Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (2024)

What is a tiny home?

You can roughly describe the size of a tiny home as about two 20ft shipping containers stacked on top of each other. Tiny homes can be anything from a specially built house on wheels, to a caravan, to a teeny house built on land.

Why are they popular?

For many young singles and empty-nesters, it makes perfect sense to save money and be more mobile and ultimately, 'small'. Although two-bedroom tiny house floor plans are not very common, you can easily find plenty of designs with modern loft or flexible designs amidst tiny house plans that allows for tiny house expansion by connecting two tiny houses together.

Besides saving a lot of money, downsizing is truly the best way of organizing your stuff and de-cluttering your home. Minimalism as a movement among the younger generation is also picking up steam, much of which has characterised the population of tiny houses due to not only its minimal size, but also design.

Regulations

Building a tiny home on foundations on a block of land requires normal council approval and applications, which takes time and money.

Cost

They can be built to match anyone's lifestyle and budget. They can range from $10,000 to $180,000, but the average falls somewhere in the range of $30,000 to $40,000, making them cheap as chips (for a home).

Here are some of the best, free tiny house plans, fit for homes on wheels, for those concerned with a considered interior, or those generally just looking to be inspired by ideas. These houses will be sure to fit the dimensions...excuse the pun.

  1. Modern tiny house — View plans
    Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (1)
    Not everyone wants to build something traditional or classic. This tiny house plan has a clean and modern minimalistic design that is aesthetically pleasing and easy to build. Out of all tiny home layouts, this one speaks to the younger generation of artistically-inclined freelancers.

    Pro's include its simplicity, which extends to cost and materials. Cons include it's sterile design and permanence...if you're looking for wheels and colour, this may not be the one for you.

  2. Tiny Tudor House — View plans
    Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (2)

    Just look at this 300 sq. ft. Tudor cottage plan and facade. It’s a promise of a fairytale-style life! This adorable thing even has a walk-in closet! As an added bonus, the plan can be customized.

    If you don’t want to build it for yourself, you can consider it for your in-laws or as a guest house. They don’t have to suffer staying in one of your rooms or a hotel during visits.

    Another idea would be using this tiny cottage as a stand-alone home office or art studio. It could be a very nice addition to your existing real estate. Your real estate agent may give you some ideas on how to build it, so it will increase your property value.

  3. Binishells: Dome-shaped concrete home for $3,500 — View plans
    Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (3)Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (4)Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (5)

    These tiny dome-shaped homes are called Binishells. They are constructed using a process that is similar to making a papier-mâché balloon base and cost a friendly $3,500 approximately, to build. They are both a builders best friend, and yours (if you like concrete).

    In this case, concrete is poured over a heavy-duty air pump bladder and steel rebar framework. Next, the bladder is deflated to reveal a tiny, resilient home that can stand up to extreme conditions such as earthquakes, high winds, or even lava flows.
    Originally used as a blueprint for emergency shelters and temporary structures such as auxiliary school classrooms, recent years have seen Binishells adopted by the tiny-house crowd.

  4. Ana White's houseView Plans
    Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (6)Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (7)Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (8)Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (9)

  5. Vermont Tiny House — View Plans

    The Vermont Tiny House sits on a 22’ flatbed trailer and is approximately 155 square feet. The dormers in the loft allow for extra head room and many windows in the loft area.

    With a total of 12 windows, this tiny house has a tremendous amount of natural light in every corner. Window and door types and dimensions are specified in the plans.

    The Vermont Tiny House is a unique combination of rustic and modern, featuring rough cut pine and cedar details combined with modern efficiencies. It feels right at home nestled in the trees or next to a small pond. I enjoy playing music both on the deck and indoors as the space resonates well for acoustic music.

    This home is perfect for a couple or individual looking to live a life of freedom and simple pleasures. With everything you’ll need to live a comfortable life, the Vermont Tiny House makes it all possible.

    Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (10)
    Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (11)Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (12)

Tiny House Floor Plans: Top 5 Floor Plans & Designs for Tiny Homes | Architecture & Design (2024)

FAQs

What is the best size building for a tiny house? ›

The average size of a tiny house is 400 square feet or less, while a tiny home on trailers is 8.5 x 40 by 13.5 feet or 320 square feet overall. You could expand as large as 1,000 square feet assuming you wanted to. However, this size is more common for smaller houses. It all varies depending on what you need.

What is the most expensive part of a tiny house? ›

Inside your tiny house, the kitchen and bathroom are often the costliest areas, just like in a traditional house, Dobrowolski says. You can opt for smaller versions of appliances and fixtures, but the plumbing and electrical work will cost roughly the same as in a traditional house.

What is the best interior wall for a tiny house? ›

PVC wall panels – the ideal interior wall panels for tiny homes. Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard is an ideal tiny house wall panel material. It's lightweight, yet amazingly strong and durable, plus its bright, white finish reflects all natural available light and delivers a clean, crisp interior look.

Is building a tiny house cheaper than buying? ›

The average cost of a tiny house is a reasonable $30,000 – $60,000, although they can cost as little as $8,000 or up to $150,000 depending on the amenities you choose to include. It's typically cheaper to build a tiny house than to buy one prebuilt, but don't get too caught up in the savings.

How much money do I need to build a tiny house? ›

Depending on materials, design, appliances, etc., the DIY option will typically run anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000. You can find tiny home kits from major retailers like Home Depot or more luxurious tiny house options for $100,000 and up.

What is the cheapest way to build a tiny house? ›

The Lowest Cost Option

For those who want to build their tiny house on the lowest budget possible, there are several options available. One of the most popular is to build the home yourself using reclaimed materials. This can be done by sourcing materials from salvage yards, second-hand stores, and even Craigslist.

How long do tiny homes last? ›

The lifespan of a tiny home is largely determined by the quality of materials and labor that go into its construction. Generally, you can expect a tiny home to last 30-50 years. Location may also play a role, though.

What is the best location for a tiny house? ›

10 best places for tiny house living
RankStateOverall Score
1Vermont89.07
2Kentucky85.34
3Arkansas84.60
4Maine83.80
6 more rows
Mar 8, 2024

What colors look best in a tiny house? ›

Start with a Neutral Color Palette

Colors like whites, grays, and beiges help rooms feel airier and larger than they actually are because neutrals reflect light well.

What is the best framing for a tiny house? ›

Tiny House Framing Systems
  • Advanced Wood Framing-This is our modern twist on a classic, reliable system-wood stick framing. ...
  • Light Gauge Steel Framing– This method takes the familiarity of wood framing, but uses steel studs. ...
  • Structural Insulated Panels (SIP's)– SIP's are our personal favorite!

What is the footing for a tiny house? ›

If your land has high groundwater, a crawl space foundation is a good choice. Also if you live in a dry climate or are building in an area where soil is compressed and hard to dig, installing a crawl space foundation can be a good option. A crawl space is basically a short basem*nt but generally above ground.

What is a good size for a tiny house? ›

The size of a tiny house can vary, but they are generally between 100 and 400 square feet in size. They are often constructed using traditional building materials such as wood, metal, and even recycled materials.

Can I design my own tiny home? ›

Draft Your Tiny Home Plans Using Free Home Design Software

The best part is all of this can be done virtually so you can finalize your vision and feel confident before you construct it. With a few simple steps, you can customize your tiny house floor plans, just as you wish.

How big can a house be and still be considered a tiny house? ›

What Qualifies As A Tiny House? Although tiny houses seem pretty self-explanatory, they're more specifically defined as any home that falls under a maximum of 500 square feet. They can also be built on either a mobile platform or a permanent house foundation.

Can a tiny house be 1000 sq ft? ›

Homes under 1,000 square feet can and often are used as primary residences. Empty nesters looking to downsize might appreciate a tiny house plan that requires little upkeep.

What is a good size small house? ›

The Optimal Square Feet Per Person For The Ideal House Size

This means for a family of three, the ideal house size is 1,800 – 2,100 square feet. For a family of four, the ideal house size is between 2,400 – 2,800 square feet and so forth.

Is 700 sq ft a tiny house? ›

Building a 700 sq ft tiny house can be less expensive than traditional homes. Many people find they spend considerably less on their tiny home projects. This is because the materials and space required are minimal.

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