I bet you’re wondering where the heck tiny house people put their clothes?!
That’s easy. They don’t have a lot.
Before you toss in the towel as you have no idea how you’re going to pick a complete wardrobe from an entire closet and dresser(s) of clothes, relax.
Other people have done it. I’ve done it. You can do it.
I used to have two dressers, a full closet, and several boxes in the attic. And I don’t even like fashion!
Now, with the exception of some boots and coats, all my clothes can be packed into a couple of gym bags.
My goal is to get everything in one bag. Your goal might be similar. Or maybe you just want to get rid of the dresser.
The fun part about clothes is that no one has the exact same wardrobe. We all have different lives that require different types of apparel. For example, I have four pairs of boots: cowboy boots for line dancing (don’t judge), waterproof winter boots, everyday sweater boots, and a classy pair of boots with heels for dress-up occasions. To some people, that’s a lot. To me, it’s just right for where I am in my life.
Audrey and Tomas chose to downsize their lives and hired a builder to construct their tiny house. Because of their lifestyle, they weren’t able to be with the builders on a regular basis and it wasn’t until they had their little house delivered to their doorstep that they realized that there were some things they hadn’t considered.
Audrey mentions some of the challenges that have come up including mold issues surrounding a leaky drain and chores they took for granted in their old life.
She calls her expectations something of a “Tiny House Fairy Tale.” Audrey had a perception that downsizing their lives and moving into a cute little house would solve all their problems not create new ones. She writes, “It’s simple to flush a toilet; it’s not as simple to carry a urine bucket outside and ‘fertilize the garden’.”
Tiny House Talk has been around since 2010, and during that time we’ve interviewed a lot of tiny house dwellers who have many reasons for going tiny.
While most people immediately assume tiny living is about reducing costs, that’s not the case for everyone who chooses this lifestyle. Some people go tiny because they’re stressed out by belongings; others want to travel more; some want to live more sustainable lifestyles; and some just want to be different, just to be different!
We thought it would be fun to make a compilation post of many of the answers we’ve gotten to “Why did you choose to go tiny?” Below you’ll find 27 quotes, along with links to our full interviews with these tiny home dwellers. Enjoy, and let us know why you’ve gone tiny in the comments!
While this family isn’t living anywhere close to “tiny” in their 1,500 square foot home, they intentionally purchased a small home (did you know the average size of new homes in the US is 2,687 square feet?) after looking at many large opulent homes and being inspired to live more simply by Marie Kondo.
I love this story because it shows that even if you aren’t ready to squeeze your family into under-400 square feet, you can still choose to live more simply and reap the benefits of minimalism. Bigger isn’t always better! Mom, Elena, said she was stressed out thinking about keeping up with the housework in the larger homes they were touring, so when she came across a small gem, it clicked!
We got to interview Elena (@elena_winn) about their choice to live small and downsize, so be sure to check out the Q&A at the end of the post!
There are so many reasons to go tiny: To reduce costs, to live “greener,” to travel more — and for Talia, to have a clean and simple living area that helps her live well as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). We got to interview Talia and she tells us more about what it means to be an HSP, her tiny life, and her work helping others live more simply.
Her home was built for her by Mint Tiny Homes in British Columbia, and Talia said she had a great experience with the builder. Inside she has a loft bedroom, comfortable living area, kitchen complete with a farmhouse sink, and a spacious bathroom with a subway tile shower.
Meet Parker and Lexa: A young couple saving big by living in their gorgeous renovated fifth wheel in California.
He’s a photographer. She’s a wedding and event florist. They got married about two years ago and have been living tiny now for a year and a half. Lexa said they’d discussed getting a tiny house once they were married even back when they were dating, and intentionally lived in a little apartment so they’d be prepared.
While they may not live tiny forever, this lifestyle has allowed them to park on family land and save rent, preparing them for a lifetime together! Doesn’t get more amazing than that. Follow them on Instagram (@lexamstutz).
Meet Grace! This is her tiny house on wheels that she lives in with her fiance Ryan and dog Tofu. They settled on the ONE model from ESCAPE and found a gorgeous wooded spot for it to live on the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.
Grace (@inner.grace on Instagram) works as a yoga instructor and health/mindset coach and her plant-filled home couldn’t feel more peaceful. We interviewed her about her decision to go tiny and her minimalist lifestyle, so be sure to check out the Q&A at the end of the post!
This is the story of a couple named Tawn and Mike who used to own a gym and a 3-story house, but sold it all to renovate and live in the beautiful bus conversion that you see here today. By the way, they’re a family with two teenagers. They used the bus create an entirely different life for themselves with freedom as the foundation. They named the bus Oliver.
Today, they say they are so much happier than they used to be. You can get a look at their life below and enjoy the full video tour with a complete tour of their bus and more about their story, like how they used to work 14 hour days and hardly ever get to see each other. And how they have two teenagers. Please enjoy below! Thanks!
Don’t miss other inspiring stories on simplifying and enjoying life more (usually w/ a tiny house of some sort) – join our FREE Tiny House Newsletter for more!
Gym Owners Sell Everything To Live And Travel In A Bus