What is a Small House?
Small and tiny homes have occupied the American imagination for a long time.
The foundation of the movement, can actually be traced back to Henry David Thoreau’s 150-square-foot cabin built near Walden Pond in 1854. The quintessential American author who extolled the virtues of self-reliance also found that modest living was the best to spark the creative faculty and nurture a deep reverence for the human spirit.
Small houses continued to enthrall designers and architects. If you look around, you’ll see that the small house was a living necessity, even though populations were smaller and much more spread out. Traditional yurts, bedouin tents, and even the trulli houses of the Puglia region in Italy.
Once homeowners in Portland, Oregon could legally build “ADUs” or accessory dwelling units on their personal property in 1997, the floodgates opened for the tiny house movement across the country.
Over the next two decades, several businesses and nonprofits dedicated to a wide variety of tiny houses began to spring up. From Jay Shafer’s mobile-tiny-home company, “Tumbleweed Tiny House,” to the collective foundation, “Small House Society,” and the setup of the American Tiny House Association in 2015, small houses picked up big steam.
In 2016, however, the International Code Council (ICC) officially recognized tiny houses as part of the IRC or residential code. This put tiny houses legally on par with regular-sized homes, and in the U.S., Idaho became the first state to embrace the relaxed code regulations for small houses. Under this provision, homeowners of tiny houses could receive a Certificate of Occupancy for their house as long as it followed code regulations.
In a super-sized world, small houses are becoming increasingly popular. But it’s important to make sure that the small house floor plan you’re looking at feels like a home and not a glamorous but temporary camping or cottaging experience.
Common Features of Small House Plans
Not every small house plan is created alike. Unlike many other styles such as ranch style homes or colonial homes, small house plans have just one requirement: the total square footage should run at or below 1000 square feet in total. Some builders stretch this out to 1,200, but other than livable space, the sky's the limit when it comes to designing the other details of a tiny home.
This means that if you’re an eco-conscious family, you can opt to put in compost toilets. Or, if you prefer A-frame style houses, then you’ll need to install a loft to divide sleeping areas between parents and kids. Spaces within a small house floor plan really promote innovation — it’s surprising how a kitchen island on wheels, for example, can transform into a dining table.
Floor plans for small houses include standard rooms, including:
- Living rooms
- Bedrooms
- Porches
- Breakfast areas
- Gabled roofs
- Bathrooms
Small Home Exteriors
Small or tiny house floor plans feature compact exteriors. Their inherent creativity means you can choose any style of home and duplicate it in miniature proportions. Colonial style designs, for example, lend themselves well to the tiny house orientation because of their simple, rectangular shape.
However, the exteriors can also be designed according to more modern sensibilities, which often feature flat, seam metal roofs, concrete columns, large, wraparound glass windows, and pre-engineered wood trusses.
Small or tiny houses also work well with the A-frame, a popular minimalist choice for individuals who like plenty of sunshine streaming through their tiny houses. Small, A-frame houses often feature a striking, sloped roofline, impressive stone chimneys, wide porches or wrapping decks, and an upstairs area that is open-to-below.
Regardless of which style homeowners choose for their small houses, exteriors can include:
- Terraces, decks, and porches
- Sloping, flat, or gabled roofs
- Attached garages
- Large windows
- A combination of materials such as wood, stone, concrete, and vinyl siding
Small Home Interiors
The interiors of a small house are as open to interpretation as the exteriors. Because of the confines around square feet, the interiors usually feature open concept floor plans — such as a master bedroom and flows directly into the master ensuite with no door — or a kitchen that combines the open floor living room area with a small breakfast nook providing a break. If there are hallways, these spaces include furniture that can double up or provide a functional transition.
Many small house floor plans only feature one floor. However, families who want a bit more space, or those who prefer a physical division, can adopt home plans that include an upper level or a basem*nt level.
These additions make the house stackable and provide relief to growing families who may need some quiet time to relax. The houses can still be built on a narrow lot and maintain their compact size.
The Sudden Resurgence of Small Homes
The popularity of the small house movement is a confluence of factors: skyrocketing rent prices in many cities, cost barriers to affordable home ownership, a greater number of individuals working remotely, and a cultural shift toward eco-consciousness, sustainable home designs, and energy efficiency.
The small or tiny house movement also took on new dimensions when they became a means to travel the country or be mobile with one’s home. Many tiny house proponents convert RVs and mobile homes, or even shipping containers placed on wheels, and use these as a permanent residence.
Generally, those who aspire to own or build their own small or tiny house fall in one of three categories: young couples who want a more flexible lifestyle or a starter home, older homeowners who are looking for more affordable house plans, and empty nesters or retirees who want to downsize and live lightly. Some people even build a tiny home on their propery as a guest house.
Even though small houses are a practical and creative solution, there is a legal distinction between those built on wheels and those built as a permanent residence on a piece of land. The 2018 IRC ruling makes small houses more visible and easier to build, but in many states there are laws against building a house on wheels.
It’s complex, so the simple version is that most states prohibit making any dwelling with wheels your full-time, permanent residence. Instead, a “house on wheels” counts as a RV or recreational vehicle, and it should prominently feature a license plate. However, a tiny or small house built on a foundation, in a single location, has much more relaxed building terms. While some states consider tiny or small houses an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), others like California, Colorado, Oregon, Florida, Texas, and more, have highly flexible zoning and building codes. These regulations allow small house floor plans as a traditional, single-family unit.
How to Make a Small House Design Work For You
Making a small home design for work for your family comes down to whether you’re willing to take charge of a floor plan’s details. You’ll need to choose interior furniture and make design choices that will power up your living spaces and make them multi-functional. There are many advantages to modifying a small home space to suit your family’s specific needs, and the best way to customize your building process is to choose Monster House Plans.
With our powerful advanced search and useful keyword suggestions, you can use Monster House Plans to narrow down small home plans. Find alternate elevations, build costs, and tiny house plans suited for narrow or corner lots. Modify small house specs and create additional spaces that reflect your family’s growing needs. Monster House Plans help you build your dream home today affordably!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in small house design and construction, I have a deep understanding of the concepts and factors that contribute to the popularity and functionality of these unique dwellings. The small house movement has captivated the American imagination for quite some time, with its origins dating back to Henry David Thoreau's 150-square-foot cabin near Walden Pond in 1854.
Thoreau, a renowned American author, believed that modest living fostered creativity and a profound appreciation for the human spirit. This sentiment resonated with designers and architects, leading to the incorporation of small houses in various cultural contexts. Traditional dwellings such as yurts, bedouin tents, and trulli houses in the Puglia region of Italy exemplify the enduring allure of compact living spaces.
The small house movement gained significant momentum in the late 1990s when Portland, Oregon legalized the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on personal properties. This landmark decision paved the way for the proliferation of tiny house businesses and nonprofits across the country. Notable examples include Jay Shafer's "Tumbleweed Tiny House" company and the establishment of the "Small House Society" and the "American Tiny House Association."
In 2016, the International Code Council (ICC) officially recognized tiny houses as part of the International Residential Code (IRC), granting them legal parity with regular-sized homes. Idaho became the first state to embrace relaxed code regulations for small houses, allowing homeowners to obtain Certificates of Occupancy, provided their houses adhere to the applicable building codes.
Small house plans typically have a total square footage of 1,000 square feet or less, although some builders may stretch it to 1,200 square feet. The design possibilities within this constraint are vast, allowing for innovative features such as compost toilets and A-frame structures with lofted sleeping areas. Small house floor plans often include standard rooms such as living rooms, bedrooms, porches, breakfast areas, and bathrooms. The flexibility of these plans enables homeowners to maximize the functionality of their limited space, with options like movable kitchen islands that transform into dining tables.
When it comes to exteriors, small houses can adopt various architectural styles. Colonial designs with their simple, rectangular shapes lend themselves well to the integration of small house elements. However, modern sensibilities also find expression in flat, seam metal roofs, concrete columns, large windows, and pre-engineered wood trusses. The A-frame style, characterized by its sloped roofline, stone chimneys, and wide porches, is another popular choice for those seeking a minimalist and sun-filled living experience.
Small house interiors offer endless possibilities for customization. Open-concept floor plans are common, with master bedrooms flowing directly into ensuite bathrooms or kitchens merging seamlessly with living room areas and small breakfast nooks. Furniture in hallways can serve multiple purposes, optimizing space utilization. While most small houses feature only one floor, families desiring more space or physical divisions can choose plans that include upper levels or basem*nts, without compromising the compact nature of the house.
The resurgence of small homes can be attributed to several factors, including skyrocketing rent prices in cities, barriers to affordable homeownership, the rise of remote work, and a cultural shift towards eco-consciousness and sustainable designs. The mobility aspect of small houses has also gained traction, with many proponents converting RVs, mobile homes, or shipping containers into permanent residences. The appeal of small houses extends to young couples seeking flexibility, older homeowners searching for affordable options, and empty nesters or retirees looking to downsize.
While the legal landscape surrounding small houses can be complex, recent developments have made the building process more accessible. The 2018 IRC ruling increased the visibility and ease of construction for small houses. However, it is important to note that regulations regarding houses built on wheels differ from those built on a foundation. Many states prohibit making a dwelling with wheels a full-time, permanent residence, considering it an RV or recreational vehicle. On the other hand, small houses built on a foundation enjoy more relaxed building terms and can be classified as traditional, single-family units in states with flexible zoning and building codes.
To make a small house design work for your family, customization is key. Choosing furniture and making design choices that maximize functionality and multi-functionality is crucial. Monster House Plans offers advanced search options, keyword suggestions, and a wide range of small home plans to help you tailor your dream home to your family's specific needs. With alternate elevations, build costs, and plans suited for narrow or corner lots, Monster House Plans empowers you to build your ideal small house affordably.
In summary, small houses have captured the imagination of Americans for their creative and practical solutions to housing challenges. From their humble origins in Thoreau's cabin to the recognition and acceptance they now enjoy, small houses offer an array of design possibilities and benefits. Whether it's the exterior aesthetics, interior layouts, or the ability to customize, small houses provide a viable option for individuals and families seeking a more sustainable, affordable, and flexible way of living.
