sleeping joy

little houses for limited mobility

Don’t cross little cozy houses off your wish list, if you or your loved ones have limited mobility. Small places aren’t only for energetic, ladder-climbing loft dwellers anymore — and may work well as secondary units, retirement abodes or vacation spots.

Hobbitat's Blue Sky model sports 455 square feet and accommodates disabled visitors or residents. (hobbitatspaces.com)

Hobbitat’s Blue Sky model sports 455 square feet and accommodates disabled visitors or residents. (hobbitatspaces.com)

We’re pleased to shine light on Hobbitat, a tiny house builder which already complies with the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) through its Blue Sky house plans. Hobbitat may be the first tiny builder to do so!

In the Blue Sky home, you'll find a sleeping nook for two which is separate from the great room. (hobbitatspaces.com)

In the Blue Sky home, you’ll find a sleeping nook for two which is separate from the great room. (hobbitatspaces.com)

To accommodate wheelchairs and/or walkers, small homes need to have wider doors and more open living spaces to maneuver around. It may translate into adding a bit of square footage to fit perfectly.

Here;s the Blue Sky great room and kitchen, looking down from a second, lofted sleeping area. (hobbitatspaces.com)

Here’s the Blue Sky great room and kitchen, looking down from a second, lofted sleeping area. (hobbitatspaces.com)

To serve physically limited users, bathroom space becomes more spacious than what’s typically found in a tiny house. Extra bathroom fixtures and wall bars get installed to comply with the ADA.

There's a full-sized bathroom in Blue Sky, likely appreciated by disabled and able-bodied users alike. (hobbitatspaces.com)

There’s a full-sized bathroom in Blue Sky, likely appreciated by disabled and able-bodied users alike. (hobbitatspaces.com)

Hobbitat sells its Blue Sky construction plans ($450) directly. Alternatively you could arrange for the company to build, deliver and place a home on your prepared pier foundation. More information about ordering is here.

spiral stairs to sleeping loft

To conserve tiny house space, consider installing spiral stairs to access a sleeping loft. They would make an ascent or descent easier than any ladder, right?

Spiral stairs from a Washington tiny house

The first spiral stairs come from a jewel-box tiny home built by Zack Giffin, who’s a skier, carpenter and Tiny House Nation host. Over the past three years, Zack (and his partner Molly) traveled to many Western ski areas where they discovered powder secrets and tiny house admirers along the way.

These well crafted stair steps were hand-built by Zack Giffin, in his tiny ski house on wheels. They seem like fine furniture and works of art. (Photo by Michael Dyrland)

These well crafted stair steps were hand-built by Zack Giffin, in his tiny ski house on wheels. They seem like fine furniture and works of art. (Photo by Michael Dyrland)

Notice how the steps rotate around a vertical pole. It enables dwellers to use extra space for seating and other purposes. (Photo by Mark Fisher)

Notice how the steps rotate around a vertical pole. It enables dwellers to use extra space for seating and other purposes. (Photo by Mark Fisher)

Here the tiny house is truly at home, nestled into a ski area parking lot. Everyone inside should be ready for tomorrow's action. (Photo by Michael Dyrland)

Here the tiny house is truly at home, nestled into a ski area parking lot. Everyone inside should be ready for tomorrow’s action. (Photo by Michael Dyrland)

Spiral stairs from a Massachusetts tiny house

The second spiral stairs appear in a tiny house owned by Francis Camosse, a local youth minister. His dream home, a modified Tumbleweed Cypress, was just built by Zack Giffin, local contractors and the Tiny House Nation. Aah, we understand the source of these spiral stairs now.

"Henry Camosse, father of Francis Camosse, climbs the stairs to the loft of his son's tiny house in Charlton," says the Worcester Telegram. (Photo by Paul Connors)

“Henry Camosse, father of Francis Camosse, climbs the stairs to the loft of his son’s tiny house in Charlton,” says the Worcester Telegram. (Photo by Paul Connors)

Francis Camosse's tiny house gets log cabin siding for a sweet rustic look. The tiny is currently located on family land. (Photo by Paul Connors)

Francis Camosse’s tiny house gets log cabin siding for a sweet rustic look. The tiny is currently located on family land. (Photo by Paul Connors)

stair storage, four styles

With stairs rather than ladders accessing sleeping lofts, more people seem attracted to tiny and small house living opportunities. Yet stairs take up valuable square footage, so the space around them should perform double-duty.

Stair storage concepts start with the steps and move to open space beneath them. Storage also may be open to view or well-concealed. In all instances, we appreciate the practical solutions and eye candy.

Using stairs as dresser drawers is a best practice, as seen in one straightforward and solid ascent to the sleeping area. This version is located in a Manhattan apartment. (Dwell)

Using stairs as dresser drawers is a best practice, as seen in one straightfoward and solid ascent to the sleeping area. This version is located in a Manhattan apartment. (Dwell)

With an artful and geometric arrangement of open shelving beneath the stairs, storage gets maximized in this house on wheels. (hOMe, tinyhousebuild.com)

With an artful and geometric arrangement of open shelving beneath the stairs, storage gets maximized in this tiny house on wheels. (hOMe, tinyhousebuild.com)

Here's something different: crates are installed for stairs and small items in a new house on wheels. The family dog accesses the loft easily, too. (Tiny House Giant Journey)

Here’s something different: crates are installed for stairs and small items in a new house on wheels. The family dog accesses the loft easily, too. (Tiny House Giant Journey)

In a Brooklyn apartment, under-stair storage is hidden within a sleek, white wall integrating the staircase. Kitchen items get stored within these walls. (Dwell)

In a Brooklyn apartment, under-stair storage is hidden within a sleek, white wall integrating the staircase. Kitchen items get stored within these walls. (Dwell)

comfortable, hidden, clever beds!

In a small house, a bed or bedroom consumes a lot of space. The good news is there are comfortable, hidden sleeping options that don’t hog square footage.

Let’s tour six cleverly-designed beds for overnight slumber or daytime naps. Get ready for some surprises in the latest wall beds, benches, sofas and chairs. Whether for yourself or guests, there’s sleeping joy ahead.

1.  Two Murphies:  Welcome to wall beds, for one or two sleepers. Anywhere you have an empty wall, murphies may be installed vertically or horizontally. They solve space issues instantly, by folding away when not in use.

Here's a horizontal Murphy bed, which folds sideways into a single sleeper. It also comes in full and queen models for two. (Murphy Beds Direct)

Here’s a horizontal Murphy bed, which folds sideways into a single sleeper. It also comes in full and queen models for two. (Murphy Beds Direct)

This pull-down Murphy bed, installed in a 20 ft long Cypress tiny house on wheels, sleeps two on the main floor. You don't have to sleep in an upstairs loft! (Tumbleweed Houses)

This pull-down Murphy bed, installed in a 20 ft long Cypress tiny house on wheels, sleeps two on the main floor. You don’t have to sleep in an upstairs loft! (Tumbleweed Houses)

2.  Two Boxes:  Find a mantel or bench during the day. When ready to sleep, the mantel reveals a full bed with unfolded sections. Meanwhile, a classic bench transitions from seating to sleeping area with ease.

How about a folding bed for two? We hear this is comfortable, looks like a mantel during the day, and offers mantel storage. (Tiny Revolution via Tree Hugger)

How about a folding bed for two? We hear this is comfortable, looks like a mantel during the day, and offers mantel storage. (Tiny Revolution via Tree Hugger)

A specially-made bench gets used for daytime seating and lounging, stores bedding, and becomes a nice single bed overnight. (Vina Lustado, Sol Haus Design)

A specially-made bench gets used for daytime seating and lounging, stores bedding, and becomes a nice single bed overnight. (Vina Lustado, Sol Haus Design)

3.  Two Upholstered Pieces:  A high-design lounge chair and modern sofa hide their bedding well, and jump ahead of old-fashioned sofa beds. The chair is a single sleeper, while the sofa reveals bunk beds. Both are pricey, though.

This Palazzo sofa looks cozy and is available in dozens of colors. It transforms into a bunk bed that's suitable for adults or kids. (Resource Furniture)

This Palazzo sofa looks cozy and is available in dozens of colors. It transforms into a bunk bed that’s suitable for adults or kids. (Resource Furniture)

Live it up! Here's an elegant, pricey lounge chair that hides a bed for one. This chair comes in white, sand and grey, with washable coverings. (Itzy Bitsy Ritzy Shop)

Live it up! Here’s an elegant, pricey lounge chair that hides a bed for one. This chair comes in white, sand and grey, with washable coverings. (Itzy Bitsy Ritzy Shop)

built-ins create new rooms

In a tiny house, built-ins effectively create spaces that feel like separate or more private rooms. There’s magic in how windows and partial walls help make tiny dwellers and visitors more comfortable.

Here are some examples of seating and sleeping areas that (we think) really work well. These nooks, alcoves and pods beckon you to take a breather.

In a silo-shaped home, bed pods fit within the rounded exterior and offer sleeping and napping space. (Montesilo)

In a silo-shaped home, bed pods fit within the rounded exterior and offer sleeping and napping space. (Montesilo)

The Tumbleweed Mica's bed gets built into a side room, complete with windows and cabinets. (Tumbleweed Houses)

The Tumbleweed Mica’s bed gets built into a side room, complete with windows and cabinets. (Tumbleweed Houses)

The hOMe's great room features a cozy alcove, easy for relaxing or watching TV across the way. (hOMe, Tiny House Build)

The hOMe’s great room features a cozy alcove, easy for relaxing or watching TV across the way. (hOMe, Tiny House Build)

This pretty nook, surrounded by windows on three sides, is the owner's favorite part of her home. (Little Yellow Door)

This pretty nook, surrounded by windows on three sides, is the owner’s favorite part of her home. (Little Yellow Door)

take ladder or stairs to sleep

When moving into a small place, a second-floor sleeping loft or area easily adds usable square footage. Space, mobility and even building codes lead people to selecting ladders or stairs to get there.

Let’s look at the trade-offs between ladder climbing and stair stepping. We’ll start with several staircases already installed in houses. Then we’ll check out ladders, which are nicer and safer than you might imagine.

stairs in a tiny or small house

In Bucharest, a special green home has been on display. It offers stairs with five side storage units, leading up to the bedroom. (Soleta zeroEnergy)

In Bucharest, a special green home has been on display. It offers stairs with five side storage units, leading up to the bedroom. (Soleta zeroEnergy)

In this tiny house, built in Minnesota, well-crafted stairs look like mission furniture with separate storage drawers. (Tiny Green Cabins)

In this tiny house, built in Minnesota, well-crafted stairs look like mission furniture with separate storage drawers. (Tiny Green Cabins)

Another option is to order the Karina stairs kit, which gets delivered with railings, balusters and treads for your own or builder's assembly. (Arke Stairs)

Another option is to order the “Karina” stairs kit, which gets delivered with railings, balusters and treads for your own or builder’s assembly. (Arke Stairs)

ladders in a tiny or small house

This ladder accesses the bedroom area and also provides storage shelves. It's permanently built into a 16'x30' cottage near Blanco, Texas. (Kanga Room Systems)

This ladder accesses the bedroom area and also provides storage shelves. It’s permanently built into a 16’x30′ cottage near Blanco, Texas. (Kanga Room Systems)

In this home near Portland, Oregon, the loft ladder ascends through bookshelves into a quiet and secluded aerie. (Jessica Helgerson)

In this home near Portland, Oregon, the loft ladder ascends through bookshelves into a quiet and secluded aerie. (Jessica Helgerson)

We admire the details in this traditional rolling library ladder, which you place and arrange for an optimal climbing angle. (Tumbleweed Houses)

We admire the details in this traditional rolling library ladder, which you place and arrange for an optimal climbing angle. (Tumbleweed Houses)

Made on Orcas Island, Washington, this substantial wood ladder has large treads and several hand-holds for safety to the second floor. (David Vandervort)

Made on Orcas Island, Washington, this substantial wood ladder has large treads and several hand-holds for safety to the second floor. (David Vandervort)