≡ Menu

Less Is More: A Tiny House Movement Infographic


This post contains affiliate links.

I was contacted by the folks over at Custom Made about a tiny house movement infographic that they created for us which shares how less is more. And how in many ways we’re going back to square one with tiny homes.

It’s obvious that the word on simple living is growing and I believe it’s because it just makes sense. People from all sorts of backgrounds are editing their lives to make it easier for themselves to live simpler, happier lives.

The best part is that there are so many benefits you can experience when simplifying. Like more money, less waste, a healthier environment, better relationships, and an overall happier and more meaningful life.

I think this infographic represents just about all of that. It also shows us some disturbing facts about where we’ve been heading as a society. And I think you’ll agree that what we’ve been doing as a collective society doesn’t make much sense at all. But we’re changing that now, aren’t we? There is hope.

Less Is More Tiny House Movement Infographic

less-is-more-tiny-house-infographic-preview

Images © CustomMade.com

Please enjoy and re-share the full infographic below:

less-is-more-tiny-house-infographic

Image © CustomMade.com

If you found this infographic as awesome as I did please re-share it using the social and email buttons below.

And if you enjoyed this post you’ll absolutely love our free daily tiny house newsletter with more!

This post contains affiliate links.

The following two tabs change content below.

Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 27 comments… add one }
  • Martha
    August 22, 2014, 2:16 pm

    Very interesting and well laid out. I was a bit surprised to read that 40% of tiny house owners are over 50 yrs old. It makes sense for a lot of reasons, but I was still surprised. I know many retired folks live and travel in RV’s which are tiny homes when you think about it. I lived in one myself for over 2 years.

    • Alex
      August 22, 2014, 5:48 pm

      Thanks Martha! Glad you got something out of the infographic. 😀

  • August 22, 2014, 2:22 pm

    This is a great infographic!

    I guess I’m living like it’s 1948. Our house is about 1150 sf (a little less), no garage, and we are a family of four.

    • Alex
      August 22, 2014, 5:48 pm

      :))

  • Judy
    August 22, 2014, 3:16 pm

    Great job, Alex! I only have one comment: the graphic showing “all Americans” (“Would you live in a Tiny Home?”) can’t be scientifically accurate unless you surveyed ALL Americans. I am 59 and planning to build one in the next year or two. I have been telling my friends and many of them are interested in the idea. I think there are more of us Baby Boomers that would consider tiny living than actually know about tiny living. Give a number of people surveyed like: 10 out of 50 people surveyed over the age of 55, etc.
    Keep up the good work- I love to read your posts

    • Alex
      August 22, 2014, 5:46 pm

      Thanks Judy! Good call, didn’t think about that!

  • Josh
    August 22, 2014, 6:49 pm

    This is great! I’m years away from retiring but THs are such a viable option for anyone entering their “golden years”. Why do so many people move out of their larger homes and into assisted living? They don’t want the hassle of keeping up with their house. THs are great options for so many different scenarios.

    • Alex
      August 22, 2014, 9:20 pm

      Totally Josh. I think going small/tiny is a great option for independent minded boomers.

  • August 22, 2014, 7:10 pm

    They say a picture speaks a thousand words. I believe these images really did. Thanks for those, Alex!

    • Alex
      August 22, 2014, 9:19 pm

      Thanks Michele I’m glad you got something out of it 🙂

  • Glema
    August 23, 2014, 5:51 am

    Alex, good job! Thanks for sharing. God Bless You and Happy Trails!

    • Alex
      August 23, 2014, 11:15 am

      Thanks Glema! Blessings 🙂

  • Michelle
    August 23, 2014, 10:25 am

    I am a mortgage lender and do a lot of construction loans, I definitely see the downsizing trend coming to the front. After the housing crash we are starting to finally see growth returning in my area and with it there is a definitive trend away from the mcmansions of a decade ago. It thrills me to see this as I am a “tiny” person at heart and am working on making my home and life more tiny/simple – intentional downshifting. Two years ago I took different job and a 25k pay cut to get off the corporate hamster wheel and I’ve never looked back 🙂 thanks for all you do Alex!

    • Alex
      August 23, 2014, 11:13 am

      Thanks Michelle! I’m rooting for you 🙂

    • Lisa E.
      January 14, 2015, 6:17 pm

      Yaaaay, Michelle! 😀

  • Juha Remes
    August 26, 2014, 2:35 pm

    Smaller is nicer. If you are efficient enough, you do not really need much space. Besides, this housing bubble is starting to become a bit too much to carry for the people in any case. Time to downsize.

  • Joyce Rader
    November 3, 2014, 5:27 pm

    One misconception is the use of the word ‘tiny’. Many people do not see tiny any larger than 200sqft or so and that would include loft space. Small home is more appropriate for the family or elder folk looking to live comfortably in a smaller home or apartment.
    Over the years of following the tiny home websites, I learn many tiny homes are used by single or couples. Very few have families and most of the families living in smaller homes are not really in ‘tiny’ homes. You may have noticed many couples move out of ‘tiny’ homes into one a bit larger as their family grows.
    As for the elderly, those who are still mobile and not dealing with major health issues will stay in ‘tiny’ homes until their health forces them into either assisted living space or other care facility. Many assisted living space is like a small apartment perhaps less than 800 sqft and the usual living space in a care facility could easily be less than 150 sqft per person (smaller than a motel room).
    Tiny seems more like any space where you can stretch both arms out and turn around in or perhaps sleep and barely step around. Tiny can also feel like an enclosed space when you have so much ‘stuff’ you can barely walk through the area.
    I like ‘small’ so I can breathe, cook, eat and sleep without tripping over something or bang my head trying to get out of an area with low ceilings. Indoor bathing facilities is a must as I hate traipsing through the cold to an outhouse which many areas forbid. My 18×22 with full loft sitting on a full basement is plenty of space for one or two people. Now if I can convince my husband to stay with me…..

    • Lisa E.
      November 3, 2014, 6:55 pm

      Not all people will be able to afford assisted living or other facilities. Around here, the average cost is six and a half thousand a month. LOL! I compare this with my very own off-the-grid TH and there’s no comparison.
      I suppose if you can afford assisted living it’s a great option, but frankly, even if I could, I’d still prefer the freedom and closeness to Nature of a TH.

      • Joyce
        December 26, 2014, 5:26 pm

        I agree with the ‘freedom’ and less cost. But the reality is people get older and less healthy. Not everyone has a family to live with and help support them for those final years of poor health. Assisted living and nursing homes are very expensive but are also the final resort for many elderly. The cost of living zaps any savings and retirement funds the elderly may have acquired and the state usually ends up paying the living expenses as few families can ‘chip in’. Thus a necessity and not choice. Enjoy your freedom of living within your means while you still can because unforeseen circumstances could force you into an unwanted place for your final days.

        • Lisa E.
          December 26, 2014, 7:06 pm

          I’m a licensed nurse. I live in Florida. This state may have a “farm” for their poor but most of the social services touted as being available are just paper tigers and people are “on your own” in this Republican state.

          I don’t have a pension fund that will cover six and a half thousand dollars a month (my Dad did, through his teacher’s and Army retirement my Mom does not because women aren’t paid the same for the same work.)

          In two years I will be seventy and yes I have all of the aches and pains of the elderly. Fortunately, I never smoked, drank or did street drugs so my health, for the most part is good but I will be ending my days in my TH because I will be off grid in some forest someplace. This is my choice. Being a nurse, I know what those various facilities for the elderly are really all about and I’m choosing my Tiny House as my final stop.

  • Dug
    November 4, 2014, 1:22 pm

    Hi Guys
    A short note that came to mind in reading this rather interesting “infographic” above, and subsequent comments I felt I had to get my point in and hopefully answered (apart from it only covered the US, Why?) there are others like myself VERY interested in other countries, the UK in this instance.

    However that wasn’t my point, as a 50 odds year old disabled wannabe owner of a “TinyHouse” or similar who at present is NOT able to climb a ladder and will never now be able to I suppose

    • Lisa E.
      December 26, 2014, 7:23 pm

      No need to climb any ladders when wrap-around storage staircases are an option. I’d like to see the legal width raised to 9 or 10 feet across, though. This would add valuable staircase space for so many seniors who want TH living.

  • Michelle W
    November 5, 2014, 2:32 pm

    My burning question is what are the tax implications if I sell my current home, make a profit that is greater than the tiny home cost, and buy a tiny home that is on a mobile base? I love the idea of a tiny home and your site brings sooo much inspiration. The possibilities are endless!

  • Joyce
    December 26, 2014, 5:44 pm

    What little I know about taxes is ‘you are taxed on the profit of sale’. Depending on your state you may be able to take deduction on the use of ‘home business’, and some area allow for a deduction for ‘improvements’ as this is your primary residence. Your accountant or local tax preparer can give you more details. It also makes a difference if you sell your tiny home as an RV or part of a ‘land sale’. RVs usually depreciate. Loans and mortgages may not be deducted if titled “RV”. Each state or county may vary on the listing of your home thus affecting the tax roll.

  • kid
    January 14, 2015, 11:39 pm

    This was very informative, thanks. I currently live in China and have been here almost 13 years now. My home is in Texas and I have a ranch there that is family property. I have land that I can use to build a TH for my ending years. I am 60 right now so I am not ready to build yet. I figure I still have a good 15 years before I am ready for settling down on my ranch.
    I for one can not afford assisted living, nor will I have any kind of retirement income to afford living in the states where I could afford rent, let alone living expenses. So being self sufficient is the only option I have unless I stay overseas in a country where my retirement dollar goes further.
    Our country has gone in a wrong direction and the idea of being wealthy and wasteful has to change. We will run out of room some day, then what?
    I like this site because it gives me ideas for when I am ready to build. Since I have built a couple of houses already and have some good basic carpentry skills, building myself will help in keeping down costs. I feel for those that want to do their own but lack the skills. Do not let that stop you, just take your time and measure twice cut once, as my grandfather use to tell me.
    I have learned that networking is the way to go and hopefully you will meet a good carpenter that can either help or at least advise you on building your TH.
    Sorry for the soap box. I enjoy the openness of this group and just wanted to talk.

  • Karen R
    January 14, 2015, 11:54 pm

    Great info! Thanks!!!

  • Kaleb
    January 15, 2015, 12:11 pm

    TO: Michelle W November 5, 2014, 2:32 pm
    (My burning question is what are the tax implications if I sell my current home, make a profit that is greater than the tiny home cost, and buy a tiny home that is on a mobile base?)
    It would seem to me that you could still save on taxes. Build your tiny home. Have surplus to build it on larger property, invest in solar panels, etc. ?

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.