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With the tiny house movement multiplying, small house plans are becoming a hot commodity. Some people are astonished at the intricate but straightforward designs of these houses, making them even more desirable. With the ever-growing market, many people are looking for a way to build their own tiny house, and those who have tiny homes are selling their small house plans. But the average person probably doesn’t know where to start when it comes to a tiny home.
There are a lot of decisions that you may need to make. It’s important to avoid jumping into building a tiny house without caution. So take the important things into account. For example, where do you get small house plans? What do you need to build these tiny homes? How much is it going to cost? What are the legal stipulations and what kinds of houses are best for you?
What Are Small House Plans?
Small houses or tiny houses are homes that have a space of about 400 feet, and sometimes it’s even less. These homes are super compact and can include or exclude a wide variety of different things, such as bathrooms and showers. They’re part of a movement that has piqued the interest of people all over the country.
Small house plans are the basic blueprints for these tiny homes. They are usually customizable, but some of them are very specific, right down to the number of nails you’ll need. This makes building a tiny house much easier; you won’t have to guess or develop a plethora of skills to create and design a home. You can just use or purchase a plan from another builder, and with some minor skills, you’ll be able to put together your own tiny home from these small house plans.
Where Can You Get Small House Plans?
Small house plans are bought online if you have to buy them at all. There are a wide variety of different kinds, and you can find them all over the internet. Etsy, for example, is a place where people can sell handmade goods, and tiny house plans pop up with pictures of luxurious homes that people have built.
Even in Walmart’s home improvement section, you can find a plethora of small house plans for sale with all the information you’ll need. You should note though that they are not on location, you will have to order them online in an average situation. If you’re specifically looking for small house plans, look through Walmart options carefully. Regular sized house plans often pop up in the search when they’re not wanted.
How much do small house plans cost?
Some of them are free, though the free ones are usually not very detailed. Even some of the detailed ones have information missing, but there are some solid resources out there with beautiful small house plans to follow and build your home with.
If you’re comfortable building with your hands and have experience building homes, there’s no reason one of the free options won’t work for you, as long as you keep things like plumbing and electrical in mind. Otherwise, it’s a safe bet to buy one of the small house plans and work gradually on your new home. Below are a few different small house plans that you can work with. Overall, most tiny houses average out to cost about $20,000 to $30,000 from start to finish. However, the cost does vary wildly depending on how extravagant the tiny home you build is.
Are small houses affordable to build?
Tiny houses and small house plans are relatively affordable if you compare them to the cost of building a regular 2,400 foot home. Some people have even created their tiny homes for only $500. This is a rare case though, and the individual who lives there lives an extremely minimalistic life. If you’re looking to live in the home like any other home, you’re looking at a total cost of $35,000 or more. The cost overall will be specific to your situation though.
Once you get your small house plans, you’ll need to figure out what you need. If you can, repurpose or reuse anything you already have to cut down on costs. You can also get different things at estate sales and online at a much lower price, which will help with the costs of building your home. Some people have even been able to build their tiny homes with under $15,000. This means that a tiny home is absolutely reachable for those who dare to grasp for it, even if you have to build it gradually.
Different Kinds of Small Houses
There are such a wide variety of small houses, and the more you look at them, the more tempting it is to start building one. You can build them like traditional houses, or even on trailers to function like an RV. Regardless of where or how you decide to build your tiny house, it’s wise to take into account all the different ways you can build a tiny house. Don’t forget to take into account the rooms you want. If you want to be able to travel, and if you want a bathroom.
After you take all of these things into consideration, you’ll be ready to take a look at some small house plans. Below are some wonderful tiny houses, that have small house plans. Some of them are even free, making your search even easier. It should be noted that not all of these tiny homes are right or everyone. You should find the home that’s right for you.
Quartz Tiny House
This tiny house is 24 feet wide with an elegant shelving/ladder system that allows you to get to the loft bedroom. The plan for this home is simple and well constructed, and surprisingly free. This one is built on a trailer so you can move it around, and if you click here, you can see the page to get the plan, as well as a thorough walkthrough of this elegant home.
There are a lot of storage options. With an additional bed/couch option and double entrances, it allows you to move throughout the home in one fluid motion. There are also places for a refrigerator, complete kitchen, and there is even an option to include a full bathroom. Though the creators did not opt to add a bathroom originally due to being in Alaska, they did alter the plans. They included the bathroom in the plans, so you don’t have to worry about the lack of a toilet.
No. 2: Sago
With one bedroom and one bathroom, this elegant house is built on a foundation and only is about 670 square feet. It has a basement with a cold cellar and an upper cathedral floor. The small house plans for this delightful home are also free and incredibly detailed. They print at about 18 inches by 24 inches, and you can immediately download the PDF of the build plans.
The plans come along with a license from the original designer permitting you to build this home. Of course, you’ll still need to acquire a permit to start building this wonderful home. Always be sure to check your local codes when you’re looking into building a home, the information in the basic build may very well be incorrect for your state.
Plan #890-2
This plan doesn’t have a neat name, but it does have a wonderful design for one person or a couple. With one bedroom and bathroom, this home is just over 300 square feet. Though it doesn’t have a garage, the plans do include an L shaped kitchenette and a full bathroom. These make sure you still get the luxuries of living in a regular house in your tiny home. These small house plans are quaint, and it only has one floor. This house is perfect for a backyard cottage or studio. With a price tag at about $500, it comes with in-depth instructions, which will help you build this tiny house with grace and ease.
Country Cottage 1
This plan is one of many that have a massive master bedroom, a covered porch and a high ceiling in the great room. Along with a full bathroom, the builders shoved this awesome house into a space of under 800 square feet. It’s much smaller than a regular sized house, though it’s almost double the size of a regular tiny house.
This makes it relatively easy to settle into this house without sacrificing to much space on the micro-living, all while downsizing and living in a home with a delightful floor plan. This plan is also free and even features a larger covered front porch at about 36 feet in length. A beautiful minimized traditional house that with the right plans can be relatively easy to build.
Plan #48-641
This house looks like it’s taken straight from a fairytale. It’s quaint, cute, and the floor pan is delightful with a stand-in shower and walk-in closet. Built on one floor, it’s secured to the foundation like a traditional home. It’s a delightful Tudor cottage with a vaulted ceiling. This is one of many small house plans that has a price tag of $600 to $650. This gets you the floor plans and all the information on this cottage.
Even if it doesn’t have a class or cool name like some of the other tiny houses you see here, this one is a gorgeous option. At 300 square feet, you can add any additions you’d like to this room. Although you should know that the square footage would go up. The number associated with the square footage of these tiny houses only applies to the house itself.
Ellsworth Cottage Plan
With three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, this house is quite large for a tiny house. With ceilings as high as eight and nine feet and a walkout basement, this design plan is great for a family of four. It’s also wonderful for someone who wants a tiny house without sacrificing too much space.
It has a luxurious master bedroom, massive family room, and two floors. There’s also plenty of space and an open balcony to the family room from the second floor. With the right builder, this tiny house could be a wonderful home for just about anyone. The only real downside to this house is the very hefty price tag of just over $1,000, to over $1.400 if you want the PDF plan.
Legalities of Small House Building
When you build any home, you have to pay attention. Remember that these homes, built in different places, have to abide by the laws and regulations in the state you move it to. Some states don’t permit you to build tiny homes at all. Once you know your state is one that accepts tiny houses, you’ll need properly zoned a building permit, which can cost a bit.
When you try to get the permit, bring the building plans you want to be approved. With tiny houses, if you get good small house plans all of the electrical and plumbing work should be settled and managed at regulation. You should double check that it qualifies for your state. You’ll need to have any plumbing and electrical work properly checked or ran by a professional.
Are Small Houses for You?
These houses are beautiful and delightful, potentially giving freedoms that you don’t get with a regular home. With all the small house plans available there are a wide variety of possibilities for you when choosing a tiny house to build. From portable ones to solid foundation built ones and more.
Of course, you’ll need to be able to determine on if these houses are right for you. Can you live in under 400 feet of space? Can you find a great plan that you can use and work with? If you have answered yes to all these questions, you can look further into building your tiny house with delight. Can you build tiny houses in your state? Do you have a tiny house? What small house plans did you use for your home? Leave a comment letting us know about your experience.
