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8×8 Tiny House Design by Kevin


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8×8 Tiny House Design Contest Submission by Kevin Harrington of Cozy Home Plans

This 8×8 tiny house design has quite a lot to offer for its size. There’s a couch that converts to a bed with drawer storage underneath.

The ottoman is custom designed to have storage and rollers so you can move it around easily. It’s also the same height as the couch/bed so you can prop your legs up and relax to watch TV.

The closet is 15″ wide and you can easily use this to hang your clothes and use to store other things too. In this design I’d install a rain shower head to avoid splashing into the kitchen.

There’s no cook top just a microwave instead but you might be able to change that if you wanted to. The shower is quite roomy relative to the house at 32″ by 32″.

I designed it so that you can use a portable and lightweight composting toilet for easy removal during showers. Then you can place it behind a curtain for privacy.

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Kevin's 8x8 Tiny House Design

Inside Kevin's 8x8 Tiny House Design Kevin's 8x8 Tiny House

The toilet is portable and composting so you can easily pull it out before you shower.

The ottoman below the television is custom built and is on wheels so you can also move that around appropriately and also be able to open the drawers under the couch/bed.

In the next few photos you’ll get to take a closer look at the really small kitchen.

Also notice the ceiling windows that help bring more light into the house and most likely would make it feel more spacious too.

There are plenty of cabinets throughout to store all of your things.

Kevin's 8x8 Tiny House - Couch Bed with Storage Kitchen Kitchen View

Here’s a closer look at the kitchen and the tiny little built in refrigerator that can be installed.

I think it’s essential to pick a door with some windows in such a tight space this way it not only brings in light but brings the outside in.

In the next two photos below notice how the countertop flips up to create more counter space.

This feature can not only be used for dining but also for preparing meals and also as a desk.

Not too bad for just 64-square-feet and no sleeping loft, don’t you think?

Kitchen, Refrigerator, Chair in Tiny House Design Kitchen with Dining Set up Kevin's Tiny House Design 8x8

The next few shots give you an aerial view of the house and it’s floor plan.

Since it’s only 8×8, you’re really limited with space. Plus there’s no sleeping loft.

This might get old for a lot of people because to use one part of the house you have to make adjustments.

For example if you wanted to get into certain storage areas you have to move something out of the way to open it.

A structure this small would most likely just be used as an accessory structure like a backyard office or a guest bedroom… Not usually a fully functional home.

That being said, Kevin did an amazing job with the design. What changes/adjustments would you make to improve it?

View from Above - Tiny House Floor Plan Floor Plan Aerial View of Tiny House 8x8 Tiny Home Floor Plan Floor Plan of Kevin's Cozy Home Plans 8x8 Tiny House

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If you enjoyed Kevin’s 8×8 tiny house design, “Like” and share using the buttons below then tell us what adjustments you’d make to the design to make it even better in the comments. Thanks!

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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!
{ 33 comments… add one }
  • Carolyn B
    October 13, 2012, 12:09 am

    Like the idea of getting rid of the stove and keeping the microwave. I rarely use my kitchen stove in my apartment.

  • October 13, 2012, 1:09 pm

    I like this one for older folks like me who aren’t keen on the idea of having to climb a ladder to get into bed. That said I’d be perfectly happy to live in this if it were here in Florida because I’d have a screen house to expand the space a bit with an outdoor living space. I’d also have a portable induction cooktop & maybe a nice smaller toaster oven to round out the kitchen. Nice design Kevin!

    • Kevin Harrington
      October 14, 2012, 11:10 pm

      Thanks Jennifer! Not a big ladder fan too, loft beds are not for me.

  • Angela
    October 13, 2012, 2:02 pm

    I like this plan as it does have tv/computer in a convienent place. I also like no steps or ladder (I’m in the older age group). I would rather have a permenent place for the toilet than temporary sitting it in the shower. And a Jennifer has said a screened in area enlarges any space!

    • Kevin Harrington
      October 14, 2012, 11:14 pm

      Thanks Angela! The 8’x8’ parameters made this little challenge all about compromise. Make it 2-4 feet longer and you could definitely have it permanent spot for it.

  • Erik Walker
    October 13, 2012, 2:07 pm

    It is always amazing to see what other people can think up for these micro houses. The one thing that most people forget when it comes to creating these spaces is that space is 3-dimensional. A lot of people just think of it as floor space and that’s that. This design is probably the most thought up of the ones in this email, but I think that a loft space for the bed would really allow you to do more with it. Also, being the health enthusiast that I am, I would swap out the microwave for a small convection oven. You can actually cook steak in one of those and it comes out perfect, which is something that I microwave can’t do. With my background in architecture, and my 5 years of design experience I can honestly say great start to the design, keep evolving it and looking for more space saving ideas. Even construction space saving techniques too. SIPS panels are a good place to start.

    • Lynne
      October 14, 2012, 1:14 am

      I’m all for taking advantage of appliances used in the RV industry, like the convection/microwave oven combo, glass-covered 2-burner propane cooktops, portable induction cooktops, and glass-covered sinks with fold-down faucets to add functional counterspace. I was also wondering if anyone had thought of a murphy bed setup where the underside of the bed becomes the backsplash for a 6-foot long kitchen area. Use the kitchen countertop by day, then fold down the bed onto the countertop at night. Less climbing for us boomers. And, finally, I’d love to know what software Kevin used. I have SOOO many ideas to capture!

      • Kevin Harrington
        October 14, 2012, 11:34 pm

        Thanks Lynne! I use Plan 3D, just link to my site from my name and it’s on the upper left. Send me an email so I can brag about it some. Spent the better part of this weekend working on an RV, tiny house folks can learn a lot about what works and what does NOT from them.

    • Kevin Harrington
      October 14, 2012, 11:22 pm

      Thanks Erik! Small convection oven was not one of my choices but I would rather have one too. Your absolutely right about space being 3D.

      • Erik
        October 15, 2012, 8:01 am

        Some other things to consider too, and this concept has been used by many ‘small’ home dwellers, and that is the idea of ‘out-sourcing’. Each of these designs focuses on the use of the interior space, and sort of neglects the outdoor space. It might be nice to have your eating area under a covered canopy outdoors, then you can reduce that space from the design as you will only need it when the weather is bad. Another thing that I noticed about each of these designs is that no one really took into account the HVAC of a space this small- some of them outlined where a water heater would go, but if this space was set into a cold climate how would it stay warm in the winter? Another idea is that it could have been a 2 story space if the intent of the design was not to have it be portable. Some more food for thought!

  • LaMar
    October 13, 2012, 4:29 pm

    Hey nice work Kevin!

    I like the couch bed idea.

    I did something similar but with a barn style roof for a loft bedroom:

    http://www.simplesolarhomesteading.com/8x8minicabin.htm

    LaMar

    • Erik Walker
      October 14, 2012, 11:34 am

      One other thing I will comment about some of these designs, I see that a lot of them do not have a door blocking the toilet from the rest of the space. I don’t know about you, but I think in a space that small a door is needed to prevent from being forced out of that room.

      • LaMar
        October 14, 2012, 12:09 pm

        I agree- I enclosed the bathroom in my design and a simple folding door aka accordion door would provide privacy. It is hard to show that in a picture.

    • Kevin Harrington
      October 14, 2012, 11:36 pm

      Thanks Lamar! Awesome design and great site too BTW.

      • LaMar
        October 15, 2012, 12:26 am

        Thanks Kevin- hey I am trying to get a small house design contest going on my website. It would be for any house under 200 sqft and also houses on wheels. I am looking for sponsors right now so if Cozy homes wants to be a sponsor and throw in on some prizes let me know!

  • Florence Robinson
    October 13, 2012, 9:28 pm

    As newlyweds in college we lived in a 12′ by 18′ apt, three rooms! Like all your ingenuity.

    • Kevin Harrington
      October 14, 2012, 11:26 pm

      Thanks Florence! I truly believe that size is a moot point, the forum and function of a space will dictate what happens inside of it.

  • Erik Walker
    October 14, 2012, 11:32 am

    The software that this appears to have been built in is called ‘SketchUp’. It’s pretty easy to use, and if it was not done it Sketchup it could easily be done using that program.

  • Marsha Cowan
    October 14, 2012, 11:55 am

    Might need some knee space between the desk and the bench.

    • Kevin Harrington
      October 14, 2012, 11:47 pm

      Marsha, Marsha, Marsha… It actually needs a whole lot more than just that!

      • Marsha Cowan
        July 16, 2021, 6:29 pm

        Haha : ) Just saw this!

  • October 14, 2012, 7:14 pm

    Very cool Kevin! Man, this is tough, and I’m in the process of picking the winner tonight….
    -Deek

    • Kevin Harrington
      October 14, 2012, 11:51 pm

      Thanks Deek! Have to thank Alex for “lowering” the Cozy bar.

  • Erik Walker
    October 15, 2012, 8:37 pm

    Kevin, I have another idea for you, and everyone else that reads this submission, but one of my favorite storage pieces that is multi-functional and in just about every new home in America and that is a dishwasher. How often does yours sit empty? You could use the dishwasher to store your dishes both clean and dirty and then run it every day or couple of days as needed. It does not hurt to wash clean dishes and that way you can reduce the need for cabinet space for those dishes as space is already a premium in a space this small.

  • Erik
    October 16, 2012, 9:16 am

    I was flipping through some magazines here in the past couple of days and it got me to thinking, what if the shower room/toilet was enclosed in frosted glass? It is a simple way to divide the space without having the mass of an actual wall take up the ever so precious floor space in an area so small.

  • Kevin Harrington
    October 16, 2012, 2:31 pm

    Erik, it is great to see someone else constantly thinking ‘what if” when it comes to smaller spaces. Please contact me through my site; it would be great to have a springboard for new ideas and vice versa if you’re interested. Your experience and insight are a welcomed addition to the TH movement in my opinion. In this concept, the wall was crucial to provide shelving and the TV but I can definitely see where you’re going with that glass idea.

  • Dave
    October 17, 2012, 8:10 pm

    I somewhat disagree that you couldn’t live in a place that small, its just a matter of adjusting your thinking. Something that small would in some way force you to live outside more, a multi use space like that would then be an extension of the outdoor living space rather than a space unto itself. And, when I am not sleeping in it my bedroom is empty. When I am not cooking in it my kitchen is empty. When I am in either of those two spaces my “living” room is empty. That just seems silly if you think about it, which most people don’t. They just accept what they have as “normal” and think anything else is “weird”.

  • February 10, 2013, 2:00 am

    I like it. My mother (1915-2001) was a great fan of tiny spaces long, long ago. She was always drawing out new plans for living on a boat. With a family.

    One thing I think I got from her is the concept of waste cubic space. Now take the bathroom, for example: most of the space in this tiny shower/toilet is empty air. Would it be possible to design the space so that the toilet sits under a fold-up top, say cabinet height, and that the shower workings be flexible, designed to be pulled up towards the ceiling, circular shower curtain and all, making a disappearing room that only is created when necessary?

    If the toilet itself is small enough and waterproof, it need not be rolled out of the way, as in a wet bathroom.

    In a space as small as this, a bit of extra counter or seating would be handy. And it wouldn’t feel quite so cramped, with line-of-sight space wall to wall.

  • Kevin Harrington
    February 10, 2013, 4:22 pm

    Thanks Suzanna! Tiny house living is not only about efficiency and minimalism, it’s about multitasking too in my opinion. Your mom sounded like she was way ahead of her time, she would have been a wonderful part of the movement… glad you’re picking up the reins for her. I tend to approach my spaces in a “time spent” in them way. Sleeping may be 8 hours, but it’s a fairly stationary activity so no need for 130 sq. ft. when all you really need is 40’ to accomplish it. The toilet was basically a composting bucket for mobility but your point is a good one. I recently did a plan called “Innuendo” that has a wet bath in it and it gets a ton of views. It’s one of 105 now in Flickr so please feel free to critique away, it seems like you have a great eye for it. Constructive criticism to me can only help legitimize the tiny house movement because it addresses the concerns of quote “normal” people about living in a Cozy environment. Thanks again!

  • Andy Reed
    August 28, 2013, 1:53 am

    Hey all, pleased to meet you. I am wanting to build a tiny house that my 2010 ford ranger can tow. Does anyone have any suggestions or any websites I can check out. I know this house will be small. I just want to see one before I build. Any ideas would be more then appreciated and thanks again.

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