Tiny homes are everywhere right now. Homeowners are looking for escapes from their house, often without having to leave their backyard. Plus, with rising inflation, tiny homes can be a much cheaper alternative to building a house. Responding to the demand, big box retailers like Costco and Amazon have gotten in on the action, with foldable, pop-up properties.
Since civilization began, the pull to tiny homes (yurts, tents, igloos, etc.), minimalism, and remote living from the busyness of life have held a steady pulse in society. Spikes in interests have heightened from Henry David Thoreau’s 19th-century great escape into the charms of Walden to Allan Wexler’s 1979 attempt at compact living. The late ’90s sparked the tiny house movement into more of a permanent extension of the home, instead of a fleeting trend.
For a quick annex to your home —a craft shed, a play room, a home office or a greenhouse —these pop-up properties are great additions. But this is not where their potential stops. You can actually live in them. Since their boom in popularity, they’ve become so luxurious and decked out that for those living alone, or smaller families, they could replace a regular apartment altogether.
The allure of living big in small spaces rests in what the ready-made home can become: a seamless extension of your home. We investigated some of the best prefab tiny homes, or modular bunk houses. Here’s everything you need to know, including what it costs to install one of them, and what kind of living they’re best for. From a guest house designed for multigenerational living to a double-decker beauty, learn all about our favorites below. They’re sure to radically change your lifestyle for the better—making them well worth the investment.
SKÁLI
Pictured above.
Built with nickel, copper, and chromium, the SKÁLI BackCountry Cuboid can withstand extreme weather. At 424 sq ft., this modern masterpiece includes a full kitchen, three-part bathroom, a primary bedroom, and open lofts to slide in two additional beds. Customize the home into your dream escape and you’re ready to submit your order! Lloyoll will handle the logistics of the build by sending a summary letter describing the project and compliance to your local building authority.
From $306,767. lloyoll.com.
New Frontier
The Escher model from New Frontier is one of the best options we found for a larger family. It sleeps up to six people, and boasts two bedrooms (including a king-sized primary bedroom), a walk-in closet, and a chef’s kitchen. A cantilevered loft housing the king-sized primary bedroom even has skylights as a potential add-on, so if a tiny house sequestered in nature with all of your cooking and living essentials inside is your dream, you’re in luck.
From $235,000. newfrontierdesign.com.
Cube Two
Step into the future with Nestron’s fully furnished, two-bedroom smart house that’s well-suited as a vacation home. (Since it sits right on top of the land, you can move it with a crane and flatbed truck.) With an open-concept layout featuring a unique skylight for stargazing and 328 square feet of space, the prefab unit arrives within three to four months—no construction required.
From $59,000. nestron.house.
Modal OO
This studio-style unit ships anywhere in the United States. Durable quartz countertops, a full-size bathroom, nine-foot ceilings and a garbage disposal all help the space feel much more spacious and lived-in. The process from site planning to delivery is about seven to 13 months, and the team works with you every step of the way.
From $240,000. livemodal.com.
Dwell House
This West Coast-inspired prefab ADU makes retreating to your backyard feel sacred. Brand new to the market, the Dwell House by Abodu would make a great in-law suite for multigenerational living. The brand saw a major uptick during the pandemic as more families wanted to be closer to loved ones. Abodu delivers each unit turnkey, in as little as six months, saving you the headache of finding a builder.
From $389,000. abodu.com.
Backyard
Available in California (so far!), Samara’s Backyard models come as small as studios or as large as two-bed, two-bath units and are built to last a lifetime. Solar panels on the roof harvest enough energy to power each unit. The complete customization and seamless permit process make it easy to use the unit for whatever you like, so if you want a small Airbnb on your property, that’s your prerogative.
From $269,000 for a studio (shown). samara.com.
Studio Shed
If your “guest room” moonlights as a gym, office, or playroom, set boundaries with this 120-square-foot shed that will keep visitors away from the hustle and bustle of your routine. Opting for DIY installation means you’ll save on the front end but need to use some elbow grease to put it together on-site.
From $45,000. studio-shed.com.
Sophie
For the home chef who finds solace at the stove, this unit designed by Shaye’s Tiny Homes in New Zealand has enough space for all your appliances. Sophie also boasts a full-size shower so you won’t have to duck to enter and stairs lead to a second floor with two bedrooms.
From $115,000. tinytopanga.com.
My Milla
From a sauna to a spare home for week-long guests, My Cabin creates Scandinavian-designed homes versatile enough to become anything you can imagine. At 348 square feet, the Milla model is outfitted with a kitchen, full bathroom, and sleeping and living areas so your visitors won’t feel closed in. In need of more room? The units can be sold as sets!
From $98,500. mycabin.us.
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Medgina Saint-Elien covers everything your home needs. She writes about exciting new product launches, hands-on reviews, and the “lightbulb” moments in every maker’s story. In overseeing key HB editorial franchises, including the Live Better Awards, Saint-Elien champions the work of BIPOC entrepreneurs in the design and beauty industries. In addition to House Beautiful, her work has been published in Byrdie, Snapchat, and more. Outside of work, the writer and poet can be found documenting her travels on social media and saving memes for future use.
Janae McKenzie covers all things shopping for House Beautiful. As an associate shopping editor, she’s constantly scoping out the best finds for every part of your home. Janae holds an MA in journalism from the University of Missouri and has been published in Glamour, Food Network and Vox Magazine.
