Tiny houses. They have become a short-term obsession for me. I first started looking at simple cabin styles a few months ago when I was thinking about creating a retreat for us on a piece of land we own. I wanted the cabin to be simple and not too big, but still big enough to house several people at one time. As I searched for cabin floor plans and ideas, I came across tiny house information too.

Then, a couple days ago I watched a documentary called “Tiny: A Story About Living Small” (available on Netflix). The film showcased a young man in the process of building his own tiny house and interviewed a few other tiny house owners. They discussed issues such as being debt-free, being part of a cultural shift away from materialism, and creating environmentally sustainable living spaces. While each concept didn’t resonate completely with me, a few key ideas struck me squarely between the eyes.

1. Changing concepts of status and dignity. Our possessions have become status symbols that tell the world how “important” we are as people. This focuses on the external trappings of life. By downsizing to the extreme, it would require a shift in thinking as well to define identity and human dignity in deeper, more authentic ways.

2. Making room for more life through less obligations. The main idea that changed my perspective is that with less house, life shifts outside my walls. Instead of focusing on making a home, and making a living to support the home, my efforts and energy could be spent outside the traditional borders.

3. Entering humility by embracing the small. One of the tiny house owners that was interviewed in the documentary said, “In our culture we are rarely invited into humility.” Wow! What a powerful statement! The idea that a tiny house is an opportunity to embrace the humble. It is a chance to stop striving for more and find satisfaction in less.

4. Increasing independence through no debt and sustainable living. I really like the idea of being debt-free, along with the opportunities it would bring to use financial resources in new ways. Plus, with an emphasis on sustainable living, like using solar power, I would be less dependent on outside utilities to support my lifestyle.

I’m still turning these ideas over in my mind and figuring out how they apply to my life. For one, I see some benefits to my “big” house. For instance, it enables certain kinds of hospitality that would be impossible in a tiny house. I am able to host visitors and even bring others into my home because we have the space for them. I think this is a pretty important benefit.

With four kids, I honestly can’t imagine downsizing to a space of 200 square feet or smaller. So, for now, I will keep my “big” house. But I see a vision for the future that would allow me shift away from material things and give me a new “stream-lined” life. Perhaps when my kids are grown. Still, I am intrigued by the concepts of the tiny houses and the lessons this type of living offers. What can I learn from the ideas this lifestyle is founded on? This is the question I am contemplating, and I invite you to contemplate it too.

What do you think about tiny houses? Do you think you could live in one?