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For years, tiny homes have been viewed as a trendy new way of life. One that promotes positive, minimalist changes to one’s lifestyle, but it’s still seen as a trend nonetheless. Though tiny homes have recently been popularized once again by millennials, they are proof that the tiny home concept will never go away. From the ancient tiny homes of centuries past to the movement that gave the modern concept they have today, tiny homes are so much more than a trend.
Examples of tiny home concepts can be found as far back as 1000 BC from various places across the world. The early people of ancient Mongolia would build “Yurts” or “Ger,” which are small, mobile homes. In a similar fashion, the early Native American tribes would construct tipis with a similar purpose in mind. While both of these were built to be torn down and moved because these tribes were primarily nomadic, the idea of simplicity and necessity were still present. Other places in the world you can find elaborate homes built into the ground or in the sides of caves, which express a more permanent use of this concept.
Fast forward a few thousand years, all the way to the 1970’s. We now enter a decade filled with cookie cutter neighborhoods, massive cityscapes, and crowded streets. Though this lifestyle was the norm for many, a few creative minds felt that there was much more to be offered through a simpler way of living. Authors Loyd Kahn and Bob Easton released the book “Shelter,” which promoted the idea of tiny home living in a big way by creating widespread distribution of the idea. What became known as “The Tiny House Movement” was greatly influenced for the years to come by notable architects such as Norman Foster.
While yes, the word “movement” promotes the idea that this may be temporary, tiny homes were further inspired in the ‘90’s by other creatives and shows no signs of slowing down. Now we are in a time where the average American single-family household is 2,386 square feet, as reported by the United States Census Bureau in 2018. All this space and yet we are still gravitating toward smaller, simpler living. Whether it’s because millennials are searching for an affordable yet luxurious way of living, because parents are looking for a dedicated, safe place to vacation with their children, or because empty nesters have way more space now than they need, tiny homes will be here as the solution.
Today, we are able to balance simplicity with luxury. While your average tiny home is around 400 square feet or less, there’s no need to sacrifice the idea of your dream home. As stated by Kathy Gottberg, “Real luxury is not working like a maniac to take an expensive vacation--it is living a life you enjoy every day.”
