When it comes to living in a tiny home, it’s important to find stylish yet practical ideas that can help to make your home feel bigger. Having limited space doesn’t mean that you need to miss out on great looking furniture, appliances or even artwork.
Designing the interior of a tiny home requires a combination of creativity and practicality. An open floor plan that combines the living room, kitchen, and dining area creates the illusion of more space and allows for better flow. Along with the open floor plan, we recommend using light colours, especially whites and pastels, to make the small space in your tiny home feel brighter and more open. These colours are best utilised for painting as well as furniture and decor to brighten up your space.
Windows and doors are another great way to ensure your tiny home on wheels is stylish yet practical. Large windows can help to maximise natural light and air flow, while sliding doors, instead of traditional swinging doors, take up much less space. One area you may wish to consider is either window tinting for those windows you wish to open, or if you are simply looking for large windows to let light in, the cost of double glazing may well be worth it. Both tinting and double glazing can help to save money on your power bills, which, with rising power costs, will pay themselves off quite quickly.
If making your tiny space feel larger is a factor, mirrors are a great way to create an illusion of more space, and there are certainly some stylish options on the market that will fit into any decor.
Talking decor, it is recommended to keep it simple and to a minimum. Too many decorations can make a space feel cluttered so choose a few statement pieces, perhaps one or two favourite pieces for each room, rather than filling every surface. Conversational pieces are always great, and if you’re looking for something compact, a coffee table book or three doesn’t take up a lot of space but can certainly add a personal touch to your home.
Your appliances are one of the biggest areas where you can save on overcrowding your new home. There are plenty of smaller appliances designed for compact spaces, and while they may require you to change how you cook or shop, they certainly save space. Small cooktops and oven style air fryers allow you to continue to cook at home, compact refrigerators give you enough room for a few days of cold goods, and if you don’t always want to be using the laundromat, there are some compact washing machines and dryers that are designed for caravan usage that you may want to consider.
Finally, compact HVAC systems can ensure that your home is the right temperature year-round. The type of air conditioner that is installed in your new home may depend on whether you are planning on staying in the one spot, or taking your tiny home on wheels on the road, so this is a conversation certainly worth having with your tiny home builder in Perth.
One of the biggest issues that many tiny homeowners find is that finding stylish furniture and decor pieces that are designed specifically for small spaces can be difficult. Furniture with built-in storage solutions such as ottomans with hidden compartments or beds with drawers underneath for example can be hard to find. But these pieces of furniture not only provide functionality, but they also help declutter the space by providing additional storage options and are well worth tracking down.
A question that is often asked of our tiny home builders is what furniture and appliances should buyers be looking at utilising?
Investing in multifunctional furniture for your home can be a smart choice, especially in small spaces where maximising functionality and saving space is crucial. Here are some of our favourite multifunctional furniture pieces that are worth the cost.
Sofa Beds: A couch that can be converted into a bed is a classic multifunctional piece. It’s perfect for accommodating guests without the need for a separate guest room.
Murphy Beds: Murphy beds, or wall beds, can be folded up into the wall when not in use, providing extra living space during the day. They come in various designs and can include shelves or a fold-down desk.
Convertible Dining Tables: Dining tables that can be expanded or folded down to save space are highly practical. Look for options with built-in storage for dining essentials.
Storage Ottomans: Storage ottomans serve as both seating and storage. They are great for hiding away blankets, pillows, or other items while providing a comfortable place to sit.
Modular Sofas: If you don’t need a guest bed, modular sofas allow you to rearrange and customise the seating arrangement to suit your needs. Some models also have built-in storage compartments.
Coffee Tables with Storage: Coffee tables with drawers, shelves, or lift-up tops provide extra storage for books, magazines, and remote controls.
Nesting Tables: Nesting tables are a space-saving solution for occasional side tables. They can be stacked together or used separately when needed.
Bunk Beds with Desks or Storage: For those with young children, bunk beds with integrated desks or storage underneath are ideal for kid’s rooms in your tiny home.
Convertible Desks: Some desks can transform into a dining table or console table. Alternatively, like the Murphy bed, you can have a desk that folds into the wall. This flexibility is great for homes where a dedicated office space is limited.
Console Tables with Drop-Leaf Extensions: A console table with drop-leaf extensions can be used as a small entryway table and expanded to function as a dining table when needed.
Ottoman Beds: Some ottomans can transform into single beds, making them a great addition to a small guest room or for accommodating a single guest.
When considering multifunctional furniture, it’s important to evaluate the quality, durability, and aesthetics of the piece to ensure it complements your space and lifestyle as well as take care to ensure it fits into your tiny home correctly. Investing in high-quality, well-designed furniture that meets your specific needs can be a wise investment in the long run.
Effective storage solutions are crucial for small spaces to help you maximise available room and keep your living and sleeping areas organised. We already mentioned multifunction furniture, and there are plenty of furniture options with storage as well. But what about actual storage space and shelving? There are a few great ideas that can be included in your tiny home build.
Floating Shelves: Install floating shelves on your walls to create extra storage space for books, decor, or essentials. They free up floor space and can be arranged in various configurations.
Wall-Mounted Cabinets: Wall-mounted cabinets in the kitchen, bathroom, or living area are another great way to provide storage without taking up valuable floor space. They can be customised to fit your needs and your style.
Hooks and Pegs: Use hooks and pegs on walls or the back of doors to hang bags, hats, keys, towels and other items, keeping them easily accessible and organised. Just be aware of how much weight each hook or peg can take, and ensure they are correctly installed to minimise damage to your home. Over-the-door organisers are another great option, and can hold shoes, cleaning supplies, accessories, and more. Both hooks and over-door organisers make use of otherwise wasted space.
Magnetic Strips: Use magnetic strips in the kitchen for knives and metal utensils, or in the bathroom for grooming tools. This keeps them easily accessible and saves drawer space.
Hanging Baskets and Planters: An interesting idea we have seen used a few times is to hang baskets or planters from the ceiling to store fruits and vegetables in the kitchen or small items in the bathroom.
Pull-Out Pantry Shelves: If you have a pantry, consider installing pull-out shelves to easily access items stored at the back. These pull-out shelves can also be utilised in smaller cupboards or empty spaces for spice racks, coffee capsules or other small, yet handy items.
The key to successful storage in small spaces is to think vertically, use multifunctional furniture, and prioritise organisation to make the most of every space.
One area that many tiny home buyers don’t consider is their electronics usage. In small homes, it’s essential to choose electronics that are space-efficient, versatile, and well-suited to your needs. Of course, technology is always changing and getting smaller, which means you can often get the electronics you need without taking up a lot of space.
Smart home hubs are a great idea as they allow you to utilise your phone to control various smart devices and appliances throughout your home. Things like lighting, temperature control, locks and cameras can all be controlled through an app. Talking smart homes, installing smart lighting can help to minimise the need for lamps, while still allowing you to control the level of light in various rooms.
A tiny home isn’t going to allow you to have a large television, but you can still install a compact home theatre system to allow you to enjoy high-quality audio when watching a movie, playing a game, or listening to music. Opt for a compact soundbar, wireless speakers and tiny streaming devices to minimise the need for bulky devices. If you have a console gaming system, look at what streaming services are available to you to see where you can minimise the number of devices needed.
We can’t forget about cleaning your tiny home, and when it comes to vacuum cleaners, finding a practical option is essential. A cordless vacuum is compact and easy to store, while a robot vacuum cleaner can help you maintain a clean home without a more traditional bulky system. You will need to find a space to charge the batteries for your vacuum, but if you can minimise cable clutter using wireless charging stations, you shouldn’t have trouble fitting in a battery recharger.
When choosing electronics for your small home, again prioritise items that serve multiple functions, have a small footprint, and fit seamlessly into your living space.
Living in a tiny home on wheels is a new experience to many but remember that the key to successful tiny home interior design is maximising every inch of space while maintaining functionality and comfort. Prioritise your specific needs and preferences while incorporating these ideas to create a stylish and practical tiny home.
