All you could ever need to build a tiny home is now in one place

13 Jul 2022

Tiny home advocate and expert Sharla May says over the last six years, she’s experienced a lot when it comes to navigating the world of tiny living.

“I’ve seen friends, family and associate get stuck, overwhelmed and end up in horror-story situations that could have been avoided had there been somewhere for them to find relevant information at the start of their own journey.”

There needed to be a solution, a place where all of the information and resources about tiny houses could be easily found. A reliable source that was easy to navigate, whether you’re a builder, buyer, liver or dreamer, she says.

With a handful of experts by her side, Sharla set about creating it. The Tiny House Hub has now launched and offers a wealth of in-depth information, guidance, and a directory of tiny house builders to bring your project to life.

You can search for a builder to meet your specs and budget, and find legal resources to help you avoid your own horror stories.

“I was a beginner once, too. I made some costly mistakes in the early days of my tiny house journey, and I’m fiercely passionate about preventing other like-minded people from making those same mistakes.

“When I DIY built my first tiny house, I blew my budget and ended up borrowing money from family to get the build finished. Not an ideal situation!”

On the Tiny House Hub, there is a free detailed DIY build budget template to help you stay on track with your finances during your build.

Sharla has spent the last three years working in the tiny house legal space, first founding the Tiny House Association, then leading a working group to develop a national bill specifically for Tiny Houses on Wheels, and in 2021 consulted with MBIE on their project developing the Tiny House Guidance for the Building Act 2004.

Thinking about painting a tiny home in Resene colours? Try these tips to make a small space look roomier:

• Using colours with a high LRV (light reflectance value) percentage, for example, can help reflect and bounce the natural light around the space and give it the illusion of being larger, brighter and more spacious.
• While white might be the ultimate space creator, certain colours and colour combinations can fool the eye and make interiors seem much more spacious than they are.
• Pale blues and greens create a calming atmosphere that simultaneously enlarge and brighten a space. They also combine well with other colours. Combinations like creams and icy blues are some of the best for making a space appear bigger. Try creamy shades like Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta and Resene Rice Cake alongside icy blues such as Resene Breathlessand Resene Cut Glass.
• Consider drawing attention to 1-2 feature areas with Resene wallpaper. This is easy to update and add new personality to your tiny house as your tastes change.

Remember to use durable finishes, such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen on walls and Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss on trims as you are more likely to knock the walls in a tiny house.

Find the hub: www.thetinyhousehub.co.nz

Published: 13 Jul 2022