How a man made his ultra-small tiny house a beautifully functional dream home

Noah’s ultra-small tiny house on wheels, measuring just 10′ x 20′, is a home he built four years ago. With only 200 square feet of space, it’s incredibly compact.

However, Noah made the most of the limited area by designing an open-concept layout, creating a surprisingly functional and comfortable living space.

“I built this tiny home after work and weekends while I was still working a full-time job a few years ago, and I live here full-time. I’ve been here for a little over four years now, and so far so good, you know, and winter, summer, it’s been quite enjoyable,” Noah explains.

A thoughtful design for maximum functionality

The idea behind Noah’s ultra-small tiny house was to create a functional living space within a minimal footprint.

As a 26-year-old with limited savings, he knew the project would need to be affordable, especially since he was financing it himself.

“The goal for this tiny house was to basically see what is the most functional design that I could come up with in the smallest footprint, with the budget being kind of paramount,” he shares.

Not only did Noah want a space that would be practical, but he also wanted it to have aesthetic appeal.

Growing up on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, he saw the project as an opportunity to combine function with beauty, creating a home that reflected his creativity.

“I wanted to create something that has some beauty to it,” he says.

The structure and exterior features

The tiny house, which Noah named “The Maxwell,” has a sturdy foundation and a blend of materials that ensure it lasts.

The home sits on an old RV trailer, which helped save costs. “If I had the budget, I definitely would have been starting with a tiny home-specific trailer, but I just got an old RV trailer off of a friend,” Noah recalls.

The exterior features high-quality materials, including a standing seam metal roof and a combination of cedar channel siding and shingles on the front wall.

Noah hand-sanded and stained each piece of wood to ensure they would endure and age gracefully. A cedar deck adds extra space, doubling the tiny home’s usable area.

“When I build decks in my tiny homes, I make them easy to disassemble for transport,” he explains.

The outdoor bathtub is a standout feature of the deck, where Noah can soak in hot water while enjoying the view.

“I brought hot and cold water out to the outside of the tiny home, so I can easily just hook up the hot water to the tub and have a nice bath and watch the sunset,” he says.

Maximizing space inside the tiny house

Inside, Noah focused on using every inch of space wisely. The home’s open-concept design brings in plenty of natural light, creating the illusion of more room.

The kitchen features compact but functional appliances, including a mini fridge, a propane cooktop, and sink.

“The cabinetry is from Ikea for cost-effectiveness, and I’ve designed a small but functional layout,” Noah explains.

A unique touch in the kitchen is a custom-made Arbutus wood countertop. “Arbutus is very difficult to keep straight and keep where you’d like it to be,”

Noah admits, but he made it work with creative solutions.

In the living area, storage is integrated into furniture pieces, like the bench and under the bed.

The bedroom is designed for comfort with a queen-sized mattress and a large window next to it, offering stunning views of the outdoors.

The bed lifts up to reveal additional storage space underneath.

Energy efficiency and unique features

Noah’s tiny house is designed for efficiency, both in terms of energy use and space.

The home is heated with electric baseboard heaters and a Dickinson Marine propane heater, which provides warmth during colder months.

In the bathroom, a cedar shower adds a touch of West Coast craftsmanship. “It’s a fun project and unique touch,” Noah says, noting the removable panels that allow easy cleaning and refinishing.

The house is well-insulated, using Rockwool insulation in the ceiling and rigid insulation in the floors to prevent moisture issues.

While Noah has yet to add solar panels, the home is connected to the grid and has a standard flushing toilet hooked up to a septic field.

Living the tiny home life

Living in the ultra-small tiny house has been a rewarding experience for Noah. He enjoys the simplicity of tiny home life and the ability to focus on what truly matters.

“Tiny home life has definitely been a bit of a transition. I was living in campers and trailers before I moved into my tiny home, so I was definitely used to living in small spaces,” he explains. “But moving into a tiny home, the main difference for me is just having a really well-insulated, well-sealed space.”

He continues, “I think tiny homes just simplify your life. You focus on what you really need and what you really don’t need.”

For Noah, this tiny house was not just a place to live but a starting point for his career. He started his company, Left Coast Tiny Homes, four years ago, and has since built six tiny homes.

“I saw an opportunity to provide an affordable housing solution to younger people in my generation,” he says.

In the future, he plans to build mobile saunas in addition to tiny homes, continuing to expand his creative business.

Noah’s ultra-small tiny house perfectly shows how thoughtful design and creativity can turn a small space into a functional, beautiful home. Watch:

Subscribe to Exploring Alternatives on YouTube to see more amazing alternative home stories.

You can also follow Noah’s Instagram and website to see his projects.