Tiny House Interiors: What You Need to Know
Hoarders and maximalists, look away now – there’s (literally) no room for sentimental clutter in these trending homes. With an expanding number of home-owners and rental tenants leaving the multiple bedroom life behind, tiny houses are becoming a popular alternative to our current larger dwellings.
This home gives a pleasant gauge of the places tiny house living could take you! Credit: The Interiors Addict
What Exactly is a Tiny House?
Imagine your entire abode stretching no more than 600 metres². There’s no official definition out there for the tiny house, but this is a typical size for these homes. Some are built on fixed foundations, but most come on wheels – making them mobile and exempt from many of the structural rules and regulations their fixed counterparts must observe.
By simplifying and up-cycling, tiny houses turn back the clock in owning a home. Credit: This NZ Life
Why Are Tiny Houses on The Rise?
Over the past decade, the tiny houses have gone from an impractical idea to a new model of living. Here’s why:
- (Tiny) Homeowners spend around the same amount building their home as they would on a car, making it a financially-friendly alternative to owning the average house
- Tiny house, tiny bills – homeowners typically save thousands of dollars on utility payments
- The motility and simplicity of these homes encourages a modest but easy approach to life
Tiny in size; big in comfort! This home in Port Orchard, WA, is a cozy vision of comfort! Credit: Country Living
The Importance of Interiors
Naturally, a tiny house requires a great deal of downsizing, decluttering and detachment. Whereas the standard house makes room for bad interior choices that can hide in the general aesthetic of a room, every piece counts when you’re dealing with limited space.
Though she might not live in a tiny house (yet!) Bluethumb’s in-house photographer Megan George makes every inch of space work in her small place of rest. Pictured here are a collection of things that get her smiling – including a chirpy sailor by Tina Mose
Many believe that constraint breeds creativity. Embrace your small dimensions with small design. “When space is limited, it’s time to ditch the bulky furniture and awkward, unnecessary furnishings,” Bluethumb’s interiors guru Alexandra Stavrou recommends. “Bring adornments to the walls to save precious surface area. Small rooms are easily overlooked when it comes to decor, but they can bring out a lot of personality to a space.” Furniture that doubles up in purpose saves on space, and adds to the cosy Hygge vibe of your tiny house. Creating a gallery wall or surroundings of eclectic artwork elevates and accentuates a room of any size or purpose.
Why stop at feature walls? Curbs on dimensions don’t mean anything at Bluethumb’s PR & Comms Manager Freddy Grant’s house!
From the outside world that can cause unrest and uncertainty, give comfort and calm to an internal space by utilising even-toned hues. “We all know how neutrals create space. Adding a bit of texture through décor and choice of artwork keeps the space looking lively and inviting.” Being selective with a hue is also like choosing the mood you are looking to create in a space – so choose well!
Small-scale canvases like this gorgeous Katie Wyatt landscape offer texture against smooth and subdued walls
Cohesion between colour and your (ideally multi-disciplinary) furniture is key. “Think about your space practically. Imagine how you would move around it throughout your day. Does it offer maximum functionality? Is it a space you enjoy spending your time? Furnishings and wall art alike all play a part in getting the most out of your tiny house. Don’t settle for second best.”
We recently took a tour of bestseller Sally Browne’s home. Her curator eye forms unity and consistency in a small area. Clockwise from bottom left: Sally Browne Still life Oil; Chinese Propaganda Poster brought home from a trip to Shanghai, Sally Browne still life oil paintings; Pomegranates and Silver Dollar in Glass Jar, Flight path map (artist unknown), Little Oil painting of Bintang Mug and toothbrushes by James Needham; Penguin Screen Print from New Zealand (artist unknown) Deconstructed map: Michael McIntyre.
Main wall: Brendan Kelly ‘The red One that Ron Likes’ 2018.
Who said less space means less choice? Even if you’re not quite ready for the tiny house life but are thinking about some serious scaling down, there’s no need to forfeit the things that make a house home. This recent curation is full of small-nook-sized artworks (as well as some larger scale counterparts!) Need some advice from the experts? Our complimentary art advisory is here to get you started!
