Chances are you might have heard about the tiny-house movemen. After all, it’s invading all corners of the world. If nothing else, you may have stumbled upon one of HGTV’s tiny-home series or Netflix’s Tiny House Nation.

There is currently a revolution taking place in the world of home design, and its future is all things tiny. The buzz around the tiny house trend – an architectural and social movement that advocates for downsizing living spaces – is on the rise.

These structures come in a wide variety of sizes and forms. The average home is approximately 11 times larger than a tiny home. Many tiny homes are entirely custom built by owners, but they can also be premade. There are large companies like Ikea that sell their own brand of tiny houses.

The Social Movement

Tiny houses became an architectural and social movement led by individuals interested in acquiring more freedom in their lives by downsizing their living spaces and learning to live with less. 

One of the first tiny houses was built in 1999 by Jay Shafer, author of The Small House Book and founder of Tumbleweed Tiny House Co., although roots of the movement trace back to the 1970s.

One of the most high-profile of the movement’s many champions must be Elon Musk. The multibillionaire Tesla chief upped the tiny-house ante when he rented one in Boca Chica, Texas, while working on his SpaceX venture.

“Feels more homey to live in a small house,” he tweeted.

How did the tiny-house movement start?

Multiple factors fueled the growth of the tiny-house movement. As thousands of people lost their homes due to unemployment or foreclosure during the 2007–08 financial crisis, many turned to tiny homes as an affordable alternative to a traditional house in countries like the United States and New Zealand.

Those looking to shrink their carbon footprint also found living in these cozy quarters to be energy-efficient, saving a bundle on utilities. Other tiny-house owners, hoping to streamline their lives, were lured by the prospect of shedding most of their belongings and living a simpler lifestyle in a smaller space, sometimes even in an off-the-grid setting.

 In countries like Japan and New Zealand where space is already limited, tiny homes offer a viable option for purchasers to own their own home with less of the fuss of maintenance that comes along with owning a more traditional house.

While it might have originally seemed like a passing fad, the tiny-home trend is actually growing. While the exact number of tiny homes is unknown, in 2015 alone more than 30 micro communities were established or under development across the US, according to Tiny House Community, a website for small-home owners.

What are the benefits of a tiny house?

If well-built, these small dwelling structures can provide housing for decades at a fraction of the cost of a traditional home. They are often easier and much cheaper to maintain as well. 

Tiny-house enthusiasts believe that by decluttering their lives and downsizing they also declutter their obligations, reduce stress and open up more free time in their day-to-day lives. Living small directly correlates to owning less and this process of simplification is appealing to many people. 

The environment also benefits from tiny homes because many operate completely off the grid and require little to no utilities. Owners produce less waste as they are shopping and consuming less.

Small houses are also often used now as accessories on larger properties to serve as a detached office or guesthouse. 

An intimate setting can breed a little too much, intimacy. Therefore, if you’re considering the tiny-home lifestyle, take it for a test drive before you hire a builder and go all-in.

Businesses are allowing the curious to rent a tiny house for a night. Vacation rental websites also let you stay in a pint-size space for yourself and determine whether you’re ready to sacrifice the square footage and join this tiny housing trend.

While tiny homes will probably never be as popular as the average-sized home, they are sure to become more popular.