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384 Sq. Ft. Shed Converted into Tiny Home for $11k


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This is a 384 sq. ft. barn shed that was converted into a tiny home for a total cost of about $11k.

The cost of the shed was about $5,200. Then the couple spent the rest of the money adding the finish work, bathroom, sliding glass door, and more.

Would you ever consider converting a shed into your own tiny home? Let’s talk about it in the comments! Please enjoy, learn more, and re-share below. Thank you!

384 Sq. Ft. Shed Converted into Tiny Home for $11k

Shed To Tiny House Conversion

Shed To Tiny House Conversion Shed To Tiny House Conversion Shed To Tiny House Conversion Shed To Tiny House Conversion Shed To Tiny House Conversion Shed To Tiny House Conversion Shed To Tiny House Conversion

More Cool Shed to Tiny Home Projects

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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!
{ 36 comments… add one }
  • hunter
    January 15, 2016, 1:44 pm

    are these people food hoarders, geeezzzz… no cabinets or storage but tons of extra’s shampoo, food stuffs etc, etc talk about crowding yourself out of some place to live, W .T. HECK?????????????? like how it’s layed out but seriously needs windows.

    • Lynnette
      February 2, 2016, 11:34 am

      Couponers.

  • Jaime
    January 15, 2016, 1:45 pm

    It seems to be a really good use of space – the loft is a tad shallow for my taste and I didn’t see the ladder for it. I would have assumed it was just for storage except for the big screen in the back of it.

    The load out strikes me as deucedly odd.

    Including the one in the loft, I saw THREE large screen TV’s – one near the entry, one opposite what I assume to be the ‘kitchen’, and the one in the loft. Seems like overkill.

    There is a lav and a loo, but there’s no bathing place – no tub and no shower that I could see.

    The ‘kitchen’ is minimal – I see a microwave but sod all else. Not even s sink. I guess maybe they use hot plates and such, which is a good space efficient solution, but there’s not a lot of counter to work with.

    What seems the most odd to me, though, is the storage – there seems to be adequate space, and well utilized – but they have a blue tonne of toilet paper or paper towels, shampoo, and other cleaning things – but not a lot of food – I see a lot of cans near the bottom, but that’s gotta be a three year supply of shampoo and dish soap and the like. And no place to use it.

    It’s an enigma. Very interesting!

    -jaime

    • Kim
      January 17, 2016, 12:57 am

      Ok let me lay it out there yes the building has no kitchen and yes it has no bathtub or shower because we are planing on putting a 16×40 next to it where the camper is and in the building we are going to put a kitchen , bathroom with a shower and another bedroom as for the loft at the moment it does not have a latter it was only made for my nieces when they come over to stay the night that is why there is a big screen TV up there and nothing else The TV that is sitting on the fireplace was just there for storage the TV has now been given away Yes I do agree that it needed more windows but the husband said no it would be easier to heat this way we had A triple wide trailer four bedrooms two baths and there was only the two of us are electric bill was $500.00 so we downsized. As for couponing in all the shampoo and toothpaste that was just something that I got into after we bought the building ,

      • Heidi
        August 20, 2016, 12:19 pm

        Hi Kim, was wondering if you have a blog or website. Would love to read more details. My husband and I bought a 12×32 that we are (really him, he’s only let me hold a couple of things in place. Lol) converting. We’ve put a full wall about five feet from the back wall for our bathroom but the rest of the house will be open. Still debating on nice futon or Murphy bed but will have kitchen at front end then living room area/ bedroom area. Wall is up and wiring done and now getting started on insulating. I’m so interested in how others have done their conversations. Lots of info out there for new builds of tiny homes but not near as much on shed conversions.

  • Darcy
    January 15, 2016, 2:09 pm

    Wow, my guess gramma is coming to live with them and they needed space fast for all of her shampoo. I think bubbles and the trailer park gang built this on a weekend. No color, no windows, no taste.

    • Kim
      January 17, 2016, 1:16 am

      No this isn’t a trailer park . This isn’t a storage building It is only 1/2 of the house we are trying to downsize from a triple wide trailer . We are living in the trailer next to it which is 12×44 and yes the husband uses the building for now as his man cave when they all want to watch football they do it over there . The other 1/2 we are planing on putting next to it will be a 16×40 with a kitchen and a bathroom and a bedroom and maybe a little sitting area for me to watch TV. I only allowed my pictures to be public to show what can be done I am very proud of our little building and if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all .

      • Alex
        January 18, 2016, 1:15 pm

        Thanks Kim and sorry about Darcy’s rather rude comment. Normally I’d just delete a remark like that but I didn’t catch it. Sorry!

    • Pam
      March 22, 2019, 2:16 am

      Darcy,
      Well aren’t you the clever one. I have seen strongly worded critiques before, but you are just being snarky. I read and reread your comment looking for something of value, but alas there is nothing. I can only conclude you are just an empty and petty person, probably because you lack basic social skills. You seem to pride yourself in spitting out what you believe are clever insults, but you are left looking very very small. Think about it.
      Pam

  • Nancy M.
    January 15, 2016, 2:10 pm

    I personally don’t think it is very good use of space — no real kitchen, no shower….
    Also, I am actually about to turn a 12×24 shed into my home. THINK I finally have all the permits to do that! Will be glad to share when finished. This is not a new building, but in good shape. Bought it used — the expensive and time-consuming part of this has been getting permit to move it onto my property. Anyway, I plan to have a full kitchen, with apartment-sized appliances, full shower (even a bench in the shower), and plenty of storage. I have taken a lot of my ideas from looking at various tiny homes — and this will be 50% bigger than most of those, so I should be comfortable!

    • Jaime
      January 15, 2016, 2:21 pm

      I can’t wait to see what you do with yours, Nancy… I’m with you – a usable kitchen and a good bath are among the most important elements of any tiny I might build. There have been a lot of design elements I’ve seen here that I shall be shamelessly pinching.

      I commented above on the lack of kitchen and bathing – and looking at the photos again, I still can’t figure out where the beds are – an enigma.

      Good fortune on your project!

      -jaime

  • Olivia
    January 15, 2016, 3:20 pm

    It looks like they grill outside, but I wonder where food is stored. I wonder if there is a hot plate, pantry items and small fridge under the microwave cabinetry. The beds seem a bit high up. Clothing storage underneath? With no shower visible, all that shampoo seems a bit odd, unless it’s for resale.

  • Lou
    January 15, 2016, 4:11 pm

    I have wondered for a long time why no one has adapted these sheds into tiny houses.. I would be interested to know the dimensions of the structure.

    • Heidi
      August 20, 2016, 12:28 pm

      Lou we have a 12 x 32 and its 380 square feet ( but not really because the measure the furthest points on the outside so our usable interior space is more like 330 sq ft) ours looks a lot like this one but we had two doors and five Windows put in ours. ( I gave a little more info in a reply to Kim’s post up above)

  • Janie
    January 15, 2016, 4:57 pm

    I’d sure like to see a floor plan of this one because I can’t figure out what’s what….

    One things for sure. They must be running some sort of mini store or something with all those products. I think there’s enough dish washing liquid and Fabreeze to last about 5 years.

    Windows??? Is that a window above the toilet? Is there a shower? Is there a kitchen? Kitchen sink? Fridge?

    And where is that bedroom with the two beds? If it’s behind the door you see in the loft picture, then where is that bathroom??? REALLY hard to figure out and I’d especially like to because of the downstairs bedroom……!

  • Brian
    January 15, 2016, 5:22 pm

    Nice conversion!, I have seen a few “sheds” converted. They make great guest rooms, and domiciles when permit issues are addressed and brought up to standards. I am currently woring on my son’s “shed” he got at a rent to own shed sale, more of a cabin variety than a shed really, and weve mounted atop a sturdy 26′ trailer, so its mobile. We had to cut the shed for wheel wells, and reinforced the 2X6″ bones to handle full time living and road variables. We are using many supplies from used bldg supply houses, and have used craigslist extensively, most recently getting (15) 4×8′ 2″ insulation panels for free. probably going to use honeycomb aluminum panels for interior wall finishing to add that much more “R” factor in the build, but its good to see others converting similar things for domiciles.

    • Heidi
      August 20, 2016, 12:32 pm

      Wonder how your place turned out or is coming along. Would love to see pics.

  • Brandi
    January 15, 2016, 5:59 pm

    It’s an extreme couponer’s hide out. That’s no kitchen. Maybe it’s just an extra space for someone to go to watch tv??

  • Suzanne Fulton
    January 16, 2016, 12:36 am

    I am desperately looking for someone to build me 2 tiny houses beside one another (permanent)on a acre of land with a well & hydro. I have just become a widow and my friend & I Really love your tiny houses. The problem I’m having is I live in Toronto, Ontario Canada and all the beautiful tiny houses I’ve seen are all in the United States. Are there any builders in Ontario that can build me my future home I was hoping for at least 300 ft – 400 ft. For each houses. Please help me make my dream come true. If I’m going to be alone I want it to be in a cozy tiny home ! Suicide survivor “Home Alone with a Smile!

  • Pam
    January 16, 2016, 1:28 am

    They are running a store?

  • Trish Dee
    January 16, 2016, 11:23 am

    This isn’t a home, it’s a shed with “store” priviledges. It is more of a campsite. I’d rather live in a freight car.

  • Eric
    January 16, 2016, 6:47 pm

    Actually, there are TWO windows. One above the miniaircon, and another above the toilet cistern.

    I agree, not a great use of space, and it would seem it is possibly a local store of supplies for the residents of the rest of the camp site.

    And I agree. 3 TV’s? Overkill? Understatement of the year methinks.

    And “si? there a bathroom? Kitchen facilities? Are they using campground facilities for cooking. But they do have storage in the unit by the sliding door which “might” be storing clothes. Maybe…

    • Eric
      January 16, 2016, 6:48 pm

      Gah!!! “si? should be “is”… sorry, fat finger syndrome.

  • Sgmaps
    January 16, 2016, 11:08 pm

    If you check the first pic, you will see that it is right beside a trailer home and the deck seems to run between the converted shed & the trailer. Perhaps this is basically a man cave idea, with a lot of storage.

  • Lauren
    January 17, 2016, 8:56 pm

    I’d love to be included and could sure use the financing for my 2 shed & 1 RV projects that are simultaneously underway,and it’s crunch time too !

  • Lucy
    January 20, 2016, 3:05 pm

    Jeez, these comments! So much for a tiny house “community”.. 😉
    Sure, it looks a little bare bones at the moment, but one of Kim’s comments clarifies their future plans with the unit. I assumed that the excess shampoo and cleaning products was due to Costco shopping/couponing (I don’t know why people are so confused by this). Just because it doesn’t look like something out of Better (Tiny) Homes & Gardens magazine doesn’t mean you have to crap all over it. I love the small bedroom with the two beds – good use of space.

  • Liz
    February 9, 2016, 4:50 pm

    Lucy, you don’t get it. Comments are for ALL comments. Not just yours. And often some do look awful.

    On this THOW, what a waste of money with no kitchen. Perhaps these people don’t eat? However, they do shop. This looks like a country store with all the product and no kitchen. Nothing I would even consider.

    There ya go Lucy.

  • Shelia
    March 28, 2016, 5:42 pm

    Constructive comments I can see, but there’s no reason to crap all over someone else’s tiny house, and no reason we can’t be civil to each other. If we were all the same, it would be such a boring world. It was obvious to me from the beginning that they are “living” in the RV next door to it in the picture. The bath and kitchen are in there, when they aren’t outside enjoying the great outdoor space. The shed tiny house is a place to spread out, and it is fairly commonly done by folks who live full time, or most of the year in an RV and have a lot or acreage where they can do so. Sometimes they are attached to the RV like a den, and other times not. She said they were going to add on. I think it’s a great start and she gave me some ideas of how to use the space in one. I think the deck with the pool and swing are great ideas which I hope to steal for my lake lot / tiny shed house if she doesn’t mind. The stockpile of food and personal items is a great idea to hedge against future high costs, if you have a place to store it. The items don’t spoil and will only go up in price. Plus I’ll bet she’s generous when someone she knows is in need. I believe being frugal is one of the ideas behind tiny living. Good job and don’t let the turkeys get you down. Haters are gonna hate.

    • Amy
      September 15, 2016, 12:45 pm

      You go, Shelia! It was obvious this was a work in progress and people can design their tiny houses any way they want. I was only interested in the basic layout and bare bones because I will design my tiny hone my way anyway. I’ve been looking for images of tiny home sheds and they are not so easy to come by and appreciated Kim taking the time and effort to share her tiny house with others. Shelia’s right, Kim, don’t let the turkeys get you down.

  • Ea
    June 30, 2016, 11:00 pm

    Common sense isnt common.

  • Amy
    September 15, 2016, 2:35 am

    I LOVE this tiny house-shed! I could tell it’s a work in progress and someone was a coupon-clipper-smart-saver so no negative feedback or comments from me. I have been trying to talk my daughter and son-in-law into a shed-house for me in their backyard because they have the prefect place for one and I am their main babysitter (one 8 month old so far with 2-3 more planned one after the other). Can’t get a better deal than me! LOL I’ve lived in efficencies in college, a 28 ft. long fifth wheel and a small bedroom in a large house that had no running water, no heat, no air conditioning and 4 inch long waterbugs, hence the sealed off one bedroom. A tiny house with a little grass and some trees around it would be like heaven especially with my grandkids just a few yards away (visually impaired so driving there each day is getting difficult). She and her husband are finally realizing my solution can work and are planning to have a sort of little rent house built that they could rent out if it didn’t work out or after I’m gone. Someday they will find a granny in the backyard is the best way to raise kids and…no childcare costs AND I pay my way! I sent these pictures to them as an example of the shed-house I want. Thank you for sharing!

  • Cathy
    September 17, 2016, 3:11 am

    Hi, Kim & Alex. I think your “starter” is rather inspiring? I’m planning to get a 14 x 28, have the builder add an extra door to the back wall & one side, then add extensions. I thought the sliding door was a nice touch. Perhaps I’ll add one to the extension I’ll use as a studio. Best of luck on your progress! Cathy

  • Pam
    March 22, 2019, 2:31 am

    Kim,
    I apologize for wasting time responding to Farcy before posting to you. Thank you for your post. I, like many others, dream of getting into a tiny home “someday.” I spend hours looking at this site among others, looking at what the pioneers of the movement, such as yourself, have done to continue the revolution and evolution of Tiny Home Living. I cherry pick the ideas I see that i hope to someday use in my tiny dream home. I really appreciate your post and have copied it to my dream board. Just a note, I knew exactly what was going on when I say your pantry items!!! I used to be a mega coupon clipper and redeemer. I never ran out of laundry detergent, soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, condiments, cleaners, juice boxes, etc. your pantry made me smile. Keep rocking what you are doing!!
    Pam

  • Dottie
    August 3, 2020, 5:28 pm

    Did you contract the work to someone or do it yourself?

    • Natalie C. McKee
      August 5, 2020, 10:30 am

      I believe DIY. To pay someone would have added to the costs.

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