How Did the Tiny House Movement Get Started?

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The tiny house movement started from a need to simplify life and to become more environmentally friendly. The concept behind taking up residence in a tiny house is to limit impacts on both wallets and environments by costing less, creating less waste, and leaving a smaller energy imprint. The move from big traditional homes to small spaces may seem like a form of societal regression considering our ancestors lived in caves, teepees, huts, and other small spaces while uncomplicated ways of life. They say we all come full circle; it is possible that the tiny house movement is simply a completion of a circle where society has ceased needing more and has realized that the basics are plenty.

What is a Tiny House?

A tiny house is a small space that ranges between 85 and 400 square feet and can be either mobile or stationary. Tiny houses are basic homes for singles or couples who are seeking to pare down to the basics. These homes consist of standard spaces like a scaled down kitchen and bathroom as well as a multi living space that is crafted to meet the owner’s needs. There are a host of companies that are including the demand for tiny houses in their product lines offering customers pre-fabs, kits, and build-to-order homes.

Who lives in Tiny Houses?
Anyone can live in a tiny house but many residents of tiny houses are young couples and students who see them as a cheaper option than rent, older individuals and couples who are recovering from the financial setbacks of the recession, people who find it senseless to spend their lives working to pay for a traditional home and casually refer to that ownership as “debtor’s prison, and people who are choosing to live greener. Some choose the tiny house lifestyle as an avenue to eliminate debt and “stuff” from their lives while learning to live a more streamlined existence allowing for the ability to afford more education, more travel, and more life.

The Movement

The tiny house movement itself is not a new concept but has existed on and off for decades. The most recent movement began in 1997 with Jay Shafer who built one on wheels for his own use. Two years later he introduced the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company to the world which provides building plans and detailed information on all aspects of tiny houses. The movement is similar to the RVers lifestyle in many ways; people choose to sell or give away most of their unnecessary possessions, move their lives into a motor home or travel trailer, and cut unwanted expenses from their lives. Tiny houses are much more eco-friendly than RVs and are less expensive while still giving owners multiple options for their futures.

For those seeking to invest in a tiny home of their own, it is important to visit a tiny home and imagine yourself living for long periods in the space. Tiny homes may not be for everyone, but they are the perfect option for anyone wanting to get back to the basics.

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