The tiny house trend has been sweeping the nation for several years now. Families, couples, and singles have all jumped on board and embraced a more minimalist lifestyle, proving that tiny living is possible for everyone. Owning and tending to a tiny house may seem simpler than caring for a large suburban home, but there are some considerations to bear in mind if you’re planning on making the change. These tips for moving into a tiny house will help you jump on the tiny bandwagon and fully embrace your newly minimal lifestyle.

Plan ahead

The most important tip for moving into a tiny house is to begin preparations well in advance of the move. As with any move, you’ll need to spend some time packing up your belongings and cleaning out your old house. However, because your new tiny house will be significantly smaller than your old home, you’ll likely need to spend extra time paring down your belongings. Switching to a minimalist lifestyle cold turkey and choosing which items make the cut for your tiny house can be difficult. Try to choose only those items which hold immense sentimental value or will serve a specific purpose in your new tiny house. Try to also choose items that occupy minimal surface area, as space will be limited in your new home.

Maximize space

As we’ve stated, space will be a hot commodity in your tiny home. As such, you’ll need to get creative with how you arrange the space and store items. You could take inspiration from japanese style tiny house designs and adopt a minimalist approach to maximise the feeling of space within your home. Japanese interior design focuses on nature, multi-purpose spaces and simple but purposeful decorations. There is an emphasis on creating the feelings of calmness and zen within your living space which will be important to adopt into your tiny house. Choose fixtures that serve multiple purposes in your home. Many tiny houses include sofas that double as a bed, or stairs that open to reveal a full closet. Choosing items that can be easily stored will also maximize space in your tiny home. Consider installing a murphy bed or a dining table that folds into the wall, as this will allow for more free space during the day.

Understand utilities

Utilities operate a bit differently in tiny houses than they do in traditional homes. Depending on where you locate your tiny house, you may need to get a bit creative with your utilities. If you’re planning to park your tiny house on a residential lot, you’ll likely be able to use the same utilities as a larger home. If you’re looking to get back to nature with your tiny home and want to live off the grid, however, you may need to employ more natural ways sources for your utilities. Many off-grid tiny houses incorporate solar panels or wind turbines to provide sustainable energy. Mobile tiny houses, on the other hand, are a bit more versatile and often have the same utility hook-ups as RVs and mobile homes.