7 Tiny House Design Tricks to Try in Your Full-Sized Home

published Oct 7, 2018
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(Image credit: Esteban Cortez)

Whoever said “bigger is better” has clearly never heard of tiny houses. Clocking in at about 400 square feet or less, tiny houses are both Instagram bait and a unique challenge for homeowners. We mean, fitting a whole house worth of stuff into an itty, bitty space is no easy feat.

Decorating a tiny house is all about making the most of the square footage you have, so it’s no surprise that the people who own ’em have a few space-saving tricks up their sleeves. However, many tiny design tactics would look great in any place.

Don’t believe us? Here are seven tiny house-approved tricks to try in your full-sized space:

1. Smart Storage

(Image credit: Modern Tiny Living)

Unless you successfully Marie Kondo’d your entire place, you probably have a lot of clothes and knick-knacks lying around. Maximizing your storage is a great way to hide the clutter. We love how the Clover 24 tiny house has extra cabinets built into the stairwell.

2. Bon Appétit

Who even uses a formal dining room anymore? Ditch the fancy table and scoot some bar stools next to your kitchen counter. Not only does it save a lot of space, it’ll turn your kitchen into the epicenter of your home. Let this shot from @Gabrielle.Grace show you how it’s done.

3. Get Lit

Never underestimate the power of good lighting. Floor and table lamps can be limiting, which is why you might want to consider hanging some string lights overhead. As seen on @NewFrontierTinyHomes Instagram feed, string lights can create a warm, rustic vibe.

4. Defy Gravity

(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom)

Speaking of hanging stuff, exposed hooks are perfect for anyone with a lot of kitchen wares but very little cabniet space. It’ll remove the clutter from your counter, plus give your kitchen a whimsical feel a la Natasha Lawyer and Brett Bashaw’s tiny house on wheels.

5. Barnyard Barrier

(Image credit: Jenny Tweto, submitted by Naomi)

Psst… traditional, swinging doors are so yesterday. If you want to up the ante on your entryways, add a sliding barn door, which looks great and takes up a lot less space. Check out this cool door in this garage-turned-apartment.

6. Double Duty

Have you noticed how just about every tiny house features a day bed? Buja & Mae’s place is no exception. Turns out, a daybed can be a smart investment for your full-sized home, too. Think about it: A daybed can act as a sofa during the day, but turn into a bed for guests come night.

7. Stick it Into Neutral

Lighter colors—think pastels, neutrals, and whites—will make your space appear bigger and brighter, no matter the size of your space. Take a page from @HandcraftedMovement’s tiny house and slather your walls in a warm, off-white hue.

Not sure which shade to choose? Here are 14 designer-approved options.