Today, we will explore what is a micro tiny house and what they are good for. With several TV shows about tiny homes and a growing community of van-lifers, you’re probably familiar with small-space living and why these options are appealing. Living small can allow you to live more affordably, with a smaller environmental footprint, and with the freedom to live in a different place without giving up your home.
But what is a micro tiny house? They may be a great solution to your temporary housing needs, an option for traveling, or a solution to the housing crisis.
What is a Micro Tiny House?
While there are conflicting answers to this question, we consider a micro tiny home to be even smaller than a tiny home. There isn’t a strict size limit to the definition, but think about a space under 500 square feet. Some micro homes are so tiny that their square footprint is in the double digits and fits in the back of a pickup truck. Micro homes are ideal as temporary housing, guest homes, office spaces, vacation homes, or long-term residences.
Many micro houses are built with a commitment to eco-conscious materials, such as reusing shipping containers and focusing on insulation. They can be custom, modular, or pre-fabricated. By many definitions, they must have a kitchen, bathroom, and one or more windows. Since the square footage is so small, layouts often resemble a studio apartment, without division between rooms (beside the bathroom).
What is the Difference Between a Tiny House and a Micro House?
A micro house is considerably smaller than a tiny house. The small homes often share the same principles: a small footprint, a commitment to eco-consciousness, minimalist design, and multi-use furniture. The bedroom may also be a micro house’s living room and office. Unlike tiny homes, micro houses are often designed with a more temporary use in mind. They’re frequently a secondary structure, movable, or transitional living space before moving to your permanent residence.
Can a Micro House Also be a Micro Tiny House on Wheels?
Since they’re so small, micro houses are a great candidate for mobile housing options, just like tiny houses on wheels. Choose materials for lightness and durability to make it easier to move your micro house. Building directly onto a trailer is simpler than transferring your built home onto wheels. They don’t have to be temporary, but many are used as guest houses, temporary spaces while building a house, or mobile living spaces for houseless folks. One example uses large wheels to move the structure throughout the property so people can vacation and choose their scenery while remaining on one property.
How Much Do Micro Tiny Houses Cost?
The cost of building and living in a micro tiny house varies widely depending on your micro home’s size, goals, and materials. You might start with an insulated shed, a shipping container, or a simple prefabricated storage structure. Or you might be building everything from scratch on a trailer as a custom home. It’s possible to build a micro home for under $10,000 with careful consideration of size and materials.
Micro Tiny Home Pros and Cons
Choosing to live in a micro tiny home isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It may be convenient, exciting, or even necessary at times. Whether by choice or out of necessity, there are upsides and downsides when it comes to micro home.
Pros
- Micro homes can be mobile
- Relatively inexpensive customizable home
- Private temporary housing option – often cheaper than an RV or extended hotel stays
- Conducive to a minimalist lifestyle
- Generally more sustainability-ready/adaptable
Cons
- Permitting and insurance can be a challenge in some locations
- Limited living space and storage
- Materials tend to be less durable than a standard home
Are Micro Tiny Houses a Luxury or a Necessity?
People may choose to build micro tiny houses like any housing for various reasons. Sometimes, they’re a luxury–a private office space, guest house, or vacation home. Van life is a perfect example: living out of a decked-out Mercedes-Benz with outdoor recreation gear is different from living in a minivan when you’ve gotten laid off while you were saving up for a deposit on a new apartment.
For some, micro homes are a necessity based on the current cost of housing and lack of affordable options. It may be the primary residence. Some cities build micro houses as a solution to houseless individuals living in parks or other public places. They provide more privacy, dignity, and safety than living outside.
Dorm-style shelters and group homes mean sharing space with strangers, limited or nonexistent private space, and often have rules that can make it challenging to stay there. Not to mention wait times and potential safety concerns, these options differ significantly from our cultural norm of individual private homes. Several states have piloted projects to create micro homes in existing neighborhoods or set up in their own little community, offering them for no or low cost.
Additionally, micro tiny homes, particularly in the context of financial necessity, housing shortages, or serving displaced veterans, can provide innovative solutions to pressing housing and social issues.
Financial Necessity
- Affordability: Micro tiny houses are a cost-effective alternative to traditional housing. They are significantly cheaper to build, maintain, and operate, making homeownership more attainable for individuals or families on a tight budget.
- Reduced Monthly Costs: Lower utility bills, property taxes, and maintenance expenses mean that homeowners can save a significant amount of money, potentially using these savings for other essential needs like healthcare, education, or debt reduction.
- Financial Freedom: By reducing housing-related expenses, residents may achieve greater financial freedom, enabling them to escape the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck.
Housing Shortage Necessity
- Quick Construction: Building micro tiny houses can happen more quickly and with fewer resources than traditional housing. Helping to address housing shortages more rapidly.
- Compact Footprint: The small size of these homes allows for high population density, which is beneficial in urban areas with limited available land.
- Modular and Stackable: Some micro house designs are modular and stackable, providing flexibility in terms of scalability. This is particularly useful when addressing housing shortages in urban environments.
- Innovative Solutions: Micro houses designs can often use space creatively, helping to make the most out of available land. Rooftop gardens, communal spaces, and shared amenities can further maximize land use efficiency.
Displaced Veterans Necessity
- Affordable Housing: Micro tiny homes can offer affordable housing options for veterans who may struggle with housing expenses, especially those dealing with disabilities or limited income.
- Accessibility: Designing micro tiny houses with accessibility features to accommodate veterans with disabilities, including wider doorways, ramps, and roll-in showers, improves quality of life.
- Community and Support: Tiny house communities can provide a supportive environment for veterans, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
- Transitional Housing: For veterans in transition, such as those leaving the military, micro tiny houses can serve as transitional housing while they find permanent residences or adjust to civilian life.
- Mental Health Support: Some tiny house communities focus on mental health support for veterans, offering programs and resources to address issues like PTSD.
Micro tiny houses can serve as a viable response to housing-related challenges. They offer affordability, efficiency, and adaptability, making them suitable for various societal needs, including financial necessity, housing shortages, and providing housing for veterans.
However, successful implementation often depends on local zoning and building regulations and support from communities, nonprofits, and local governments to create and sustain these innovative housing solutions.
Are Micro Tiny Houses Worth It?
Now that you know what a micro tiny house is, you can decide whether it would add value to your life. If you regularly have guests who you’d like to give a little privacy, you might use a micro house as a casita. A micro home may be the perfect solution if you have property away from home and want to vacation there but don’t want to purchase, transport, and store an RV. With readymade and fully customized options, micro dwellings come in various forms that may work for you.
Preliminary research indicates that using micro homes to remedy the housing crisis to get people into safe and secure dwellings improves quality of life and costs less. Many are built with low-cost materials and volunteer labor. Studies show that these homes, paired with social services, tend to provide longer-term success than shelters.
FAQ’s
What is the difference between a micro home and a tiny house?
Micro homes are even smaller dwellings compared to tiny houses. They are often designed with a more temporary or mobile nature in mind. They may be used as vacation homes, temporary housing, or office spaces.
What are the benefits of micro homes?
Micro tiny houses are cheaper and faster to build than a typical home. They can be built on wheels and quickly moved. They’re often more affordable to build than purchasing an RV, so they can be an alternative to consider if RV life is enticing you. Since they’re so small, they’re usually an eco-friendly way to live.
