Sometimes when shopping for a tiny house, you do not yet have a specific site in mind. But in other scenarios, you might.If you see yourself staying in that spot for many years to come, it may be a good idea to choose a tiny house layout that will suit that site, as well as features that will add to your enjoyment of your location.
You will need to consider both the floor plan and how you will orient the house on the lot. You also will need to think about window size and placement, porch location and design, etc. Below are some tips for choosing an ideal floor plan and features.
- Take advantage of sun and shade.
Some spots are wide open without any shades, but others may feature shade from trees or other features.
Consider how the sun and shade will impact the temperature inside your park model home from morning through afternoon into evening.
- If you are concerned about it getting hot inside your tiny house, try and choose a floor plan and orientation on the site that will allow you to avoid hot afternoon sun streaming through large windows.
- If you are more concerned about winter cold, try and pick a floor plan and orientation that will maximize the amount of sunlight that comes streaming into your home. Larger windows will help bring in that solar heat.
2.Consider where the wind is blowing from
Some sites feature wind from a variety of directions, but for others, there may be a predictable direction the wind is usually blowing (this is common on coastlines).
Once more, positioning your home and choosing a layout with windows that minimize or maximize the amount of airflow can be wise.
If you are in a hot location, choosing a layout with windows on both sides and positioning it to create a frequent cross-breeze can help you stay cool and reduce your electrical costs.
If you are in a cold location, you probably do not need to put as much thought into this aspect of your home’s layout. If your home is well-constructed, it should not be drafty.
Do you plan to have a porch on your tiny house? The roof will provide some shelter from sun and rain. But wind will still be able to blow in from the sides. You may want to choose a layout that allows you to orient the porch so that the home itself is blocking most of the intense winds. That way, your outdoor space will be as comfortable as your home’s interior.
3. Account for views
Now that we have talked about how your home’s floor plan, window placement, and orientation on the site can impact your comfort levels, let’s talk about views.
If the place you will be living does not have attractive views, a tiny house with relatively small windows might actually be preferable to a larger one. Larger walls and smaller windows would give you more space for décor, and keep your focus entirely on your home’s interior.
But if your site will feature beautiful views, then it makes sense to choose a tiny house layout that can make the most of those views, and orient it on the site in a way that maximizes what you can see through your windows.
Many of our park model homes feature a floor plan where the main living spaces has an open design combining kitchen and living room. Large windows on the front of the home bring in views and natural light, This is the type of floor plan you should choose if you want everyone in the main living space to be able to fully enjoy the scenery each day.
4. Think about privacy
One last consideration related to the above is privacy. While you want to enjoy views of beautiful surroundings, you do not want other people to be taking in views of your private life inside your park model home. This is an important thing to plan for if you will live in a tiny home community or RV park.
You can increase privacy by choosing a layout that features smaller windows, and/or built-in window blinds that are easy to operate whenever you want to conceal your interior from prying eyes.
Homes that feature clerestory windows also do a good job bringing in plenty of natural light from above while maintaining privacy. Aside from up in the loft area, clerestory windows tend to make it impossible for people outside the home to look in at the inhabitants.
A lot of tiny houses that feature large windows in the main living areas include smaller ones in downstairs bedrooms, loft spaces, and bathrooms. This is another design feature that can enhance privacy in the rooms of your home where it matters most.
We Can Recommend Floor Plans and Features for Your Site
If you know where you will be putting your park model home, and what to expect in terms of wind, natural light, shade, views, and neighbors, you can choose a floor plan and features that will make the best use of your site’s positive attributes, while minimizing the impact of its shortcomings. Need help choosing a floor plan and features? Please contact us for a tiny house consultation.
