What’s most important to me in a tiny house:
- A bed that doesn’t require a ladder to reach, where I don’t have to perform acrobatics to change the sheets, and where I can comfortably sit up.
- Japanese-style bathroom – handheld shower (with wall mount) takes up most of the space, the whole floor is the drain pan, no need for a soaking tub but I wouldn’t complain.
- A toilet that doesn’t smell (I need to take a composting toilet for a test run because I find it hard to believe there are no odour problems).
- Small kitchen (I don’t really like cooking — I just want the basics).
- Some way to wash clothes without going to the laundromat (preferably a washing machine, but a scrubba washbag might do in a pinch).
- Hardwood floors (I’m allergic to dust).
- Practicality — easy to clean, maintain and operate.
- A little space to sit outside, like a porch or fold-down deck.
- Probably some kind of low-ceiling nook areas, e.g. a living area above the bedroom area or something like that.
- A place to sit at a desk and use a computer.
- A comfy place to sit and relax while knitting, reading, watching TV, whatever.
- Aesthetically pleasing in a way that suits my personality — quirky, bold, a bit weird, not too safe, not too fussy.
- Okay not safe in terms of aesthetic, but definitely safe in terms of feeling sturdy, secure, non-slip, hand-holds all over the place and no awkward corners to bang one’s head upon. (This becomes more important the older I get and the more wobbly I get.)
- Built-in storage and features everywhere.
- Hanging space for clothes (I prefer hangers to folded clothes in drawers).
- Super-insulated walls and double-glazed windows to minimize heating and cooling costs.
- Good air circulation — I especially like fans.
- I’d love to have a wood-burning rocket stove, even if it’s not strictly necessary from a practical standpoint.
- Storage for craft supplies, travel gear, tools, a few books and papers.
- A dog door.
- Space for two small dog crates and some doggy supplies.
- Some rainwater collection and storage (not necessarily full off-grid).
- Some electricity generation and storage (ditto).
- A way to deal with grey water (and possibly black water if I decide the composting toilet is a no-go).
- A secure place for bike storage (even if it’s just something I can lock the bike onto).
- Everything I own has a designated place that makes sense in terms of the item’s purpose and typical use.
- There’s not a lot of space allocated for things I might use someday, or I’m keeping as back-ups, or whatever.
- General design principle — think of everything I need and want for my home, and plan how I’m going to use it and store it within the home. Form follows function.
- If the function is not that important, can I find a way to outsource or do without? e.g. I like baths, but I might only have a bath once a week. If I live near friends and family members who have baths, can I arrange to bring them a cooked meal and spend time with them and also use their bath?
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