As housing costs continue to rise and the Covid pandemic rages on, many people are reexamining where, and how, they live—and tiny homes have never been more appealing. Some are trading in larger houses for cabins, micro-homes—and even boats—that promise a closer connection to nature and financial freedom. And as the projects below show, even the smallest spaces can offer mighty living experiences.

Norske Mikrohus’s spruce-clad Tind tiny home was inspired by the mountains and woods of Norway.

The open-plan kitchen and living area are outfitted with birch veneer walls, and the flooring is ash.  

Rast is a 174-square-foot-home that promises to get you closer to nature.

Designed by Jeanette Reiss-Andersen of Norske Mikrohus, Rast is a 174-square-foot tiny home clad in dark-stained Norwegian spruce.  

The blackened timber–clad cabin that Arba designed in Longueil, Normandy, France, is marked by large glass doors, layered with wood slats that slide open and connect the home to its lush landscape.  

The open-plan ground floor allows the communal spaces to flow into one another. A wooden ladder accesses the lofted bedrooms.

"The composite structure is extraordinarily durable," says Haus.Me CEO Max Gerbut. "Its yacht-inspired exterior is created from fiberglass, stainless steel, and teak."

Whether you’re looking to hit the road or build a backyard ADU, the Microhaus offers mega convenience in a pint-sized package.

Delo Design’s compact holiday cabin packs a kitchen, bathroom, bed, and storage into 120 square feet.

The Cabin is furnished with Delo Design’s TRU chairs in cream. The bed is nestled beneath a large window that frames the landscape, and a small kitchenette sits opposite the dining zone.

Fatigued by skyrocketing housing costs and the modern world’s waning connection to nature, Lee Loewen and Payam Shalchian of Canada-based Instead create an off-grid-capable tiny house called Project 01. The 262-square-foot cabin is clad with black-stained pine that helps it to meld with the natural landscape.

The interior of the micro-cabin is finished with pine plywood that provides pattern and an organic quality. In the kitchen, stainless-steel cabinetry, counters, and appliances lend an industrial aesthetic that balances the materiality of the wood.

Pin-Up Houses transformed a 20-foot shipping container into an off-grid tiny home in just three months. The eco-friendly escape is powered by solar panels and a wind turbine—and it even includes a full bath.

The design team sprayed the metal structure’s inner walls with thermal insulation. Then they framed the interior with studs and clad it in spruce plywood.

Nikki Adcock and Rick Hill designed and built the Hideaway, a 162-square-foot cabin, to be a weekend retreat. It’s sided with Japanese cedar and features a matte black, corrugated steel roof that references traditional backcountry huts.

In the cabin’s living area, a built-in plywood bed cantilevers above a storage area and a plywood bench padded with cushions.

Inspired by the idea of a living organism, Madeiguincho’s 188-square-foot cabin collects, stores, and reuses rainwater and produces food and energy.

The interior of the cabin is outfitted with a living space that converts to a sleeping area and an open kitchen. Birch plywood wraps the space, lending warmth and texture.

Nestron’s latest tiny home, clad with steel and fiber-reinforced plastic, measures 376 square feet and is available in a one-bedroom or two-bedroom configuration.

Built-in furniture preserves floor space for the tiny home. The designers outfitted the dining area with a built-in table for two and created a sleek built-in sofa for the living space.

Check out more Tiny Homes and Small Spaces stories.

Discover small spaces filled with big ideas—from clever storage solutions to shape-shifting rooms.

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