The idea of owning less stuff and living a more minimalist lifestyle in a tiny home is appealing to many people. And for good reason – it’s a refreshing change from a society telling us we need more and more. That said, this dream fails to materialize for some who dive head first into the tiny home lifestyle. Why is that? Here are four reasons tiny homeowners may be (unknowingly) setting themselves up for failure.
Tiny Homes: Are They Really That Much Easier?
The most common reason people get disappointed in something is because their expectations are too high. Many folks think “If I build a tiny home, I’ll have no problems at all.”
Wrong.
Building any home, even a small one, is not easy. Finding a place to park a non-traditional code-built home is not easy. Even deciding where to hang the two or three pieces of wall art you have room for is not easy!
What will be easy? Finding time to spend outdoors, becoming more mindful of your shopping and spending habits, and leaving a smaller carbon footprint than McMansion owners. But even these will require some work on your part.
The key takeaway here is that while tiny homes promote an exceptionally peaceful way of life, don’t expect that peacefulness to be instant or 100% constant.
Tiny Home Construction Limitations
If you plan to live in this tiny house long term, make sure to consider what kind of life you envision in the future. Do you have adequate space for a partner, kids, or even a pet if you plan to start a family?
Depending on your building skills and experience, renovating the interior of your tiny house may not be an option. And even if it is, you won’t want to get stuck in a perpetual state of remodeling because your home refuses to grow with you. Remember – if you’re making structural changes to your tiny house, the whole house is up for review, not just that spare bedroom or dining nook like in a traditional home.
To avoid feeling like you have to vacate your home at the first inconvenience, plan ahead for different scenarios and situations the same way you would with any other life situation. That way, you and your home can adapt to whatever life throws your way.
Sacrificing Luxuries
While the idea of having less may give you a sense of peace, if you’re not okay with having tiny washer, dryer, dishwasher, and microwave units, you may struggle to embrace this lifestyle. Think about how you’d feel without modern appliances and you’ll be even less enthusiastic.
But that’s often what tiny living demands, and new owners may feel uncomfortable once the appliances are installed in the home, just after the house has been built. If you’re not ready to deal with solar panels and composting toilets, an eco-friendly tiny house probably isn’t right for you.
Not Being Prepared for the Lifestyle
Whether you visit your new home every couple weeks or are settling into a tiny retirement community, you need to know what you’re getting into. Do your research ahead of time to understand what tiny living is really like – the good, the bad, and the ugly. As long as you’re fully prepared for what you may face, and it’s not enough to deter you from tiny living, then you’ll be one of the few who can really make living in a tiny house work.
