Micro Living: 40 Innovative Tiny Houses Equipped for Full-Time Living, in 400 Square Feet or Less

by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

For everyone who’s ever dreamed of simplifying their life and downsizing their home, Micro Living offers an insider’s look at what tiny house living is really like.

Best-selling author and tiny house enthusiast Derek “Deek” Diedricksen profiles 40 tiny — but practical — houses that are equipped for full-time living, all in 400 square feet or less. Detailed photography and a floor plan for each structure highlight inventive space-saving design features along with the nuts-and-bolts details of heating, cooling, electric, and plumbing systems. The real-life stories of residents impart the pleasures, as well as the challenges, of day-to-day living. With tips on what to consider before you build, along with framing plans for a prototype small cabin, Micro Living is the perfect starter handbook for both dreamers and doers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Architecture, Adult, Design

256 pages, Paperback

Published October 30, 2018

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinated by the tiny home movement, so ASAP grabbed this wonderful book on NetGalley: “Micro Living” by Derek Diedricksen. The author, a tiny house enthusiast, gives an insider’s look at this growing trend for living with less, especially in our size of homes.

Diedricksen showcases 40 tiny houses — all in 400 square feet or less — equipped for full-time living, with photos, floor plans that include inventive space-saving design features, plus details on heating, cooling, electric, and plumbing systems.

You’ll also hear real-life stories from residents who share the real deal on living small, and get tips on what to consider before you build, along with framing plans for a prototype small cabin. All in all, the perfect starter handbook for tiny home dreamers and doers alike! 5/5

Pub Date 30 Oct 2018

Thanks to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.

#MicroLiving #NetGalley

[Cynthia Corral · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever thought about moving to a Tiny House, start downsizing ASAP.
If you’ve ever wondered if you could actually be happy in a Tiny House, brush up on your KonMari immediately.
If you’ve always known you’d never make it in a Tiny House but you want to read this book anyway… you better rent that dumpster and start tossing things.
Because this book will have you planning a Tiny House move for tomorrow.
Where I live in Silicon Valley, a Tiny House is just your average $3000/mo 400sq ft studio apartment, and that’s not even hyperbole. So I found it vastly interesting to take a look at how people were making it work in such small spaces, even with children and pets.
Derek “Deek” Diedricksen has assembled a collection of 40 of the nicest Tiny Homes I’ve ever seen. Each one is different and they are arranged into three different size groups. There are gorgeous photographs of the interior and exterior of each one, and a blueprint of each. There are also technical details of each one such as dimensions, budget, heating/cooling, bathroom type and power type, to give you an idea of what you get for size and price. He also asks each resident to list what mistakes they made, or what they learned or would do differently. Overall it is a great introduction to living in Tiny Homes, and gives a good look at what you should plan for and think about if you are considering the move.

The problem is that the pictures of these houses are so amazing that all sense and logic go out the window and you will be convinced that you too can live in a Tiny House! Luckily I am immune as I am already a KonMari failure, I also have an 85lb dog, prefer a large size washer/dryer, and need a kitchen roughly the size of any one of these Tiny Homes. But I think my soon-to-move daughter could use a copy of this book as she prepares to fly the nest and move her family into a tiny over-priced apartment that’s smaller than my current master bedroom.

Good luck downsizing to my daughter, and to everyone else who reads this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I give 100% honest reviews and this book earned every one of the five stars I'm giving it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is tiny house porn at its best.

For all of those who have thought about living in a tiny house, building one, or just visiting one, this books gives a very complete collection of the best of the batch out there. The book is divided into three sections of tiny houses. Big Tinies (over 250 square feet (23 square meters), Small Tinies (150-250 square feet (14-23 square meters) and Tiny Tinies (Under 150 square feet (under 14 square meters). There is even one plan for a cabin, included.

The houses are all ones that are in use, and each house story talks about the pluses and minuses of the house, such as no insulation in the floor, or not enough light in the bathroom.

Here is a picture of one of the Big Tinies interior:


And this one is a small tiny


And this is a tiny tiny


Lost of practical advice, on how to prepare to live in a tiny house, as well as advice on what you might have to think about before making such a move.

Highly recommend this book, with the caveat that you will probably need another book of plans if you decide to go ahead with this.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest reivew.

[Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this book! I own a quite large house and in recent year, knowing that I won't have any children , I questionned myself a lot about selling it and moving to a more isolate and smaller house. The tiny house is a big step and I'm not really sure it's realistic with the Quebec winters temperature and all, but I have a big interest in the subject. This book present house in every way. Good pictures, the house plan, a range of price and the innovation they sometimes have. Again, really good, complexe, withe every information needed! If you want to buy/build or just like the idea of a tiny house, you should take a look at this one!!

[Laura-Anne Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! I am obsessed with the idea of tiny living and these houses are so inspirational. The idea of scaling down my life to live in a 200 to 400 foot home is appealing in that it will allow for more financial freedom and the freedom to live where ever we want. The pictures are breathtaking and Mr. Diedricksen certainly makes the case for Micro Living absolutely doable and luxurious. One can live micro without having to give up all the luxuries of a 2000 sq foot house. You can still live a fabulous life just on a tiny scale.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very thoroughly illustrated book on micro-living, a concept which I find infinitely fascinating but ultimately impossible - a nice glimpse into that world, well put together.

I received access to this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Camille McCarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book if you want to look at pictures of minimalist tiny houses. I really enjoyed it, although I think that I would probably not be able to live in such a small space without going a little bit crazy. I would like to spend a few nights in one, though. I thought this was a great book, as it showed a wide variety of designs, had essays about how to cut down on belongings before going tiny, and the experience of tiny living. It would be great as a coffee table book as well, and even has designs for a basic house included at the end.

[Keesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I like best about this book (besides the GORGEOUS photos) are the parts where they discuss what works and what doesn't about the house. I feel like those tips make it much more useful for the would-be tiny house dweller, because they give you an idea of how to "make it personal" and incorporate or improve upon any of the design elements that catches your fancy. This book was everything I hoped it would be. I only wish I could get my husband to share my enthusiasm!!

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great houses. I wouldn’t want to live in them necessarily, but a shirt stay would be fun. Good photos, good layout.

[Giuseppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the tiny home movement. This book gave an inside look at some homes in the United States as well as information about the homeowners and their lifestyle, their floorplans, and things they wished they had considered before completing their tiny home builds. This book also has great tips for tiny home living, building, and shopping.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dream about being able to live in a 350 sq. ft. home that I've built from heavy-trash-pickup-day-cast-offs. But then I start thinking -- where would I put my books? Our walk-in closet full of clothes? Our wafflemaker, electric griddle, rice cooker, slow cooker, juicer, dehydrator and teapot/teacups collection. Yes, I know...but in the end, it's not for me.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been fascinated with this concept for a while now and have found myself on many occasions procrastinating via Youtube testimonials of people who choose to live like this. This was the main reason I wanted to read this book. I wanted to know more, see more and this book hit the mark.
I love how the author, Derek Diedricksen, included the floor plans of each 'Tiny Home' as it gave a better understanding of the size.
I envy those who live like the people in this book do. I would love the simplicity, the minimalist approach to living life. This book for me shows that to live a minimalist life you don't have to get rid of everything and live in a trailer (some of the homes are much much smaller). You simply have to think about what you actually need, what is important for your day to day living and implement that into your surroundings and with thoughtful planning, you can achieve that within a small space.
Micro Living by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen is an excellent glimpse into the world of Tiny Living and a tempting one at that.

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for tiny houses! I have lived in a few tiny places myself - a tiny, dry cabin in Alaska, very small apartments and a class C RV - but u will dream of a tiny house on wheels. The structures features here are divided into big tinies (250+ - 400 sq ft), small tinies (150-250 sq ft) and teeny tinies (under 150 sq ft). We get a wide variety of styles and cost ranges as well as a variety of structure types. Some are indeed built onto trailers, but others are on foundations or skids or even on stilts or in trees! While not every structure featured is set up for full time living, most are and in every case, there's plenty for inspiration if nothing else. I enjoyed reading Deek's take in the various builds, what he thinks works well and what doesn't. Those who built the structures also comment on what they would do differently. In addition, there are essays on the challenges of living tiny, minimalism and things to think about before beginning to build. While not every one suits my own style, this is a fun book to read through and dream. Will I every build my own tiny house? Maybe, maybe not. But considering all the possibilities sure is fun!

Thank you to Netgalley and Storey Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.

[Beth Tabler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book speaks to me, I too and interested in paring down and minimalizing. Micro Living shows how it can be done beautifully and comfortably.

I love the way this book is designed, it has clear and easily understood stories. I think it was very effective how he sectioned off the book into "small" vignettes that can give inspiration to a prospective builder or buyer. He even included plans! The pictures are worth buying the book and putting it on your coffee table. Really well done.

This is an absolutely fantastic must-buy book for someone interested in tiny home building.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Micro living! Also known as: the only house you, as a millennial, will ever be able to afford! And sometimes you won't even be able to afford that.

If you're into micro living, you'll be interested in seeing the design ideas put forth by this book. Me, I own too many books to live in a micro house. There'd be no room left for me. Only books.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was interested in the idea of tiny houses, but this book didn’t make me want to try one. Very few of the 40 featured houses are being lived in full time, and I found myself getting more and more claustrophobic with each page. I also have a problem with books on the simple life which begin with selling your million dollar house and easing your way out of your six figure job so you can make a living telling other people how to simplify their lives. It’s a common theme, and I don’t find it helpful. The most livable of the houses cost $50,000 - $75,000, which is less than an average house, but not something most people will be able to construct out of pocket. If you are an experienced builder with available land and an extra $100,000 lying around, this book may be your key to the simple life.

[Du · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is really basic and more about photography and simple designs then about innovation or loving your life to the fullest. A ten minute read.

[Rhonda Lomazow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful guide ,tour of tiny homes .All these beautiful tiny home with ideas on how to incorporate tiny home living the pluses and minuses.I don’t think I could ever move into a tiny home but the homes featured are very tempting,#netgalley#microliving.

[Julia Leporace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it! The photos, the plans, the regrets, the advice... It has everything a Tiny House Movement enthusiast needs to know.

[Michelle Mallette · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my full review at https://mmbookshelf.wordpress.com/201...
My community of Grand Forks, British Columbia, went through a devastating flood just a few months ago, displacing nearly a quarter of our residents for weeks. One of my friends has opted to build a tiny house on wheels instead of rebuilding her stick house. As a result, I was very interested in this title from Storey Publishing. Out this week, it offers helpful information and ideas for anyone thinking of really downsizing. The 40 tiny houses are organized into Big Tinies (over 250 square feet), Small Tinies (150-250 sq ft), and Teeny Tinies (under 150 sq ft), with most falling into the middle group. Each home is presented over about six pages, with lots of photos to show the outside, inside, and a plan of the layout. An infobox includes the dimensions and square footage, the budget in U.S. dollars, and details on the heating and cooling systems, bathroom, power, and hot water. The homeowners also offer thoughts on what they might do differently (usually allow more money or more time!). Innovative space and design solutions are featured in the photos, making this a very useful resource. My thanks to Storey Publishing for the advance reading copy provided digitally through NetGalley.

[Anjana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone who has spent any time watching home improvement channels, either in the US or on Netflix would have heard of the tiny house movement. There have always been homes/dwellings where people had to make adjustments, but this movement is more about making a conscious effort to reduce the footprint on the surroundings or the environment either for monetary or for ethical reasons.
I have had the opportunity to stay in one or two of the more unique accommodations on offer in the US.Our experiences in these quaint places was more of an adventure, but I need to take my hats off to those who continue to live in such a set up on a daily basis. This has led to a continuing fascination with shows that deal with tiny houses. I thought I would be interested in a book detailing a few of those and I was right. I was excited to see two houses which I recognised from some episode I watched before! 

This book has detailed pros and cons, options and drawings. It is almost like a toolkit for anyone who might have been considering the move, to start putting things in perspective. There are also a few takeaways for those of us who might want to implement some of the space-saving tactics in our daily life. 

This book is most useful for those who are seriously considering building or having a tiny home built.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Micro Living is a book of tiny houses - photos, descriptions by the author, and insights from the people who actually live in these spaces.

I wanted to read Micro Living because I have always been fascinated by tiny houses. This book is appealing because of all the photos and first person insights on tiny house living.

After spending some time with this book and online, I realize I am more interested in a very small cottage (i.e. 600 - 800 square feet) more than a true tiny house. To be livable for me, I need a full size fridge and stove, a traditional (if small) bathroom, and either all on one floor or - if there is a second story - with sturdy stairs and rail. (No shimmying down a ladder from a bedroom loft!)

The tiny houses in this book are so cute and creative but they are not spaces I would find practical for daily life. Very few have complete (small) kitchens, and some don't even have indoor bathrooms! But it was fun browsing the book and seeing the pictures.

The author feels passionately about tiny houses and I enjoyed his enthusiastic writing style. The book is well organized with: Big Tinies (over 250 square feet), Small Tinies (150 - 250 square feet), and Teeny Tinies (Under 150 square feet).

Anyone who is interested in true tiny houses (i.e. for a she shed or backyard office, or perhaps a little vacation cabin) will enjoy this book.

[Varrick Nunez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this title up from a sister library (Haines City PL) because we're thinking about buying some land & building a summer cabin in Maine or New Hampshire.

Nice discussion about different design considerations & means to meet design objectives. Although highly interested in promoting the Tiny 🏘️ movement, the author also considers limitations & why not to live in such compact spaces.

Liked the "if I built it again I'd..." notes in each description. Most of the builders had ideas & feedback that they would try on their designs.

I wanted more photos on the designs as built; there were enough photos to get a fair picture but I felt a couple of details were missing.

Some of the builders' websites are defunct, suggesting they've moved on since 2018.

[Matthew Macreadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much inspiration!

Deek includes just enough information to be helpful and inspiring without making any aspects of this book boring in any way. Heaps of photos and detailed plans allow you to join the dots in making your own design. Even if you don't happen to like a particular design, there are always one or two features in it that are both cool and thought provoking to use in your own tiny house. This book, his YouTube channel and MicroShelters has given me heaps of ideas in planning our monstrous 49m2 home for my wife and 5 kids. Why live like the rest of the world? Small spaces can be great spaces!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

You own your possessions they shouldn’t own you…..
A great beginners guide to tiny house living. I enjoyed all the photos & layouts for tiny homes. It’s fascinating all the thought that goes into the build of these tiny houses. Everything has double uses like a couch that can fold down into a bed & all the hidden storage spaces are clever. Although, I would not like to have to stand over the toilet while taking a shower. It’s hard to go from say 1,500 square feet living to 400 square living feet but the freedom of all that stuff seems liberating.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouraged by our downsizing project, I picked this up at the library. While we're not going down to 400 sq ft, there were many innovative ideas here that were worthwhile looking at.

I made a lot of notes about the clever things people have done to cabins, airstreams, and shipping containers. When I find them, they'll make a great review!

Note: I think the "full-time" living is stretching for some (as in outdoor toilets) but others are actually being used for that purpose.

[Mandy Crumb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun escape from reality. My imaginary self would love to live tiny but real life me with a book obsession would sadly not fit.
I enjoyed poring over tiny houses of different sizes with various price points. The best part of the book is when the people living in the houses honestly discuss what changes they wish they had made in the beginning. Even if you don't want to go tiny, there's inspiration to be found within the pages.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely photos of some interesting tiny houses. This is smaller living that I think I would want for myself - not willing at this point to get rid of all my books & furniture inherited from loved ones, not to mention liking more privacy than these places allow, but it is an interesting mental exercise to think what level of smaller/tiny living would be possible without feeling lost

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love floor plans! Four stars just for that!

Drawbacks of internet vs. print: this book was published in November 2018 and parts of it are already out of date. I saw an updated version of the Gypsy Soul house on Apartment Therapy (website) in February 2019, accompanied with 30+ photos instead of the mere four or five that are in this book.

That said, the AT post didn't have a floor plan.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed his first book, so knew I would like this one too. I liked how it discussed the disadvantages of different models and tiny house living in general as well as all the good, cool things. The wider picture gave me a better idea of what living in these is actually like.