Bright backyard cottage interior with a vaulted ceiling, a wood wardrobe, a window seat, and plants

Seattle ADU Cottage: 400-Square-Foot Backyard Home with Murphy Bed

Small Houses, Tiny Cottages, Tiny Houses, Video Tours

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Paul and Caroline built a 400-square-foot accessory dwelling unit in their Seattle backyard, moved into it, and began renting out their main house. The cottage features a murphy bed that transforms the living room into a bedroom at night, maximizing the usable space during daytime hours. The couple incorporated recycled and reclaimed materials throughout, including repurposed kitchen utensils as cabinet handles and a cheese grater converted into a light fixture.

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Backyard ADU Cottage Exterior

Seattle 400-square-foot ADU cottage exterior in backyard

Images via Tiny House Giant Journey/YouTube

Living Area with Murphy Bed Folded

Murphy Bed Deployed

Compact Kitchen with Recycled Hardware

Upcycled Utensil Cabinet Handles

Open Living and Dining Space

Video Tour: 400-Square-Foot Backyard Cottage

Design Details

  • Type: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) / Backyard Cottage
  • Location: Seattle, Washington
  • Interior Area: 400 square feet
  • Owners: Paul and Caroline
  • Bed: Murphy bed (folds into wall)
  • Layout: Open floor plan
  • Kitchen: Compact with full functionality
  • Materials: Recycled and reclaimed throughout
  • Cabinet Hardware: Repurposed kitchen utensils as handles
  • Light Fixture: Upcycled cheese grater
  • Use Strategy: Owners live in ADU, rent main house
  • Zoning: Seattle ADU regulations

Lessons from This Build

  • ADUs Can Generate Income While You Downsize: Building a small cottage and moving into it allows owners to rent their larger home, creating rental income while reducing their own living space and expenses
  • Murphy Beds Double Room Functionality: A fold-up bed transforms a single room from bedroom to living room daily, effectively doubling the usable space in a 400-square-foot home
  • Recycled Materials Add Character at Low Cost: Using repurposed items like utensils for cabinet handles and cheese graters for light fixtures creates unique design elements while saving money on finishes
  • Seattle ADU Regulations Enable Backyard Cottages: Local zoning laws that permit accessory dwelling units make this housing strategy possible in certain jurisdictions
  • Small Living Reduces Ownership Burden: Moving from a large house to 400 square feet eliminates the maintenance, cleaning, and utility costs of unused space

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Alex

Alex Pino is the founder of Tiny House Talk, a leading resource on tiny homes and simple living since 2009. He helps readers discover unique homes, connect with builders, and explore alternative living.

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