I’ve camped in an RV, so I know what it’s like to live in a tiny home.
It’s fun for a week or two when the weather is nice.
However, living in a tiny home all the time isn’t for me. I have two kids, and not many people talk about what it’s like to live in a tiny home with kids.
If I were living alone, it might be fine. It would be a cozy way to live. But with a family? No way, it’s not for me. Why?
Here are the reasons, which I think are pretty silly, about living in a tiny home.
But I do admit, there are some really clever designs that make the most out of a small space. I really appreciate that.
Too crowded for families with kids.
Whenever I hear people praising tiny homes, I can’t help but think it’s not practical for a family of four. I just don’t think tiny homes are a good fit for families with kids.
As I mentioned earlier, staying in an RV for a week is fun, but living in a tiny home all year? No way. There’s no privacy and not enough space to store anything. It’s just too crowded, and that often leads to arguments.
Your living room is also your bedroom (and your kitchen).
In a tiny home, your living room, bedroom, and kitchen are all the same space.
The idea of an “open floor plan” is taken to the extreme. Your couch is also your bed and your bed might even be your dining table. Your kitchen counter could also be where you work. It’s tough to keep cooking smells out of your bedding.
You have to do everything in the same space.
Imagine trying to do yoga right where you just ate dinner.
In a tiny home, your exercise area might also be your dining room and your office. The space is so limited that every area has to serve many purposes.
This can create funny or tough situations, like trying to relax in the same spot where you just cooked a spicy meal.
Having to constantly move things around for different activities can get annoying and is far from the simple life many people hope to achieve with tiny living.
There’s no room for guests—or even pets.
In a tiny home, there’s hardly any room for guests or even pets. Want to invite friends over or have family stay during the holidays? Think twice.
You’ll find there’s barely enough space for you, let alone anyone else. If you have a pet, it’ll feel like you’re living right on top of each other.
Every single thing you own must be essential or bring you joy.
There’s no extra space for things like a vacuum cleaner or a big broom. Every item needs to have more than one use or be very small.
That decorative vase from your aunt? It can stay only if you use it to store your socks. You can’t keep anything that doesn’t help you save space.
Redecorating is a challenge.
Want to change the look of one corner? You’ll end up needing to change the whole area because everything is always in sight. The small size of the home means any small change in decor feels like a big deal.
Swapping out a pillow or curtain might seem simple, but in a small space, it changes the look of your entire home. Decorating becomes a big decision because every item needs to fit perfectly with everything else.
In a tiny home, your “closet” might just be a dresser drawer.
Big closets are too much of a luxury. You’ll have to squeeze your clothes into a small dresser or hang them on just one rod. There’s only space for a few pairs of shoes and maybe not even your big winter coat. If it doesn’t fit, you probably can’t keep it.
In a tiny home, everything smells like whatever you cook.
Since the kitchen and living areas are all one space, the smell of your dinner will stick to your clothes, furniture, and bedding.
If you cook with garlic, expect to smell it everywhere, all the time.
There’s also a lot of noise in a tiny home.
Nothing is soundproof. Whether it’s a blender in the kitchen or someone talking in the living area, you can hear everything everywhere.
This lack of sound privacy makes even simple things like making a smoothie or taking a phone call disruptive. If you live with others, this can be especially tough because everyone can hear everything from almost anywhere in the home.
This makes it hard to have privacy and your own space.
Seasonal storage in a tiny home? That’s not really a thing.
There’s no garage, attic, or basement for storing things you don’t use often.
If you’re not using it this season, you either keep it under your bed (if there’s room) or you might have to get rid of it. Winter coats, holiday decorations, and summer gear have to be visible all the time or not kept at all.
And privacy? There isn’t much of that in a tiny home.
You can’t just go to another room for some alone time. Whether you’re with your partner, a friend, or a pet, everyone knows what everyone else is doing—and hearing. Even if you close the bathroom door, you won’t get much privacy.
Also, you can’t really shop in bulk anymore.
Buying lots of items at once, like at Costco, doesn’t work in a tiny home. There’s no space to store big packs of toilet paper, cereal, or cans of soup.
You’ll have to buy just a few things at a time, almost like you’re living with just a mini-fridge, like in a college dorm.
The “Loft Bedroom” is really just a small crawlspace.
It might sound cool to sleep in a loft, but you can’t even stand up in it.
You have to crawl into bed and be careful not to bump your head on the ceiling when you wake up. It might feel cozy to some, but it’s definitely cramped and can make you feel closed in. Cozy? Maybe. Claustrophobic? Definitely.
