There’s nothing quite like waking up to tranquil views of the water and the sound of gently lapping waves. Ideal for those in search of a new adventure or a sense of connection with the great outdoors, these beautiful pocket-sized properties embrace the simplicity of living small.

From untethered homes that can travel wherever the wind takes you to moored micro retreats that provide serene living quarters with dreamy scenery, click or scroll through our pick of the world’s best floating tiny homes...

Moored on St Andrews Lake in Kent, England, The Lakeside was designed to help guests feel a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Contemporary and chic, the property is surprisingly spacious and has everything two people could need for a romantic and stress-free weekend away.

There's a main living space, with a dining area, a small galley kitchen and a lounge.

Plus, guests can dine outside on their very own private deck at the rear of the property. Overlooking the water, the terrace is the perfect spot for breakfast and evening drinks.

Amazingly, there are also two bedrooms, including a double and a bunk room, making the house ideal for four guests.

Of course, there's also a modern bathroom, which is just big enough for a shower. As for interior design, the pad is bold, modern and incredibly inviting, while also allowing the lake outside to remain the focus.

Parked up along the Moselle River in Pölich, Germany, this modern houseboat provides panoramic views, a cosy interior and plenty of places for soaking up the sunshine.

Perfect for up to four guests, the floating home features an open-plan living area, with a lounge, dining zone and kitchen.

Thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the interior space provides idyllic views of the surrounding scenery.

There's also a cosy double bedroom and a sofa bed, which can be pulled out whenever the need arises.

Of course, the boat also has a fully equipped bathroom, complete with a spacious shower.

Lucky guests can head onto the roof to enjoy the tranquil terrace and enjoy their morning coffees on the deck – which is also perfect for jumping off into the water!

Plus, it's just 30 minutes away from Hunsrück-hochwald National Park. If you'd love to spend the night, then the houseboat is available to rent via Airbnb.

As quaint as it is unique, this incredible floating bungalow will allow you to sail away into the sunset.

Usually moored in Key Largo, Florida, the teeny tiny residence would make for one seriously serene getaway.

Designed for two guests, the bungalow features a kitchenette, a window seat that makes for a cosy and romantic lounge, a large bedroom and a bathroom.

With accordion glass doors that open fully, the bedroom would make for the perfect spot to while away the hours, with a salty sea breeze and unobstructed water views. The bedroom also opens to a gorgeous deck...

The spacious exterior deck provides space for reclining, dining and soaking up 180-degree ocean views. There's also a hammock nest, hanging over the water below.

German company, Nautilus Hausboote, has created the perfect hybrid between a floating home and a houseboat with the Vagabund.

Offering the mobility of a boat with the appearance and layout of a home, this attractive holiday home is perfect for keen seafarers wishing to experience tiny house living for a couple of days.

There are several Vagabond models to choose from, including the Lake Addiction and the Spree-Perle, both of which are designed for four adults and two children.

Despite their 323-square-foot (30sqm) size, both have a surprising amount of room inside. There's a comfortable living area that includes a sofa, dining table and floor-to-ceiling windows that are perfect for gazing out to sea.

The houseboats are styled differently, but both offer plenty of home comforts, including a fully equipped kitchen, a television, comfy cushions and a bathroom with a hot shower.

They also have a double bedroom and a sofa that converts into two sleeping spots.

The houseboat puts an emphasis on time spent outdoors and the spacious upper deck provides yet more space for socialising or sunbathing. The rear deck can be utilised for dining alfresco or used as a platform from which to enjoy a relaxing afternoon dip in the water.

Although intended for use as a holiday rental, we reckon this gorgeous property would function perfectly as a permanent floating home.

This tranquil haven lies on a private estate, only 30 minutes from the heart of Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval city in Quebec, Canada.

Designed to allow guests to relax and enjoy nature, the floating cottage hovers above the water and appears to be at one with the surrounding landscape.

Known as Bora-Boréal, the holiday home benefits from a contemporary interior, with a kitchen, sitting area and bathroom.

There's an indoor log-burning stove and an outdoor firepit, so any lucky guests will be able to stay warm no matter what the weather is doing outside.

The cool cabin even features a motorised garage door formed from glass and steel, which can be raised into the ceiling to open the interior up to the great outdoors.

Any occupant can sit inside while listening to the sound of water gently lapping all around them.

Upstairs, there's a cosy bedroom with windows that allow for lovely views. The space can be reached via a pull-down step ladder, adding to the magic of the property.

Amazingly, during the winter season, the house can only be accessed by snowshoeing or sledging through the snow. Plus, the floating house is solar-powered, making it entirely eco-friendly.

There’s living off-grid and then there’s living in a tiny floating cabin in a dam in rural New Zealand. For owners Careena and Chris, building The Ark at Cottle Hill Creek, which they now rent out as holiday accommodation, was the perfect escape from city life.

They moved from Auckland to Kerikeri in 2016 and they haven’t looked back since.

After buying a plot of land in Northland, which included a spring-fed dam, the couple ordered this prefabricated tiny home and it was built in just 10 days.

Constructed on top of pontoons, it's connected to the land via a wooden deck, which is home to a seating area and watersports equipment.

Inside, there’s everything you could need: the open-plan living room and kitchen includes a two-ring gas hob, sink, fridge/freezer, ample storage and a dining table.

One side of the home is covered in solar panels that generate electricity, while a bilge pump provides clean running water.

Upstairs, the sleeping quarters are cosy, with just enough space for a double bed. The bedroom is accessed by a staircase that drops down from the ceiling and can be shut away to maximise the available floor space below.

Whether or not you think living on the water is for you, there’s no denying how idyllic this home is.

The sweeping, curved shape of this gorgeous modern property is what sets it apart from other floating homes.

Designed by Waterstudio.NL for sister company, Tiny Floats, the Tiny One provides just 151 square feet (14sqm) of internal floor space, making it ideal for use as a holiday retreat or a full-time tiny home.

There's nothing cramped about this luxury floating apartment and that's partly thanks to the clever use of exterior space. The outer section includes a curved seat, which looks like the ideal spot to curl up with a good book.

For alfresco dining, there's plenty of room for a table and chairs on the rear deck.

Subtle design features make a huge difference to this property. For example, the house sits low on the water allowing for optimum views, while its polyurea and glass exterior give it a slightly industrial vibe.

Plus, the mobile tiny home has got everything you could need for a relaxing and comfortable life. There's a living area, a kitchen, a dining zone, a bathroom and a king-sized bedroom.

In fact, buyers can choose to add two extra beds if they like, making the home suitable for a couple with two children. Prices for the Tiny One start at €95,000, which is around £79,000 ($102k), but there are four other models available, too.

This modern lodge, comprised of two separate pods, is unlike anything we've ever seen.

The pods are joined at the top and bottom by decks providing valuable outdoor space – the perfect spots to enjoy waterside living to the fullest.

Known as the Free Floating Ecolodge, the property was designed by architect Marijn Beije of Lines Designworks for visitors to the National Park De Biesbosch in the Netherlands.

It aimed to lure a broader range of people to the park, by providing a unique way to experience nature on the water.

With a design that emphasises panoramic views and outdoor living, Beije has certainly achieved that goal. With its timber and curved glass exterior, the property allows for uninterrupted views.

The pad "encourages the occupant to enjoy the sights from three vantage points: below the water surface, on the surface level and from a few meters above," Beije explains.

It may be small, but this oasis on the water includes all the basics you might need. There's a kitchenette, a bathroom with a shower and toilet, and sleeping space for four people, all with a simple Scandi-inspired aesthetic.

Plus, with the two exterior decks just moments away, you can choose to take in your surroundings from wherever you like.

If you're a fan of prefabricated buildings and you fancy living on the water, then this floating tiny home is sure to entice.

A collaboration between architecture firm Kodasema and marina solutions company, Top Marine, the KODA Float integrates itself into both the land and the sea, thanks to its floating pontoons.

The impressive modular home is constructed using a timber frame, wood, glass, mineral wool and steel. Space-efficient and fully movable, the property can be finished as the buyer sees fit, using a variety of materials including zinc cladding.

This means you can create a custom home that suits your surroundings and your style.

Step inside and you'll find just 277 square feet (25.7sqm) of floor space, spread over two floors. A simpler life is one of the major draws of living small, so it's no surprise that this interior has been cleverly designed to fit a lounge, kitchen and breakfast bar.

A snug staircase leads up to the home's mezzanine sleeping loft, under which lies the hidden bathroom. Mirrors and large sheets of glass are used to enhance the impression of space and create bright, inviting living areas.

While its vibe is more 'luxury urban getaway' than 'off-grid tiny home', there's no reason why you couldn't live in this property full time. It's equipped with underfloor heating, an electric boiler, and sewage and water connections.

Plus, Kodasema is committed to sustainability, which means its creations use environmentally friendly materials and are built with durability in mind. Available globally, prices differ from region to region so contact your local sales team to find out more.

Another gorgeous model by German floating home company, Nautilus Hausboote, the Nautino Mini is the perfect dinky option for a peaceful weekend away.

Spanning just 135 square feet (12.5sqm), the remarkable property is suitable for two adults and two children and has everything you could need to enjoy life on the water.

Modern and stylish, the fabulous floating home also boasts 258 square feet (24sqm) of outdoor space, with not one but three decks.

There's one at the top that's perfect for taking in panoramic views, as well as smaller ones at the front and back of the boat – ideal for sipping your morning coffee or jumping off into the water.

Inside, the Nautino Mini is chic and simplistic, with a small but fully equipped kitchen, a sitting area and a dining zone.

The main living space also features the boat's steering mechanism, so the captain can manoeuvre the vehicle from the comfort of the interior.

Of course, the property also has comfy beds for up to four people. There's a private twin room that connects to the rear deck, as well as a sofa bed in the lounge that converts into two additional sleeping spots.

Plus, there's a compact bathroom so any lucky sailors can enjoy a hot shower after a long day on the water.

Whimsical and wonderful in equal measure, this teeny houseboat is located in the Californian city of Sausalito. Far from being modern, it actually has a fascinating history.

It was once a World War II landing craft. Many similar structures were constructed in Sausalito during the war and this one was dragged to its current location in the 1960s, before being converted into a cool tiny home.

Inside, the property measures just 581 square feet (54sqm) and has a charming, boho aesthetic, with rustic timber accents and plenty of macrame, wicker and faux fur.

There's a living area, a dining nook and a kitchen, as well as a flexible space at the back, where you can read a book while looking out at the water.

There's also a comfy lofted bedroom with French doors. The home sits on a concrete, floating barge while a storage and laundry space can be found inside the boat's former hull, making it perfect for daily life.

Amazingly, the home fits in a full-size bathroom, complete with a walk-in shower and plenty of storage space. Plus, at the back, you'll find a tranquil deck, where waterside views can be savoured. 

The awesome houseboat was for sale in October 2024, via Engel & Völkers Sausalito, for £530,400 ($688k).

Known as The Salty Dog, this adorable property can be found floating along an idyllic strip of water in Newport, New South Wales, just moments from the iconic Northern Beaches.

As petite as it is pretty, the amazing tiny home benefits from two floors – the ground level has a snug sitting area with a wood-burning stove, a dining area and a kitchen.

Modern and stylish, the interior is defined by exposed timber beams, white-washed walls and bold furnishings that add pops of colour.

Large windows provide idyllic views of the water outside while allowing lucky guests to take in some fresh sea air. There's also a bathroom and an exterior terrace.

Upstairs in the home's pitched roof, you'll find a cosy bedroom. Just big enough for a queen-size bed and chill-out zone, the loft is the perfect spot for switching off every evening.

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