While tiny houses under 400 square feet work well for individuals and couples, families with children typically need more space. Small house living for families generally falls in the 400 to 1200 square foot range, depending on family size. The motivations remain the same: cost savings, simplified lifestyle, low maintenance, and freedom to pursue other goals like travel or entrepreneurship.
Family Small House Considerations
- Solo/Couple: Under 400 SF (tiny house range)
- Small Family: 400-800 SF
- Larger Family: 800-1200 SF
- Common Motivations: Cost savings, debt reduction, simplified lifestyle
- Benefits: Lower maintenance, reduced expenses, more family time
- Considerations: Privacy needs, storage for multiple people, shared spaces
Family in Small Living Space
Who Benefits from Family Small House Living
- Couples planning for children
- Families with sons or daughters
- Multi-generational households with extended family
- Households with roommates
- Anyone sharing space with others
Lessons from Family Small House Living
- Square Footage Scales with Occupants: Each additional family member requires thoughtful space planning, typically adding 100-200 SF per person
- Living Below Means Creates Opportunities: Families who choose smaller spaces can fund experiences like travel, education, or career changes
- Shared Values Make It Work: Family members must agree on priorities for small space living to succeed long-term
- Privacy Zones Matter More: Children and adults both need retreat spaces, even if small, within the shared home
- Small Does Not Mean Cramped: Thoughtful design, multi-functional furniture, and outdoor living space can make modest square footage feel spacious
Related Family-Sized Small Homes
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Alex
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I love your blog – and I follow it. This is a subject near and dear, since my husband, son, and I live in a 320 sq ft home. We felt the need to simplify when time became a scarce resource. We no longer wanted to work as we had been just to maintain our ‘big house’ lifestyle. We moved into our home in July 2010, and have no regrets. It is completely paid for, our one and only car is paid for, and we have very low overhead for our business, which is also housed in a tiny building. You can see it all here: http://minkeebabygifts.blogspot.com/2010/12/simple-living-in-our-tiny-home-weve.html
Keep up the good work!
Hi Debra, I just watched your video. I’m glad you stopped by to show us. The points you made are fantastic – and you guys truly live the simple lifestyle as a family. Thank you so much for coming by!
Hey there,
This is Adam from tall mans tiny house that was featured here. I know this is an old post, but thought I,d add my thoughts. My wife and I and 2 kids have lived in the 700 sq ft yurt I built 2 years ago. I don’t know what I’d do with more space…probably fill it up! 🙂 We’ve said tha if we move to a ‘normal’ house we wouldn’t want any more than a 1000 sq ft. But are now considering building a tiny house for us to live in. We’ll see…
I lived with my husband, grown daughter and two younger sons for a year in a 350 sqft cabin in AK for a year. It wasn’t the best design, but we had a lot of fun figuring out how we could make it work by rearranging things in the same space. It had a separate bedroom and a loft. We had a futon bunk bed in the loft. It wouldn’t work now, with the boys being older, but it was interesting and we didn’t get on each others nerves or anything. It was hard to keep clean, which was a little surprising to me, but the smaller space was more challenging. We had a large storage shed as well. The cabin had a bathroom with just a toilet and shower, you had to wash your hands in the kitchen which was right outside. Running water as well,, which is rare in small cabins in AK, most are dry. We loved the experience, but we wouldn’t choose to live in such a poor design again, but we do know how to make it work with a better design now!