7 tiny homes that fit big families

2022-06-15 22:04:07 By : Mr. liangmin peng

Who says you can’t live in a tiny house with a family? These pint-sized homes prove it’s possible to live comfortably in fewer square feet, even with children. If you never considered small-space living with kids, these well-designed tiny homes will seriously tempt you to ditch the traditional house for a more minimalist lifestyle.

Macy Miller of MiniMotives started building her tiny home before she knew she’d be sharing it with a family. During the process she met her partner, James, who helped her complete the house. They’ve since welcomed two children — plus a Great Dane! — and expanded the home from its initial size of 196 square feet to 232 square feet with the addition of a bedroom. Reclaimed wood counter tops, a composting toilet and radiant floor heating are among the sustainable features of this cozy space.

Samantha and Robert Garlow of SHEDsistence designed and built their own 204-square-foot tiny home to live in with their cat — and then they welcomed a baby. They adapted the space to make it child-friendly with features like a loft crib and net. So far they’ve enjoyed living in their tiny house with a baby, and the small space makes it easy for the couple to keep an eye on her.

Four kids? No problem. Gabriel and Debbie Mayes of The Mayes Team transformed a 2000 Thomas High Top school bus into a 250-square-foot haven. They wanted to avoid a shotgun house feel, so they designed an L-shaped kitchen to create a natural barrier between the living area and bedrooms. Big windows fill the bus with natural light.

Related: Amazing camper van maximizes space with clever boat design tricks

Karl and Hari Berzins of the Tiny House Family needed to save money, so they got creative with their tiny home. For only $12,000, they constructed a 320-square-foot house using salvaged, overstock or leftover building materials. The home incorporates a kitchen sink from a neighbor; oak from a demolished home; lights and fabric from the family’s former restaurant; and insulation, windows, flooring, framing material and their stove on Craigslist.

Brandon and Ashley Trebitowski of Trebventure downsized from 2,100 square feet to 240 square feet — with three kids. They converted a Blue Bird bus into a bright mobile home that boasts an open floor plan and homemade furniture. Plenty of windows fill the home with natural light, affording it a spacious feel.

High rent prices in California prompted Dino and Ashley Petrone of Arrows and Bow to seek out an alternative residence. They decided to convert a Cougar Keystone camper into a 180-square-foot tiny home for their family. After gutting the interior, they spent $3,000 on storage solutions to avoid clutter, a custom-cut IKEA desktop and decorations from discount stores and garage sales.

Ready to launch into your own tiny living adventure? If you’re hesitant to build a tiny home, there are several options, such as the Traveler XL from Escape Traveler, a 344-square-foot tiny house that can sleep as many as 10 people (provided that some of those people are children!). It’s off-grid-ready, with features like composting toilets, solar panels and battery storage.

Images via The Mayes Team, © Macy Miller/MiniMotives, courtesy of Samantha and Robert Garlow/SHED tiny house, Tiny House Family, Trebventure, courtesy of Arrows and Bow, and Escape Traveler

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If you thought you could never live tiny with kids, the following stories of well-designed tiny homes will seriously tempt you to ditch the traditional house for a minimalist lifestyle.

Who says you can't go tiny with a family? Tiny homes, such as this former bus by The Mayes Team, can be comfortable — even with children.

This trailer is home to a family of four and their Great Dane. It packs in sustainable features into a small space.

Samantha and Robert Garlow built a tiny home for themselves and their cat. After they had a daughter, they upgraded the space with child-friendly features.

When Karl and Hari Berzins needed to save money, they decided to start their journey into tiny living. They built their tiny home using salvaged, overstock and leftover building materials.

Brandon and Ashley Trebitowski ditched their 2,100-square-foot home for a 240-square-foot bus. They converted the vehicle into a mobile home with homemade furniture and plenty of natural light.

The soaring rent prices in California led Dino and Ashley Petrone to rethink their housing situation. They transformed a Cougar Keystone camper into a tiny home for their family of five.

Feeling inspired? If you're interested in a tiny home, there are plenty of options, even if you don't want to do it yourself. Options like this Traveler XL can house as many as 10 people!