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538 Sq. Ft. Shipping Container Tiny Home


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This is a 538 sq. ft. shipping container tiny home in Greece built with a 40′ shipping container as the base.

It was built by one of our readers in two and a half months with the help of friends and the total cost was about €30,000, which converts to about $33,979 in USD. This includes the outdoor construction modifications too. Inside the ground floor, you’ll find the living room, kitchen, dining, and full kitchen. There’s also storage here. On the next level, you’ll find the bedroom with a king-sized bed, a wardrobe, bathroom, and a 161 sq. ft. veranda. Please enjoy and re-share below. Thank you!

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538 Sq. Ft. Shipping Container Tiny Home Built For Less Than $40k!

538 Sq. Ft. Shipping Container Tiny Home

Images © Platon Nastos

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Images © Platon Nastos

Our big thanks to Platon Nastos, the architect/builder, for sharing with us!

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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!
{ 31 comments… add one }
  • Don Lowery
    October 19, 2015, 8:18 pm

    Love those stairs!

    • Margaret
      November 25, 2017, 2:31 pm

      Don Lowery…..Hate to disagree with you, but those stairs without a railing look very dangerous!

  • Deadrock
    October 19, 2015, 8:35 pm

    Want. Need. Crave. Desire. Love me them container homes.

    That said, this isn’t my most favorite container home design, but the view is to die for. The deck is to die for, too. The stairs, however, are to die from. 86 ’em or add a banister, at least. Kitchen seems a little dark. The bathroom looks lovely. Wish we could have seen pix of the bedroom and upper deck. Certainly nice for the price.

    • Karen
      October 20, 2015, 4:17 pm

      LOL, Deadrock! Your assessment of the stairs are absolutely correct. My 50 year-old knees would not like them at all. If they just go to the deck, I wouldn’t need them. My allergies (which are kicking my butt today) do not allow me to lounge outside, therefore, I would not need it.

      • Deadrock
        October 20, 2015, 4:58 pm

        Sadly, they also lead up to the bedroom and bathroom, both of which must be visited often in the course of a day, and getting to them via ladder would be either exhausting or life threatening. So the stairs in general are fine, at least as a means of reaching the next level and as far a their location on the floorplan; I just think there are safer, prettier, more storage-friendly staircases out there than these.

  • Deadrock
    October 19, 2015, 8:38 pm

    I guess the deck we see IS the upper deck. My bad. Still want to see the bedroom, though.

  • Carol Perry
    October 19, 2015, 10:29 pm

    This container tiny home has some awesome light fixtures!! It looks pretty big from the outside. I would have liked to have seen more of the kitchen and bedrooms. But on the whole it was a nice tiny home. Enjoy!! Carol Perry

    • Comet
      October 19, 2015, 11:06 pm

      I think the lighting fixtures are IKEA; and also there are DIY’s on PINTEREST for them.

  • Kristina H Nadreau
    October 20, 2015, 4:55 pm

    very nice. creative. the greek climate of dry, temperate to warm is perfect for a container. Here in Central America I fer we would have problems with rust as it is so humid. 3 weeks ago I changed purses and left the old one sitting on top of the dresser in the guest room. Today it is heavily mold infested. So, I do not think container houses are the best fit for C. A.

  • Michael
    October 20, 2015, 6:25 pm

    That’s the good thing on container homes. They can be arranged as you wish and you have space. I would go for bungalow style, too.
    But this example shows what can be done for a low price. Great!

  • David
    November 30, 2015, 6:24 pm

    I have been considering adding a low cost elevator to my plan. Yes, I know what they can run. But there are many options these days and it can be done.

  • Jean
    November 30, 2015, 8:49 pm

    Why is the table so far from the kitchen. Agree about stairs. Has anyone tried an elevator(dumb waiter) kind of setup. Like use of container though.

  • Jane on Whidbey
    December 1, 2015, 11:51 am

    The number of negative comments about the stairs leaves me puzzled. Why do you think that every house has to be designed to your needs alone, and the design isn’t worthy if it isn’t?
    I had only one bathroom, upstairs, for many years, and I never used a hand rail, up or down, carrying bedding, laundry, and children. Now that I’m unable to do that, I just love to imagine being young enough to enjoy this lovely home, with a beautiful staircase.

    • Barnie
      November 25, 2016, 7:27 pm

      Exactly! As a minimalist, I for one appreciate the stairs sans railing. It’s more than fair to expound about a clever idea that had escaped the original designer and could improve a build for any and all in some general sense, but we should stop short of imposing our particular wants on their vision. I’m sure I’ve been guilty of it too, but that doesn’t make it any more acceptable. No two TH’s are alike, nor should they be. The designer/builder of this beautiful container house should be proud.

  • max
    December 8, 2015, 11:13 pm

    As an Architect who has been saved from falling down a staircase by a handrail I can’t suggest enough to simply add some safety to the stairs. As beautiful as the stairs might be, a handrail could be made to match the same elegant style which would look great as well as adding some safety. The house is beautiful!

  • November 23, 2016, 1:41 pm

    Some details :
    1. The container is fully insulated from inside .
    2.Has a half bathroom ( with washing mashine ) at ground floor
    3.The 2nd floor is been made from galvanized metallic condtruction and covered by insulated panels .
    4. The stairs works perfectly and doesn’t actually need rails , i’m using it many times a day ( i’m 56 yo)
    5. The space under the stairs is used for storage , nothing is for waste !
    6. I can provide plans and details for anyone is interested for free
    ( [email protected])
    7. Thanks for comments
    Platon Nastos / architect NTUA

  • Kid Cardona
    November 24, 2016, 4:43 pm

    I like this design. This would go very nice on my ranch in Texas. Could you please e mail me the designs? Thank you for sharing.

  • Susanne
    November 25, 2016, 10:16 am

    Wow! Looks less like a shipping container with the addition on top! Love the deck/ view! I agree steps lovely but for safety when carrying children use a railing…..:)

    • Natalie
      November 28, 2016, 8:07 am

      If they have small kids, certainly something to consider. — Tiny House Talk Team

  • ZACHARY E. MOHRMANN
    November 27, 2016, 10:32 am

    Now tell me again how that other Container conversion that we had on the other day cost or would cost the buyer $50,000.00 or more to own…? This is a prime example of what I have been saying all along with these type tiny houses conversions….! You don’t have to be a Trump to own one….!

  • Betty
    September 24, 2017, 8:42 pm

    Safety first comes to mind concerning those stairs. Otherwise very nice. 😌

  • Larry Mitchell
    November 24, 2017, 10:55 pm

    I am tired of all the pop ups. Really annoying One more day and I will unsubscribe.

    • Alex
      November 26, 2017, 3:18 pm

      Sorry about that Larry! I’ll see about toning them down a bit for you guys. They’re not supposed to ask current subscribers, but I know it happens sometimes for various reasons. Thanks for letting me know.

  • M
    November 25, 2017, 12:57 pm

    I lived in a container house for 4 years. I had a serious love/hate relationship with it but miss it now more than ever. Simple living <3

  • Michael
    May 27, 2018, 6:52 pm

    Another example that container conversion can be done on a budget.
    Prices for other tiny homes are going up into segments which make them unreachable for many and majority offers less space.
    I would go for bungalow style, too because I don’t like to climb up stairs for changing a shirt only.
    Well done!

  • Angela
    November 24, 2018, 5:36 pm

    Not a true tiny house. This would be a small home. Though it is too costly for me, the price was very reasonable for someone with a normal, working income.

  • JB
    December 2, 2018, 10:36 pm

    Of all the tiny homes I’ve viewed, not many come close to what I know would make me feel comfortable. I would have to tweak everyone of them including the shells. What bothers me more than anything is the designers don’t like it when you want to change something and they add on additional super expensive costs if you don’t want one with its original floor plan even when you have take aways. I also don’t get having a large kitchen area. Unless you have a large family or you cook all the time. That defeats the purpose. The whole idea is to cut expenses, simplify your life and enjoy the outdoors. Without going into deep debt. I need to come up with what I’m going to do about housing by next spring. And I’ve been looking hard since I retired in 07/2016.

  • e.a.f.
    February 17, 2020, 9:53 pm

    OMG, that is gorgeous!
    The stairs look great!

    Some might prefer a hand rail and those who do could install one. My knees still take me up and down stairs every day, no real problem. What is nice about this is people with bad knees can build a different container home and those with good knees, they’ll love this.

  • Cas127
    February 19, 2020, 1:22 pm

    Never thought about it before, but 2 story buildings with container as base, make very good use of over-engineered nature of container – those metal walls can hold up a lot of weight. And…2/3 story homes minimize land purchase costs when adding SF.

    Is there much of a market for equipment/svcs that help turn containers into homes?

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