Everyone who lives in a tiny house agrees… outdoor space is where it’s at!
Just because the house is only a few hundred square feet on a fat day does NOT mean that’s the real living area. These 12 amazing tiny houses sport inspiring and inviting outdoor spaces that are as big, if not bigger than the house itself.
No matter how big or small your house is, I’ll point out some outdoor living design ideas you can use to make your outdoor space the talk of the town, or the trailer park, or the parking lot… whatever the case may be.
1. Canopy Can Do
I picked this one to be first for a reason. I wanted to show just how beautiful a simple structure can look. Isn’t this perfect?
One of the best advantages of outdoor space is that it costs much less to build than interior finished space. Take away the roof structure and that costs gets down right next to nothing. But that doesn’t mean you have to endure the elements unprotected. I use huge umbrellas on my 1000sf deck, and this tiny house has a beautiful canvas canopy. It sure looks inviting to me!
2. Lean-To Living Room
The “lean-to” type structure uses an existing or primary structure as support for one side. That’s what the covered portion of this amazing looking outdoor area does. This kind of construction (the whole outdooor living area really) is a great DIY project for a beginner because outdoor construction is forgiving. You don’t have to get perfect joints every time.
But you tell me… how totally comfortable does this look? It’s awesome and beautiful and plenty spacious. I love it.
3. Garden Living By Design
Apartment Therapy – Reclaimed Kitchen Garden
So if you take a look at the article on Apartment Therapy linked above you’ll find that the main structure in this picture isn’t actually a tiny house…. but it could be! And if it was this crazy inspired garden would be the perfect outdoor living space for the occupants.
Don’t miss the effective use of brick and shapes to create distinct outdoor rooms without any walls. If you were sitting on that tree bench, wouldn’t you consider the entire space inside the circle “yours”? That’s the feeling of an invisible wall.
4. Color Explosion
bhg.com – colorful backyard makeover
Ok, so I know this is a post about large outdoor living spaces. But if you’re going to design the space of your dreams, you have to start working out that imagination. Using your mind’s eye, just stretch this front porch out about fifteen more feet. See?
I couldn’t help but include it because the use of bright colors is just …. uplifting.
5. Simple in The Snow
Tiny House Blog – 1948 Trotwood Tiny House
The picture with all the snow looks great and all… but that’s not the point to see. Not the only point anyway.
Imagine it without the snow and you’ll see such a simple but so very usable outdoor space. Literally one truckload of 2×4’s and 2×6’s, a few boxes of nails, and a day’s work. Voila! Wood deck as big as the whole camper. A great place for the grill and it’s all extended a little further out by putting chairs and a fire-pit. (more awesome fire-pits here)
6. Pavement Patio
From Tiny House Swoon – Pinterest
If you’re lot is actually a parking lot, then your patio is going to be pavement. But nobody says it can’t be comfortable!
7. The World is Your Front Porch
One of the real unexpected benefits of a tiny house is this: you want to leave it! It’s small, you get cramped, you go outside.
If that outside happens to be right on the city street, then the whole world is your front porch. Imagine it! A coffee shop around the corner, kids playing in a playground down the street, or just sitting on the steps and watching the cars go by.
8. Warmth, Class, Sophistication
Fine Homebuilding – Pinterest
Of course not everyone is going to jump at the idea of the previous tiny house on the sidewalk. Maybe this is more your speed? Am I right?
This isn’t really a tiny house by any stretch, but I tend to take a little literary license sometimes. Let’s pretend that the left-side portion is the house and the part behind the porch is the barn, or storage, or ???
In ANY case, this is a crazy great looking outdoor space so I had to include it. I love the giant stone floor with gravel between. I love the poured concrete fire pit. I love the natural looking transitions into the planted areas. It’s also worth taking note of how the “barn” walls are corrugated metal and the “house” walls are smooth stucco. Nice.
9. This
If I had to choose…
I love the cool odd-shape (heart?) pool. I have a tiny backyard and I really need to build a pool. This is inspiring. I also love the covered lounge/bed area next to the pool. That looks like fun a great place to rest. The whole thing just looks inviting and comfortable and a place you’d really spend some quality time. I like it.
10. Queen of My Single-Wide?
I’m pretty sure that we’re looking at a fairly new structure here, probably built at a substantial cost. But since I live in Florida and Florida has it’s share of mobile-homes I couldn’t help but see the shape of the old single-wide trailer my grandfather bought on the cheap (after it had a fire) and had hauled up to a vacant lot in the woods. It was his weekend getaway for fishing and general goofing off.
It did not look anything like this, but it did get me to thinking. Wouldn’t it be fun to buy a beat-up old trailer, cover the outside just like this, build a huge porch just like this, and even paint the doors that perfect torquise… just like this?
In any case… this looks like a place I’d love to spend summer nights listening to the crickets and watching the stars.
11. Nicely Done
There’s something to be said for symmetry. The pergola/trellis structure here matches the pitch and height of the adjacent structure perfectly. It looks great and provides a surprising amount of shade as well as a feeling of protection when sitting within.
The woodwork looks very nicely done and you’ll also notice another use of corrugated metal as exterior siding, this time horizontally.
12. Pavilionaire
Living in a tiny house is something that transcends finances. It’s a choice to live as simply as possible, although it’s often anything but simple getting there!
That said, tiny houses are pretty much always cheaper so you can live in style without being a millionaire… but, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll pay special attention to those outdoor spaces.
They might even be bigger than the house itself. Like a pavilion! You’d wouldn’t be a millionaire… you’d be a, wait for it, pavilionaire!
Who wants to be a pavilionaire?
I know I do!
~ Tim
————— IF YOU LOVE TINY HOUSES —————
