How a couple with no building experience created a dream home out of a shipping container

A young couple built a 45-foot shipping container home for only $20 with full amenities and breathtaking views.

The couple was only in their early twenties and had zero experience building homes but their home’s exterior makes it look like a work of experienced homeowners.

Paiton and her boyfriend Matt decided to embark on a new adventure and join the wonderful world of tiny homes.

In August 2019, they sold their schoolie van to buy a shipping container. They juggled work and building their container home for nearly a year and finally moved in last April 2020.

Strategically located on a 5-acre land in the Pend Oreille River of Washington State, the couple’s container home is blessed with magnificent views that they adore.

“The view is my favorite part of the property. You’ll see we placed the container in a strategic location at a strategic angle so that we could see both sides of the river, upstream and downstream,” said Paiton.

They also built the deck to be the same square footage as the container so their friends can really appreciate the view when they have them over.

As you walk into their cozy container home, you will be welcomed by their spacious and functional kitchen with second-hand, reclaimed cabinets which come with soft-shut hinges.

Instead of tiles, they used a cheap metal as a backsplash as it is easier to clean.

Paiton’s favorite thing in the kitchen is their induction cooktop. It can be stored inside a drawer and placed on the counter whenever they need it, saving them a lot of counter space.

Matt also installed a microwave with an extractor fan which takes the cooking air outside so their clothes and sheets won’t smell like food and grease.

Another thing that adds value to the small space in their kitchen is their sink with a cutting board and a little dish rack.

According to Matt, if something doesn’t have a purpose, it doesn’t have a space in their tiny house. They also have a full-size fridge and a big chest freezer to store their meat for a long time, limiting their trips to towns to buy groceries.

The couple’s main goal was to give a cabin feel to their tiny home while still maintaining its modern look.

They used three-quarter inch touch and groove for the walls, pine for the L trim, and reclaimed wood for the ceiling.

Matt shared that he opted for local and affordable materials which helped them stay within the 20-thousand-dollar mark.

 There are other things that give this container home a cabin vibe: the barn door that separates their bedroom and bathroom, the floating shelves for their towels and accessories, and an island that serves as their office space and eating area.

They also have a multi-functional area with a TV and a couch that doubles as a guest bed.

Like other tiny homeowners, Paiton and Matt also made good use of the small space by filling it with shelves and drawers to store their things neatly. Their bedroom is cozy and provides them with stunning views.

“There’s no light pollution here or anything so we get the best of both worlds with the morning river view and the night stars,” Paiton said.

The couple put a lot of thought into their home’s heating and cooling systems to make sure they are comfortable in all seasons.

They also have a utility shed that houses their big water tank and a small garage next to it.

Paiton and Matt are very happy to be homeowners at a young age. They shared that they get to save at least 200 hundred dollars per month which can help them save for their future. Though they love traveling, they realized that it’s time for them to build a home of their own.

“We had the school bus before. We were a little bit more mobile but it’s nice to like plant your roots somewhere and have a place to go back to when you want to, something you can call home.”

Watch this video where Paiton and Matt tour you in their incredible container home: