7 Tips Before Making Tiny House Plans
So you’ve decided to build a tiny house! Building any home is a huge venture and a great accomplishment, but it’s no secret that tiny houses present unique challenges. Here are some tips on before you start making tiny house plans!
Tiny House Plans Do’s and Don’ts
As you create plans for yours, you’ll need to do a lot of research while simultaneously doing a lot of soul-searching. With only a few hundred feet available to you, you’ll really need to hone in on what you can live without and what you can’t.
Be honest with yourself when you’re deciding!
Before you get into the creation of tiny house plans, choosing design elements, and collecting materials, there are a few things you’ll want to decide on. If you’re at the very beginning of your tiny house journey, you will quickly realize that there’s more to consider than just if you want your bed in a loft or on the main floor.
Here are our top tips before creating your tiny house plans:
1. Do Choose Where It Will Go
Will your house be stationary or towed with a trailer?
If your tiny house will be stationary, you will need to own the lot or have permission from the owners to build on the lot. A lot of wide-open spaces look like perfect places for tiny homes, but don’t forget that you will have to plug into the water and electrical hook-ups to use your appliances.
If your tiny home will be mobile, can your vehicle safely tow it? Do you have a good handle on the types of places you will be towing it to, and how often? Add researching trailers to your list as you plan.
2. Do Stay in Some Tiny House
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This may sound like a no-brainer, but HGTV will have you thinking, “I’ve got this” as you plan to move from 1800 sq ft to 300 sq ft.
It’s not that simple! Stay in several, very different tiny homes. Analyze the layouts and sizes. A 150-sq ft house feels very different from a 400 sq ft one. Take photos and clear notes on what you like and don’t like.
3. Downsize, Downsize, Downsize
You are about to move into a home with the least amount of storage you have ever experienced, now is the time to start minimizing your belongings.
It will take much longer than you ever expected, so don’t wait.
4. Do Start With a Clear Budget
One of the most appealing aspects of tiny homes is that most people build them without taking on a mortgage for under $40,000. But as with any project, you do not want to run over on expenses and delay your build.
Set your budget and stick to it.
5. Don’t Just Wing It!
In addition to staying in as many tiny homes as you can, look at every design plan you can get your hands on.
Do your research. Subtle tweaks to your plans can make all the difference in your overall satisfaction with your home.
6. Don’t Forget to Tape Spaces
Use tape to layout space once you’ve designed it, and spend some time navigating that area. Does it feel workable to you?
7. Don’t Just DIY It Because You Want To
Many people build their own tiny homes with their own hands, which is an incredible feat but very rewarding. Decide if you will hire a company/person, or build the house yourself. Building your house yourself will take considerably more research, help, and tools.
Once you’ve done your research, you’ll be ready to build the tiny house of your dreams. Simple living is within reach!
Do you already have tiny house plans? How far along are you with them? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section!
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