A tiny house can make a wonderful environment for raising children. You have the convenience of everyone in the household being able to easily stay connected, perfect for providing quick homework help or just sharing some laughter and fun.
Living in a tiny home with kids can also produce some challenges, however, since you’re all sharing the same small space. Below are some tips for choosing a park model home layout that will be perfect for your family.
- Buy a model with a downstairs bedroom and a loft
First of all, you should choose a park model home floor plan that includes both a loft and a downstairs bedroom, rather than just one or the other.
That way, you have a master bedroom for the parents and a secondary bedroom for the kids. You can decide together who will occupy the loft versus the downstairs bedroom.
- Consider a “window” between the loft and downstairs
There are a few different options for the separation between the loft and the main living spaces below.
In some smaller tiny houses, there is often no barrier. In larger tiny homes such as park model homes, railings are common.
Above you see another option in the Woodland Park Front Kitchen Model. A set of stairs on the left leads up to the loft, which you can see has a proper wall separating it from the living room and kitchen.
The windows can maintain connection between the loft and the kitchen/living room if desired—ideal if your kids are working on their homework upstairs and maybe want to be able to ask you questions now and again while you’re cooking dinner below. But if they need focus and privacy, they could simply pull a curtain across the windows.
- Think about a model with a divided loft.
If you have more than one child, or you expect to in the future, you might want to consider a tiny house that features a double loft. One of the loft spaces can serve as a bedroom for one child, and the other can go to their sibling. Your kids will appreciate that they each have a space of their own that they can personalize and enjoy.
This is not the only approach, however. Some kids like sharing a space, and may be fully content to share a single loft, or even a downstairs bedroom with bunk beds. You can talk to your kids about moving into a tiny house to get their thoughts and preferences before you decide on a floor plan.
- Pick a park model home that features a door near the bathroom.
One of the best things about park model homes is that on the whole, they are pretty easy to keep clean. Still, there are some features to look for to ensure they are as easy to clean as possible.
Tiny houses encourage kids to spend more time outside. The big windows serve as a constant reminder that the outdoors is waiting. So, don’t be surprised if they rush out after finishing their homework, or spend a lot of time playing outside on the weekends.
Of course, you know what a hassle it can be when kids run back inside, not bothering to remove their muddy shoes before they mess up your clean floors.
A back door is a very useful feature to have in a tiny house layout for families with children. The back door is usually close to the bathroom. That means kids can go directly to the bathroom to wash off after coming inside. The result is less mess for you to clean up in the kitchen and living room.
- Choose a tiny house layout that features a large porch.
There are two reasons to opt for a park model home that includes a spacious porch. The first has to do with cleaning again. Most park model homes don’t have space for a full mudroom. So, the covered porch acts as the mudroom. This is a good spot for kids to take their dirty shoes off before entering the house if they’re using the front door.
The second reason is to give kids a sheltered space where they can enjoy being outside, come rain or shine.
- Pick a floor plan with a large living room.
One of the reasons a lot of families move into tiny houses is because they want to be able to spend more time together. Tiny houses prevent family members from walling off from each other the way they might in a big house. Everyone is always in relatively close contact.
So, make sure you choose a floor plan that features a large living room. This is where your family can spend time watching TV, playing games, and just hanging out and chatting.
Park model homes are excellent for this purpose because they are typically a bit wider than other types of tiny houses. As a result, the living room can feel very airy and spacious.
- A layout with stairs is best
Tiny houses either have a set of steps leading up to the loft, or a ladder. While children can generally manage ladders, very young kids will be able to safely climb stairs before they can ascend ladders. So, if you have toddlers, or plan to have more children in the future, it is better to pick a tiny house with stairs.
Living in a tiny home with kids can bring some challenges, but now you know ways you can overcome them so the whole family can enjoy a sense of connection along with privacy. If you are interested in any of the models of WA tiny homes we shared in this post, please contact us for a personalized quote. Tell us about your family and lifestyle, and we can recommend additional models and customization options.
