Cabin

1. Bigger Doesn't Necessarily Mean Better. This idea is essentially the core tenet of tiny home living—that a large home doesn't always mean it's better or more thoughtfully designed. With tiny homes, every decision has to be based on thoughtful consideration. More often than not, efficiency rules, leading to a well-designed home.

The shell of the cabin was constructed with thin sections of hardwood, then coated with plain OSB plywood and a Tyvek air and water barrier. Metallic corrugated sheets form the outer layer.

Set on a quarter-acre pasture rented from a family friend in Maui, the tiny house operates entirely off grid with electricity, water, and sewer needs handled on-site.

Elsewhere Cabin by Sean O'Neill

In addition to having a queen bed upstairs, Ryan built a sofa that converts to a twin, based on a design by architect Sean O’Neill. The transformable unit cost $500 in upholstery, $35 in wood, and $4 in hinges.

With its open porch with an overhung roof, clerestory windows, and high ceilings, the Roadhaus Wedge RV by Wheelhaus feels much larger and more open than its 250 square feet would suggest.

The gray-blue siding continues from the exterior to the interior to reinforce the seamless indoor-outdoor experience. The Callen chair and ottoman are from Room and Board.

Above the living lounge, the 50-square-foot loft faces a window that frames striking views of the tree canopies.

The simple massing consists of two blocks, which have been connected via an outdoor patio that wraps around the home. Here, outdoor spaces become one with the indoor elements.

The dining area features a Snaregade Table by Norm Architects for Menu.

The exterior siding is in a traditional board and batten style, then accented with a steel roof and windows.

"With this cabin I wanted something that was robust, so you could enter after an outdoor activity, kick your boots off, start the fire and put some food on," says Kenny. "But at the same time have a feeling of space with the high ceilings, and some luxury and comforts of modern living like a nice shower and great water pressure."

Naturally rusted steel sheathes the cabins that Malek Alqadi built on a 1954 homestead outside Joshua Tree National Park. "I loved the idea of stitching the existing structure back together, reinforcing it, and giving it life again without compromising the beautiful setting it’s in," he says.

Sustainability and forward-thinking architectural techniques merge in this experimental tiny cabin clad in 3D-printed tile.

Nestled in the woods of Cairngorms National Park, the Inshriach Bothy inspired the creation of the Artist Bothy series: customizable prefab cabins that can be purchased starting at $36k.

Mirrored panels clad the edges of the roof and deck.