20 Tiny House Ideas to Make Small Spaces Work Harder

Tiny homes offer compelling advantages like affordability, easier maintenance, and promoting minimalism.

As rising house prices and mortgage rates challenge traditional homeownership, younger generations (Millennials and Gen Z) are increasingly exploring alternatives like co-owning or purchasing tiny homes.

But small size doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort; smart design and decor can make tiny homes as functional and cozy as larger houses.

Find inspiration for your own tiny house design, both inside and out, with our list of ideas.

Store Things in Unexpected Spaces

PinSimon Whitmore

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

When space is at a premium, you have to look for storage opportunities wherever you can get them.

Sometimes, creative locations—like under the stairs or above the toilet—can offer a surprising amount of hidden square footage that can easily be converted into usable storage space.

In this tiny house interior design idea, a recessed coat closet is hidden beneath the stairs and behind molding for a sneaky spot to store seasonal attire.

Wall-Mount Your Furniture

PinNicole Franzen

One surefire way to make a room feel less crowded? Take the furniture off the floor!

Wall-mounted pieces are beautiful in homes of any size, but they can be particularly useful in tiny house interior design ideas, where they work well to free up floor space and improve the overall flow of a room.

Lovers of midcentury modern design are especially in luck, as many floating designs—like the desk in this room by designer Tariq Dixon—skew toward that design era.

Consider an Unconventional Layout

PinRead McKendree

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

There is no designing “by the book” when it comes to a tiny house, and each petite structure needs to be approached with a creative eye and a penchant for throwing the rule book out the window.

Often, utilizing the space in a tiny home means considering an unconventional layout, like a combo dining table-meets-bed in the middle of the kitchen or, in the case of this Chauncey Boothby–designed powder room, a round mirror hung atop a half-window.

Opt for Natural Accents

Photo via @tinyhousedroomparken

For some people, living sustainably is extremely important, and many plans for tiny home interior design take this into account by using reclaimed or refurbished items.

From treating and staining salvaged wood for countertops and flooring to using eco-friendly paint or wallpaper, adding shiplap to walls for texture, designing and decorating your tiny home can help you engage in a more sustainable lifestyle!

Decorate with Plants

Photo via @girlinatinyhouse

Houseplants bring a lot of life to any home, making them a great addition to tiny house decor!

Hang greenery from the ceiling, mount plants on the wall, or use succulents as natural decor to spruce up your space and keep the air fresh.

You could even start an indoor herb garden!

Get Funky with Lighting

Photo via @handcraftedmovement

Furnishing a tiny home can be tricky, as you don’t want to overwhelm the space.

Fortunately, lighting is the one place where living big in a tiny house is easy because they don’t take up too much room!

Hang a chandelier in your bedroom, install Edison bulbs in your bedroom, or make your tiny home’s living room stand out with a Mid-Century Modern lamp.

Make the Most of Vertical Space

Photo via @thatgrackle

If you’ve run out of floor space in your tiny house, go vertical instead!

Tiny house decorating requires you to get creative, so maximize wall space by installing floating shelves, hideaway tables, and wall desks.

You can also hang photos, plants, and other decor above eye level to create the illusion of height and take your tiny home decor to the next level.

Rustic Tiny House Living Room

Tiny house living room with wood walls and ceiling — Jay Wilde

While this living room is part of a tiny house, the vaulted ceilings make it feel spacious.

Decorative wood planks make for a rustic accent wall that naturally flows up to the ceiling.

A small couch, chair, and coffee table offer enough seating while a small dresser doubles as a TV stand and place to store clutter.

Tiny House with Minimalist Aesthetic

Tiny house living room with wooden ladder to loft — Ginger Curtis

Depending on the design of your tiny home, you might not have the space for an entire living room.

If that’s the case, go for a minimalist sitting room. Include the necessities first, like a comfy chair and a small coffee table, and add decor second.

Remember to focus on functionality and practicality when choosing and placing furniture for your tiny house sitting room.

Tiny Home Door Ideas

Tiny house with two sets of French doors — Ellie Lillstrom

The more windows and light a home has, the bigger and more airy it feels.

Double down on this idea and use two sets of French doors in your tiny home.

Not only will the windows let in more natural light, but, in the warmer months, keep the doors open to add additional outdoor living space.

Minimal Kitchen

Tiny house kitchen with black backsplash — Ellie Lillstrom

This kitchen packs a punch in a small space.

With a sink, oven, and dishwasher, this tiny kitchen has all of the appliances a full-size home would.

Because the kitchen is against one wall instead of nestled in a corner, the area feels open and bright.

A slab of soapstone and brass sconces add a high-end feel to the minimal space.

Tiny Home Open Floor Plan

Tiny house living room and kitchen — Jay Wilde

Use an open floor plan to make your tiny home feel spacious.

In this space, the living room freely flows into the kitchen and dining area.

If you still want a form of separation between different areas, use rugs to distinguish the spaces.

For example, use an area rug to define the living space and a different runner to define the kitchen.

Modern Tiny House Idea

Black and wood tiny house — Ginger Curtis

Up your tiny home’s curb appeal with a natural and modern look.

An all-black exterior with natural wood accents and a stone pathway makes the tiny home look intentional and custom-built.

A large window adds visual interest to both the exterior and interior.

Tiny House Bathroom

Small bathrooms can be one of the trickiest tiny house ideas to nail because you need to fit multiple bulky, bathroom necessities—toilet, sink, shower—into a limited space.

One of the biggest space-savers in this tiny bathroom is an open shower.

Because the entire room is covered in tile, the shower doesn’t require a separate space from the rest of the bathroom.

Tiny Home Loft Idea

Lofts are the go-to bedroom idea for a tiny home.

While they make efficient use of vertical space, finding spots for storage can be tricky in a small loft.

Use open shelving space in your loft to store books, trinkets, and clothes in your loft.

Build the shelves into the wall instead of purchasing a separate shelving unit to save even more space.

Tiny Home Cabin Idea

Tiny house bedroom with wood walls and ceiling — Jay Wilde

This wood-planked loft feels like is perfect for snoozing and curling up with a good book.

The loft features minimal decor but doesn’t feel bland due to the planked walls.

A singular sconce above the bed adds just enough light, and two miniature bedside tables offer storage for plants, books, and other nighttime necessities.

Tiny House with a Loft Window

Tiny house bedroom with circular window — Ellie Lillstrom

If the walls in your loft aren’t large enough for a full-size window, instal a porthole window instead.

This one, with its gold frame, fits perfectly over the bed.

Pair the porthole window with a scone to light the loft during the night.

Match the finish on the window to the sconce to create a cohesive look.