How to Build Your Own Tiny House

Growing up, we’re probably used to a considerably bigger living space which makes downsizing a challenge. Tiny houses may be small in size, but these small livable spaces also require as much planning just like with big houses—perhaps even more.

A lot of thinking and planning are needed in order for you to make your tiny house as functional and as livable as possible. You need to consider how you’re going to use up every space wisely and what materials and pieces of furniture are needed to bring life to your plans.

For such a small house, the amount of things you need to do can be intimidating. But don’t worry, we’ve written down all the steps you need to follow to make your tiny house plans a reality. 

Step 1: Decide on a Design and Location

Begin with the end in mind.

What do you want your tiny house to look like? And how tiny do you want it to be? What kind of spaces do you need inside your house? 

All these questions must be answered in this first step. By beginning with the end in mind, you’re able to set a direction for your tiny house plans which makes the succeeding steps—including budget and location—much easier. 

Perhaps, you already have a location in mind, so consider that. If you don’t, then include that when you design your tiny house. 

Consider the weather conditions, the ground it’s going to be built on, the laws of the area you’re going to live in. 

Your design will also determine how much you should spend to make your dreams a reality. But, if you’re on budget, it’s also going to help you adjust what kind of materials you need to use in order to stay within budget. 

Step 2: Finalize Budget and Materials

Now that you have a design set in stone, it’s time to finalize the budget so you can purchase additional materials. 

Consider the design you came up with and the location of the tiny house. What materials will be able to satisfy both? 

Once you go shopping for materials, always choose the sturdiest ones that your budget allows. You can ask experts on what they would recommend given your budget—you might even thank them for this.

Remember, you’re going to be living in this house for quite some time so don’t be so stingy and make sure the quality of your materials won’t disappoint.

But of course, grounded in reality, you also have to consider giving some allowances just in case a few mistakes are committed here and there. Humans as we are, we don’t always get to control everything that happens around us. 

And it’s worth noting that despite purchasing everything you need, you might frequently visit the hardware during construction.

Step 3: Build the Tiny House

Now that you have your design and materials on hand, it’s time to build your tiny house. 

You may or may not get additional help for this phase; but for newbies, it’s best that you consult with experts or look up other people who have built their own tiny house. 

Foundation

It’s common practice to start with building the floor first. As cliche as it may sound, it’s important that you lay out and secure the foundation of your small home before proceeding to other parts. 

Walls

After securing the foundation, it’s time to build the shape of your home by framing the walls. Most experts recommend using metal bracing to ensure a sturdy frame—so make sure to include this in your planning and materials. 

If you’ve planned out well, you know that this metal framing can easily be concealed with interior walling. 

Roof

Now that you have your floor and wall together, it’s time to put a roof over your head. Depending on the design of the roof, it may take you quite some time to figure this one out. But once you do, don’t forget to secure it with a roofing material to keep water out. 

Windows

With flooring, foundation, and a roof, you can now install the entries to your house—doors and windows. 

Differing from the previous three, this can be the trickiest step and it’s only reasonable that you employ experts to get the job right. You would want your windows and doors to be just the right size and shape so you won’t ruin everything you’ve done prior to this part.

Step 4: Give Life to the House

Now that you’ve built the house, it’s time that you give life to it. Also consider that hiring professionals might be the answer here, unless of course you really know the ropes of plumbing, electricals, and insulation. 

Plumbing

As with building a normal house, it’s ideal that you start with the plumbing. 

It’s very important that you be patient during this step because it’s one of the most crucial parts of the process. If you get just a tiny bit of this portion wrong, you’d soak your home in no time. 

Copper plumbing is the top of the line, but for budget houses, plastic plumbing is already more than enough.

Electricals

Now that you’ve gotten all the necessary pipes in, it’s time to power it up. Again, expert help is advisable but not necessary if you’re all too familiar with this. 

Make sure that your electricals work around your plumbing and that you don’t put yourself at risk of electrocution or fires. 

Insulation

Small as it may seem, it also needs its own insulation to ensure you have great ventilation. Tiny house owners recommend getting low-VOC for better air quality. 

Step 5: Finish Up the Interiors

Now that you’ve finished all the inner workings of your home, it’s time to beautify it and finish the interiors. Here, you can work with different interiors and styles that you had in mind. 

Make sure it works well with your plumbing and electricals so that your effort doesn’t go to waste. Surely, if you’ve planned well, this would only be the insertion of the necessary pieces of furniture such as the fridge, tables, sofas, beds, and other electronic devices needed inside. 

Takeaway

Building a tiny home isn’t all that easy, as you can see. It also requires a lot of planning and work to make your dreams come true.

But if you’re really keen on having this house, all the steps enumerated above will only feel like fun. Remember to consult with experts as needed and to consider your budget. Don’t go overboard with too much DIY as it can ruin what seemed like a perfect plan. Instead you can always buy Tiny House Plans to take some of the pressure off.

Good luck and have fun!

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