Tiny house with family and pet: can it work?
Children and pets need space. Can living in a tiny house as a family still be an option?
Tiny houses are most suitable for singles or couples. Living in a small space is not possible with children or pets. This is the reaction you often get when you talk to people who don't know much about living in a tiny house. But is it really true?
One thing is clear: even small families can find space in a Tiny House. According to the guideline, four people only need 25 to 30 square metres, as ‘Timo Haus’ states in an article about family life in Tiny Houses.
Advantages
Spending a lot of time together in a small space strengthens the family relationship, according to the author of an article on ‘TinyHouseKaufen.net’. You develop new priorities and values yourself and pass these on to your children. It can be very enriching for the little ones to learn about sustainability, consumer behaviour and multifunctionality from an early age. Family togetherness is based on mutual respect and gives you energy.
Family-friendly planning
If you want to live in a mini home with your partner and children, you should adapt it to their specific needs right from the start. Every family has its own needs and priorities. For example, it can help to plan the bathroom to be slightly larger than in a conventional tiny house. This is what family father Max Watzlawek did, he explains in his article on ‘Energievoll’.
However, the new home is not just limited to its four walls; the terrace or garden can also be planned to suit the family.
Communication and agreements are important. Boundaries must be respected and private areas can be created using original solutions such as curtains. You can find even more original solutions and ideas on this topic in the blog entry on AC Tiny Houses.
Challenges
The challenges and requirements of living in a tiny house are very subjective and there is no universal solution. Innovative ideas are required to fulfil requirements and ensure functionality. Children continue to develop - and so do their interests and needs. A Tiny House should be able to adapt.
With small children, a family bed may be the ideal solution, but as the children get older, they need places to retreat to. The Ledge family also realised this, as they tell Wohnglück. It is no longer enough to provide a separate area for everyone. Children need their own room with a door and space to play.
Such retreats can be created by adding another Tiny House as an extension. However, this does not have to be the most sustainable or cost-effective alternative.
Pets
A pet can also make family happiness perfect. However, not every animal is suitable due to the space available. Some dogs, for example, need more exercise than others and even an indoor cat won't get its money's worth here. Outdoor cats are more suitable and small animals in terrariums or aquariums can also be an option.
Stairs should be designed in such a way that cats can also use them. More storage space is also needed to store treats, leads, toys and other items. From the already limited space, room must be created for a sleeping and feeding area. On top of this, there must also be space for a scratching post or a litter tray. ACTinyHouses" have also addressed the issue of pets in tiny houses.
Modular houses as a solution?
Modular houses are becoming increasingly popular due to their flexibility. They can be individually extended or reduced, making them ideal for responding to new and different needs of residents. In this way, the house can grow or shrink with the family or pets.
