Considering making the move into a tiny home? Congratulations! You may be surprised to learn that quite a few people would consider doing exactly what you’re doing — in a survey by the National Association of Home Builders, nearly half of the people revealed that they have seriously entertained the idea at some point.
Of course, tiny house living isn’t for everyone and as you prepare to move into yours there will be some adjustments to make. Some of these might be more challenging than you originally anticipated, but ultimately, tiny house living is a strategy to lead a much simpler life. If you do it right, it can also save you quite a bit of money!
You might be feeling a little nervous, but don’t worry! Moving anywhere calls for a bit of healthy fear. Here are some tips and tricks to help you prepare for your big (tiny) move!
Getting Ready for the Big (Tiny) Move
Perhaps the biggest challenge for most people who choose to move into a tiny home is the effort it takes to declutter and downsize from a normal-sized home. The big trick? Focusing on what is really important in your life and striving to only hold on to things that you actually use and get joy out of having. Practicality also comes into play here. For instance, you might be a big reader and get a lot of joy out of having books in your home. But in a tiny house, you will be better served by only having a handful of personally valuable books and getting a library card.
You’ll also probably have to go through the same headache with documents. Over the years, a lot of records, bills, and other papers can really build up in your home. Before assuming everything is important and moving it into your tiny home, it is worthwhile to go through it and really decide what is absolutely necessary to keep. For the rest of it? You could rent a shredder for around $100 and use the paper mulch to start your new compost pile.
It could also be that your tiny house adventure is not a long-term one. Perhaps you are staying in a tiny home for a year or two while your dream home is built. Although it is still extremely valuable to go through some of your things and declutter before moving, you might consider getting a storage unit for the rest of it. Storing furniture and other valuables that you plan to use again in the future can be a good strategy for saving money in the long run.
What to Expect
Adjusting to a tiny house is exciting and nerve-racking and adventurous, but it takes a bit of effort too. As the move gets closer, be sure you aren’t procrastinating on going through items and packing. Likewise, consider some of your other options like hiring movers to help with some of the bigger items if you need the extra muscle.
Tiny homes are actually tiny and suddenly every inch of available space has a purpose and a use. Organization is a huge component of feeling zen in your new tiny home and ultimately getting the most out of the experience. Choosing the right, multi-functional furniture for you and your tiny home space can be a big factor in feeling like there is a bit more room and functionality in your new living space. You may find early on that there are a lot of little adjustments that need to be made such as finding more hooks or shelving to make your space more functional. These needs are to be expected and you will figure it out.
Preparing to move into a new tiny home is arguably the most stressful aspect of the entire experience. Decluttering and downsizing can be a real struggle when moving from a normal-sized home to a tiny one. You may find that even after you get into the new home you’re still downsizing to trying to make adjustments to make your space more functional. As you get more settled into your tiny life, you may soon start to realize that all of that effort was worth it because your life suddenly becomes a bit simpler and more relaxing.
