These tiny homes are so small, they might make you claustrophobic

America's extreme tiny homes

Andrew Weber / Tim Motz / Toledo Museum of Art

They say the best things come in small packages and that’s certainly true when it comes to these extreme tiny homes and micro-flats across America. With ingenious storage solutions, hidden bedrooms and convertible furniture, these snug properties make the most of their pocket-sized floor plans, but living in these tight spaces isn't for everyone. Let's take a tour around the smallest homes the US has to offer...

Mendy’s Shoebox, Eads, Tennessee

Tiny Happy Homes

Built by small homebuilders Tiny Happy Homes and located in a tranquil leafy spot, this house on wheels is just eight feet by 16 feet. Outside, a small deck adds valuable extra space and provides the perfect spot to admire the scenery.

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Mendy’s Shoebox, Eads, Tennessee

Tiny Happy Homes

While the home is small, it doesn't lack creature comforts. The interior is fitted out with underfloor heating and a built-in futon, which can be easily converted from a sofa to a bed. The compact kitchenette offers a fridge and microwave, along with sleek black granite worktops.

Mendy’s Shoebox, Eads, Tennessee

Tiny Happy Homes

High shelving provides plenty of storage so possessions won't take up valuable floor space. The living room comes complete with a wall-mounted TV for kicking back and relaxing, while a snug shower room offers optimum comfort in a compact corner.

Cubix, Seattle, Washington

NexGen Properties

Available to rent from $1,050 (£840) a month, this micro-studio packs a lot into a small space. The sofa doubles up as a bed and a desk has been cleverly incorporated into the kitchen units. A large window lets in plenty of light so the tiny apartment doesn’t feel too gloomy.

Cubix, Seattle, Washington

NexGen Properties

The kitchen has lots of storage space and accommodates a large fridge and microwave. While its located in the centre of Seattle, the apartment features noise-reduction technology so you can be sure of peace and quiet when you’re at home.

Cubix, Seattle, Washington

NexGen Properties

Sizeable wardrobes concealed in the corridor offer a place to hide away any clutter. Another big bonus of this tiny space is that residents of the Cubix complex get access to a special transport package called CubixTransit, which gives you a discount on car-sharing and unlimited free public transport.

Rustic tiny home, Emigrant, Montana

Malou/Airbnb

If you fancy living small in grizzly bear country, head to this wooden tiny home in rural Montana. Set against the rolling mountains, breathtaking views are guaranteed, with Yellowstone National Park only a half-hour drive away.

Rustic tiny home, Emigrant, Montana

Malou/Airbnb

Inside, the compact home packs a lot into a tiny floorplan without compromising on the rustic country experience. Swathes of reclaimed wood add character, while handy draws and cupboards under the bed and ladder offer surprisingly generous storage.

Rustic tiny home, Emigrant, Montana

Malou/Airbnb

A small mezzanine level provides a snug spot to slumber after a long day exploring the great outdoors, with the window drawing in light by day and framing the starry sky come nightfall. Impressively, the property can sleep four people – though privacy isn't a luxury that comes with this petite pad!

Rustic tiny home, Emigrant, Montana

Malou/Airbnb

There's no doubt that this tiny home offers living in close quarters – to fit in the day-to-day essentials, the sink unit is situated adjacent to the bed. Despite the squeeze, the petite property is cosy and inviting, though if you need to use the bathroom you'll have to venture outside to the compostable toilet!

Micro penthouse, New York City, New York

Corcoran

Nestled in the glittering New York skyline, this cosy apartment was created by LifeEdited – a design consultancy that specialises in space-efficient living. One thing's for sure, what this home lacks in square footage, it makes up for in style thanks to herringbone oak floors and an eye-catching 3D feature wall.

Micro penthouse, New York City, New York

Corcoran

A lesson in multifunctional design, the living space can be transformed into a bedroom when you want to sleep or a dining room when you want to host a dinner party. You can snap up this snug home in space-starved New York City for a whopping $645,000 (£516k).

Micro penthouse, New York City, New York

Corcoran

Just off the main room is a small kitchen nook with modern white units and high-end appliances. The compact residence offers an array of smart home tech too, from a voice-controlled Amazon Echo to smart lighting and Apple TV.

Tiny home on wheels, Orlando, Florida

Tiny House Marketplace

Measuring a mere 280 square feet, this self-built tiny house in Orlando comes with two micro-lofts – one is currently used a bedroom and the other could make a cosy second bedroom or perhaps a reading nook or storage space.

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Tiny home on wheels, Orlando, Florida

Tiny House Marketplace

While the living space is compact, there's still room to relax or host a dinner party for two in the intimate eating area, where the dining table also double up as a desk. Thanks to swathes of windows, the small home still feels light and bright.

Tiny home on wheels, Orlando, Florida

Tiny House Marketplace

The cosy loft bedroom can just about accommodate a double bed along with squat custom side tables. Despite the squeeze, you won't be short on storage, with the ingenious kitchen below concealing a smart pull-out pantry. Fancy downsizing? This home is currently for sale for $65,000 (£52k).

The Nest, Phoenix, Arizona

The Nest

Located in Phoenix, this tiny house is built on a custom trailer so you can up sticks whenever you feel like a change of scenery. Currently for sale for $127,000 (£102k), large floor-to-ceiling windows allow light to flood in, illuminating the space-efficient living room.

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The Nest, Phoenix, Arizona

The Nest

While there's not much room to spread out, the living area feels surprisingly open and airy, with large sliding glass doors that bring the outside in. The kitchen and bedroom loft are situation at one end and you can also convert the sofa into a second bed. If you need an on-the-go office, there’s even a slide-out work space.

The Nest, Phoenix, Arizona

The Nest

The kitchen packs in all the mod cons, including a microwave, washer-dryer, electric hob and glitzy quartz worktops. With a luxurious shower room and atmospheric LED lighting, you won't be slumming it in this snug home.

Pivot, New York City, New York

Architecture Workshop

Pivot is an ingenious apartment created by Architecture Workshop in a pre-war studio. The one-room home features a wall of storage cupboards that pivot out to create a separate room when needed. There's even a bed hidden inside the wall that pulls down when it's time to get some shut-eye.

Pivot, New York City, New York

Architecture Workshop

When the bed is lifted back up into the wall, the wardrobes and cupboards extend out into a handy dressing room. On the other side of the dividing wall, the sofa transforms into a bed to host guests.

Pivot, New York City, New York

Architecture Workshop

Remarkably, you can host up to 10 for dinner with an adjustable table that can also be used to create extra kitchen workspace or a home office. Other clever storage ideas include a kitchen splashback with hidden storage and a hinged glass door in the bathroom that forms a shower cubicle when needed.

Custom tiny home, Encinitas, California

Tiny House Marketplace

This 340-square-foot house comes with a roof deck to maximise its usable space, along with two handy private loft bedrooms. On the market for $70,000 (£56k), it was built in 2018 by Zen Tiny Homes.

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Custom tiny home, Encinitas, California

Tiny House Marketplace

The wooden kitchen has a rustic feel and is well-equipped with a sizeable fridge, oven and microwave. Wooden floors and worktops add to the natural charm of the home, while space-saving ladders lead up to the mezzanine bedrooms.

Custom tiny home, Encinitas, California

Tiny House Marketplace

At the opposite end of the property is the snug bathroom, which offers a vanity mirror and sink with extra storage underneath and a space-efficient shower cubicle. There’s even room for a washing machine and dryer outside the bathroom. Pretty smart!

Carmel Place, New York City, New York

nARCHITECTS

There are 50 of these stylish loft-style apartments in New York City's Carmel Place, which was designed by nARCHITECTS to accommodate single residents and couples. Every inch of space is put to use in this clever design, with the bright living area converting into a bedroom.

Carmel Place, New York City, New York

nARCHITECTS

The bed pulls down from the wall so you can quickly get the space ready when you want to sleep. The tall windows maximise natural light and there’s even storage integrated into the built-in furniture to prevent clutter.

Carmel Place, New York City, New York

nARCHITECTS

The kitchen has sleek white units and room for a table so you can comfortably host a small dinner party. Outside the compact confines of the flat, the building offers lounge spaces, a gym, laundry and bike storage for residents to use, plus a public roof terrace with spectacular views of the city.

Redwood house, San Diego, California

Tiny House Marketplace

Measuring a minuscule 224 square feet, this traditional tiny home in San Diego packs the amenities of modern life into a pocket-sized space. The property offers a spacious deck with gorgeous views, while the rustic redwood stain on the exterior offers plenty of curb appeal.

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Redwood house, San Diego, California

Tiny House Marketplace

On the market for $60,000 (£48k), the kitchen has a breakfast bar with room for two people to eat, but it can multitask as a work area too. The snug home even manages to squeeze a double sink into its layout and there’s plenty of cupboard space for storing crockery and food.

Redwood house, San Diego, California

Tiny House Marketplace

Fitted with a comfy sofa bed, the living area looks out over the scenic deck, while the sleeping nook in the window offers a second bed for guests. Thanks to the handy curtain divider, you can maintain some semblance of privacy when you turn in for the night.

The Smallest House in the World, Boston, Massachusetts

Jeff Smith

Named the Smallest House in the World, this tiny home lives up to its title. Created by Boston artist Jeff Smith, who was commissioned by web designer Glen Bunsen, it measures just 25 square feet inside. Crucially for on-the-go Glen, it can fit into a van to be quickly relocated at the drop of a hat.

The Smallest House in the World, Boston, Massachusetts

Jeff Smith

The single-room space is made from recycled materials and has porthole-style windows to let in the light. A sink and stove have been squeezed in and when you want to go to sleep at night you simply curl up with a blanket and pillow on the floor.

The Smallest House in the World, Boston, Massachusetts

Jeff Smith

The bright green box even has a toilet with a waste system that uses cat litter, along with a snug shower made from clear plastic – although it’s too big to store in the house itself. It’s eco-friendly too – there’s a wind turbine and a greywater system for watering the window boxes.

Scarlett, Portland, Oregon

Tiny House Village

Scarlett is just one of the characterful tiny homes you can stay in at Tiny House Village, a holiday park an hour from the city of Portland. With a red and white exterior oozing rustic charm, the village features an array of compact dwellings built by the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.

Scarlett, Portland, Oregon

Tiny House Village

Comfortably housing five people, the snug space offers two bedroom lofts and a single bedroom located just off from the living space. Every fixture in this clever property works double-time – the staircase even features ingenious built-in storage under each step.

Scarlett, Portland, Oregon

Tiny House Village

The kitchen is compact but has everything you could want when you’re on holiday, including a coffee machine for your morning caffeine fix. Mounted to the wall, the TV doesn't take up any floor space, leaving room for a petite table that can seat two.

The Arthur, Portland, Oregon

The Arthur

This is one of 50 micro-studios in The Arthur, a historic building in Portland that was once a hotel. Space is at a premium in this snug apartment, but smart features such as a hideaway bed make the most of the tiny living space.

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The Arthur, Portland, Oregon

The Arthur

The stylish décor includes white worktops in the kitchen area, wooden floors and exposed brick. The kitchen has enough space for a large fridge, a microwave and a four-ring cooker with an oven. It may be around the size of a dorm room but there's no sharing here, as the apartment also comes with a cosy private bathroom.

The Arthur, Portland, Oregon

The Arthur

Clever furnishings like this flip-down table ensure every inch of space is utilised. Residents of The Arthur also have access to laundry facilities, TV lounges and bike storage.

Tumbleweed XS, Toledo, Ohio

Andrew Weber / Tim Motz / Toledo Museum of Art

While it may look no bigger than a shed, this 64-square-foot space is, in fact, a functional tiny home – and one of the smallest we've seen! Despite its diminutive proportions, the Tumbleweed XS manages to squeeze a lot inside thanks to some clever design.

Tumbleweed XS, Toledo, Ohio

Andrew Weber / Tim Motz / Toledo Museum of Art

Built-in bespoke cabinetry makes the most of the limited space, creating a desk for home working and a small sofa to kick back on. The house was created by volunteers from local businesses, The Andersons and the Lathrop Company, at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Small Worlds exhibition, and it’s a great ambassador for the tiny living ethos.

Tumbleweed XS, Toledo, Ohio

Andrew Weber / Tim Motz / Toledo Museum of Art

Downstairs, there’s also a micro bathroom with a working shower, a mini fridge and a kitchenette area for preparing simple meals. The house has RV connectors for water and power, but that toilet is just for show until it’s connected to an exterior sewer tank.

Tumbleweed XS, Toledo, Ohio

Andrew Weber / Tim Motz / Toledo Museum of Art

Up in the rafters of the tiny roof space, they’ve managed to squeeze in a queen-size bed that’s just about big enough for two – claustrophobics aside! The house was eventually auctioned on eBay for charity raising more than $28,000 (£22k).

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