From DIY converted school buses to Home Depot’s new line of right-to-your-door micro-homes, tiny dwellings are a big deal. This weekend, there’s one place to see and learn all about them.
Back for its sixth year, the Colorado Tiny House Festival, June 24-25 at Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton, showcases everything that the spirit of tiny living has to offer. The festival includes professional tiny home builders, as well as contemporary designs from DIY builders and so-called “glamping” experts. From aspiring millennial van-lifers to soon-to-be retirees, there’s something in it for everyone, according to festival organizer Art Laubach.
“There’s a subset of the market that are looking for a more sustainable, minimalist lifestyle, and then there’s a subset that’s looking for something more affordable,” he said. “And then there’s another market of people who are getting older and they want less home to take care of.
“It’s different for different folks,” he added.
A home is considered “tiny” when it has less than 400 feet of living space. In such close quarters, tiny living is nothing short of a lifestyle that necessitates ingenious design and an open mind. For Coloradans seeking better access to the outdoors, though, tiny living might mesh perfectly with an adventurous lifestyle. Buyers can spend less on accommodation and more on experiences.
“Tiny homes and Colorado go well together. For a lot of younger folks who are very social, who love the outdoors, they’re just a perfect match,” said Laubach. “[It] gives them more money to spend on the experiences they want to have in life, whether those things are traveling, skiing and snowboarding or fishing or camping.”
Thanks to new state legislation, tiny living is about to be a lot more accessible. On July 1, House Bill 22-1242, which was signed by Gov. Polis last May, will allow local jurisdictions to establish modes of building regulation so residents can permanently dwell in tiny homes. There are currently no official building codes for tiny homes, so state-sanctioned tiny living has never been possible until now.
“Since this legislation has passed and we’ve implemented new rules as far as what a tiny home [is], and how they need to be built to be considered safe, they’re essentially real property,” Laubach said. “You can [now] live permanently in a tiny home, whereas before July 1, that was not a possibility.”
Even for those not looking to downsize all the way to 400 square feet, each dwelling featured at the festival will contain plenty of inspiration for the minimalist in all of us. For example:
Optimal organization: Some tiny homes feature closets that look two feet wide, only to open and expand nearly six feet, or faux drawers that pull out to accommodate more closet storage.
Contemporary design: Everyone wants a space that feels like home, regardless of square footage, complete with up-to-date design trends. According to Laubach, many of the professional tiny home building companies employ design experts who can offer tips on the latest colors and wallpapers, all in tiny living spaces you can actually stand in.
Unexpected layouts: In addition to the best organization methods, tiny home builders have thought of countless ways to optimize living space without sacrificing the functions they need for daily living. The fest will feature layouts the average homeowner never thought possible, from living room lofts above bedrooms to beds that pull down from the ceiling on a winch system.
Building ingenuity: Don’t let these tiny structures fool you; they may be small, but today’s tiny home builders are making sure they’re built to last. By using the latest forms of heavy-duty insulation and technology like rain screens, tiny home habitants can get the same insulated comfort that they can from foundation-based homes.
High-efficiency comfort: A 300-square-foot home uses far less energy than a 3,000-square-foot home, and builders are making sure they’re making each square foot as efficient as can be. Using the newest HVAC systems, they can keep one part of a home hot while the other is cool, all while exchanging fresh air from outside the home without losing any temperature control.
UPDATE 4:44 p.m. June 21: A previous version of this story said that HB22-1242 will pass on July 1. It passed the Colorado Legislature on May 9, 2022, and went into effect on August 10. The Colorado Legislature is not currently in session.
