As a teacher of tiny house living, designing, and building, I have had the opportunity to witness and classify at least 13 different types of “Tiny House People”.
Each with their own exciting reasons for choosing to live in a tiny house.
So now I am curious…
Which Types are you?
Type #1: The Minimalist
These people have learned that “stuff” doesn’t equate to happiness. They feel that consumerism is out of hand, and prefer the beauty of simple, high quality, and functional items.
Well, it doesn’t get more minimal than a tiny house! A tiny house becomes a perfect expression of their values and needs.
Type #2: The Snowbirds
Birds don’t migrate, they just follow the people who feed them.
Many retirees are skipping the shoddy RV life and getting into a luxurious tiny house. Often they leave their house behind for half the year to enjoy the beach (and feed the birds.)
Sign me up.
Type #3: Travel Lifers
There is a whole other category of people who live to travel; backpackers, cruise-shippers, nomads, and restless rollers.
A tiny house enables travel lifers to either roll around with their tiny house or save up their money so they can take off.
…and afford their trail mix, plane tickets, and expensive travel socks. 🙂
Type #4: The Environmentalist
Houses have an staggering environmental footprint. Harvesting raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, waste… then heating/cooling a house for its life!
Thank goodness people are trying to save the earth by building smaller homes.
Save the environment and save your wallet with less materials and a tiny house that needs less heating/cooling.
Type #5: The Family Podders
Some people have realized how weird and disjointed community is. And community starts with family. So instead of booting out the 18 year old or putting grandma in an old folks home, just throw them in the backyard instead! (Gently).
Tiny Homes make for great family pods again. Give your kid or elder independence and yet support.
Type #6: The Investors
A whole group of Tiny Housers are using tiny homes to get make money.
Either they are renting their backyard tiny house for Air BnB style or long term style, OR they are living in the tiny house and renting out the main house.
Interested in more income? ALOT of people are interested in renting a tiny house for the novelty or to trial the lifestyle.
Type #7: The Off-Gridders
There is a growing number of people who are looking at the state of the world and are saying “NOOOOPE!”
A tiny house is a great alternative living solution to go off grid and be self-sufficient.
Efficient and portable, its also great for those who think the world is going to fall apart. (So easy to fortify against zombies.)
Type #8: The No-Debtors
Who WANTS debt??
To live in an urban center with a nice, modest house is no longer within most people’s means.
There is a growing group of people who aren’t buying in, and instead are realizing a tiny house will do just fine.
Goodbye massive mortgage. Hello everything else.
Type #9: The Naturalists
If you knew 1/10 of the chemicals that are in your house, you would shudder.
Some people DO know. But what do we do about it? Go small!
A tiny house allows the naturalists to afford high quality, chemical free, and natural building materials and possessions.
Ensure you and your families health with a tiny house.
Type #10: The Pinterest-ers
You know this person. They have planned their whole life on Pinterest boards.
This community of individuals love tiny homes for their ingenious design, space hacks, DIY projects, and orgasmic lighting and decor.
A tiny house offers Pinterest-ers an exciting blank canvas. Time to craft an entire house.
Type #11: The Tree-Forters
Call it what you will: the man-cave, the she-shed, the bat cave, the cave of wonders…
Some people just want a cool house, something they would have drawn up with crayons as a kid.
(And honestly, who doesn’t want a tree-fort on wheels?)
Type #12: The Jump Starters
Some are going tiny because it’s a stepping stone to their forever house. Check this out:
Build tiny house, save money.
Buy land and place tiny house, save money. Build forever house while living in tiny house.
Move into forever house.
Rent tiny house.
(Or give it to your gigantic dog).
Type #13: Community Lovers
A sub genre of all of these tiny house people is the ones who want to live around or with other people who share their values.
This could be their passion for tiny homes, for alternative living, or just for forming healthy communities again.
Tiny homes allow you easily move to your dream community and allow easy engagement to start a community up.
In Conclusion:
And there you have it! 13 different types of tiny house people. Might you be one yourself? Are you some hybrid?
Go ahead inspire others! Share what type you are and how a tiny house is going to help enable your life.
I also invite you to join me for A Tiny House Workshop, (ONLINE or IN-PERSON) so you can design and build your perfect tiny house to kick-start what you want more of in your life. Join us and become one of the tiny house people.
Warmly,
Kenton Zerbin
Main Image Photocredit – Mt. Hood
