General Discussion

Blanks

(4,835 posts)

70. Ikea has a lot of stuff for making small spaces work...

Wed Nov 20, 2013, 12:02 PM

Nov 2013

I imagine it would be like living in a camp trailer or a camper on the back of a pickup, or an RV.

It would be much different than 1000 sf, but I think it could be done depending on the things that you consider valuable.

To me, a good nights sleep is among the most valuable things in the world. With the technology available today, you could own a huge bookshelf and keep it in a thumbdrive.

I have a small 8'x8' tool shed in my back yard, and with a pitched roof (so that sleeping quarters could be upstairs, kitchen and bathroom downstairs) I can see someone living in that much space comfortably. Even with an infant or a small child, but it wouldn't be comfortable long term - even with all the Ikea equipment in the world. Much better than sleeping in a cardboard box though.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

129 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

"TINY HOUSES"....Could this Work for Some? [View all] KoKo Nov 2013 OP

It would work for ALL of us if we'd get off our selfish consumerist asses. NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #1

Not ALL of us (kids) but it certainly would be more efficient use of space for many. Gormy Cuss Nov 2013 #2

We kids bathed together. But then we had hot cold running river water, too, and played with dirt. NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #3

I love my tiny "house" cbayer Nov 2013 #14

Buenas noches! NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #15

It's definitely not for everybody. cbayer Nov 2013 #20

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #45

Big houses and big cars have a price paid by everyone. nt NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #46

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #53

There is a radical difference between 64 sq. feet and under 1000. pnwmom Nov 2013 #47

Ikea has a lot of stuff for making small spaces work... Blanks Nov 2013 #70

My wife amd I will be empty nesters in 3 years... Earth_First Nov 2013 #61

The elites would LOVE for us to live like sardines. WinkyDink Nov 2013 #97

There won't be any elites. They'll have all been served up for dinner. NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #99

Is that why Blackwater could control the masses post-Katrina? WinkyDink Nov 2013 #125

I like small abodes tazkcmo Nov 2013 #128

I'm a big Tiny House fan. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #4

Have you looked into shipping containers? Blanks Nov 2013 #71

I think I've checked out almost the entire internet by now IrishAyes Nov 2013 #80

The roofs are probably better than trailer houses... Blanks Nov 2013 #89

Thanks! IrishAyes Nov 2013 #91

They'll handle over a hundred tons jmowreader Nov 2013 #105

Thanks. I know if a roof can support a heavy load, snow's a wonderful insulator. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #107

They're not wheelchair-accessible KamaAina Nov 2013 #5

Some are..... DeSwiss Nov 2013 #19

Sweet! KamaAina Nov 2013 #30

Good point. A certain proportion should be required to be accessible (nt) Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #27

living in a shed... yikes. nt dionysus Nov 2013 #6

I can see it. But Seattle has been inundated with "apodments". nolabear Nov 2013 #7

These are Tiny Houses but for individual occupancy. KoKo Nov 2013 #13

I understand Tiny Houses. I've seen them. But the apodments are NOT low income! nolabear Nov 2013 #33

I found an apodment story. 140 square feet, $500 per month and up. nolabear Nov 2013 #38

Pretty crazy, thanks for the link...nt Jesus Malverde Nov 2013 #76

43 units on a 5000sf lot??? lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #88

Are they sort of like college dorms then? Dorms with suites and cooking pnwmom Nov 2013 #48

Actually a little nicer than dorms, but hardly bigger. nolabear Nov 2013 #66

I found one Japanese multi-purpose furniture design that could fit into just a very few square feet! IrishAyes Nov 2013 #87

Hopefully zoning requirements and such won't make these impossible Marrah_G Nov 2013 #8

Indeed in most places I think building codes and zoning laws would prevent these types PoliticAverse Nov 2013 #9

It's a sad thing Marrah_G Nov 2013 #37

Yeah, I was thinking that too. laundry_queen Nov 2013 #43

One way poorer people built their houses was one room at a time as they could afford it... PoliticAverse Nov 2013 #55

In the Midwest, the first thing to do was to dig a hole in the ground eridani Nov 2013 #60

common sense solution rarely applied reddread Nov 2013 #64

'A Pattern Language' and... druidity33 Nov 2013 #62

Have to agree 2naSalit Nov 2013 #12

zoning would kill it in most places. you might be able to put them up in trailer parks. JVS Nov 2013 #10

I've always been a fan demigoddess Nov 2013 #11

Yes...with Open Space and plantings to make it attractive and Community Garden...? KoKo Nov 2013 #18

These aren't just for the homeless or disadvantaged IDemo Nov 2013 #16

I would feel very comfortable living in such a place. Kaleva Nov 2013 #34

It's an updated Hooverville. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #17

When the government values supporting the wealthy on the backs of the working person. jtuck004 Nov 2013 #21

I keep thinking of people I knew who were obsessed with their grand staircase.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #24

Or the balconey of their investment firm. n/t jtuck004 Nov 2013 #25

...and even at that they are fought against. Egalitarian Thug Nov 2013 #56

Cobbled together shacks and small jewels are 2 entirely different things. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #92

Imagine coming home to discover someone stole your house. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #95

Well, I wouldn't be making mine portable. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #96

If the Rich gave a DAMN about PR they would have bought up Detroit to GIVE houses to the poor. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #101

Quite true. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #102

Every so often I look in at Realtor.com at properties back east.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #114

Good grief. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #116

I saw a Victorian in Battle Creek that they couldn't even sell for $7k become an empty lot.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #117

Thanks, I saved the picture. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #118

Maybe it goes back to Lady and the Tramp.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #120

Indeed. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #121

I've thought it would be cool to wire a solar battery bank to power antique wall sconces with LEDs.. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #122

Kauai is recycling shipping containers KauaiK Nov 2013 #22

Love Kauai! PasadenaTrudy Nov 2013 #67

Conestoga Hut; Eugene, Oregon Ace Acme Nov 2013 #23

A good plan for a camp! Kaleva Nov 2013 #32

Why not? I've lived in shoebox-sized apartments. Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #26

K & R, very cool dreamnightwind Nov 2013 #28

Sorry, too small. Beacool Nov 2013 #29

i could fill that tiny thing with just my musical equipment. dionysus Nov 2013 #69

Of course, I was just being flippant. Beacool Nov 2013 #72

i thought you just copied the youtube link from the browser? dionysus Nov 2013 #73

When I right click on the video there are three choices. Beacool Nov 2013 #108

Could it be instead that stuff has you? IrishAyes Nov 2013 #81

I was kidding, but I do have plenty of stuff. Beacool Nov 2013 #109

Well, since my income peaked and tanked partly due to one of the businesses I had - IrishAyes Nov 2013 #113

I like this idea. burnsei sensei Nov 2013 #31

I lived in a tiny house for about eight months Blue_In_AK Nov 2013 #35

Looks like they used pallets for the walls. ErikJ Nov 2013 #36

Blown in insulation. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #85

Room enough for a mattress, kitchen, and a TV? Works for me. NuclearDem Nov 2013 #39

I have a guy living in my backyard shed ErikJ Nov 2013 #40

Some people just don't need a lot of junk to be happy Victor_c3 Nov 2013 #79

Hmmmm... SoapBox Nov 2013 #41

my friend is not homeless. DesertFlower Nov 2013 #42

Something like that would be perfectly miserable in Sacramento most of the year, if not dangerous. LeftyMom Nov 2013 #44

What is even more miserable is no shelter at all. Marrah_G Nov 2013 #54

Yes, but that thing would kill people in our heat. LeftyMom Nov 2013 #110

those are lovely lil homes Liberal_in_LA Nov 2013 #49

I think tiny houses are really cute, and I really adore the aesthetics of some designs -- but struggle4progress Nov 2013 #50

So many empty houses in America-- the homeless could be housed without new construction Dems to Win Nov 2013 #51

I've seen plenty of Tiny House designs that included all facilities; at least a shower, often a bath IrishAyes Nov 2013 #84

These make sense if you have absolutely no stuff. SheilaT Nov 2013 #52

They need to build these things out of bluedeathray Nov 2013 #57

cob mopinko Nov 2013 #75

I lived in a single wide trailer Warpy Nov 2013 #58

I live in a single-wide mobile home now. RebelOne Nov 2013 #83

yep a million ways to skin that cat reddread Nov 2013 #59

I've told my father JesterCS Nov 2013 #63

I could definitely do it, but I'd need a yard or shared commons for the dog. tridim Nov 2013 #65

I think it's a good idea that people are thinking about better solutions. ladyVet Nov 2013 #68

I will not rest until the Waltons and Koch's are living in them. TBF Nov 2013 #74

EXACTLY. THANK YOU. Some people aren't grasping that this is what the 1% WANT for us: NO WinkyDink Nov 2013 #98

That's why I rail against "ebooks," downloads in lieu of owning physical media. duffyduff Nov 2013 #112

It's my understanding at least that when you download an ebook, IrishAyes Nov 2013 #124

You are me! OMG, books, books, everywhere, nor any place to read! Haha! I'll read them in my next WinkyDink Nov 2013 #127

Not much in life's more beautiful than a book. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #129

Wait until everything is in a "cloud". WinkyDink Nov 2013 #126

This is NOT an "alternative" and is downright unhealthy. duffyduff Nov 2013 #77

I think there's an element of overcorrection and escape fantasy going on here. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #86

Yea I agree with you lumberjack_jeff Hippo_Tron Nov 2013 #100

So those of us who might PREFER a small home in order to remain independent as we age, IrishAyes Nov 2013 #94

That's not the point - TBF Nov 2013 #104

Agreed. IrishAyes Nov 2013 #106

I can see that point as well TBF Nov 2013 #115

One of the few posts where I agree with virtually everyone Nevernose Nov 2013 #119

Austerity for the masses while the kings have their castles - TBF Nov 2013 #103

+1,000,000 duffyduff Nov 2013 #111

Looks neat but... Locrian Nov 2013 #78

Tiny homes Jesus Malverde Nov 2013 #82

we used to have plenty of public housing questionseverything Nov 2013 #90

My family of four lives in 90 sq ft FreeJoe Nov 2013 #93

Much better than no house. mwrguy Nov 2013 #123