Curbed - Tiny living 101: Tips for your tiny house or apartmentLove where you live2019-04-24T16:00:00-04:00http://archive.curbed.com/rss/stream/127726572019-04-24T16:00:00-04:002019-04-24T16:00:00-04:00How to design a small urban garden in six steps
<figure>
<img alt="overhead view of small terrace garden" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/W4fPZ2wr-wZl-3P3ykK02mpBMGg=/0x0:2539x1904/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49633563/terrace3_marieviljoen.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Marie Viljoen's former 66-square-foot terrace. | <a href="http://66squarefeet.blogspot.com/">Marie Viljoen</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The creator of a lush 66-square-foot garden shares her expertise</p> <p id="zm2Byn"><em>Marie Viljoen knows a thing or two about gardening in tight spaces. After all, her first terrace in Brooklyn measured just 66 square feet, yet she managed to turn the sliver of a room into an outdoor oasis with a small grill, a table and chairs, and dozens of plants: roses, herbs, figs, lilies, strawberries, vines, and more. Her micro garden grew into </em><a href="http://66squarefeet.blogspot.com/"><em>a blog</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/66-Square-Feet-Delicious-Life/dp/1617690503?tag=curbed-20" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>a book</em></a><em>, both named after the tiny terrace’s size. Here, Viljoen shares her time-tested strategies for small urban gardens. </em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Jqg0kO">
<p id="Idg6kZ">There is very little as luxurious in a city as coming home to your own green retreat where you can smell the roses. Or pick the blueberries. Or dine beneath the light-polluted stars while watching a migrating hummingbird feeding on scarlet runner bean flowers.</p>
<p id="D0sJqn">Each outdoor space is unique, with attendant challenges and possibilities, but this six-step guide will give you a sound strategy for tackling the creation of your leafy refuge.</p>
<h4 id="jFk5Kh">1. Create a blueprint for your garden</h4>
<p id="qQTcIw">Measure your space. Then draw it on graph paper or touchscreen. It does not have to be pretty, but the scale must be accurate. For printed portability it is best if the sketch fits onto a standard sheet of paper (8.5" x 11"). Convert each linear foot to a scale that will fit on the paper. A half or quarter inch per foot is easy.</p>
<p id="q3PwJM">Now that you are looking at it objectively, you can see how and where things will fit.</p>
<h4 id="hVUUAZ">2. Allocate space</h4>
<p id="T8gr0G">How will you use this garden? Are you going to eat meals there? Barbecue? Grow fruit and flowers? What about storage?</p>
<p id="3EIh9P">Once you know what you want, add your stuff to the sketch: a table, seating, a barbecue. Planters. A shed. How big is the table, and how wide those chairs? Draw them to scale. Consider furniture that does double duty—a table that doubles as a stool or plant stand—and pieces that can be folded up and moved out of the way.</p>
<aside id="JHEmDi"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"The city dweller’s guide to gardening","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2019/4/18/18485032/urban-garden-container-gardening-products-supplies-to-buy-for-sale"},{"title":"Where to buy plants online ","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2018/5/8/17174130/buy-indoor-plants-online-stores-shipping"},{"title":"Best outdoor furniture: 18 picks for any budget","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2017/3/21/14988728/best-outdoor-furniture-shopping-buy"}]}'></div></aside><h4 id="kwtnNd">3. Incorporate hardscaping</h4>
<p id="UxK2Ib">What does your space need, in terms of construction? Be realistic about what is essential for safety, or for building codes.</p>
<p id="Up0Xp9">Aesthetic elements such as fences, decks, and stonework will depend on your budget. Professional hardscaping is expensive, but the chances are good that it will be done well and will last many years.</p>
<p id="QwhQlP">Two caveats: Place nothing on an unprotected roof membrane and never block the drain.</p>
<p id="NR3vTe">For simpler fixes, like hiding ugly chain-link, go it alone. Birch or bamboo poles make an effective screen doubling as a trellis for climbers. You hate the floor tiles? Cover them with landscape fabric and an inch of pea gravel or crushed stone. The walls are a blah beige? Paint them turquoise or cerise; in a small space color is very big.</p>
<p id="jByqyB">Is there a water source? You will need one. Hauling a watering can from the kitchen is not all it’s cracked to be.</p>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mf2xynf_iExR2my3qUHn97Hmb4o=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6511915/terrace2_marieviljoen.0.jpg">
<cite>Marie Viljoen</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<h4 id="NZvMUj">4. Know your climate and sun exposure</h4>
<p id="tTH4kq">Choosing appropriate plants for your garden, no matter what size, is all about location.</p>
<p id="nJClgt">The U.S. is divided into USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. Plants are hardy to a zone that defines how much cold they can withstand. Knowing your zone allows you to choose the right plants for your region and ensure they thrive in your available space.</p>
<p id="K5VsA1">In cities, even southern exposures might mean full shade, cast by the building across the street. Establish how much direct sun your garden receives; different plants require different light. Don’t guess: observe and record. Even in a small space, one side of your garden might be different from another. Also pay attention to the wind; rooftops and balconies often endure heavy wind gusts that can wreak havoc on many plants.</p>
<h4 id="j2Qcu2">5. Choose plants that work together and fit your climate</h4>
<p id="7vCkql">Add plants to your sketch using color markers.</p>
<p id="8asbkT">In horticultural literature and on plant labels, plants are described as suitable for full sun (six-plus hours of direct sun); semi-shade (three to six hours of direct or intermittent sun); or full shade (no direct sun). Based on your note-keeping choose plants best suited to your exposure and micro-climate.</p>
<p id="TGwbtV">A collection of plants that blooms or produces throughout the growing year is more compelling than one where it all fizzles out after spring. Choose plants for different bloom times as well as for interesting texture and foliage. Vary heights by using different size pots as well as a mix of annuals, perennials and shrubs. Repeat some plants several times (odd numbers look more natural), to weave the scheme together.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="After the 66-square-foot terrace, Viljoen enjoyed a more spacious garden at her Harlem apartment. She and her husband have since moved back to Brooklyn." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/erVAdQPBP5STIzmXSOeCXkuDXtY=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6513871/harlem2_marieviljoen.0.jpg">
<cite>Marie Viljoen</cite>
<figcaption>After the 66-square-foot terrace, Viljoen enjoyed a more spacious garden at her Harlem apartment. She and her husband have since moved back to Brooklyn.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="sO1awx">Some plant basics to keep in mind when making selections for your garden:</p>
<ul>
<li id="BvbGEC">
<strong>Annuals</strong> last one growing season and die in winter. They pack punch, and are an excellent seasonal fix for tight spaces. </li>
<li id="tIxLb9">
<strong>Perennials </strong>are herbaceous plants that live longer than a year, blooming for two to six weeks.</li>
<li id="19Iz9D">
<strong>Shrubs</strong> are woody plants that can be annual or perennial in your zone. Choose them for bloom-time, fruit, and structural interest.</li>
<li id="Dd0p3q">
<strong>Climbers</strong> expand cramped spaces by taking interest up. They double as green screens. They can be annual or perennial, and they are great for maximizing greenery in a tight space</li>
<li id="ycZiOz">
<strong>Trees</strong> (small and medium) perform well in small gardens and require larger containers. Every few years containerized trees benefit from a root-pruning, to prevent girdling. </li>
</ul>
<h4 id="cQgFPV">6. Choose the right containers</h4>
<p id="cNEWf8">You will need them, unless you’re gardening in-ground. Almost anything is a suitable planting container, as long as it has drainage holes. If weight is an issue on a rooftop, go light with plastic, metal, fiberglass or grow bags. Wood, terracotta, and concrete are fine if weight is of no consideration.</p>
<p id="kUKs8D">Container size depends on the plants. Annuals can thrive in as little as 4" in diameter. Perennials need more room– 10" and upwards. Shrubs, 16" and up. Small trees, 20" and larger. Your local nursery will be invaluable in helping you make the right choices. Keep in mind that if your garden is located on a wind-swept balcony, larger containers are less likely to topple over than many small containers, so consider grouping plants rather than individually potting each one.</p>
<aside id="muBtf4"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"curbed_handbook"}'></div></aside>
https://archive.curbed.com/2016/5/23/11714404/urban-gardening-ideas-tips-small-space-designMarie Viljoen2018-09-21T12:45:00-04:002018-09-21T12:45:00-04:008 tips for renovating a small space
<figure>
<img alt="Small home with built-in bookcases and sleeping loft." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/77ZY7k7_JJqUkWBUhzSZE_0DDVw=/84x0:1436x1014/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49427925/edited_LRB_110812_6348_2.0__1_.24.jpg" />
<figcaption>The built-in couches make the living space feel more open, and the window sills were lowered to let in more natural light. The vaulted ceilings allowed for construction of a sleeping loft. | Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="http://www.lincolnbarbour.com/" target="_blank">Lincoln Barbour</a> courtesy of Jessica Helgerson Interior Design</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Interior designer Jessica Helgerson, tiny home designer and inhabitant, shares her time-tested strategies</p> <p id="Ph3ZKs"><strong>The Expert: </strong>Interior designer <a href="http://www.jhinteriordesign.com/">Jessica Helgerson</a> and her husband, architect <a href="http://www.ydarchitecture.com/">Yianni Doulis</a>, bought five acres on an agricultural preserve ten miles from downtown Portland, Oregon, in 2010. The land came with two buildings, one of which the pair immediately began renovating into a weekend retreat.</p>
<p id="P7QqJs">The small 1940s cabin had already been poorly remodeled, so they gutted it, vaulted the ceiling, added new windows and doors, and reconfigured the entire floor plan. Once it was all done, they spent their first weekend there for Helgerson’s birthday—then never left.</p>
<p id="XbGfpB">They spent the following four years living in <a href="http://www.jhinteriordesign.com/tiny-house">540 square feet</a> with their two young children. (They’ve since moved into a newly built home on the same property). </p>
<p id="6Mk7Xn">Here, Helgerson shares her time-tested strategies for a successful small-space redesign.</p>
<h4 id="ZYO8sV">1. Function must come first</h4>
<p id="b5JmnJ">"It starts with a logical layout," Helgerson says. When working with a client, Helgerson will identify their spatial needs and how they’ll use their home. She asks questions about their lifestyle, such as whether they like to entertain or need home office space, and their answers inform the final floor plan.</p>
<p id="ol9fuR">For her home, Helgerson’s primary goal was to host overnight guests. "It was important that it be a house where we could welcome friends, even though it was small," she says. That’s why her layout incorporates lots of crash pads, including a bunk bed and a guest bed in the back bedroom, as well as a sleeping loft, and living room couches that double as beds.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ftsvo_ZBkM8jpNPThJ60TYnW3D4=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6402679/edited-LRB_110812_6318-2.0.jpg">
<cite>Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="http://www.lincolnbarbour.com" target="_blank">Lincoln Barbour</a> courtesy Jessica Helgerson Interior Design</cite>
<figcaption>In Helgerson’s kitchen, the stove’s hood vent hides a pull-out spice rack.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h4 id="ohNXXm">2. Build in storage everywhere</h4>
<p id="LvGUIk">"We definitely worked in storage everywhere we could," Helgerson says. This started with the hood vent in the kitchen. The range is a vintage Craigslist find and has a unique stovetop layout with burners isolated to the left side. So Helgerson designed the hood vent to be directed over the burners and used the remaining space to conceal a pull-out spice rack.</p>
<p id="f3k5RY">Storage was also added in other overlooked corners: There are drawers under the couch and guest bed, bookshelves in the great room, recessed storage in the bathroom, two hall closets, and a pull-out closet in the kid’s room.</p>
<h4 id="zTi8s6">3. Free up the floorplan</h4>
<p id="EZVfwk">Helgerson wanted "as little floor space devoted to circulation as possible," she says, as hallways, stairwells, and walkways through rooms can be major space hogs. While trying to achieve this, she hit upon the idea of built-in living room couches.</p>
<p id="x6iTb3">"It was kind-of an epiphany," she says of the sofa designs. "And we’ve wound up using them over and over in lots of our projects." The sectional design was a deviation from her original layout, which included four chairs. </p>
<h4 id="v5Hb2I">4. Let in the light</h4>
<p id="EIfuk3">Helgerson lowered windowsill heights in order to let in as much natural light as possible and expand sightlines beyond the interior. "When you’re sitting on the couch and you open those windows, you’re just outside, which is really pleasant," she says. As a bonus, having low windowsills also provides fun alternative entry and exit points for the kids.</p>
<h4 id="OMYJW8">5. Leave some negative space</h4>
<p id="44k8SK">At some point during her planning, Helgerson had specified a built-in coffee table in front of the L-shaped sectional, even going so far as to frame out the floor in preparation. However, that part of the plan got nixed in favor of leaving some negative space for the eye to rest. "I think that we would have gone crazy if we had put that in there," she says. "Just that little bit of empty space is really a luxury."</p>
<div class="c-float-right"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_ch_oj6EC9L_v7M6uxyCuEfY8Ic=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6402811/edited-LRB_110812_6357.0.jpg">
<cite>Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="http://www.lincolnbarbour.com/" target="_blank">Lincoln Barbour</a> courtesy Jessica Helgerson Interior Design.</cite>
<figcaption>The sleeping loft. </figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<h4 id="EEFqs4">6. Open up the ceilings</h4>
<p id="nei0ka">The original ceilings in the home were sub-eight feet, so Helgerson and Doulis vaulted them up to a more expansive 13 feet in the main living spaces, but they kept the ceilings low in the more private areas of the bathroom and back bedroom. Doing so made it possible to add in the sleeping loft. "I think it’s important to have a nice [ceiling height] to the proportion of the space,” says Helgerson. “A height like 7’6" really doesn’t feel incredibly low in a bathroom."</p>
<h4 id="NzQL6i">7. Edit stuff out</h4>
<p id="JetNNt">In a small space, "think carefully about every object, more so than ever. Ask, is it beautiful? Is it useful?" Helgerson says, paraphrasing British textile designer William Morris. For Helgerson, items that were worth keeping included the dining room table crafted by her husband and the vintage hutch that stores everyday dishes.</p>
<h4 id="TmLbAC">8. Make it yours</h4>
<p id="tgqTg5">When asked if using a strict color palette was a necessity for a small space, Helgerson says no. "It depends on taste and what you enjoy looking at," she says. "This felt clean and simple to us, but I think it could be colorful as well." A home’s design evolves with its occupants, just like in the case of the tiny house. "It really came together organically," she says. Allowing for the more serendipitous aspects of the process is what ultimately makes a home uniquely yours.</p>
<aside id="XH1cBM"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"curbed_handbook"}'></div></aside>
https://archive.curbed.com/2016/5/2/11502124/renovations-ideas-tips-small-spaceMelissa Dalton2018-09-18T16:30:00-04:002018-09-18T16:30:00-04:006 tips for maximizing small-space storage
<figure>
<img alt="600-square-foot Philadelphia apartment " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ejhWyHNTZbvxzuFD9XKycPCK8TM=/122x0:1637x1136/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57762601/House_Calls_Philadelphia_Natto_apartment_Heidis_Bridge.1511817937.jpg" />
<figcaption>This <a class="ql-link" href="https://philly.curbed.com/2016/10/31/13476786/fishtown-home-tour-small-space-natto-balladares" target="_blank">600-square-foot Philly apartment </a>takes advantage of a storage bed for hidden items and a custom A-frame rack for showing off favorite garments. | <a class="ql-link" href="http://www.heidisbridge.com/" target="_blank">Heidi’s Bridge</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>From taking inventory of your belongings to tricking out the closets</p> <p id="pDkJ7g">As millennials <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2016/3/15/11235986/micro-apartments-tech-industry-millennials">pack into smaller homes</a>, the need to get creative with modest living spaces has become paramount. Even with limited square footage, there are plenty of design hacks to maximize the space you’ve got, from <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2015/10/2/9914952/ikea-small-space-furniture">moveable walls and sliding power sockets</a> to <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2015/7/17/9939330/efficient-design-small-apartments">hidden beds</a>. Clever, <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/3/22/15024784/tiny-apartments-space-saving-furniture-ideas">readymade furniture pieces</a> are also worth investing in, as they pack in as much functionality as possible. </p>
<p id="tVfRQX">But as design experts will tell you, storage should be one of your biggest concerns when outfitting a small home. Curbed spoke with designers at <a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2017/8/29/16222014/nyc-apartments-for-rent-co-living-common">Ollie</a>, the micro-apartment co-living company, and <a href="http://www.affordableinteriordesign.com/">Affordable Interior Design</a>, a New York firm that’s no stranger to the tiny apartment, on how to tackle storage when you don’t have much room to spare. From taking inventory of your belongings to tricking out the closets, here are six solutions for packing away all your stuff.</p>
<h4 id="DayXPJ">Take stock of your belongings and your space</h4>
<p id="3zg1i0">When downsizing, take stock of what you have. This step is essential in creating a storage plan for your new digs, says Jacqueline Schmidt, Ollie’s director of design: “You’ll find in the process of creating storage solutions, you may not need all the stuff you have to store.” </p>
<p id="JUM35m">Before investing in furniture or tackling a design project, assess just how much of your stuff you will keep. Let go of the rest, or consolidate. Then determine how much space you will need. As Schmidt puts it, “There’s a psychology to it…What are you storing? If you need a cleaning supply cabinet, you’ll need to know the size and amount of supplies you use so everything will fit.”</p>
<p id="Ulq7t7">Once you’ve inventoried your belongings, take a look at your space. “Determine what functions you’ll actually need to do in each room,” says Betsy Helmuth, owner of Affordable Interior Design. </p>
<p id="9Gy9Ey">She recommends making a list of how you’d like each room to function, whether that’s a living room meant to host four people, or a bedroom that fits a dresser and a queen bed. “Then you need to do a reality check on how many functions you’re asking each room to do.” </p>
<p id="mgZD8E">In a small space, it’s hard to ask your living room to serve as a hang-out space, home office, and crafting studio. Before planning for storage, be realistic about those limitations. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dcQzsdNotuzP63OHl9msxqBCTAc=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13111769/Bookshelf_Composite.jpg">
<cite>Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="http://www.heidisbridge.com/" target="_blank">Heidi’s Bridge</a></cite>
<figcaption>An architect embeds a Murphy bed into the plywood bookshelf. </figcaption>
</figure>
<h4 id="e5sycB">Different items need different storage </h4>
<p id="WDaKld">The next step is figuring out the best way to store everything. “Pick out the items you’re dealing with every day, versus stuff you won’t touch for six months,” Helmuth says. Reserve convenient and easy-access spaces in your apartment for storing items you use daily. Off-season clothing and holiday decor, on the other hand, can be relegated to less conspicuous of your home. </p>
<p id="aQcQLG">Schmidt also recommends separating hard items from soft items when considering storage solutions. Flexible canvas bins are ideal for storing soft goods like towels and socks, while hardier items, unsurprisingly, require stronger solutions. Cleaning supplies and tools, for example, can be packed into a plastic bin and hidden away in a closet.</p>
<h4 id="yITaUS">Make the most of existing closet space </h4>
<p id="JhFVxm">If your home comes with closets, be prepared to utilize them to the fullest. Schmidt recommends installing a “second tier” hanging rod inside the closet for items like pants or shorter sweaters. (As a perk, it’s a quick and cheap DIY install you can learn to do <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LimIOo_cuTA">online</a>.) </p>
<p id="oSUrls">If your closet has high ceilings, take out the existing rod and move it further up to maximize space below, “a $25 project that’s really easy to do,” Schmidt says. </p>
<p id="bVVTtP">For the bottom of your closet, Helmuth recommends an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whitmor-Tier-Expandable-Shoe-Stackable/dp/B004FLZH5I?tag=curbed-20" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">expandable shoe rack</a>: “They can grow in length to fill the entire bottom of your closet, no matter how wide it is.”</p>
<h4 id="ZeGyVp">Utilize your bed </h4>
<p id="H7NdPD">You don’t have to <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2015/7/17/9939330/efficient-design-small-apartments">hide your bed on the ceiling</a>, but you should be smart about maximizing storage where you sleep. If you’re purchasing a bed, consider one with built-in storage, like <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/zipcode-design-oleanna-storage-platform-bed-zpcd3611.html" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">this platform bed</a> from Wayfair with three drawers on each side. </p>
<p id="1C0C8I">Helmuth also recommends hydraulic lift beds, whose height can be adjusted to house large items underneath. And don’t underestimate under-bed storage space, which can accommodate both hard and soft storage containers. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="kitchen stove with kettle " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/U4KBu04JaHcCcS38Lu1L-R5jeZU=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13111537/House_Calls_Heidis_Bridge_Archer_Coite_Brooklyn_kitchen_6.jpg">
<cite>Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="http://www.heidisbridge.com/" target="_blank">Heidi’s Bridge</a></cite>
<figcaption>An extra open shelf in this <a class="ql-link" href="https://ny.curbed.com/2018/9/10/17801572/brooklyn-home-tour-fort-greene-alyse-archer-coite" target="_blank">Brooklyn kitchen</a> creates space to display prized wares. </figcaption>
</figure>
<h4 id="imGsBO">Be realistic about furniture needs </h4>
<p id="3imUCi">There’s no shortage of <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/3/22/15024784/tiny-apartments-space-saving-furniture-ideas">smart, space-saving furniture</a> on the market to help maximize your space. But before you splurge, “think about your lifestyle,” says Schmidt. Be realistic about how you use the space and what furniture will fit those uses. “If you’re a person who doesn’t entertain, do you need a table that opens up, with extra chairs?” </p>
<p id="yOhh5d">And just because a piece of furniture can be manipulated for many different uses doesn’t mean you should invest in it. Helmuth believes that furniture shouldn’t serve more than two functions. If it does, it won’t do any of those functions particularly well. Stick with tried-and-true combinations like a kitchen table that doubles as a desk, or an ottoman with storage space inside. </p>
<h4 id="ri2XXI">Invest in shelving—and some of your decor </h4>
<p id="Mrg8oQ">Shelving is your best friend in a small home, and it’s something that can be installed on the cheap or as an investment. In either case, “Get your shelving as high as possible,” Helmuth says. She notes that shelving options like <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cb2.com%2Fstairway-white-96-wall-mounted-bookcase%2Fs474749&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2017%2F11%2F27%2F16706234%2Fsmall-space-storage-ideas-bedroom-kitchen" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">CB2’s stairway bookcase</a> can reach up to eight feet high. </p>
<p id="TPGlrG">And while open shelving serves as a nice juxtaposition to closed-off storage, it should be reserved for your most prized possessions. “If you’ve got beautiful objects, you should showcase them,” Schmidt says. </p>
<p id="DOUIGv">Stylish plates can go on <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/6/8/15762264/best-ikea-shelf-kallax-expedit">open Ikea shelving</a>, for example, while cereal boxes can be tucked inside cabinets. This philosophy also works for freeing up other spaces: Rolling up swoon-worthy towels and placing them in a wicker bin allows you to use the extra space in the linen closet for other needs. Unique hooks hung around the apartment can also open up closet space. “It’s about thinking about the beauty of the stuff you have,” Schmidt says. </p>
<aside id="rPZla1"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"curbed_handbook"}'></div></aside><p id="6oXot0"></p>
<p id="ZrOEOM"></p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2017/11/27/16706234/small-space-storage-ideas-bedroom-kitchenEmily Nonko2018-02-15T15:00:00-05:002018-02-15T15:00:00-05:00Tiny house financing: What you need to know
<figure>
<img alt="A rectilinear mobile unit clad in charred wood siding and punctuated with a large square window, glazed entryway and transom window, and other small windows sits in a field in front of a forest of trees. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SETK4j0hz9LYIQcG7whlNbH12mc=/139x0:1916x1333/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55803525/170328_Escape_3040_Lo.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/4/3/15165968/tiny-house-mobile-trailer-for-sale-escape-one">Escape One</a> tiny house. | Escape</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Options for when buying out a tiny house is just too expensive</p> <p id="173hFI">Tiny houses can be extremely satisfying to <a href="https://www.curbed.com/tiny-homes">look at</a>, but when you’re ready to move from pinning images of them on Pinterest to actually owning one, a number of tricky real world challenges arise. There’s the matter of where you can build and park them legally for full-time use—which <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2016/9/22/13002832/tiny-house-zoning-laws-regulations">we’ve previously addressed here</a>—and then there’s the money stuff, like financing the purchase of a tiny house. Indeed, as the tiny house industry <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/7/18/15986818/tiny-house-zoning-adu-affordable-housing">matures</a>,<strong> </strong>options for financing these alternative dwellings are slowly emerging. </p>
<p id="J4DYnb">While tiny houses are billed as a more affordable alternative to the traditional house or apartment commanding a hefty down payment and mortgage, the <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2015/8/18/9929218/where-to-buy-tiny-houses">latest turnkey models</a> often come with price tags of between $50,000 and $100,000—an intimidating sum, though still less than what’d you need for a traditional home loan. </p>
<p id="hOQ6h9">For those unable to pony up the cash themselves or secure funds through family and friends (buying out the tiny house from the get-go is still the best case scenario), there are a few other options. </p>
<h3 id="yXwAQj"><strong>Finance directly through RV-certified tiny house builders </strong></h3>
<p id="25xxzC">Just as is the case for navigating building and zoning codes, financing is more straightforward with <a href="http://www.rvia.org/">RVIA-certified</a> tiny houses since lenders consider them similar to RVs. Major tiny house RV builders like Colorado’s <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumbleweedhouses.com&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2017%2F7%2F20%2F15958910%2Ftiny-house-financing-loans-rv-personal" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Tumbleweed</a> and Wisconsin’s <a href="http://www.escapetraveler.net/">Escape</a> work with lenders to offer financing for customers who qualify, and typically require a 15 to 20 percent down payment. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uK_s721XgQ-UvCw-G81W7e2rWsA=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8844015/tumbleweed_tiny_house_farallon_0009.jpg">
<cite>Tumbleweed</cite>
<figcaption>Inside <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumbleweedhouses.com%2Ftiny-houses-for-sale%2Ffarallon%2F%23%21&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2017%2F7%2F20%2F15958910%2Ftiny-house-financing-loans-rv-personal" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Farallon</a>, one of Tumbleweed’s newest models.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="comp-iw576ai3">Both have quick financing applications online. Tumbleweed’s rates vary but the company says its financing plans have down payments from under $13,000, monthly payments starting at $450, and usually last 15 years. A typical financing plan with Escape has a 15 percent downpayment and an APR of 4.5 to 5.5 percent lasting 15 years. According to Escape, about 30 percent of its customers finance through the company directly. </p>
<h3 id="E76grZ"><strong>Personal loans </strong></h3>
<p id="Dp4Bpi">Again, securing a standard bank or credit union loan is easier for tiny house RVs. Still, there are also a few online lenders that are ready to cater specifically to tiny home buyers. <a href="https://www.lightstream.com/tiny-houses">Lightstream</a>, a division of SunTrust Bank, offers fixed APR rates—which are lower for RV-certified builds—and comes recommended by builders like <a href="https://84tinyliving.com/financing/%20">84 Lumber</a> and <a href="http://www.tinyheirloom.com/financing/%20">Tiny Heirloom</a>.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ly1eTVxdzApOHBl7W1-D3m7xGy0=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8844023/comp.jpg">
<cite>Tiny Heirloom</cite>
<figcaption>A <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/1/6/14180712/tiny-house-tiny-heirloom-climbing-gym-mississippi">tiny house with a rock climbing wall</a> from Tiny Heirloom, whose custom packages start at $89,000.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="ADoazA">Other financing services recommended by tiny house builders we’ve covered—like <a href="https://www.newfrontiertinyhomes.com">New Frontier Tiny Homes</a> and <a href="https://wheelhaus.com">Wheelhaus</a>—include <a href="https://www.sofi.com/">SoFi</a>, <a href="https://www.prosper.com/">Prosper</a>, and <a href="https://www.financemytrailer.com/">Rock Solid Funding</a>. New Frontier Tiny Homes specifically notes that it’s able to make its builds RV-certified to help customers find loans. </p>
<h3 id="akXS2P"><strong>The bottom line</strong></h3>
<p id="7UhlXt">The best option for buyers will largely depend on income, credit history, and existing assets. For example, those who are already have a mortgage on a traditional house might even consider a home equity loan for, say, a tiny house on their property that will serve as a secondary dwelling. These so-called “accessory dwelling units” are <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2018/1/16/16897014/adus-development-us">on the rise</a> around the country and you can find a more detailed comparison of ways to finance them <a href="https://accessorydwellings.org/2015/06/27/lay-explanation-of-conventional-adu-financing-options/">here</a>. </p>
<p id="aq7Mrs">Finally, according to Kai Rostcheck, who ran tinyhouselending.com (a now-defunct site that connected tiny house buyers with suitable loans), tiny house loan seekers should also consider any additional costs of ownership, like monthly parking fees. </p>
<p id="V95Uz2">“If you take out a $1,000 a month loan, that might be quite favorable compared to rent in many areas of the country, but add another $500 for parking and the value proposition may shift,” he explains. </p>
<p id="ybpOpo"></p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2017/7/20/15958910/tiny-house-financing-loans-rv-personalJenny Xie2017-06-16T15:15:01-04:002017-06-16T15:15:01-04:005 tips for building your dream tiny home
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GrcxtNHj7lPUVGtOfEl0hkQPC6s=/100x221:1039x925/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55302047/18889252_418033515262688_4830782560873218048_n.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Courtesy of @mikebasich</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Five tips both DIY amateurs and pros can use to live the optimal tiny life</p> <p id="peARkn">To get the at-home creature comforts best suited to your preferences, sometimes you’ve got to build your space from the ground up. That’s exactly what Mike Basich, a professional snowboarder and tiny house builder, has been up to for the past 20 years.</p>
<p id="jFmq6Z">In total, Basich has built four stationary tiny homes and five tiny homes on wheels. His latest project, Mike’s Dreamchaser, has a wood fireplace, a full-sized bed, and a bathtub built into the floor.</p>
<p id="sUFdnq">“The builds have all happened at very different stages of my life,” Basich said. “My latest mobile tiny house is a compact version of all the things I’ve learned in the past.” </p>
<p id="2KbMxT">Here are his five tips on how you can build your own tiny home. </p>
<h3 id="olNL9P"><strong>Take inspiration from your travels</strong></h3>
<div id="Bt8NoI">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BVL4TKOgh4t/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mike Basich (@mikebasich)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-06-11T04:19:07+00:00">Jun 10, 2017 at 9:19pm PDT</time></p>
</div></blockquote>
<script async="" defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
</div>
<p id="0S4lcr">Though Basich spent his childhood building treehouses and camping in teepees, today his travels inspire his best ideas. </p>
<p id="xTJwjZ">“With all my snowboarding, I’ve traveled a lot. You get to see different parts of the world how people live,” Basich said. </p>
<p id="5Q80DP">Recently, his frequent trips to Japan have taught him how to maximize space, as many people there live more efficiently than most Americans. </p>
<h3 id="Ow1ntj">
<strong>Build </strong><strong>for</strong><strong> the </strong><strong>climate</strong><strong> you’ll be traveling in</strong>
</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yi8pXvuF9x72KIE9w8D9EE1NSUk=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8700021/unnamed__3_.jpg">
<cite>Courtesy of @mikebasich</cite>
<figcaption>Mike’s Dreamchaser is almost always in frigid and cold environments.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="433rKn">In one of Basich’s most recent tiny home on wheels build, Mike’s Dreamchaser, there isn’t a fridge. This isn’t a flaw, it’s merely a design choice.</p>
<p id="aDpgYE">As a snowboarder, Basich spends all of his time chasing winter storms, moving from one frigid environment to another. For now, putting his food in a cabinet that has a vent outside exposed to the low temperatures works perfectly for his refrigeration needs.</p>
<h3 id="QNXyj5">
<strong>If you’re going to</strong><strong> park</strong><strong> in cities, build s</strong><strong>mall</strong>
</h3>
<div id="3brn2i">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BE9F8Eki6MO/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mike Basich (@mikebasich)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-05-03T18:07:23+00:00">May 3, 2016 at 11:07am PDT</time></p>
</div></blockquote>
<script async="" defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
</div>
<p id="siivJd">When it comes to sizing, take into account the size of parking spaces available at your various destinations. Mike’s Dreamchaser is a delivery truck-style home, with a smaller front cabin and a larger back space for full customization. </p>
<p id="O2plgM">However, his last build was much larger, which made it tough to find a parking spot in bigger cities. He took on that challenge while building Mike’s Dreamchaser, making sure that it fit perfectly into an average parking spot.</p>
<h3 id="P0slxQ">
<strong>Give e</strong><strong>ach</strong><strong> item multiple purposes</strong>
</h3>
<div id="tQzcBp">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIWpcfNB1-h/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mike Basich (@mikebasich)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-07-27T05:52:51+00:00">Jul 26, 2016 at 10:52pm PDT</time></p>
</div></blockquote>
<script async="" defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
</div>
<p id="oEeglq">Some creative thinking can help you turn every section of your home into a multi-tasking space. </p>
<p id="9svyH3">“When you’re off-grid or mobile, you learn that ‘oh if I put my kettle on top of the furnace, which heats the place, I can also heat water that way’,” said Basich. “So build your kitchen off of temperatures that already exist.”</p>
<h3 id="bxWKYd"><strong>Master small projects before you build from the ground up</strong></h3>
<div id="PF9ZBB">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQG6tEQFjSA/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mike Basich (@mikebasich)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-02-04T23:26:58+00:00">Feb 4, 2017 at 3:26pm PST</time></p>
</div></blockquote>
<script async="" defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
</div>
<p id="c1JXRA">Before you build a tiny house, build a dog house. Or, instead of starting from scratch, hunt Craigslist for a trailer you can renovate. </p>
<p id="o9oaWq">The larger and more DIY you build, the more potential mistakes and challenges lay ahead of you. Once you’ve mastered the smaller builds, you’ll gradually work up to a skill level where you can build your own amenity-filled home for a life on the road.</p>
<p id="33w31a"></p>
<p id="2Yf5LX"></p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2017/6/16/15819928/how-to-build-tiny-house-diy-construction-tipsMargaret Lin2016-09-26T15:36:16-04:002016-09-26T15:36:16-04:00Tiny houses vs. RVs: Which one should you buy?
<figure>
<img alt="travel trailer and tiny house" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jYFYt1legF57EAn35ido7TZXK7Q=/13x0:1417x1053/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51046289/comp.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>L: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-648904p1.html">Aleksey Stemmer</a>/<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-418925497/stock-photo-caravan-trailer-with-bicycle-parked-in-a-beautiful-beech-tree-forest-in-autumn.html?src=ZLKVJOwo0Q3BuLbe7_4k7g-1-74">Shutterstock</a>, R: <a href="https://www.mthoodtinyhouse.com/">Mt. Hood Tiny House Village</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This flowchart quiz can help you figure it out</p> <p id="7MPSBl">Whenever we cover tiny houses here on Curbed, readers love to point out that these <a href="http://www.curbed.com/tiny-homes">trendy micro dwellings</a> are just glorified RVs, something that’s been around forever. While the basic function is the same—both tiny houses on wheels and RVs offer a home on the go, usually in somewhere between 100 and 400 square feet—there are also non-trivial differences, from the overall look and feel to more specific concerns like ease of mobility (a point for the more lightweight RVs!) and extent of customization possible (a win for tiny houses!)</p>
<p id="aZcKyP">For a quick, general idea of which category is more suited for your needs, follow the flowchart below.</p>
<div id="DfVOB7">
<div data-analytics-viewport="autotune" data-analytics-label="curbed-tiny-houses-vs-rvs:3371" id="curbed-tiny-houses-vs-rvs__graphic"></div>
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
(function() { var l = function() { new pym.Parent( 'curbed-tiny-houses-vs-rvs__graphic', 'https://apps.voxmedia.com/at/curbed-tiny-houses-vs-rvs/'); }; if(typeof(pym) === 'undefined') { var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pym/0.4.5/pym.js'; s.onload = l; h.appendChild(s); } else { l(); } })();
// --></script>
</div>
<p id="cuSDsi">In general, tiny houses on wheels are best for people who, well, want to live in something tiny and mobile that also feels like a house—even at the expense of a more complicated process for securing financing and certification as an RV, plus sticking out like a sore thumb whenever on the move. But for those who champion convenience above all else, something in the well-established array of RV offerings is easier to purchase, tow, park, and potentially resell as well.</p>
<p>Did you pick one over the other in a recent purchase—or are mulling over one? Sound off in the comments.</p>
<p id="HzzfGt"> </p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2016/9/26/13060326/tiny-house-trailer-rv-camperJenny Xie2016-09-22T11:30:09-04:002016-09-22T11:30:09-04:00Tiny house zoning regulations: What you need to know
<figure>
<img alt="A tiny home with a porch." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F-5LGC8AT5ONAH7BfZd8mjE0I4k=/74x0:3719x2734/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50976319/MLF_Micro-house_highres.0.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>A tiny home in a community in <a href="http://austin.curbed.com/2016/5/17/11686368/tiny-houses-austin-end-homelessness">Austin, Texas</a>. | <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/celestadanger/">Celesta Danger</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Find out which states are the most tiny house-friendly</p> <p id="kgPdhT">Despite the growing enthusiasm for <a href="http://www.curbed.com/tiny-homes">tiny houses</a>, it still isn’t easy to legally build them for full-time use. Zoning laws and building codes, by and large, require a minimum square footage for new-construction homes, and progress to reduce that square footage is slow.</p>
<p id="QwsJUX">"There are only a handful of cities across the country that directly address tiny houses," says Alexis Stephens, the national coordinator for the <a href="http://americantinyhouseassociation.org/">Tiny House Association</a> and the producer of <a href="http://www.tinyhouseexpedition.com/">Tiny House Expedition</a>. Stephens is making <a href="http://www.tinyhouseexpedition.com/livingtinylegally/">a three-part documentary</a> about living legally in a tiny home after she found that "there’s a lot of interest [in tiny living], but people are confused by the zoning codes and regulations, and feel intimidated to go to the city government."</p>
<div id="9SRbqb"><a style="width: 300px; float: right; margin-left: 20px;" href="http://www.curbed.com/curbed-handbook"> <img alt="handbook-widget" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6378049/sandbox_CurbedHandbook-widget.0.0.jpg"> </a></div>
<p id="dDxnz2">Cities and towns that have started to accommodate tiny homes have typically been pushed by grassroots organizers asking government officials for changes to local building and zoning codes. The result is that tiny house ordinances are "so darn specific," as Stephens says, to the town or city they’re approved in.</p>
<p id="mahtOz">In that vein, here you will find a breakdown of the states across America where it’s actually feasible to build the tiny house of your dreams and what you need to know before you do it. If you don’t see your state on the list, the American Tiny House Association <a href="http://americantinyhouseassociation.org/state-regulations/">rounded up regulations</a> for many states, as well as contact info for state chapter leaders. And there’s always the option to <a href="http://americantinyhouseassociation.org/how-to-initiate-tiny-house-friendly-zoning-changes/">petition your own city</a> for tiny house-friendly zoning changes.</p>
<h3 id="32SGvT">Types of tiny homes</h3>
<p id="e55OxF">There are two types of tiny homes: a tiny house on wheels, legally considered a recreational vehicle (RV), and a tiny house on a foundation, legally considered an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU. If you’re building a tiny house on wheels, you’ll need to register it as an RV with your state; in most states, a self-built RV will be inspected before it gets a license plate. Building an accessory dwelling unit, however, is more complicated.</p>
<h3 id="IM14DG">So where can I live?</h3>
<p id="fnx69C">If you’ve registered your tiny house on wheels as an RV and plan to travel with it, you aren’t dealing with zoning or building code concerns—you just need to find a place to park it. You could stay in a friend’s backyard or park on their driveway (with permission, of course), or pay to stay at a camping or RV site. The latter will dictate how long you’re allowed to stay there. Most states prohibit RVs as full-time residences in zones other than RV parks—but the rule is really only enforced if your tiny house on wheels is reported or complained about.</p>
<p id="vl8Rqn"></p>
<p id="fsRSVw">Building a tiny house on a foundation is trickier. Zoning and building regulations across the country prohibit you from buying land and building your own tiny house on it. Instead, you’ll have to build an accessory dwelling unit, which means a secondary residential dwelling unit located on a single-family lot. (These units can be referred to as a carriage house, granny flat, mother-in-law suite, auxiliary unit, English basement, or cottage; ADU is the technical term.)</p>
<p id="2hfGfK">A collection of ADUs built around one larger structure is known as a tiny house community. Both ADUs and tiny house communities are only allowed in certain states, which we’re about to get to.</p>
<h3 id="H6e1dG">Building codes versus zoning</h3>
<p id="yjiUCt">It’s important to understand the difference between building codes and zoning—both of which dictate and limit the construction of tiny homes. "Construction codes tell you how to build your house," explains Andrew Morrison, of <a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/">Tiny House Build</a>. "Zoning depends on where you’ll build your house."</p>
<p id="GvifEW">Most of the country’s local building codes have been adopted from the <a href="http://codes.iccsafe.org/app/book/toc/2015/2015%20San%20Antonio/2015%20IRC%20HTML/">International Residential Code (IRC)</a> for one- and two-family dwellings, which contains size specifications like rooms (except bathrooms and kitchens) must be at least 70 square feet, while ceiling height must be at least 7 feet.</p>
<p id="vUUiv4">Zoning regulations are based off more local factors, and determine the size requirements of your home based on what zone it’s located in. You will need to call your local zoning or planning department to find that info. Many cities and counties, however, have a minimum size requirement of 1,000 square feet or more for construction of a new home on its own land, according to <a href="http://tinyhousecommunity.com/faq.htm#wheretolive">Tiny House Community</a>.</p>
<h3 id="Jnl6at">States with flexible building codes or zoning regulations<strong> </strong>
</h3>
<p id="8h3cIO"></p>
<p id="7I8EGV">Even though the IRC and local zoning regulations are in place, a citizen can still apply for a variance through the local planning commission to build outside the existing codes. The states listed below have most progressive building codes, or they are home to the most interesting tiny house projects.</p>
<h4 id="tBTJJL"><strong>California</strong></h4>
<p id="H4dz84">California is one of the best states for being a tiny-house enthusiast. In the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Sacramento, and Sonoma, tiny houses on wheels are allowed as "<a href="http://www.tinyhousecommunity.com/map/caregiver-caravans-legal-in-sonoma-and-other-northern-ca-counties/">caregiver dwellings</a>" in the backyard of a person who needs assistance. Just this year, <a href="https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2016/01/19/fresno-passes-groundbreaking-tiny-house-rules/">Fresno city zoning approved</a> tiny houses on wheels as backyard cottages <em>without</em> the requirement for the tiny house dweller to serve as a caregiver. This created a "ripple effect," as Stephens put it, with the planning commission in the town of Ojai currently <a href="http://americantinyhouseassociation.org/tiny-houses-on-wheels-approved-as-backyard-cottages-in-ojai-ca/">drafting amendments</a> for the same type of allowance.</p>
<p id="M75OIs">Los Angeles has proven to be less progressive. Earlier this year, the city <a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-tiny-houses-return-20160421-story.html">agreed to return tiny houses</a> that were built for homeless people and seized by the police. But the mayor said he didn’t support the concept of a tiny house village.</p>
<h4 id="0RHLvG">Colorado</h4>
<p id="sNOE6y">There are a few towns in Colorado that have been open to tiny house amendments. In 2013, Walsenburg became the first town in the state to amend zoning regulations for tiny houses between 120 and 600 square feet. In the mountain town of Durango, an ordinance to allow ADUs in the East Animas City neighborhood was approved in 2014.</p>
<h4 id="j3iFp2">Florida</h4>
<p id="obGthT">Some of the most progressive tiny housing zoning ordinances in the country were approved in Rockledge, Florida, two years ago. A citizen-led initiative led the city to consider <a href="http://americantinyhouseassociation.org/model-zoning-for-tiny-houses-from-rockledge-fl/">two appropriate zoning districts</a> for tiny houses: redevelopment mixed use district (RMU) and planned unit development (PUD). The city also added definitions to distinguish tiny houses and tiny houses on wheels.</p>
<p id="Bk0JL4">Today, both tiny houses on wheels and foundation are legal inside the city limits within two zoning districts that include community use. The Rockledge Tiny House Community will be a <a href="http://www.pocket-neighborhoods.net.">Pocket Neighborhood</a> with homes ranging 150 to 700 square feet around shared park space.</p>
<h4 id="pxwbYE">Massachusetts</h4>
<p id="zQkP3W">This year, a Nantucket resident started pushing for an amendment to the town’s zoning bylaws for residents to start building tiny. The state’s attorney general office is now expected to approve an amendment that would allow new residential construction under 500 square feet in several districts. (Tiny homes would need to included water, septic and electricity hookups and fitted to fixed foundations due to hurricane concerns.) If approved, Nantucket will officially be the first Massachusetts community to approve zoning that specifically allows for tiny houses.</p>
<p id="NySjBF"></p>
<h4 id="CbXgV9">Michigan</h4>
<p id="dY3fIt">A tiny house population designed to house low-income residents is <a href="http://detroit.curbed.com/2016/9/9/12860756/tiny-house-detroit-neighborhood-low-income">now under construction</a> in Detroit. It is is the first project of its type in the city, and required a community organization to work with the city on the appropriate zoning to build homes between 250 and 400 square feet. The first phase of construction is expected to wrap this fall.</p>
<h4 id="qVLmLr">New York</h4>
<p id="rfLWZd">Although not a tiny <em>house</em>, New York City’s <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/building/3322/335-east-27th-street">first micro apartment building</a> opened to residents this year. In effect, the mayor’s office has relaxed zoning restrictions so that developers can now include apartments under 400 square feet in new development. While tiny cabins can be found throughout more rural areas of the state, no towns have officially adopted more lax zoning rules to allow for tiny house construction. Tiny houses that have <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2016/9/19/12937864/tiny-house-vacation-nyc-getaway">made news</a> in New York recently—three 160-square-foot modern <a href="http://www.curbed.com/2016/6/9/11894468/tiny-houses-for-rent-getaway-new-york">"Getaway" cabins</a> that can be rented out—are on wheels, meaning they would be registered as an RV.</p>
<h4 id="7mx9BX">Oregon</h4>
<p id="vKU242">Consider Portland the best major city for tiny houses. The city allows for, and supports, the construction of accessory dwelling units. (Here’s <a href="http://pdxadu.blogspot.com/">a site</a> on how to build an ADU in Portland.) The allowance has allowed for everything from <a href="http://www.curbed.com/2016/5/10/11640420/tiny-house-village-portland-oregon-tumbleweed-home">tiny house communities</a>—in which a collection of tiny homes surround a larger structure—to a <a href="http://tinyhousehotel.com/">tiny house hotel.</a></p>
<h4 id="sLPvVh">Texas</h4>
<p id="lfYbXw">Two years ago the town of <a href="http://www.spurfreedom.org/">Spur, Texas</a> declared itself the tiny house capital of America, with the local government voting to do away with nearly all building restrictions. The town has since attracted tiny house buildings, who must submit their tiny house design for approval and agree to connect to the electrical grid, water supply, and sewage system. Houses on wheels must also be placed on concrete foundations due to tornados.</p>
<p id="aXnE8R">Rules on ADUs were <a href="http://americantinyhouseassociation.org/adus-in-austin-tx/">recently relaxed</a> in Austin, and in Fort Worth, the planning commission is flexible with ADUs so far as they meet the city rules. Dallas regulates that ADUs can only be built via a special exemption.</p>
<p id="Ph9cUy">Texas also has what’s known as "unrestricted zoning ordinances," which Stephens explains as "more like the ‘wild west’... there are no, or very loose, zoning guidelines and you’re able to build as you see fit."</p>
<p id="iTH50w">As you might guess, this (lack of) zoning exists in mostly remote, rural areas throughout the country. The tiny house community <a href="https://austinlivework.com/">Austin LiveWork</a> is an exception, as it’s located 15 minutes outside of the city and is under no zoning governance. Builders are currently planning for tiny resident living over 10 acres of land.</p>
<h3 id="Rfa7NG">The future of tiny houses</h3>
<p id="dgnvXW">There’s plenty of momentum to continue changing zoning regulations at the local level. But there’s movement on the national level, too. Tiny house advocates are currently pushing to include <a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/proposed-tiny-house-code/">a tiny house code</a> in the International Residential Code (IRC) that would become a model code for all tiny houses used as a primary residence within the United States.</p>
<p id="BbXGxZ">"Issues like ceiling heights, emergency escape egress and lofts are almost impossible to pass through the existing IRC code," says Morrison, who is behind <a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/">Tiny House Build</a> and also spearheading this proposal. Morrison considers tiny houses on wheels and ADUs "great steps forward," but, he says, "We need a national-level code [for tiny house building regulations]." If included, this new code would be integrated into latest IRC codes, set to go into motion in 2018.</p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2016/9/22/13002832/tiny-house-zoning-laws-regulationsEmily Nonko2016-09-21T15:30:00-04:002016-09-21T15:30:00-04:0011 best furniture buys for tiny apartments
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Pieces for the living room, kitchen, bedroom, and beyond</p> <p id="zhnIWu">As urban dwellers brace for <a href="http://www.curbed.com/2016/3/15/11235986/micro-apartments-tech-industry-millennials">shrinking apartments</a> nationwide, making the most of every square foot becomes paramount.</p>
<p><a style="width: 300px; float: right; margin-left: 20px;" href="http://www.curbed.com/tiny-houses-micro-apartments"> <img alt="micro-week" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7116791/Micro_Week_Logo.0.jpg"> </a></p>
<p id="pwdt4m">While we love sharing stories of <a href="http://www.curbed.com/2016/4/11/11407992/tiny-apartment-ideas-hong-kong-transforming-apartment">fancy</a> <a href="http://www.curbed.com/2015/7/17/9939330/efficient-design-small-apartments">custom touches</a> that instantly transform tiny apartments into radically efficient spaces, there’s no doubt that just one piece of clever, readymade furniture can make a difference in your home, whether that’s adding storage where it seems impossible to do so or adding extra functionality to a standard item.</p>
<p id="F9Bf7L">Below, check out our picks for the best small-space furniture buys that don’t skimp on style, spanning pieces for the living room, kitchen, bedroom, and beyond.</p>
<div data-analytics-viewport="autotune" data-analytics-label="curbed-planter:3359" id="curbed-planter__graphic"></div>
<p><script type="text/javascript"><!-- (function() { var l = function() { new pym.Parent( 'curbed-planter__graphic', 'https://apps.voxmedia.com/at/curbed-planter/'); }; if(typeof(pym) === 'undefined') { var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pym/0.4.5/pym.js'; s.onload = l; h.appendChild(s); } else { l(); } })();// --></script></p>
<p><strong>Hedge House Furniture, </strong><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F150435597%2Fwhite-oak-indoor-planter%3Fref%3Dshop_home_active_1&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F21%2F12231360%2Fsmall-space-furniture-ideas" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>White Oak Indoor Planter</strong></a><strong>, $495 (made to order) </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>Just because you don’t have a yard doesn’t mean you can't still get your green thumb on! This planter offers a neat indoor home for your plants or herb garden, plus some extra storage underneath.</p>
<div data-analytics-viewport="autotune" data-analytics-label="curbed-anglepoise:3360" id="curbed-anglepoise__graphic"></div>
<p><script type="text/javascript"><!-- (function() { var l = function() { new pym.Parent( 'curbed-anglepoise__graphic', 'https://apps.voxmedia.com/at/curbed-anglepoise/'); }; if(typeof(pym) === 'undefined') { var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pym/0.4.5/pym.js'; s.onload = l; h.appendChild(s); } else { l(); } })();// --></script></p>
<p><strong>Anglepoise, </strong><a href="http://us-shop.anglepoise.com/collections/type-75-mini/products/type-75-mini-floor-lamp"><strong>Type 75 Mini Floor Lamp</strong></a><strong>, $250 </strong></p>
<p>A scaled-down version of the classic British design, this floor lamp can hold a wide range of positions, making for a clean, flexible addition to any small space.</p>
<div id="ptGcLn"> <div id="curbed-ssf1__graphic" data-analytics-label="curbed-ssf1:2981" data-analytics-viewport="autotune"></div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- (function() { var l = function() { new pym.Parent( 'curbed-ssf1__graphic', 'https://apps.voxmedia.com/at/curbed-ssf1/'); }; if(typeof(pym) === 'undefined') { var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pym/0.4.5/pym.js'; s.onload = l; h.appendChild(s); } else { l(); } })();// --></script> </div>
<p id="2VrYw8"><strong>Hayneedle, </strong><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hayneedle.com%2Fproduct%2Fcherrylifttopcoffee.cfm%23pr-header-back-to-top-link%2520&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F21%2F12231360%2Fsmall-space-furniture-ideas" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Turner Lift Top Coffee Table</strong></a><strong>, $137.98</strong></p>
<p id="DiBupL">This top of this clean-lined coffee table lifts up to reveal a storage chamber, perfect for stashing away knick knacks or books when guests are around. (If you’re careful to not exert <em>too </em>much pressure, the lift-top can also serve as a makeshift dining table for TV dinners.)</p>
<div id="7ZcRK5"> <div id="curbed-ssf2__graphic" data-analytics-label="curbed-ssf2:2982" data-analytics-viewport="autotune"></div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- (function() { var l = function() { new pym.Parent( 'curbed-ssf2__graphic', 'https://apps.voxmedia.com/at/curbed-ssf2/'); }; if(typeof(pym) === 'undefined') { var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pym/0.4.5/pym.js'; s.onload = l; h.appendChild(s); } else { l(); } })();// --></script> </div>
<p id="Bq2Dzt"><strong>CB2, </strong><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cb2.com%2F3-piece-peekaboo-acrylic-nesting-table-set%2Fs173274&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F21%2F12231360%2Fsmall-space-furniture-ideas" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>3-Piece Peekaboo Acrylic Nesting Table Set</strong></a><strong>, $199.00 </strong></p>
<p id="ISZNpv">Whether used in the living room or by a bed, these transparent nesting tables add extra counter space while avoiding visual clutter.</p>
<div id="Pr6nHC"> <div id="curbed-ssf3__graphic" data-analytics-label="curbed-ssf3:2983" data-analytics-viewport="autotune"></div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- (function() { var l = function() { new pym.Parent( 'curbed-ssf3__graphic', 'https://apps.voxmedia.com/at/curbed-ssf3/'); }; if(typeof(pym) === 'undefined') { var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pym/0.4.5/pym.js'; s.onload = l; h.appendChild(s); } else { l(); } })();// --></script> </div>
<p id="TTJVPh"><strong>Ikea, </strong><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ikea.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fcatalog%2Fproducts%2F50227973%2F&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F21%2F12231360%2Fsmall-space-furniture-ideas" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>RÅSKOG Utility Cart</strong></a><strong>, $29.99</strong></p>
<p id="AniRLN">Like the bar cart’s more practical cousin, this compact utility cart has an adjustable middle section for different storage needs.</p>
<div id="MC8xeu"> <div id="curbed-ssf4__graphic" data-analytics-label="curbed-ssf4:2984" data-analytics-viewport="autotune"></div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- (function() { var l = function() { new pym.Parent( 'curbed-ssf4__graphic', 'https://apps.voxmedia.com/at/curbed-ssf4/'); }; if(typeof(pym) === 'undefined') { var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pym/0.4.5/pym.js'; s.onload = l; h.appendChild(s); } else { l(); } })();// --></script> </div>
<p id="0nLUC6"><strong>Walmart, </strong><a href="https://goto.walmart.com/c/482924/565706/9383?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FParsons-Daybed-Black%2F26765820&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Parsons Daybed</strong></a><strong>, $194.00 </strong></p>
<p id="1w8eXf">With a pared-back, black steel frame, this is the Glass House of daybeds—or day-to-night beds, rather. You can even hang a few things on the frame if you don’t mind ruining the minimalist look.</p>
<div id="q26qvK"> <div id="curbed-ssf5__graphic" data-analytics-label="curbed-ssf5:2985" data-analytics-viewport="autotune"></div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- (function() { var l = function() { new pym.Parent( 'curbed-ssf5__graphic', 'https://apps.voxmedia.com/at/curbed-ssf5/'); }; if(typeof(pym) === 'undefined') { var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pym/0.4.5/pym.js'; s.onload = l; h.appendChild(s); } else { l(); } })();// --></script> </div>
<p id="kKo1qb"><strong>Akron Street,</strong><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.akronstreet.com%2Fcollections%2Famerican-oak-basics%2Fproducts%2Falta-clothes-rack&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F21%2F12231360%2Fsmall-space-furniture-ideas" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong> Alta Clothes Rack</strong></a><strong>, $195.00 </strong></p>
<p id="yMJYPP">For when your new apartment doesn’t come with a closet. Womp.</p>
<div id="aPTb2r"> <div id="curbed-ssf6__graphic" data-analytics-label="curbed-ssf6:2986" data-analytics-viewport="autotune"></div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- (function() { var l = function() { new pym.Parent( 'curbed-ssf6__graphic', 'https://apps.voxmedia.com/at/curbed-ssf6/'); }; if(typeof(pym) === 'undefined') { var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pym/0.4.5/pym.js'; s.onload = l; h.appendChild(s); } else { l(); } })();// --></script> </div>
<p id="ytAIIZ"><strong>Wayfair, </strong><a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/http://www.wayfair.com/25-W-x-24-H-Bathroom-Shelf-I-3436-I-3439-MNQ2567.html" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Monarch Specialties Inc. Bathroom Shelf</strong></a><strong>, $47.99 </strong></p>
<p id="uz79rV">This petite shelf is ideal for storing towels, tissues, and more in a small bathroom, but can work for other areas of the home.</p>
<div id="5ZgZwa"> <div id="curbed-ssf7__graphic" data-analytics-label="curbed-ssf7:2987" data-analytics-viewport="autotune"></div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- (function() { var l = function() { new pym.Parent( 'curbed-ssf7__graphic', 'https://apps.voxmedia.com/at/curbed-ssf7/'); }; if(typeof(pym) === 'undefined') { var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pym/0.4.5/pym.js'; s.onload = l; h.appendChild(s); } else { l(); } })();// --></script> </div>
<p id="vVadhK"><strong>AllModern, </strong><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.allmodern.com%2FMinimal-Large-Floating-Desk-ORG1119.html&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F21%2F12231360%2Fsmall-space-furniture-ideas" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Orange22 Minimal Floating Desk</strong></a><strong>, $648.99</strong></p>
<p id="895iog">Add a desk to any wall, slide-out compartment included.</p>
<div id="0xlfVg"> <div id="curbed-ssf8__graphic" data-analytics-label="curbed-ssf8:2988" data-analytics-viewport="autotune"></div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- (function() { var l = function() { new pym.Parent( 'curbed-ssf8__graphic', 'https://apps.voxmedia.com/at/curbed-ssf8/'); }; if(typeof(pym) === 'undefined') { var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pym/0.4.5/pym.js'; s.onload = l; h.appendChild(s); } else { l(); } })();// --></script> </div>
<p id="gelQ8t"><strong>Bookniture, </strong><a href="http://www.bookniture.com/"><strong>Field Brown Edition</strong></a><strong>, $86 </strong></p>
<p id="tvhuCQ">Now you see it, now you don’t: this clever stool/nightstand/sidetable closes into a "book" that you can tuck away on a shelf.</p>
<div id="tJAnXJ"> <div id="curbed-ssf9__graphic" data-analytics-label="curbed-ssf9:2989" data-analytics-viewport="autotune"></div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- (function() { var l = function() { new pym.Parent( 'curbed-ssf9__graphic', 'https://apps.voxmedia.com/at/curbed-ssf9/'); }; if(typeof(pym) === 'undefined') { var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pym/0.4.5/pym.js'; s.onload = l; h.appendChild(s); } else { l(); } })();// --></script> </div>
<p id="cCVuUM"><strong>Overstock, </strong><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.overstock.com%2FHome-Garden%2FKaysa-White-Aluminum-Modern-Bar-Stools-Set-of-2%2F6444229%2Fproduct.html&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F7%2F21%2F12231360%2Fsmall-space-furniture-ideas" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Kaysa White Aluminum Modern Bar Stools</strong></a><strong>, $209.98 (Set of 2) </strong></p>
<p id="CcGEWv">These stackable stools are safe for indoor-outdoor use, so take advantage of that teeny tiny patio if you’re ever so lucky to have one.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr">
<h3>Curbed Video: Tips for tiny living</h3>
<div>
<div data-analytics-viewport="video" data-analytics-action="volume:view:article:middle" data-analytics-label="Tips for tiny living|5475" data-volume-uuid="82b150f42" data-volume-id="5475" data-analytics-placement="article:middle" data-volume-placement="article" data-volume-autoplay="false" id="volume-placement-838" class="volume-video"></div>
</div>
https://archive.curbed.com/2016/7/21/12231360/small-space-furniture-ideasJenny Xie