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Take it from the experts—we asked 10 tiny home owners what they wished they'd known before downsizing.

Set on a custom ESCAPE trailer that can be easily hooked up to a vehicle, the IKEA tiny home is clad in shou sugi ban–type exterior siding and fitted with low-E thermopane windows.

Day time facade looking straight on: A private residence in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with its perforated brick facade being devised by programmatic needs.

"This home was created for a family who have been residents of the islands for more than 40 years,” the architects explain. “Elevating the building forms a cold air chamber under the structure that keeps the structure cool. The walls next to the roof generate a double space separated by the structural beams, thus forming another air chamber that ensures ventilation of the interior skin. Perforations in the floor and walls allow a cross supply of air.”

The enormous picture window in the living room frames spectacular views over the water, allowing the family to feel immersed in nature even in the wildest of weather.

The clients wanted a summer home that would allow them to enjoy the landscape from both inside and outside spaces—and the outdoor spaces needed to be protected from the often windy weather. “That’s why we have the outdoor space to the north of the building, so it’s protected,” explains architect Line Solgaard. The protected deck area gets the evening sun until 10pm in the summer, and views to the water have been maintained through large windows and the glazed wall.

The home is perched lightly on the site and the landscape has been integrated into the architecture through a sympathetic form and materiality, and the expansive windows. “We long for this untouched nature,” says architect Line Solgaard of the site. “It brings us calmness and maybe even helps us be more in touch with ourselves.”

Facundo is working on an update to the cabin that mirrors the doors at the back window to allow for cross-ventilation.

Much of the unit is up for customization. The fiberglass shell comes in eight different finishes, the cabinetry in four, and the floors in three.

Though the Ecocapsule® is designed for sites without infrastructure, it does just as well as an ADU or an at-home office.

The wall behind the head of the bed is made with repurposed cedar that Douglas-Hui acquired at no cost.

The side of the sleeping opens to nature-forward views during the day. The finish trim around the camper is aluminum.

Nicknamed the Wooden Wedge, the camper is small enough to fit in a parking space or driveway but roomy enough to sleep two.

The camper is light enough that Peterson-Hui can tow it with his Volvo station wagon.

David Sarti's little red house in Seattle's sleepy Central District proves that a bit of land, ambition, and carpentry know-how can go a long way. photo by: Misha Gravenor

“Sleeping spaces are strategically configured to accommodate the family and guests,” Lyndsay says. She made sure to design the berths with ample storage.

A wood sleeping berth with built-in storage helps to delineate the bedroom from the living area in the open-concept cabin.