While traditionally having a larger-than-life home meant you were doing pretty well financially, nowadays more and more people are interested in smaller and efficient housing options, and these cleverly compact abodes are some fantastic examples of how to creatively utilize small spaces.
While these miniature homes are not necessarily the best for those who may be claustrophobic, these inventive designs will rather attract those who are looking for a sleek and stylish living space without having to take up a large amount of real estate. From homes that are designed to resemble cube-like structures to those that are conveniently portable from one place to another, these compact housing creations are a great way to make the best out of what little space we may have.
These miniature abodes are not only a practical way to take your home on the road, but they're also a cost effective way to create your dream home on a budget.
32 Cleverly Compact Abodes
From Miniature Refugee Homes to Assembled Modular Abodes:
Tana Makmanee — Feb 26, 2013 — Art & Design
32
Compact Portable Houses
The Port-a-Bach Container Home Provides Freedom of Movement
31
Weather-Resistant Mini Homes
The Leaf House Sits on Four Wheels and Can Fit a Family of Four
30
Fragmented Compact Homes
The Fractured Residence by Studio H:T is One Jagged Architectural Design
29
Portable Miniature Housing
The Dwelle.ing Brings Charm to Residential Downsizing
28
Small Prefab Shelters
The Mini House 2.0 by Jonas Wagell is Compactly Contemporary
27
Spacious Compact Housing
The Bernal Heights Residence by SB Architects is a Modernized Space
26
Assembled Modular Abodes
The Mobile SmartHouse is Completely Prefabricated
25
Indestructible Survival Pods
Atelier Van Lieshout Creates a Compact Bomb Shelter
24
Communal Contemporary Bungalows
Cadaval & Solà-Morales Have Created a Communal Paradise
23
Tetris-Inspired Homes
The Shakin Stevens House by Matt Gibson Exemplifies Structured Architecture
22
Mobile Minimalist Hotel Rooms
The Hypercubus by Studio WG3 is Self-Sufficient and Compact
21
Effortless Prefab Retreats
The Coodo 'My Home' Residences Come Furnished and Poised for Placement
20
Credit Crunch Prefabs
The L41 Home is Designed for Uneasy Economic Times
19
Portable Compact Homes
The 'Hut on Sleds' is Entirely Mobile
18
Super Squeezed Homes
The Garage House is a Place to Rest Yourself and Your Car
17
Recycled Rustic Retreats
The Finland Micro Cabin is a Nature Lover's Dream Space
16
Recycled Yard Structures
Backyard House's Beauty Belies in its Building Material of Discarded Wood
15
On-Demand Housing
Portable Shelter for Environmentally Conscientious Disaster Relief
14
Portable Personal Bubbles
MMASA Architects & Cipriano Chas Let You Be a Bubble Boy (or Girl)
13
Multipurpose Portable Shelters
The Famiglia Grande Helps Families on Their Road to Recovery
12
Boxy Integrated Mountain Havens
Ferienhaus Vitznau by Lischer Partner Blends Into its Surroundings
11
Lumber Cube Rooms
The Box House by u+a Uses a Crate to Reconfigure an Open Concept Interior
10
Roomy Compact Homes
The 'Ashley Avenue Residence' by TaC Studios Deceivingly Spacious
9
Miniature Refugee Homes
The ‘One Square Meter House’ Comfortably Houses a Single Perso
8
Shoebox Abodes
The ‘House M' Keeps it Clean and Compact
7
Garden Shed-Like Homes
AF Bostader Created Sweden's 'Smallest' Apartment for Students
6
Top-Popping Cottages
The Shadowboxx House Features an Attached Cabin with a Hinged Roof
5
Compact Hexahedron Houses
The Cube Home by Justin Chong Encourages Minimal Living
4
Nomadic Cube Abodes
The Bao House by dot Architects Optimizes the Concept of Mobile Homes
3
Crocheted Cabin Concepts
Kate Pokorny Wants to Crochet Homes for Project Yurt Alert
2
Socially Encouraging Abodes
The Studio AUTORI House A Promotes Communal Living
1
Rooms on Wheels
Portable Living Room Design Serves as Study, Sofa & Storage
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Comfortable Connected Tiny Houses
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Terrace-Accented Timber Tiny Houses
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Contemporary Coastal Tiny Homes
The Summit Tiny Homes 'Athos' Sleeps Three to Five People
Expansive Dual-Loft Tiny Homes
This Design from MitchCraft Tiny Homes is Spaciously Designed
A-Frame Alpine-Inspired Cabins
The Adventure Whare Retreat by Studio Well is Demure
Masterfully Modular Camping Trailers
The 'Bobo' Trailer is Built Around a Five-Module System
Oversized Luxurious Tiny Homes
The Movable Roots Tiny Homes 'Manwaring' Measures in at 40-Feet
Railroad-Style Tiny Homes
The Aussie Tiny Houses 'Casuarina 9.0' Has a Main Floor Bedroom
Multifunctional Tiny Cabin Designs
The Western Colorado Tiny House is Off-Grid-Ready
Pink-Hued Shipping Container Homes
These Pink Shipping Container Homes by Ishita Ganguly are Chic
Modern Multilevel Tiny Homes
The 'Castle Peak' Tiny Home Boasts a Lofted Living Room
Canadian Winter-Ready Tiny Homes
The Minimaliste Thuya Tiny House is Clad in Cedar
Open-Concept Tiny Homes
The Aussie Tiny Houses Mooloolaba 8.4 Has Ample Storage Space
Towable Dual-Loft Tiny Homes
The Aussie Tiny Houses Teewah 8.4 Sleeps Up to Six People
Compactly Cubical Camping Shelters
The 'Maverick' Offers Durable Dwelling Both On & Off the Grid
Cat-Centric Compact Homes
This Japanese Dwelling Embraces Feline-Friendly Design Choices
Displaced Persons House Designs
The Essential Homes Research Project Has a Bunker-Like Form
Roman Goddess-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Vesta Tiny House from California Tiny House is Well-Equipped
Feline-Friendly Tiny Homes
This Luxurious Tiny Home Boasts a Number Of Cat-Centric Features
Spaciously Cozy Homes
This Off-Grid Tiny Home Offers Efficiently Laid-Out Floorspace
Shipping Container Tiny Homes
UnContained Dreams Designs the Rising Sun Tiny Home
Off-Grid Timber Tiny Homes
The 'Horta' Tiny House Has 107-Square-Feet of Living Space
National Park-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Backcountry Tiny Homes 'Basecamp' Tiny House Has a Roof Deck
Mobile Office Tiny Homes
The Uncharted Tiny Homes 'The Office' Can Be Taken on the Road
Cedar Finished Portable Houses
Baluchon Designs the Chicorée on a Double-Axle Trailer
Family-Friendly Tiny Homes
This Spacious Tiny Home is Extra-Wide For Capacious Comfort
Transforming Family-Friendly Tiny Homes
The 'Cedar' Tiny House Has a Murphy Bed and More
Eco-Minded Modular Cabins
The DUB Modular Cabin Has a Cost-Effective Construction
Two-Car Garage Tiny Homes
This Behm Designs Two-Story Tiny House is Efficient
Entertaining-Focused Tiny Homes
The Tiny Idahomes 'Arion' Tiny Home is Well-Sized
Secluded Polish Cabin Designs
The Boroteka Cabin from the Zarysy Studio is Enchanting
Elevating Bed Tiny Homes
The Acorn Tiny Homes 'Elevate' Maximizes Floorspace with Clever Design
Serenely Stilted Houses
This Sustainable Tiny Home is Situated On An Elevated Platform
Energy-Efficient 3D-Printed Homes
Haus.me Introduces Premium Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
Outdoor Entertaining Tiny Homes
The Acorn Tiny Homes True North Retreat Has a Barbecue Area
Modern Compact A-Frame Houses
Linda Cedar Homes Boast Easy-to-Build and Affordable A-Frame Houses
Next-Generation Egg-Shaped Tiny Homes
The Ecocapsule NextGen is Ultra-Compact Yet Comfortable
Prefabricated Miniature Home Concepts
i29 Creates the Câpsula Concept for Dutch Design Week
Garage-Converted Sustainable Homes
Modern Granny Flat Designs the Carlsbad ADU Conversion
Loft-Free Tiny Home Designs
The Freedom Series 8400NLR Tiny House Has a One-Floor Layout
Weather-Resistant Tiny Homes
This Off-Grid Tiny House is Designed For Year-Round Enjoyment
Shutter-Accented Tiny Homes
The houzEKO Tiny House Offers All-Season Efficiency and Privacy
High-End Cottage-Like Tiny Homes
The 'Burrow' Tiny House from Rewild Homes is Family-Friendly
Height-Conscious Tiny Homes
The 'Ruru' Tiny Home Looks Upwards to Increase Feelings of Airiness
Dual-Function Bedroom Tiny Homes
The Movable Roots 'Lindstrom' Tiny House Has a Murphy Bed
Versatile Interior Compact Homes
The Elevate Tiny Home Transforms the Interiors with a Button
Towable Affordable Compact Homes
Wind River Tiny Homes Designs the Pingora Towable House
Wood-Filled Familial Tiny Homes
The Modern Tiny Living 'Ojai' Tiny House Has Space for Four
Private Dual-Loft Tiny Homes
The Uber Tiny Homes 'Casa del Amor' Measures in at 34-Feet
Small Space Standing Desks
The Humanscale Float Mini is Adjustable and Easily Moved in the Home
Countryside-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Acorn Tiny Homes English Country House is Rustically Finished
Miniature Seaside Wooden Cabins
Alexander McGee Designs a New Wooden Cabin in Cape Town
Contemporary Sustainable Tiny Homes
The Cosmic ONE is Offered in Three Compact Home Layouts
Tranquil Elevated Tiny Homes
Jan Tyrpekl Designs the Cozy Zen House in Austria
Energy-Efficient Prefabricated Homes
The 'SON.DER' Home Offers Environmentally Responsible Living
Minimal Mid-Century Hollywood Homes
Studio Qasabian Designs the Mulholland Home in LA
Flax Fiber Floating Homes
The Conceptual 'Blue Nomad' Floating Home is Sustainable
Minimalist Adventurer Tiny Homes
The Noyer Tiny House On Wheels Prioritizes Sustainability
Customizable Backyard Tiny Homes
My Little House 'Reatreat' is 13-Feet in Length
Sustainable Smart Cottages
The LG Smart Cottage is a Compact Prefab with Cutting-Edge Tech
Backyard-Transformed Dwelling Units
Catch Architecture and Obreval Design the ADU Carpintaria
Upgraded Off-Grid Tiny Homes
Minimaliste Designs the Nomad 30 Small Home with Improved Interior
Modern Amenity Micro Dwellings
The Little Tahoma Peak Tiny Home Has House-Inspired Finishings
Geometric Structural Forest Homes
The C House by GetAway Projects has a Half-Hexagonal Shape
Family-Friendly Tiny Homes
The Indigo River Tiny Homes 'BERTHA' Has 360-Square-Feet of Space
Ultra-Compact Bungalow Designs
Satish Jassal Architects Completes the Haringey Brick Bungalow
Minimal Portable Tiny Homes
Acorn Tiny Homes Unveils the Paddock Paradise Small Home
Box-Like Innovative Apartment Designs
Photon Studio's Designs the Box in the Box Apartment
Bauhaus-Inspired Mobile Doghouses
Conran and Partners Design the New Bowowhaus Doghouse
Pull-Out Deck Tiny Homes
This Tiny House from Tiny Homes Builder is Petite Yet Efficient
Remodelled Denim-Detailed Modern Apartments
Studio Edwards Remodels the Microloft in Melboune
Socializing-Centric Tiny Dwellings
The 'Buttercup' Tiny Home Lets You Have Guests Over
Spacious Lounge-Like Tiny Homes
The 'Roanoke' Tiny House Has a Large Living Room for Lounging
Pre-Fabricated Compact Portable Homes
PODX Go's Grande S1 is a Packable Portable Home
War Plane-Inspired Off-Grid Homes
Peter Markos Designs the Tiny Monocoque Cabin
Japanese Inn-Inspired Micro Apartments
La Tarta Piccola's Mae Prachasilcha Designs a New Apartment
Author-Honoring Compact Homes
Baluchon Introduces the Idyllic Miss Twain Tiny Home
Bunker-Borne Vacation Homes
This Subterranean Home Was Formerly a Wartime Bunker
Spacious Miniature Portable Homes
Mint Tiny Homes Designs the Orca Edition Park Model
Interlocking Living Room Furniture
Mirlay Özlem ER's The Cube is Elegant and Space-Saving
Rentable Miniature Modern Cabins
The Nest is a Tranquil Rental Space at ReWild Rentals
Double-Axle Trailer TIny Homes
Baluchon Designs the Eucalyptus Tiny Home Structure
Captivating Modern Prefab Cabins
Lloyoll Prefabs Creates the SKALI BackCountry Cubiod
Bio-Based Compact Housing
Woonpioniers Designs the Sustainable Sprout Ruben & Marjolein House
Micro-Living Portable Homes
Modern Tiny Living Creates the Buttercup Tiny Home for Hosting
Porch-Embedded Portable Homes
Wind River Tiny Homes Designs the Tellico House on Wheels
Dormer-Accented Tiny Homes
The Lexington Tiny House is Well-Sized with All Amenities
Micro-City Housing Nooks
Notan Office Transforms an Industrial Site in Brussels
Small Footprint Brick Bungalows
Satish Jassal Architects Designs the haringey Brick Bungalow
Minimal Philosophy Toronto Homes
Burdifilek Designs the Sleek Forest Hill Residence
Economical Modular Wooden Homes
The Cake House Reinvents Housing in the Czech Republic
Nature-Surrounded Miniature Homes
STUDIOFEM Designs The Mini Located in the Village of Cavusin
Versatile Tiny Workspace Homes
The Browny Home is a Multifunctional Space-Saving Design
Luxe Amenity Tiny Homes
MitchCraft Tiny Homes Presents the Casey’s 32′ x 10′ House
Beachfront-Inspired Small Wooden Homes
Raglan Tiny Homes Presents the Beach Home Design
Free-Flowing Bright Compact Homes
Baluchon Adds the Bois Perdus Tiny Home to its Roster
Multifunctional Vietnamese Homes
H-H Studio Designs the House for Young Families in Da Nang
Shiplap Interior Contemporary Homes
Dragon Tiny Homes Presents the 16’THOW With Loft
Log Cabin-Inspired Minimal Homes
Gartnerfuglen Arkitkter Designs the Årestua Home in Telemark
Cement Block-Decorated Homes
Bloom Architecture Designs the Small Houses Collection
Medieval-Themed Towable Micro Homes
Acorn Tiny Homes Designs the Purple Heart Manor
Sleek Miniature Lifestyle Campers
Bürstner Designs the Bürstner for Those on Camping Ventures
Modern Mobile Futuristic Homes
Nestron Presents its Range of Contemporary Tiny Homes
Compact Calming Homes
Batay-Csorba Architects Masterfully Designed a Modern Brick Home in Toronto
Compact Affordable Cozy Homes
Dragon Tiny Homes Designs the Element Compact Homes
Multifunctional Small Studio Apartments
Cité Arquitetura Designs the New Studio Mescla
Minimal Bird-Watching Cabins
Inclume Architects Designs the Cozy Hide Cabin in England
Pale Yellow Minimal Townhomes
i.B. Archstudio Designs the VVV Townhouse with Pastel Hues
Eco-Friendly Miniature Homes
Berghaus' Dufour House is a Tiny Sustainable Home
Briefcase-Compact Office Set-Ups
Worky Designs the Compact and Portable Home Office
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
Wooden Compact Home Designs
Madeiguincho Designs the Vigia Home Inspired by 'Lookouts'
California-Inspired Tiny Homes
Modern Tiny Living Designs the Buxton Home for Four People
Disaster-Ready Housing Prototypes
Holcim & Norman Foster Join on the Essential Homes Project
Engineered Wood Compact Homes
Modern Tiny Home Designs the SANGJA Home with Cozy Touches
Spacious Portable Compact Bunkhouses
Timbercraft Tiny Homes Designs the Denali XL Bunkhouse
Cedar-Clad Custom Compact Homes
Häuslein Designs the Grand Sojourner Layout 3