Successful tiny living means answering some huge questions.
Tiny homes may be environmentally friendly and relatively affordable, giving their occupants the great flexibility of living on something with wheels. But fitting into one can be tricky.
The average size of a home built in 2013 was 2,600 square feet, an all-time high, according to CNN. But the average tiny house is less than 400 square feet, often with just three or four spaces: a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and (maybe) a living area. So, "every piece you have becomes sculpture — every decision becomes more important," Atlanta small space designer Claudia Morris-Barclay said.
Here’s how to make the squeeze.
Start slow: You need to narrow down to necessities, said Greg Johnson, director of the Small House Society and author of "Put Your Life on a Diet: Lessons Learned from Living in 140 Square Feet."
That means figuring out how many books, CDs or movies you reach for in your library on weekly basis, or how many pairs of pants you need in your wardrobe.
Experts recommend making a "wish list" of the things you absolutely cannot live without, such as family photo albums, heirlooms and other keepsakes. Then spend some time each day thinning out closets, the garage and other storage areas that don't have much sentimental value.
"Paper is the real killer," moving planner Jennie Davidson told Style at Home, referring to home offices filled with filing cabinets.
If you want to go really slow, Johnson suggests renting an indoor, climate-controlled storage facility and putting most of your belongings there.
Then you can rent an efficiency apartment on a one-year lease, and you'll find yourself going back to the storage facility for the items you actually want and need.
All about the kitchen: Bedrooms have to have beds and living areas have to have seating. But a kitchen offers many chances for customized downsizing.
To start, you'll first want to look at your appliances, which can often be bought in a smaller size. Johnson suggests searching sites such as compactappliance.com and looking for smaller options at retailers such as Sears.
"There's a lot of big industry people that are trying to cater to the small living lifestyle," he said.
He also recommends looking into custom building solutions — in a tiny home, even the depth of a countertop matters.
For construction needs, you only have to look toward Cumming. That's where Dan Louche, owner of Tiny Home Builders, holds hands-on building workshops.
Click here: One woman has lived in 84 square feet for 11 years
And consider your new cooking regimen, as the simplest solution tiny homes offer is a cooktop with no oven and little room for blenders, coffee makers and all the rest.
Nesting plastic food containers, mixing bowls and measuring cups can be essential space savers.
Measuring tapes are your friend: It's easy to think about going small, but the best way to prepare is to visualize.
Get a measuring tape and start mapping out the dimensions of, say, a 120-square-foot living area or a 70-square-foot bedroom. Then measure the size of the furniture you already own (and see if your California King makes the cut).
The good news is that tiny homes can come with vaunted ceilings and lofted beds, creating the illusion of space.
With that efficiency, Johnson said, “Sometimes people feel like there's even more room in there than you'd imagine.”
And it's not as hard as you might think. Surprisingly, "you can live in a small space quite easily," said Lynda Spratley, a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design and former resident of its SCADPad housing.
“The main change that I had to make to live in SCADPad was to buy less. I also felt less wasteful because I had my own NuBox,” she said. “A NuBox is a waste container that includes compost, recycling and a trash bin. By having all these different bins close together it helped to reinforce my environmentally friendly habits.”
Click here: 5 signs you or someone you know is a tiny houser
Even better, Spratley said: The more she composted, the more she had, and she could use the fertile soil for a community garden.
This article is presented in collaboration with the Savannah College of Art and Design. Visit the website for information on their programs and course offerings.
