Are Tiny Homes Just A Fad?

By Mandy Burkholder | December 29, 2015

It’s almost impossible these days to go without noticing the tiny house trend. With countless TV shows dedicated to them, internet movements praising them, and millennials jumping at the bit to buy one, it leaves me wondering if tiny homes are just a fad.

It’s no wonder why the tiny house movement has skyrocketed in recent years. The housing market has been in a depression for a long time and some of us who graduated from college in the last 5-10 years can’t seem to make the “American Dream” happen the same way our parents did.

And not only that, there’s a counterculture of people who aren’t interested in settling for a debt-filled life bubbling along the surface. Young people are crippled by student loans. They often cannot find jobs in the field in which they’re trained. They don’t want that white picket fence.

So when tiny homes were introduced into the world, the trend absolutely took off. It’s now possible to buy your dream home for around $30,000. And the best part? It’s on wheels. So you can move it anywhere you want.

Most tiny homes range in size from 150 to 350 square feet and are built upon a trailer bed. They’re cute, often designed with Victorian architecture in mind, or planked with wood to create a cabin feel. They’re true homes, with all of the classic amenities such as a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and lofted bedrooms.

Long-gone are the notions that a home must have formal living and dining rooms and bonus spaces. Millennials are interested in pairing away unnecessary items from their life. Many of them don’t even subscribe to cable television! They buy smaller cars with better fuel economy or try bike commuting if possible.

With all of this considered, are tiny homes here to stay?

Here are a few of the cons to owning a tiny home:

• They’re vulnerable in treacherous weather, which is a growing concern due to global warming.
• There’s virtually no privacy inside the home. This is potentially bothersome to those who prefer to retreat to a bedroom or bathroom to unwind.
• They lack storage. Forget that Costco run—you won’t have a place to stash all of your bulk goods.
• They have limited space for cooking, which might discourage you from spending time in the kitchen. This could lead to poor eating choices.

When it’s all said and done, tiny homes don’t seem too bad for the people who are bent on making them work. Do you think the movement is here to stay? Would you ever buy one?

Let us know in the comments what you think!