Essential Design Tips for Tiny Homes

Living in a small space requires the right habits and mindset. It’s helpful for those in small homes, rooms or apartments, but for those who live in tiny houses it’s essential. If you’re thinking about a tiny house for yourself or already have one you want to decorate, we’ve put together some design tips to help.

Wall Shelving

Tiny house living requires you to use your wall space as efficiently as possible. Even in a house without expansive empty walls you can squeeze a lot of storage—and decor—into a space with the right design strategies. Minimalist floating shelves are ideal for tiny houses because they take up a small amount of space themselves and allow the objects on the shelf to get the most visibility. For storage, you can pair floating shelves with small bins or baskets. You can also attach hooks to the underside of the shelves to hang things like kitchen utensils, potted plants and more. Wall shelves are the best way to get the most usable space out of your tiny home while still showing off your favorite things.

Light Colors

When choosing colors for your tiny home, stick to light colors. The lighter and brighter a space is, the larger it appears. This is most important for walls and large fixtures. Choose white or a light beige that will be easy to complement with other colors and patterns. You can also choose your favorite pale shade of green or blue to add a bit of color while still keeping the space feeling open and airy.

For fabric choices, for texture rather than colorful patterns. Keeping a mostly monochromatic palette but mixing textures will keep the design visually interesting without adding clutter. This doesn’t mean you can’t add some vibrant color here and there, however. Throw pillows or convertible storage furniture like ottomans are perfect choices for mixing in a bolder color choice.

Hidden & Convertible Furniture

Furniture is often the greatest challenge to making space in a tiny house while still liking the design. Luckily there are plenty of options for furniture that you can either use for multiple purposes or hide completely. Sofa beds are a staple of tiny home living and the modern options have excellent features like memory foam and automated mechanisms for quick and easy changes. You can also hide useful surfaces in walls, cabinets or other furniture pieces. You can install a small fold-out desk or even create extra counter space in the kitchen with a countertop on hinges. Many of these clever space-saving solutions are available to purchase from retailers ready-made, but they also make excellent DIY projects for those who want to build something completely custom.

The perfect way to decorate a tiny house will be different for everyone. The right design choices depend on multiple factors, including the number of occupants and the architectural style of the home. While decor is ultimately up to your own preference, these basic tips will help you get started on creating a tiny space you will love to call home.