Today, let's look at some of the reasons so many are going tiny. The most glaring reason is the economics of them. Later in this post, check out the statistics on the high cost of living with the mortgage of a standard house. More and more people are shifting their budget from the material to experiential priorities, and simplifying, de-cluttering their environment to make it calmer and more nurturing with less upkeep. Or they want to have adventures throughout the country, but don't want to "relocate" each time, or live in motels, to do so. Then, there are those who want a home design that is special and unique to them, like the tree house, or airplane conversion.
| The sweetest advantages of going tiny are the least obvious to the uninitiated. Those are the calming and nurturing effects. You gotta live it to believe it. It's like walking into your cozy, loving nest. You immediately slow down. You HAVE to. You don't have any room to rush around. That's simply not a logistical option. So, you gear down. Calm down. You may not give up your TV, but you find you curl up and read, more. Also, clean up is a breeze; minutes instead of hours. First, you don't have the clutter of a standard sized home. You've already prioritized away all your clutter, and everything has a place. |  |
You have already asked your friends to give you only consumables as gifts, as they do in Japan, like a gift certificate to dine out; a fruit, nut and/or cheese platter, or a ticket to a theme park, for two. You won't have the surface space for the ultimate Japanese consumable gift, the ice sculpture, and if that's offered, you'll probably have to turn it down. The reason for this is, that if something new is introduced into your highly organized environment, you will probably have to trade it out with something old that is in that designated space, or save it in the trunk of your car, or truck to re-gift it. The only clutter you will have to deal with are the dirty dishes, putting away groceries, and leaving the closeting of clothes until morning, when you have more energy. So, the next, obvious reason for quick clean-ups, is the vastly reduced space to clean.
I have gotten more into cooking, than ever. The whole process is so easy, with every option available by simply turning, squatting or reaching from one spot. You're looking from the handle of the 'fridge, "across the hall" to my kitchen work space. The butcher blocks can sit in the sink wells, to create extra counter space. Two NuWave induction cook tops to the right have pin-point temperature control, making a HUGE difference in the quality of my cooking. Cabinets above and below; the doors of which sport fish plaques, framed jewelry and a barber's mirror. Cookware hangs above the window at my finger tips. And the NuWave (3 wave oven) is behind the little door, next to my combo. washer/dryer.
Across the "water room" hall, again, is the loo and a combo. bath/shower/"steam bath." More luxury per sq. ft. in my grand total of 192.sq.ft (including porch) than the 2000 sq.ft. home I left behind.
And, there's nothing like sleeping, snuggling, napping and dozing in a tiny bed loft, especially if you are, as I am, surrounded by skylights.
 I wake up, awash in the three colors of my antique, church sanctuary, stained glass window. |  Then, I roll over and watch the squirrels in the trees above, through my rose bud skylights. |
There are a growing number of people who have chosen to go tiny, not for a resolution of financial difficulties, as I did, but in pursuit of financial freedom...
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