How to have guests in a tiny house

I remember the first time I told my mother about wanting to build a tiny house. After some back and forth about it all, she asked “Where am I going to stay when I visit you!?”

It was a good question and many people have the same question when it comes to living in a small space.  The simplest answer is they don’t stay, you can offer to get them a hotel room and then meet to spend time together.  But some of us want to have folks over.

So here is my guide to how to have guests in a tiny house (or small space):

First thing is I have opted for a cot, which I have measured and at a length of 75 inches, fits perfectly between the end of my counter and the sofa.  I don’t set this up until it’s time for bed because in a tiny house it takes up a lot of room.

You need to consider how you and them are going to get in and out of bed.  For those with a loft, you need to make sure you have room for the ladder and space to climb up and down.  In my tiny house this fit just barley.  Tight tolerances here people!

From there I use a comforter and pillow to dress it up.  I folded it in half so that they could open it like a book and climb in.  If you’ve never slept in a cot, you need some insulation below you because the cool air below will leave you feeling very cold.  A pillow tops the whole thing off.

Next thing you need to deal with is toilet orientation.  People don’t know how to use a composting toilet so you need to give some guidance ahead of time.  Basically you do your thing in the bucket and then cover with wood chips, just enough so you can’t see anything left behind.  For men and women, if you can pee outside (see nearby tree lol) of the toilet that’s the best.  Mixing liquids and solids isn’t the best, but a little won’t hurt.

I have opted for tissues over standard TP because it can sit on the ground anywhere without need of a hanger and I found this perfect box to hold it.  Just make sure you close it up tight after you’re done, we don’t want soggy TP!

I found this Kingston’s Charcoal bin that works really well for wood chips, or whatever we are using at the time.  Other popular options are coconut coir, peat moss, saw dust etc.

Make sure people know where to find a head lamp so they can find the toilet or tree at night and I have hand sanitizer on hand when you are all done.

Meals are often done by going out for dinner or lunch, but if the weather is really nice, we could have a picnic or sit at the picnic table or fire pit.

Showers are fairly standard, but you might find some interesting soap options in the shower because I use all grey water safe products.

There isn’t a sink in the bathroom so you use the sink in the kitchen. There is also a mirror there for your use.

 

That’s about it!  The rest is pretty standard, but I know many people wondered how that all works in a small space.

Your Turn!

  • How are you going to accommodate guests?
2 Comments
  1. My Mother asked me the very same question, but also, “Do you think a woman would handle with this very easily?” I replied that she would have to be a special kind of woman – an alternative thinker. This was years.

    Now, my younger sister lives in a Tiny Home in NM. She has minimal solar power, does her business outside, and loves it! She has a cot for guests as well and is proud of her small footprint on the world.

  2. My couch is 6 feet long and would hold 1 person easily. If the weather is nice, they could also camp outside.

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