Very Compact $38K Tiny Home Is Perfect for Downsizing on Your Own

The Rhode Island Red is on the lower spectrum of tiny houses in terms of size, amenities and pricing, and it serves to remind everyone what downsizing is really about. The tiny living movement started taking root in the early 2000s as a response to the housing crisis and raised environmental awareness, and it has seen an incredible boom in popularity over the past three years or so.

In essence, downsizing is exactly what its name says it is: scaling down from a large(r) house to a much more compact one, which allows you to cut down expenses on a monthly basis and reduce your carbon footprint. Downsizing goes hand in hand with intentional living, where de-cluttering will help you be more present in your everyday life and learn to appreciate experiences, as opposed to an accumulation of material possessions.

Both downsizing and intentional living have a mobile aspect to them, as tiny houses are almost always sat on trailers, and towed from location to location.

This build, delivered by Colorado-based Rocky Mountains Tiny Houses in 2021, is the essence of these two trends condensed. Take that in an almost literal way, because this tiny is exactly that: tiny, so it’s best suited for a single permanent occupant. Measuring just 14 feet (4.2 meters) in total length and 8 feet (2.4 meters) in width, it sits on a single-axle trailer, and was done on commission for a single woman living in Rhode Island – hence its name.

The design is inspired by a much larger model from the same maker, the Crestone, but scaled down to provide a private and very mobile home of just 119 square feet (11 square meters), which, if we’re not mistaken, includes the loft area above the kitchen, where the bedroom is. In theory, the Rhode Island Red could offer sleeping accommodations for as many as four people, but realistically speaking, it’s probably best suited for two, and ideal for one single downsizer.

Because the footprint is so compact, the styling is also pared down, due to what may be an intentional choice to keep it simple and uncluttered. With clear rustic vibes, this tiny has an exterior clad in corrugated metal sheets and wood for utmost practicality and ease of maintenance, while the interior is all wood: tongue and groove cedar for the walls, knotty Alder for the cabinets, and walnut, white oak, and maple for the countertops.

Entrance is through a passenger side door, directly into the kitchen and living area. It would be pointless to talk of rooms in any tiny house, and all the more so in a build as compact as this one; even the idea of dedicated “areas” seems out of place here, with the exception of the bathroom, which is the only one larger and benefiting of a pocket door to create a separate space.

With a basic single-loft layout, this tiny has the kitchen on the rear wall and the bathroom in the front of the trailer. The former comes with a four-burner propane-powered stove, a small sink, some prep space, and very little storage in the form of cabinets. As shown in the video below, upon delivery, the builder left some space for a washer-drier next to the mini fridge with a freezer.

The bedroom area is located above the kitchen and accessed through a lateral staircase with integrated storage and a handrail as an extra safety element. There is no standing height in this loft, but that’s not surprising since it’s common fare in most tinies. At the very least, the builder promises enough space to fit a queen-size mattress.

The bathroom is equally small, but fits a standing shower with a curtain and a composting toilet, and still has some room left to move around without bumping into stuff.

Power for the Rhode Island Red comes from a standard RV-style hookup, and it’s heated with a small propane-powered furnace. The builder doesn’t offer more details about the build, like water tank capacity, or any off-grid capabilities or upgrades.

This unit, furnished as shown in the video tour below, came in at $38,000 before taxes and delivery, which is comparatively cheap for this market. Many of these tiny homes retail for upwards of $50,000, and can even go as high as $120,000+ if they’re larger, more luxurious and custom builds.

On the other hand, $38K could still be too much for what is essentially a small shed on top of a single-axle trailer with the most basic amenities, when you could probably make it work with an actual trailer for less money. But that’s downsizing in a tiny home.