Save On Space, Splurge On Life: The Tiny House Movement

The concept of ‘tiny living’ has recently grown into somewhat of a social movement all over North America. While the average size of the Canadian home is 1948 square feet, tiny homes range between 100 to 400 square feet. The fundamental idea behind this movement is sixfold – it encompasses tiny houses, environmental consciousness, self-sufficiency, lifestyle simplification, financial power and best of all, adventure. Ultimately, those who choose this lifestyle choose to make a very worthy trade between the comforts, privacy and prestige of a large home in return for a meaningful independence.
The government of Canada estimates that on average, a third of a person’s income is spent on accommodation. Adding on the cost of utilities, furniture and equipment, (all of which increase with square footage) that’s a whopping $31000 a year simply for a living space. Yet, how much of our financial troubles are fueled by housing debts? Skyrocketing land prices and extensive damage to the environment through large scale cookie cutter housing projects calls into question our society’s love affair with big houses.
Tiny housing may be one viable option for reducing our carbon footprint. By downsizing our material lifestyles and energy and resource consumption, we can lead fuller lives by focusing on the truly important things in life, while being environmentally conscious.