With the average tiny home measuring under 500 square feet, these mini abodes often have to be designed radically different from larger traditional houses. Below, we take a look at seven of the biggest lessons one can learn from tiny home design. No matter if you plan to call a tiny house "home" or not, these key tips are relevant to just about any space, large or small.

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. Los Angeles–based Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson of Miniarc created this 320-square-foot tiny dwelling, Plús Hús, to be a sustainable and useful solution for addressing the housing shortage in their adoptive home. " layout="wide" credit="Photo by Minarc" photoUserId="6232964515207741440"/>

2. Space Planning Is Critical.

Of course, it goes without saying that when you're designing a home under 500 square feet, every inch counts. Yet it cannot be emphasized enough just how critical space planning is in these dwellings, and not just in terms of the different zones of the home—should the living room be located in the middle of the home where it acts as a multi-functional space, or stationed at a far end for more privacy?—but also in the layout within these spaces. For example, like the placement of a shelf or drawer in the kitchen that could save a precious 4 inches of counter space." layout="" credit="Photo Courtesy of Sweeten" photoUserId=""/>

3. Take Advantage of Height.

4. Invest in Quality Over Quantity.

5. Make Furniture and Spaces Multi-Functional.

6. Consider Bespoke Space-Saving Items.

While foldable or collapsible beds, tables, and chairs might not be easily found at most furniture stores, their reduced footprint is so important that it can be worth it to have these items custom designed. Even something as small as a cutting board that fits perfectly into the sink basin to allow for additional counter space can make all the difference. Here, a Dornbracht tap sits above a custom-built glacier white Corian countertop and sink. The sink is covered by a removable cutting board that can be kept in place for an added work surface, or removed for dedicated sink use. The cutout in the center allows water from the tap to flow straight through to the custom Corian drainer." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Alexander James" photoUserId="6133590891874222080"/>

7. Open Up to the Outdoors.

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A Family Customizes an Off-Grid Tiny Home With Online Design Tools

7 Big Lessons to Learn From Tiny Home Design