Could you build a house that’s the size of a closet? That’s the question I wanted to answer when I set out to build what might be one of the smallest livable homes around — just 19.4 by 4 feet — in my front yard in southern Ohio.
I’ve always been obsessed with tiny living. I love seeing people get creative with small spaces. Over the past six years, I’ve traveled the U.S. documenting more than 300 unique Airbnbs, from treehouses to caves to luxury villas.
One day, after seeing someone attempt to live in a 22-square-foot home, I thought: I can build something even smaller … and better.
It all started with an old utility trailer sitting on my property. It had rust and electrical issues, but there was potential and it was the perfect foundation for a creative challenge.
The build took a month. Thankfully, we barely had any rain and wife helped me with a lot of it. I spent a total of about $5,000, which is less than it would typically cost since I already had a lot of the material. The majority of expenses went into lumber, insulation, solar, and electrical.
