Everyone you speak to will have a different perception of tiny house living, and there’s a good reason for that. The motivations behind choosing to live tiny vary from person to person. For some, it’s about reducing their impact on the planet and enjoying life outdoors, for others it’s about reducing their expenses and living mortgage free. And for others it’s all of those reasons and more. But there are some common myths that consistently pop up about the tiny house community – we’re here to bust those myths.
1. Living in a tiny house means living on the road
Even though tiny houses are built on wheels, they’re not designed to be constantly on the road. In fact, it would be quite difficult to travel with a tiny house. They’re heavy, have no aerodynamics, can’t be towed by many cars and aren’t engineered to handle the pressures of constant travel. So, what is the purpose of their wheels? This is to make them easy to transport and position when necessary. One of the best things about tiny houses is that they’re a moveable asset, so if you want to move location, it can come with you. To do this, wheels are a necessity, but that doesn’t mean it should be a regular occurrence.
2. People who live in tiny houses are poor
One thing’s for sure, the cost of living in a tiny house is far less than in a regular-sized home. And there’s no doubt that some do decide to go tiny due to the financial freedom this lifestyle offers, but that doesn’t mean that everyone who lives in a tiny house is poor. In fact, most people who choose tiny house living do so for the minimalism, sustainability and lifestyle that comes with it. And let’s not forget the many people purchasing tiny houses as an investment and offering them up as holiday rentals, the market for which has boomed in recent years after people realised just how luxurious it can be.
3. Tiny House living equals no privacy
We can’t deny that tiny houses are much smaller than regular homes, but there are still ways to ensure everyone gets the privacy they need. In particular, make sure there are a few different rooms where people can have their own space from time to time. This could be a separate bedroom, living room or outdoor deck. On top of this, taking the time to do activities or hobbies separately and maintaining good communication are vital. A little extra thought towards privacy is needed in a tiny house, but it’s certainly possible.
4. You have to be young to live in a tiny house
Considering most of the tiny house influencers we see, it’s a fair assumption to make that only young people live in tiny houses. But there are many retirees that, after their kids have left home, quickly realise that the extra space in their home simply doesn’t make sense anymore, and tiny houses can be the perfect solution. In fact, a chunk of our customers at Aussie Tiny Houses fall into these demographics. They choose to sell their house and move into a tiny house on the corner of a family member’s land, and get to both pocket the extra money for their retirement and stay close to their loved ones.
Living in a tiny house is a personal choice, and people from all walks of life are realising the benefits of abandoning the idea of overly large homes, including those in older generations.
5. You’ll have to give up your luxuries
Tiny houses may involve some drastic downsizing, but they can still be built to incorporate your modern-day luxuries. Can’t live without your dishwasher or a bath? No problem, these are easily installed. Tiny living is all about prioritising the things that are really important to you and discarding (responsibly) what you don’t need. If you feel like you’ll have to give up too many things that are important for you, then tiny living might not be for you.
6. You can’t have guests over in a tiny house
Tiny houses can be designed to suit your lifestyle, and if that involves having people over often, there are ways to work with that. You can choose to have a second bedroom for guests or even create dual purpose rooms with a sofa bed in the spare room and living area. Many tiny house owners also choose to extend their living space by adding a deck, which can increase the space needed to properly entertain. Decks can be built into the ground once you’ve parked your tiny home, or built onto a separate trailer that can be parked right next to your home.
7. You can’t live in a tiny house with kids or pets
For many, the idea of living in a tiny house with kids can seem overwhelming, but a lot can be said about tiny living for children. They get to spend more time outside learning about the natural world, and often get more quality time with their family as the parents don’t need to work as much. Maintaining boundaries and ensuring kids still get the privacy they need is something that will need extra consideration in a tiny house, but it’s more than possible.
As for pets, it’s not only possible to have them in a tiny house, but they can be a great addition to the tiny living lifestyle. Ensuring they also have access to privacy is important but, as they often enjoy being close to humans, pets can adapt to tiny living very quickly.
Just as with standard homes, tiny house living can look very different from one person to the next. They can be designed to suit a wide variety of people and their individual needs. Want to see if any of our tiny house designs suit you? Check out our tiny home models now or get in touch if you have any questions.
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