Why I Went Tiny

I’ve always had a thing for tiny things. As a kid, I collected miniature toys, tiny instruments, and little board games you could actually play. If it came in a mini version, I had to have it. Something about the scale—the way everything had its perfect place—just made me happy.

Fast forward to 2019: I was “living the dream.” I’d been out of college for about a year, working full-time as a mechanical engineer, and renting a cozy 600-square-foot apartment in North Austin for about $1,000 a month. It was my first real adult space—bright, simple, mine. I could easily afford it. But every time I paid rent, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my money was disappearing into thin air. I wanted to build something that was mine, something lasting.

That’s when the idea of going tiny started to take root.

I’d been obsessed with Tiny House Nation since high school. The thought of creating a home that fit exactly what I needed—nothing more, nothing less—was thrilling. With my background in engineering, my dad’s experience in architecture, and my parents’ seven acres of land out in Leander, I realized I had the perfect setup to actually do it. So, I started designing.

I opened Revit, the same program I used at work to lay out ductwork, and began sketching walls, doors, and furniture—trying to imagine how my life might fit into a few hundred square feet. I measured my apartment for reference, cutting cardboard templates of furniture to play with different layouts. Then I booked a weekend in a tiny Airbnb in Durham, North Carolina, just to test the lifestyle. That trip was eye-opening. I discovered what worked for me (loft beds, no thanks) and what didn’t (tiny sinks that barely fit a plate).

After five different designs—and a lot of feedback from family and friends—I finally landed on version six. That was the one. I could see it in my mind: sunlight through the kitchen window, the cozy built-in couch, the ladder tucked just right.

Then came the build. (That story deserves its own post or two!) I’ll just say this—starting construction in the middle of a Texas summer is not for the faint of heart. But every long, hot day brought me closer to the life I wanted to live.

I moved into my tiny house in December 2021. Almost four years later, I can confidently say it’s been one of the most rewarding—and challenging—things I’ve ever done. Living tiny has changed the way I see space, possessions, and even time.

In my next post, I’ll be sharing the unfiltered pros and cons of tiny living—what worked, what didn’t, and what I plan to do differently on my next build. Stay tuned!