The Best of Small Houses: Affordable Appeal
Small houses are more than just compact spaces—they’re a celebration of smart design, affordability, and charm. Whether you’re drawn to their cozy aesthetics, minimal environmental footprint, or budget-friendly appeal, small houses offer a big opportunity to live efficiently without sacrificing style. Proving that less can be more, enjoy today’s collection of small house exteriors.
A quaint cottage offers a big enough porch for more than one person to enjoy. Additionally, the front yard has another outdoor seating area while attention to the surrounding landscape is considered for ultimate enjoyment.
Bungalows tend to be smaller, but not always. Whether large or small, they always display great curb appeal.
For me personally, I’d choose style over size any day. Smaller square footage typically means a lower mortgage payment freeing up some cash flow for quality furniture and decorating.
Photo by Cummings Architecture + Interiors
I recently watched an Instagram reel from Apartment Therapy that showcased a tiny apartment in Paris. The woman who lives there enjoys bakery and it’s amazing to see what she can create in such a small space. She’s also filled her small home with things she loves. It was my inspiration for today’s post about small houses.
Photo by MICHAEL MCDONOUGH ARCHITECT PA
A tiny house might be too small for most people, but it’d fun to rent one for a weekend trip.
Photo by Paradise Tiny Homes LLC
Small houses generally mean less work. There’s less space to clean and less maintenance to perform which means more time for yourself.
Sometimes I wish I lived in a one-story house like this. It’d be so much easier to paint the exterior. Hubby wants to re-side the house but I refuse to cover the original clapboard siding.
Photo by Alan Clark Architects, LLC
Although I love historic homes, I like the look of this modern tiny house.
Photo by Winkelman Architecture
Outdoor living spaces should be given careful consideration in smaller homes. A deck or patio increases your living space during the summer months.
A screened-in porch is another way to easily increase square footage on small houses.
You’ve probably heard of southern shotgun houses. They pack a lot of style into a small footprint.
Who can resist a rustic cabin in a woodsy area? Especially when it has such an impressive entrance?
This is actually a child’s play shed but wouldn’t this exterior be adorable for a small home?
Photo by chadbourne + doss architects
Do you have a favorite or two from the collection of small houses? Which do you like most?
See more small houses.
I love smaller homes with character and quirkiness! They can be so charming and cozy
I like almost all of these! So fun to see some smaller homes that are so pretty. I have always liked the idea of a screened in porch. And for a small house, the extra footage would be amazing. The little rustic cabin in the woods was certainly adorable. Really enjoyed this post.
My favorite was the one with the screened-in porch. It looked like a cute place to live.
I am absolutely itching to see the inside of most of these! I went to Ainsley Duross’s French apartment site and was enthralled and am following! But all that butter!!
All great examples. Favorites would be the one with the screened in porch and the cedar shaked home in the woods. Happy New Year!