What are the cons of living in a Tiny House? I’m asked this question all of the time, and it has always been a difficult question for me to answer. Is my Tiny House perfect? Of course not! But I do love it, and I think I’ve also learned to love my home’s imperfections. Contrary to popular belief (on HGTV anyway), the tiny lifestyle isn’t always butterflies and ice cream. I get frustrated with my home. There have been moments when I wanted to move out. Sometimes I gaze longingly at my friend’s large apartment, with its modern kitchen and futuristic appliances (re: oven and dishwasher). These moments of doubt eventually pass, and I remember all of the benefits of Tiny House living. After I come back to my truth, I tell myself to stop complaining.
But, today I’m not going to do that. Today I’m going to complain, and you’re going to hear exactly what I don’t like about my house and my lifestyle. Are you ready for this? Because I’m serving you up a big slice of reality-check-pie! Here are my top 10 cons of Tiny House living.
Watch this Video to Learn What I Hate About My Tiny House:
1). Tiny Homes Get Dirty Really Quickly
Everyone always talks about how easy and fast it is to clean a Tiny House, but they don’t tell you that it’s even easier to get it totally filthy! I can turn my house from a sterile hospital room into a disgusting dumpster in a matter of seconds. One bowl of cereal falls off the counter… my house is a wreck. It’s laundry day and I’m hanging clothes inside to dry because it’s raining outdoors… total chaos. My dog roams in with muddy paws… game over. I feel like I’m constantly cleaning, and that’s a big con for me.
2). Explaining My Compost Toilet to Guests
Funny thing I’ve learned: adults do not enjoy being potty-trained. Unfortunately, every time I have a guest over I have to go through the awkward explanation of “how to pee and poo in my bathroom.” I’m sort of used to it by now, but I always get the same abashed look from my guests when they receive their toilet lesson…. especially when it’s a guy I’ve just started dating. I can imagine the story they will tell later…
“So I went over to her house and she instructed me that I had to sit to pee in her bathroom… weirdest date ever!”
3). Making the Bed in the Loft
I’m pretty sure I deserve an Olympic medal for making my bed every day in just 40 inches of space.
4). Smells
In a Tiny Space, it’s really difficult to avoid smells – good or bad. A single scented candle can be overwhelming. Opening the windows helps a bit, but some smells – such as burnt toast or a campfire – will imprint themselves on my curtains, clothes, and sheets for days on end.
5). Ability to Have Guests Over
No matter what anyone tells you, there is a limit to the number of people you can have over in a Tiny House. I don’t have parties, and I rarely host dinners. I also have a hard time housing my friends or relatives when they come to visit, because they have to sleep on my futon couch and be “okay” with my compost toilet. Some people would consider this a good thing, but I enjoy company, so it’s on my list of cons.
6). Limited Wardrobe
Sometimes I really enjoy not having a lot of clothes, but there have been several occasions when I curse my tiny closet and the lack of contents within. For example, one summer I was invited to several weddings and I was photographed wearing the exact same thing to each and every one. It was embarrassing. I felt unfashionable and poor, and I’m neither of those things.
7). No Room to Grow
As I evolve in my life and I start to think about having children, I just don’t think I could do it in my current Tiny House. I know other Tiny Housers have children, but they carefully planned and designed their homes for that purpose. I was 27 when I built my house and it was designed for two people to travel. Things change. Life happens. In a regular foundation home, you could potentially expand. My house is limited by the size of my trailer.
8). Weight Limitations
Speaking of limitations, my house is restricted by weight, which is determined by the size of my axels. I can’t add a marble countertop or a tile bathroom to my house. I’m almost maxed out as it is! I have to think about every single item I bring in to my home. Often, when I’m deciding between two things I choose the one that weighs the least.
9). Parking & Insurance
Ah yes, one the biggest cons of the Tiny House movement. Overall I have been lucky in these areas, but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t received an eviction or that I didn’t have to deal with a bad insurance agent in the past.
10). Judgy People
My least favorite thing about living tiny is that “normal” people will judge you. When you live alternatively, there is really no way to avoid the scrutiny of others. It’s something you deal with. I receive A LOT of criticism because I choose to share my life and experiences online. I’m broadcasting my life to the masses, and if they don’t like it, I hear about it. Normally I wouldn’t complain, but today I said I would… so I am!
Thanks this is super helpful. And yes it helps me plan to have a regular toilet option with plumbing and washer dryer dishwasher options in a tiny home. Fortunately ive found the more portable versions of those appliances
I enjoy watching tiny homes, but would never consider living in one. I dont understand why young couples with children, 2 dogs, 2 cats etc want to squeeze into a 250 -300 sq ft tiny home. The couple can’t possibly have any privacy for love making and they darn sure have to be quiet. No one can get away from the other one because where can you go for some alone time? With animals and small kids how in the hell can you keep the home clean? Tiny homes look great but are they really worth saving that much money? And there are so many parts to certain pieces of furniture that has to be set up, taken apart just to save space they can be too time consuming. I just see them as a passing fade. Jmo
Hi, Thanks for your video. I am from the UK and I live in a bungalow, that is slightly larger than your house on wheels. One thing you might have mentioned in your film, is that to live in a tiny place, you need to be quite agile, have a good temperament, and learn to be less clumsy. The place where I live now was not strictly by choice. My kitchen is not even big enough to put the refrigerator in, I have to put that in the living room! The dishwasher is in the outside shed along with my tumble dryer. The lack of space for me is infuriating- I like big spaces, I am only a small built person, I like having my stuff around me and being able to use it for its functionality- I have physical disabilities (unintentionally clumsy) and mental health issues, the lack of physical space to move around has a negative impact (i’m “stuff-ocating”). It’s commendable about the way you have adapted to your living circumstances, I wish I could be more like that.
This was awesome. A lot of people don’t think about the downside of things. They just fall in love with the romantic parts. I started with one small building and added 2 others as my needs grew. They are not mobile, but still tiny. Now I have a 6 ft. partner and 2 dogs. Talk about smells! LOL!
So here is my female roar on the subject…screw em! This is why your living the dream and they are not. Everyone has an opinion like the exit in the body (reserving words) so just wave and smile as you go offer to your next big discovery! Btw real men can squat and not whine about it. You didn’t give him baby wipes or a pink shirt did you? Hugs from a soon to be THO!!
Hell yes! My thoughts exactly!
Hi there! I’m writing a dissertation about the challenges in building a TH in Switzerland compared to the states and have a chapter about the pros and cons of tiny house living. This article is so informative, would it be at all possible for me to quote you on your points? Thank you x
Author
Sure. Thank you for asking.