Benjamin Franklin rightfully said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” The same holds true for tiny houses. Tiny house planning is not only about organizing things, downsizing, and coloring. It’s more about functionality, architectural style, floor plans, building materials, and so much more. From this line of thought, the shape and form of your tiny home for the backyard will emerge. However, a builder has a huge role to play when it comes to tiny house planning, and deciding on a trusted builder before getting started is imperative. Choose a builder with experience and expertise in manufacturing tiny homes. Rather than searching online for hours and waiting for a response from the established builders, come to TinyHouseMe. We are an online platform to help you connect with multiple builders and also can offer expert advice in the planning of a tiny home. Let’s now get down to the basics of tiny house planning that will help you choose the perfect tiny house plan.
Experiment with floor plans
Start sketching the floor plans with the experts until you find something that meets your expectations. You can also consider ready-made floor plans designed by the builders. You will find many models of tiny homes for your backyard displayed on TinyHouseMe. An established and trusted builder will provide you with the blueprints of the floor plans before signing the contract. Many people make the mistake of designing a tiny house independently without the help of an expert. Professionals have extensive knowledge of space constraints, structural limitations, material stress tolerances, etc. An expert can design the home keeping in mind the building codes and state laws and make sure the structure adheres to the governing body standards to pass all inspections.
A buyer is usually unfamiliar with the design and the construction process, which can result in failed planning, and you may have to restart building the tiny home. On the other hand, a builder can design a tiny home by enhancing the visual appeal and avoiding making mistakes. In addition, an experienced builder knows how to take advantage of the limited space and designs the tiny home in a structured and planned way to easily obtain permits and insurance.
Consider the number of occupants
Decide how many people will live inside a tiny house. The floor plan layout depends on the number of sleeping areas required. If you are living with your family, then decide upon the sleeping areas of the family members and how much personal space you can provide to all. The tiny home for the backyard is a stationary structure and gives you more freedom to choose the size and shape of the floor plan. You also have the freedom to choose the materials used in building the tiny home structure.
Rules and regulations
When choosing a tiny house and planning about the architectural style, certain rules and regulations need to be followed. The tiny home laws vary widely depending on the location.
- The tiny home on a foundation installed in your backyard is legally considered an ADU unit and comes in customized choices like cottages and granny huts.
- You need to build the home on a foundation next to an existing residential building rather than purchasing new land. This is one of the reasons why a tiny home in the backyard is a common feature in tiny home-friendly states of the US.
- Although tiny homes are legal in the US, not all states are tiny home friendly. California, Texas, Arizona, North Carolina, Florida, Maine, Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, and Hawaii have relaxed the laws for tiny home living. However, New York, West Virginia, North Dakota, and Alaska have extremely strict regulations that can negatively impact tiny home builds and bring restrictions to home planning.
General tips to plan your tiny house
- Utilize natural lighting and design the tiny house that makes you feel the outside is an extension of your space
- Local laws determine the size of the house, the materials used in construction, and where you can place the house
- Downsizing the bed and bathroom can affect the quality of life inside the tiny home
- Clever storage ideas and intelligent spacing are a few factors to keep in mind while planning the structure of the tiny home
Final Words
Tiny homes are appealing to all from different demographics. Whether it’s the Millennials not willing to go for traditional houses and run into debt or break the bank, the Boomers living with a fixed income and struggling to make ends meet, or the adventurer looking to move around – tiny homes are hugely popular and is here to stay for their affordability, easy maintenance, and numerous other factors. If you are planning to get a tiny home fully customized by an experienced builder, then come to TinyHouseMe. We establish your connection with multiple builders and ensure a faster response and priority service. Contact us to find helpful resources for planning and financing the project.
