For years now, I’ve wanted a Tiny House porch. The be clear, I imagined a covered deck, that is separate from the house itself. This dream has been constant for me, pretty much ever since I stopped traveling with my Tiny Home back in 2015. Unfortunately, the places where I have parked in the past years have never allowed me to have an outdoor garden, let alone a covered porch! So, I had pretty much accepted that my yard would never be anything more than a fire pit and a picnic table. That all changed last year when I found my new parking spot on a wooded farm on Whidbey Island, Washington.
The farm owners – Aja and Jake – are two lovely people. They have been amazingly accommodating for my house, my Airbnb guests, and they have been supportive of my ideas for expansion. I mentioned I wanted to build a covered deck, and they were 100% on board! I was so excited that they agreed, I wasted no time. Nabil (my boyfriend) and I began building in December of last year and finished a few weeks later in January.
Watch this fun little video I made of my Tiny House porch build:
My new porch has expanded my living space by 60 square feet!
It’s amazing how a simple porch can have such a positive influence on my everyday life. In the Pacific Northwest, winter can be a difficult time. After three winters, I’m still getting used to the gloomy days that never seen to end. Often I would get cabin fever in my Tiny House, not wanting to go outside to trek through the mud and rain. Now, with my covered porch, I can sip a warm cup of coffee outside, even when it’s raining. I love watching the birds and listening to the pitter-patter of raindrops on my polycarb roofing. There is something soothing, and almost zen-like, about my new morning routine. It’s a wonderful way to start my day, and it has improved my mood, even on the gloomiest days.
How much did my new porch cost?
I estimate the cost of materials to be somewhere around $2,000. That includes two sets of stairs, all of the lumber, roofing, and hardware. Yes, that seems pretty expensive, but I haven’t upgraded my Tiny House in years. When you consider the size of my house, the porch is actually a substantial home renovation/expansion. I think it was well worth the investment!
You can probably build this exact porch for a few hundred dollars less if you decide to use treated lumber (instead of cedar decking and posts), nails instead of screws, one set of stairs, and cheaper roofing. The aesthetic wouldn’t be as nice, in my opinion, but it could be done. If you’re looking to build a similar porch for your Tiny Home, I have plans (created by Nabil, who is an engineer). Here you can download my Tiny House Deck Plans FOR FREE! You’re welcome.
What happens to the porch if I want to move?
I don’t plan on my moving my Tiny House any time soon. I love my new parking location. The island is only one hour from the city of Seattle, where I live with Nabil in his 500 square foot cottage. So, the Tiny House is now primarily used as my retreat and as a rental. However, I did put the porch together with screws in case I do want to take it apart one day. It is also a completely separate structure, so I could pull my house away at any time. That being said, when the time comes to move, it might be better to leave the porch with the farm owners.
First a porch, then a swing, what is next…
After we completed the porch, we hung a macrame swing between two trees directly in front of the house. Next, I have plans to clear a hiking trail, create a meditation space, hang some bamboo wind chimes, and more! I have a feeling my yard will keep getting better and better…
Love love love this, can’t wait to go tiny ourselves 😊!
The tiny home is great. It looks really nice!