Sure, we all dream of living in a six bedroom house, with a larder and a games room and a spa thrown in for good measure, set amongst sprawling acres, but the reality for most of us is much, much smaller. But who says that micro living can't totally work? Bigger doesn't always equal better and, in fact, looking at some of these charmingly cute properties, we are tempted to pack up and move to a home fit for a hobbit...
1. A teeny cottage in the wood, Dorset
Follow the breadcrumbs to this insanely charming cottage in Wareham, Dorset. It sits within two acres of woodland and it basically does look like something straight from a fairytale. Its gothic details, flagstone floors and exposed beams are all in beautiful condition and this mini house has another even more mini house in its garden, which has electricity and water.
Price: £399,950
2. A one bedroom flat in the eaves, London
Sat on top of a handsome property in Stoke Newington, north London, this flat is like a refuge from the bustling high street it's situated on. Squeezed into the eaves, the space is dictated by the contours of the roofline. Sounds like a faff? Far from. The exposed wooden beams and trusses and the shapes and spaces they create, give this home a character all of its own.
Price: £425,000
3. A former butcher's shop, Hampshire
Originally serving as the local butcher’s for the village of Selborne, this small property has since been restored into a lovely space. The property boasts limestone flooring, exposed wooden beams, a mezzanine bedroom, log burning stove, and a spiral staircase. We have a vision here, people, this property could be totally gorgeous.
Price: £285,000
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4. A one bedroom toll house, Dorchester
This diddy little toll house has recently been sympathetically renovated into a one bedroom home. It may only be four rooms, but we reckon considering the location and the history of the building, this property is a bit of a steal. It's situated on the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with amazing views of the surrounding countryside. Holiday home potential right there.
Price: £260,000
5. Build yourself a tiny house
Fancy building your very own tiny house, either in your back garden or on a plot of land? The people at Tiny House UK can help you out. They can send you a Tiny House Kit (yes, that's a thing) with everything you need to build your own space and will take only two days to assemble! You can get static or mobile version if you are feeling that nomad lifestyle.
Of and if a self-build all sounds like a bit much, they have ready-to-go structures, too (you just design the interiors).
Price: Starts from £6,500
Read more...
- Britain's remotest homes (on sale now)
- What £150,000 gets first-time buyers around the UK
- Real Homes Reports: the best places to live in the UK for sunshine and warmth
Small Spaces Month:
This article is part of Small Spaces Month, brought to you in association with the new Real Homes Travel Edition. A compact version of our hugely respected monthly magazine, Real Homes Travel Edition brings you all the same great content as the full-sized edition, but in an even more bag-friendly format that’s perfect for inner city commutes and French riviera holidays. Get yours now at WHSmith, Easons and selected newsagents.
Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as Staff Writer before moving to the Livingetc team in 2021 where she took on a role as Digital Editor. She loves boho and 70's style and is a big fan of Instagram as a source of interiors inspiration. When she isn't writing about interiors, she is renovating her own spaces – be it wallpapering a hallway, painting kitchen cupboards or converting a van.