Can Larger People Live Comfortably in a Tiny House?

The stereotypical tiny home often comes with a certain image of the type of people who live in them.

Most people picture fit individuals who want to cut back on their impact on the environment and spend more time in nature. However, if you are not thin and still want to join in on the tiny house movement, can you?

Can larger people live comfortably in a tiny house?

The truth is that larger people can live comfortably in a tiny house, but it may take a bit more work and planning. Be willing to deviate from the standard floorplan and make reasonable changes to accommodate your size and requirements.

You’ll be glad you did a little more research before starting out on your tiny journey!

Do You Have to be Skinny to Live Comfortably in a Tiny House?

When people picture tiny house living, they might be understandably concerned about the lack of space.

Individuals who are not considered to be thin might wonder whether they, too, can embrace this lifestyle. Do you have to be skinny to live comfortably in a tiny house?

The answer depends on the type of tiny home that you build.

Floorplans and Space Planning

Choosing the right type and floor plan will go a long way toward making you more comfortable, particularly if you are a larger person.

Consider the size that most tiny houses on wheels must be. To fit on the standard trailer, they cannot exceed 8 to 8 and 1/2 feet wide. For someone who has a larger girth, it might be too difficult to maneuver from room to room in a space this narrow.

On the other hand, you could build a tiny house on a permanent foundation and give yourself a little more breathing room. You might choose to go with a home that has a slightly larger square footage but still remains small in comparison to today’s modern single-family home.

Unfortunately, this means that you lose the flexibility to travel with your tiny home, which is one of the top reasons why people consider tiny home living.

You should really evaluate your motivations for tiny house living before deciding whether you want a tiny house on wheels or a permanent foundation. However, if you are a larger person, you might not have much of a choice if you want to comfortably maneuver around the home.

How Big Can Tiny Houses Be?

If you are building a tiny house on a foundation, it can be as large as you want it to be.

Keep in mind that many counties and areas have specific minimum square footage guidelines for how large your house must be. Always refer to your local building codes and ordinances before you begin to build your tiny house.

If you are building a tiny house on wheels, you have to make sure that it is small enough to move from one place to another.

Most do not exceed nine feet wide or fourteen feet tall. Including the towing vehicle, your tiny house can be up to 65 feet long.

Exactly How Big Can Tiny Houses Be? Check out our guide to exact dimensions here!

Great Tiny Houses with Downstairs Bedrooms

If you are not skinny, the idea of hoisting yourself into a tiny loft bedroom area might not feel completely comfortable.

The ladders and stairs that lead up to these areas are typically fairly narrow and might be uncomfortable to navigate.

As an alternative, you can look into some of these great tiny houses with downstairs bedrooms.

Check out our amazing tour on YouTube of a Tiny House w. downstairs bedroom and Murphy Bed!

One creative way to make room for a downstairs bedroom is to hide the bed away. Murphy beds are a popular option because they fold up during the day.

At nighttime, all you have to do is pull them down from the wall. This frees up a lot of space for you during your walking areas and makes your sleeping quarters more comfortable.

As you can see from the tiny home in the video, your space can easily feel bright and open even with a downstairs bedroom. This is becoming quite a popular request among those who are planning their new tiny houses.

Other Things to Consider Before Deciding

Hallways

Many tiny homes are structured to be long and narrow.

This means that you often have lots of hallway space that connects one area of the home to another. For people who aren’t skinny, this can spell a lot of trouble.

You might have more difficulty getting from the living room to the kitchen, for example.

If you are starting to plan your home from scratch and don’t mind building on a permanent foundation, consider a house that is a bit wider than average, so the hallways don’t have to feel so claustrophobic.

Shipping Containers

One of the most popular ways to build a tiny home is to repurpose old shipping containers.

Unfortunately, these may not be the best idea for overweight individuals. Much like building your tiny home on a trailer, there are certain maximum sizes that you can build with when using these materials.

They tend to lend themselves to narrow homes that can be hard to live in. Look instead for larger floor plans that are stick-built or factory-built.

Shower Space

One area that often gets cut in size within a tiny home is the shower. It is an important feature, but some builders try to include it as small as possible.

Look for showers that you can comfortably fit in and move around in.

If you feel like you have to cram your body into the shower, it won’t be an enjoyable experience for you each day, and you will be more likely to give up your dreams of living in a tiny home.

Final Thoughts

The truth is that tiny home living often caters to skinny individuals, but you can still join in even if you happen to be a bit larger.

It will require more planning and a bit of modification on your part, but it is still a possibility.

Keep some of these things in mind when you put your planning into motion!