By now, we’re sure you’ve heard all about tiny houses and how trendy they are. Many have chosen to forgo the luxury of having additional space to live more simply and in a home that fits only the bare essentials. It’s not difficult to see why they’re popular. After all, everything looks darling in a smaller size, and minimalism has been a trendy word for quite a while now. But are these houses practical for your living situation? Let’s take a closer look at apartments for rent in Independence MO, and see if they work with your lifestyle.
So, what exactly is a tiny house? It’s more than just a buzzword you see all over the internet, it’s an actual category of homes that span from 140 square feet to 500 square feet in size. These homes are more elegant in architecture and high end interior design than your typical trailer or mobile home, but can also be mobile as well. They’re designed for long-term use as opposed to a vacation home or a quick getaway, and are optimized with all the trappings one needs in a home, like kitchen appliances, a bathroom, and a bed.
Table of Contents
What are the pros of living in a tiny home?
For one, the cost is substantially lower than what you’d pay in rent or on a mortgage. Many look to tiny homes to relieve themselves of their financial burdens. It actually only costs around $60,000 to build a tiny home from scratch, which is far, far less than you’d pay for an existing space, and you have more to show for it.
Tiny houses also allow you to let go of accumulated excess and live minimally, with few tangible items to tie you down. It allows you to really think about the things you need, and save the money you would’ve spent on furnishings or filling the space. It allows you to live on a small scale so that you have more room for other things. Many have decided that expansive spaces were unnecessary and costly, and after paring it down to the essentials, have had more money to do other things they enjoy.
Furthermore, a full size home, while much roomier, might not even utilize the space properly for you, leaving you with excess room that you really don’t need but are still paying for. You also aren’t tied down permanently to a space, as most tiny homes are mobile, allowing you to travel around freely.
On the other hand, there are certainly cons to living in a tiny house.
Tiny homes are under 500 square feet, some drastically so. So while they might sound cute and appealing, you’ll really need to consider what life will be like at a scale this small. Is it functional for you, especially if others are living in the home? Privacy is essentially non-existent in a tiny home, so you’ll need to get used to living in close quarters and not having much room for foot traffic, especially if you’re considering having guests over.
Additionally, living in such a small area can cause you to get a little stir crazy and feel confined in your home. We suggest downgrading to a small home only if you’ve been comfortable living in a small-scale apartment before, as the change can be quite drastic.
Furthermore, you’ll have to be okay with moving frequently, as those living in tiny homes sometimes run into zoning issues. Since these homes are so small, they technically aren’t considered houses, which can complicate zoning and where your home is allowed to be.
