The Tiny House Movement continues to grow as people look to downsize, build a starter home, or plan a getaway cabin. But thinking small, decluttering, and eliminating extra square footage doesn't mean doing away with variety. Here's a look at the range of architectural styles and layouts now available in very small house plans -- that is, designs that are under 600 square-feet.
Country Cottage Style
So far most tiny houses sport a romantic cottage look, which accounts for some of their popularity.
Plan 915-3 by Tumbleweed Tiny Houses is a classic example. This 261 sq. ft. micro-cottage resembles late
nineteenth and early 20th century rural cottages found across the country from California to Maine. The floor plan is is just three spaces -- living, kitchenette and bathroom. You can see how the porch becomes important as an outdoor living room in good weather.
Plan 500-2 by Robert Swinburne is 362 sq. ft. and has been built in Brattleboro, Vermont to provide rental income for the owners, The straightforward gable-roofed character suits its narrow infill site between other traditionally styled houses.
It's only 352 sq. ft. but allows enough room for a stacked washer-dryer in the bathroom, and a loft that's reachable by a compact alternate tread staircase (check your local codes).
Plan 896-3 by Four Lights Tiny House Company is about as tiny as you can get, at 112 sq. ft. The exposed
truss supporting the gable over the front porch gives it an expressive Craftsman style. The bathroom is only
the width of the shower stall so it is a very compact plan. There is a sleeping loft in the gable. This cottge would work well as a backyard home office or overflow guest unit.
Modern Micro Cottages
Tiny houses also come in contemporary styles with flat or shallow-pitched roofs.
Plan 497-61 by FreeGreen is a very modern 525 sq. ft. box. The distinctive feature of its design is the way
the corner of the living room opens up to the deck, for easy indoor-outdoor living that helps make the interior feel larger than it is. There is a sleeping loft over the kitchenette and bathroom.
At 544 sq. ft., Plan 507-1 by Larson Shores -- also called the Inspired In-Law Cottage -- everything is one one level. The extra
square footage allows the plan to spread out a bit more so that each of the three spaces feels very distinct.
Plan 914-2 by Quiet Leap designs -- shown here and at the top of this post incorporates a front porch. Inside the cottage is warmly
contemporary, with a fireplace defining the living area near the front door. One of the features
that makes this design work especially well is the continuous counter running the length of the living space.
So, architecturally speaking, the tiny house can offer big surprises.
To browse more Tiny House and Micro Cottage Plans click here.
Country Cottage Style
So far most tiny houses sport a romantic cottage look, which accounts for some of their popularity.
Plan 915-3 by Tumbleweed Tiny Houses is a classic example. This 261 sq. ft. micro-cottage resembles late
nineteenth and early 20th century rural cottages found across the country from California to Maine. The floor plan is is just three spaces -- living, kitchenette and bathroom. You can see how the porch becomes important as an outdoor living room in good weather.
Plan 500-2 by Robert Swinburne is 362 sq. ft. and has been built in Brattleboro, Vermont to provide rental income for the owners, The straightforward gable-roofed character suits its narrow infill site between other traditionally styled houses.
It's only 352 sq. ft. but allows enough room for a stacked washer-dryer in the bathroom, and a loft that's reachable by a compact alternate tread staircase (check your local codes).
Plan 896-3 by Four Lights Tiny House Company is about as tiny as you can get, at 112 sq. ft. The exposed
truss supporting the gable over the front porch gives it an expressive Craftsman style. The bathroom is only
the width of the shower stall so it is a very compact plan. There is a sleeping loft in the gable. This cottge would work well as a backyard home office or overflow guest unit.
Modern Micro Cottages
Tiny houses also come in contemporary styles with flat or shallow-pitched roofs.
Plan 497-61 by FreeGreen is a very modern 525 sq. ft. box. The distinctive feature of its design is the way
the corner of the living room opens up to the deck, for easy indoor-outdoor living that helps make the interior feel larger than it is. There is a sleeping loft over the kitchenette and bathroom.
At 544 sq. ft., Plan 507-1 by Larson Shores -- also called the Inspired In-Law Cottage -- everything is one one level. The extra
square footage allows the plan to spread out a bit more so that each of the three spaces feels very distinct.
Plan 914-2 by Quiet Leap designs -- shown here and at the top of this post incorporates a front porch. Inside the cottage is warmly
contemporary, with a fireplace defining the living area near the front door. One of the features
that makes this design work especially well is the continuous counter running the length of the living space.
So, architecturally speaking, the tiny house can offer big surprises.
To browse more Tiny House and Micro Cottage Plans click here.
