Wondering about the pros and cons of tiny houses? Thinking about living small?
Tiny homes are growing in popularity every year, and they come in many forms — RVs, vans, boats, treehouses, and small traditional houses. After years of living in compact spaces, I’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t.
My first rental at 18 was extremely small (no separate bedroom and a tiny basement with a low ceiling). Since then I’ve lived in a camper van, an RV, and a sailboat. Compared with the typical new single-family home — about 2,561 square feet according to the National Association of Home Builders — those places felt very small. For some people, that smaller scale is freeing; for others, it feels limiting.
When my partner and I decided to live tiny, our main motivation was mobility: we wanted to travel while keeping our home with us. Other common motivations include lowering living costs, reducing possessions, and simplifying life. That said, tiny living isn’t always easy.
Below I outline practical pros and cons of tiny houses — from costs and logistics to lifestyle and relationships — to help you decide if tiny living is right for you.
