Is there anything more quaint than a
tiny house? Not only are tiny homes just so darn cute to look at, but along with the tiny home lifestyle comes a smaller price tag, a reduced environmental footprint, and a simplified way of living, not to mention the many options for architecture and interior design they bring. (You won’t believe the amount of style you can fit in to less than 1,000 square feet!). Below, we’ve rounded up our favorite tiny and small (they’re practically tiny!) homes to let you oooh and aah over them and maybe even dream up your own tiny home to build or buy. Many of the featured homes have plans available for purchase and some are even available as ready-to-assemble kits.
Whether you’re looking to downsize your primary residence, build a vacation cottage or cabin, or add a backyard guest house that can even be used as a “granny pod,” these tiny homes have ideas for it all. And, if you love the romance of a tiny home but aren’t ready to commit to permanent downsizing, you’ll even find several houses that are available as vacation rentals. So, go on, get started on that tiny home dream today!
Get more tiny home inspiration:
- Make the most of your tiny home with these small space decorating ideas.
- Spruce up your space with these small bathroom ideas.
- These galley kitchen design ideas live large.
1
Modern Farmhouse
A top-to-bottom renovation turned this 1,000-square-foot circa-1870s farmhouse into the sunniest little house ever. A new galvanized metal roof gives the simple white structure a modern edge. Inside, white shiplap lines ever wall and restored wood floors add warmth to every room. But, the star is the canary yellow cabinetry in the 98-square-foot galley kitchen.
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2
Converted Schoolhouse
Designers John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon of Madcap Cottage looked outside the “home box” for their upstate New York tiny home. In just 858 square feet, their happy converted 1840s schoolhouse features at least a dozen paint colors, just as many patterned fabrics and wallpapers, and ample antiques behind its No. 2 pencil-colored door.
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3
Restored Folk Victorian
The Duckworth family saved this tiny two-room Folk Victorian cottage from the wrecking ball and transformed it into the dreamiest little 635-square-foot tiny home ever. As if the petite front porch isn’t inviting enough, the wallpaper-clad kitchen boasts a vintage mint-colored enamel range!
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4
Converted Boathouse
When building a house with a small footprint, you have some unique “lot” options, like this converted boathouse of designer Gary McBournie. To make the most of the 880 square feet, Gary used clever space-saving design ideas like wall sconces instead of lamps and a built-in banquette for seating.
5
Buccolic Cottage
When renovating their tiny 700-square-foot 1920s cottage, architect Greg Dutton and his wife, interior designer Liz Dutton, kept the focus on retaining the home’s original architecture (Shaker-front cabinetry, clapboard siding) while freshening up the palette and furnishings.
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6
Cozy Lake House
Abby and Joe Albers turned their 800-square-foot Michigan lake cottage into a this nostalgia-rich retreat filled with vintage collections. Inside, all white walls keep the small space feeling open and airy, while also serving as a clean backdrop for all of Abby’s camp-style collections.
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7
Rustic Retreat
Architect Bobby McAlpine designed this tiny rural retreat for country music superstar Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren Akins. designed to be a seamless transition from the surrounding country to the interiors, the home incorporates natural materials and a warm, woodsy palette. Inside the open floor plan includes a tucked in bed nook and a small, but well-appointed kitchen.
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8
Antiques-Filled Bungalow
Nestled in a valley surrounded by towering sycamore trees, Bambi and Frank Costanzo’s tiny (996 square feet!) 1920s bungalow stands tall thanks to its handsome dark exterior. The front porch originally extended all the way across the house, but Bambi co-opted one half to get extra room for a new library inside.
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9
Grain Silo Guest House
Antiques dealer Amy Kleinwachter transformed a 14-foot-round grain silo into this quirky one-of-a-kind 1,000-square-foot guesthouse. Besides the silo itself, the home feature numerous other salvaged materials such as weathered beadboard, sheet metal, window frames, and even an old metal awning.
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10
Open Air Living Room
So it’s admittedly a little unconventional, but this tiny home concept really makes the best of indoor/outdoor living. Built by Lockhart-based Reclaimed Space and affectionately dubbed “Bee Camp,” the butterfly structure forgoes walls and windows in favor of an open-to-the-elements approach. Under the metal roof structure is the open-air kitchen and living room (equipped with a big screen for movie nights!) and the vintage Airstream provides the sleeping quarters. A full bath sits in the middle.
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11
Coastal Cottage
Saltboxes and Cape Cod-style cottages have historically been small in size and offer lots of information on how to live big in a compact space. Seasoned with coastal character, this historic home of designer Jennifer Vaughn-Miller and her family packs ample seaside charm into its tiny 1,000-square-foot footprint. A highlight of the tiny home is the narrow 28-foot-wide hearth perfectly sized for the cozy living room.
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12
Saltbox Farmhouse
A large front porch tucked under the sloped standing-seam metal roof, adds extra living space to this 1,000 square-foot Texas farmhouse. Painting all the interior walls and ceilings a warm white keeps the whole house feeling airy.
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13
A Jewel of a Home
In 2005, Jewel Pearson began downsizing, eventually transitioning into an apartment and, now, her beautiful tiny house with wood tones and touches of red. The 28-foot-long home has a garden path, porch, and fire pit for ample outdoor entertaining, too. View a video of the interior!
14
Dynamic Duo
Marek and Ko are the adorable couple behind Living Tiny with the Bushes, their YouTube channel chronicling each other’s lives and the renovations of their equally adorable tiny house. Whether chatting about the pros and cons of tiny-house living or being featured on Good Morning America, Marek and Ko are a must follow for tiny-house enthusiasts.
15
Greenhouse Meets Tree House
This upstate New York picturesque perch, owned by Treehouse Masters’ Christina Salway, is constructed from roughly 75 salvaged windows.
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16
Fort-uitous Window Sourcing
“I joke that the structure is a family quilt of salvaged windows, because they came from important people in our lives,” Christina Salway says of her unique tiny house. “We got windows from my husband’s, aunt, my mom, an old landlord...”
17
Gorgeous Backyard Getaway
Dallas designer Paige Morse renovated two 100-year-old sheds in her backyard to create a cozy home away from home. With just two rooms and 250 square feet, her space is remarkably stylish and space-efficient.
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18
Nothing But Neutrals
By sticking to a black-and-white color scheme, Paige makes her modestly sized kitchen appear much larger than it really is.
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19
A Backyard Art Barn
This backyard studio is the ultimate creative retreat for one Minnesota artist and her daughter. It’s complemented by a stunning English garden and a coat of red, barn-style paint.
RELATED: 16 of the Best Tiny Houses on Wayfair (Free Shipping Included!)
20
Shack by the Sea
This New England shack makes us want to kick off our sandals and head straight for the shore. A colorful exterior is contrasted beautifully by faded Cape Cod shingles.
RELATED: Costco's new shed doubles as a backyard retreat—and it's on major sale right now! Turn it into the tiny home of your dreams!
Jennifer Kopf
Jennifer Kopf is the Executive Editor of Country Living. She also covers antiques and collecting.