Home is where the heart is — and the tiny-house craze proves size doesn’t matter when it comes to creating our homes. We’ve seen tiny homes you can buy on Amazon and even ones you can have 3D-printed. Now, we’ve found some out-of-the-box-thinking homeowners who’ve repurposed storage sheds purchased at Home Depot into their own tiny houses.
The Smith Family’s Tuff Shed Tiny Home
To find out what it took to put together their Tuff Shed tiny home we spoke with Beth and Barry Smith of Georgia, who share their shed home life on the Facebook page Tiny Houses Shed Homes. They made the move into a Tuff Shed tiny home after trying to build a tiny house on their own.
When it came to the second project, the Smiths decided to get some help. One day during a trip to Home Depot, the Smiths found a shed they liked, ordered it and hired builders and contractors to create their new tiny home. There were separate crews for shed construction, foundation pouring (an additional charge) and interior work.
The Smith family gave us a virtual tour of their home, which has an open concept on the first floor. They have a nice, airy window in the kitchen area in front of the sink for some amazing views and tucked into the kitchen is a cozy dining area perfect for up to four people. Later, the Smiths and their guests can retire to the living area for games and conversation.
The couple’s bedroom looks like the perfect private retreat for two. There’s room for a bed plus side tables and lamps. The room also includes windows, a ceiling fan, a dresser and even a nice seating area where they can relax.
The Smith’s bathroom even has a soaking tub! It looks like their own personal day spa.
But, how much did this all cost to pull together? After all, that truly is the bottom line, right?
“Our Tuff Shed shell was a bit over $20,000 including some upgrades,” Beth told us. “To finish it out, we did a lot of the work ourselves but hired out electrical and plumbing, HVAC, etc. All in we came in a bit over $60,000.”
According to Zillow, the average price of a home in the U.S. when the Smith family bought their Tuff Shed was $312,728. At about $60,000, the Smiths paid just a fraction of the average cost of a home. But did saving so much on their house mean they traded in the enjoyment of their previous home? They may have cut their budget, but Beth said the Smiths gained a lot more in their lifestyle than they lost in space.
“We still love the size, we love the ease of living here,” Beth said. “We still enjoy a generally uncluttered life. Having a small home with very little overhead has allowed us to pursue a simpler life and to walk away from ‘corporate,’ which was one of our goals.”
Home Depot’s Tiny Home Kits
For their two-story tiny home, the Smiths used Tuff Shed’s TR-1600, which was sold at Home Depot at the time, as their shell. Unfortunately, Tuff Shed tweeted that this model is no longer available.
However, you’re not out of luck: Home Depot also sells tiny home kits that may work better for you.
This Rose Cottage Tiny Small Home Kit makes you a domicile that has 443.3 square feet of space, two bedrooms, a staircase and multiple floor plan options, including an area for a bathroom that’s big enough to include a washer and dryer. Priced at $31,887, the kit includes delivery, a stamped certificate by a professional engineer and calculations that meet your location’s building codes.
Another tiny home kit option from Home Depot is this Getaway Pad Tiny Home Kit for $43,832. The kit creates a 540-square-foot living space. It also has an external staircase that leads up to an entertainment area on the rooftop, where you could put a grill or relaxation area.
The lower level has a living area, a bedroom with a closet and a full-size bathroom. While the kit does not include finishings like doors, windows, electrical and plumbing, it has allowances for all elements required.
For about half the price of the Getaway Pad kit, this Sea Breeze Tiny Home Kit can also be used as a cabin, guest house, Airbnb or home office.
Priced at $23,592, the Sea Breeze kit creates a 366-square-foot tiny home. It has space for a bathroom, laundry area, an open kitchen and dining area with a high ceiling and a living area that can alternate between a bedroom and a lounge. If you want more space, you can add a deck and even a loft for an additional cost.
Lowe’s also has a handful of tiny home kits like this Studio Shed priced at $24,600. Measuring 10 feet by 12 feet, the kit includes fully panelized wall sections, pre-framed roof sections, trim, hardware and fasteners.
You can choose from a variety of siding colors once you place your order. You can also expand the floor by adding decking that is wide enough for outdoor furniture.
You’ll also find some sheds that can be turned into tiny homes at Lowe’s, which are typically cheaper than actual tiny home kits. This YardCraft shed, for example, measures 12 feet by 26 feet and is just $9,165.
While large enough for a small living space, it can also be turned into a home office or guest house if you’d prefer to just have it on your property without using it as a full-time residence.
Kaitlin Gates contributed to this report.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories.
