisure if you work remotely. Having a designated sleeping space will improve the quality of your rest.
17. Highlight Tiny House Interior Lighting
I’m always inspired when walking through the lighting section of a hardware store. In addition to beautiful fixtures, you can customize your space with colored bulbs, recessed fixtures, dimmers, and more. My opinion is that you can never have too many options for lighting. Use a combination of lamps and overhead lighting to change the mood of a space throughout the day. If your kitchen table is your desk throughout the day, it’s essential to have bright light while you’re working. Once you’ve finished for the day, set the mood for relaxation by turning on a lamp with soft light to create a hygge space.
18. Emphasize Existing Art
Downsizing has a great way of uncovering what is most important to you. I have several pieces of art I’ve picked up from galleries and mementos from past trips. Create a cohesive place to display these items by picking up a color wheel. Many come with plates that hide parts of the color wheel to show you which colors work well together. Consider both color and value, and whether you enjoy high or lower contrast. Sticking to an analogous or monochromatic color scheme will give a different effect than highlighting complementary colors. Many paint stores are happy to help you choose a color based on other elements in your home.
Remember, living in a tiny home shouldn’t feel like a sacrifice. Design a tiny house that flaunts your vision, whether your inspiration is a hobbit hole or an elevated greenhouse. Embrace your creativity, pursue what excites you, and love where you live. This is the ethos of the tiny house movement.
