10 Space Saving Ideas for Tiny Homes
Space is at a premium to say the least in tiny homes. With some tiny homes being less than 200 sq ft, tiny lifers have to get creative about cramming all of their desired amenities into such a small space. Here are ten tips to maximize space in your tiny home.
Lofted Living
The first rule of finding extra space in a tiny home is: “Look up!”. Although most tiny homes stop short of being two-story, there is tons of usable space, especially in gambrel roof style buildings.
Lofts are often used for sleeping areas due to the general lack of headroom for standing. They serve this purpose well with the exception of having to climb in and out of the loft while sleepy and possibly disoriented. Most tiny home lofts can comfortably accommodate a large mattress and sill have ample room along the sides for storage.
Speaking of storage, since closets are often very small or excluded all together, lofts are a great way to pick up the slack. To avoid the difficulty of reaching items stored in the back, consider breaking your loft space into multiple sections with openings in between for easy access. Very ambitious DIYers might even consider hanging basket storage to maximize organization. Hanging basket storage dates back as far as humans have had baskets. Multiple baskets are suspended from pullies on the ceiling, and each can be lowered and raised either by hand or with the aid of a wench. It’s like having drawers on your ceiling!
Lofts are also great for children. It’s like having a tree house inside! Lofts lend themselves very well to giving your child a fun place to play and have their own space.
Lofts can also be the best option for bulky appliances like hot water heaters (if you don’t opt for tankless, see below) and ductwork (unless you opt for ductless HVAC, see our article on ductless options here).
Tankless Water Heater
Before widespread availability of tankless versions, your hot water heater was apt to be one of the bulkiest necessities to contend with in your tiny home. Standard size 40 and 50 gallon hot water heaters take up nearly as much space as a full size refrigerator. Thankfully, the tankless water heaters currently on the market are smaller than a microwave. Tankless water heaters are also far more efficient than the older tank-stlye heaters. For more information on water heater efficiency and tiny home efficiency in general see our write-up here.
The downside to tankless heaters is that although they use less power over time, they require massive amounts of amperage in short bursts. A typical tankless water heater appropriate for a tiny home has three heating coils that each require their own dedicated 20 amp circuit. This makes tankless water heaters a “no go” for tiny homes with less than a 200 amp service and subpanel.
I have installed each of the following tankless hot water heater options in various tiny home projects and would recommend each one for use cases described below. For more information and water heater recommendations based on size and application, check out our article on choosing the right tankless water heater for your tiny home.
Best Tankless Electric Water Heater for Moderate Water Use: Rheem 18kW 240V Tankless Electric Water Heater
Best Tankless Gas Water Heater for Moderate Water Use: Camplux 2.64 GPM Residential Indoor Tankless Water Heater
Washer/Dryer Combo
Let’s take a look at another heavy hitter when it comes to bulky appliances. Washers and dryers are a necessity for modern life and are probably the bulkiest appliance combo in most households. Stackable washer and dryers attempt to alleviate this problem, but can present even more problems in tiny homes. Small capacity stackable washer and dryers are often much more expensive than their full-size counterparts. Their height also presents a challenge as they are too tall to fit under the lofts of standard pre-fabricated buildings.
Washer/dryer combo units provide the best solution for doing laundry in a tiny home. They are affordably prices compared to standalone units and come in a wide range of sizes sure to fit even the tiniest of homes. These clever units contain all necessary components to wash and dry your clothes from start to finish all in the same load.
Those in climates that permit hanging laundry out to dry year-round may decide to opt for just a standard washer, but for the rest of us, a combo unit is clearly the best choice.
I can personally attest to the maintenance-free operation of the LG combo unit below. There are also portable budget units, but they often are spin-dry only with no heat.
My recommendation for a washer/dryer combo unit is: LG WM3998HBA 4.5 cu.ft. Front Load Washer & Dryer Combo
Tabletop Dishwasher
Who says that just because we are living tiny we have to hand-wash our dishes like Neanderthals? Tabletop dishwashers are relatively new and are a literal game-changer for tiny house folks. These little beauties take up about as much room as a microwave and can be stored when not in use.
These are a must have for those that love living tiny, but don’t love “roughing it”’
I love this Faberware model. I have one at my cabin and recommend it to my tiny home clients regularly.
Farberware FDW05ASBWHA Complete Portable Countertop Dishwasher
Compact Cooking
Fortunately for tiny homers, the yacht and RV industries set the demand for compact cooking options long before the tiny home movement gained momentum. Thanks to this, there are a wide variety of options for cooking up big flavor in a small space.
Built in Electric Cooktop 12 Inch
2 Burner 12 Inch Built-in LPG/Propane Gas Stove
Not So Mini Fridge
Ok, so between a tiny dorm fridge and a standard size fridge that find in most homes, did you know that there are dozens of semi-standard sizes from “little giants” to ”almost a full-size”? Every tiny home kitchen layout is a compromise. Check out the list of oddball sizes below to give yourself that extra 8” of counter you need to make your layout work. I have never had an issue with DOA refrigerators and don’t necessarily recommend or not recommend any specific brand. You are pretty safe picking based on the size you need.
RCA RFR725 2 Door Apartment Size Refrigerator with Freezer
Frigidaire 11.6 Cu. Ft. Compact ADA Top Freezer Refrigerator
Shower only
Scrub a dub dub, no room for a tub. There’s no way around it, tiny home bathrooms are small. One of the easiest space savers is to forgo a tub and install a small shower. While some may be absolutely unwilling to give up soaking in the tub, there are some very luxurious shower options including multiple massaging heads and kits that turn your shower into a steam sauna! Skip the tub and treat yourself to a high-end, small-footprint shower instead. For more luxury bathroom options, be sure to check out our article on tiny home bathrooms.
Our pick for a luxury shower panel: ROVOGO 304 Stainless Steel Shower Panel System
Our pick for a steam shower unit: COOLDENWALL 9KW Commercial Self-Draining Steam Generator Shower System
Murphy Beds
For those who aren’t familiar, murphy beds fold up flat into the wall when not in use. This space-saver doesn’t need much further explanation other than there are multiple ready-made and DIY options on the market. Not only are Murphy beds much more comfortable than a sleeper sofa, they are 1000 times cooler. Below you will find examples of traditional fold-down Murphy beds and some contemporary pull-out designs. You’ll have to decide which suits your space better.
AFI Southampton Murphy Bed Chest with Charging Station, Queen
Queen Size Deluxe Murphy Bed Kit, Vertical
Pemberly Row Edgar Easy-Lift Dual Piston Queen Size Murphy Wall Bed
Compact Furniture
All two-cushion couches are pretty much the same size right? Wrong!!! There is whole world of compact modular furniture out there shat ships right to your door. Seriously, you can buy a great looking couch that comes in a box and when assembled is a fully functional and stylish couch that takes up ¾ of the space as something from the local furniture store. Ikea is always a good bet for things like this, but Amazon has a great selection of compact furniture and delivers to your door.
Dreamsir 69″ Modern Cream Love Seat
Faux Leather Upholstered Modern Convertible Sofa
Lexicon Dawson Living Room Sofa
Under Everything
You had the right idea when you were a kid – stuff it under the bed…and the tables…and the counters. Organization is your best friend when trying to make the most of limited storage space. Consider making or buying “floor drawers” like the ones below for organizing under-the-bed storage.
There is a wide range of tables with built-in storage that are a godsend for tiny homes.
Finally, don’t let norms stifle your creativity. You may need to reassess what can be stored under the sinks for example. Don’t let limit yourself and don’t let any space go to waste!
Go forth with your knowledge and dare to live tiny!
