Here is an inside look at the appliances, materials, and electronics inside my tiny house. You can really get creative with your tiny house. There are lots of great products and sites out there with small appliances. In particular, Europe and Asia seem to pioneer tiny living due to crammed cities with small apartments. There are also some great companies in the U.S. that are pioneering materials, appliances, etc. specifically designed for tiny homes and RVs. Definitely look for sales if you can plan ahead. I learned towards sustainable, green products where possible for both health and environmental reasons. TreeHouse based in Texas is an amazing store whose mission is to carry products that are good for you and the environment.
Appliances
$899
Probably the best fridge you can find that's bigger than a mini-fridge and smaller than an apartment sized fridge. Excellent if you want more freezer space which I find helpful to keep food longer. Great use of space and energy saving. A bigger freezer will use more energy, but it might be worth it to you and it shouldn't substantially affect your electric bill.
$287
Uses magnetism to heat your cookware, which has to be steel or iron or it won't work. Unbelievably fast, safe and easy to use. Can set by heat level or temperature. Can't imagine using electric or gas for cooking anymore. Induction is used in many other parts of the world and by professionals. Requires electricity and should be set up on its own breaker as it can draw a lot of power on the high settings. Don't turn up too high or it will burn your food. I typically cook most things on heat level "3" and use the temperature setting to heat water to a specific temperature for making tea. Cooking is a breeze and takes no time at all.
$150
Using induction requires something magnetic. I also wanted something eco friendly, safe, and easy to clean. This cookware is a unique combination of stainless steel base with nonstick ceramic coating and made with safe materials. Cleanup is a breeze, style is great, cost is good, especially when on sale. I picked up the 10pc. Minneapolis but there are different options depending on what you use on Target, Amazon, or the GreenPan website. Tip: Can be used with any cooktop (induction, gas, electric), and there are other models in aluminum which offer more options but will not work with induction so pay attention to the labels and materials.
$45
Most tiny houses don't have one, but if you cook a lot, especially oily or pungent food, it helps to clear things out and keep your cooktop and painted walls nice. Mine is recirculating using a filter (ventless), but you can also vent to the outside. This is really an optional item, but it's inexpensive and has enough benefits to warrant the purchase/installation in my opinion.
$1,500
Better reviews/quality/reliability than other combos. Takes up much less space than stackable. Holds a pretty good size load of laundry (e.g. week's worth of clothes, sheets, several towels). Lots of different modes and configuration to do what you want it to do. Because of how it works, washing usually takes about 1.5 hours and drying 2.5-3 hours. For smaller loads there is a wash/dry mode which takes about 2.5 hours, but has little control to how it washes/dries. Does not require venting, only electricity, incoming hot/cold water, outgoing water drainage. I decided to go for the more expensive LG and it's been a fantastic product so far.
$1,100
Mini-splits are extremely popular in many other parts of the world and take up very little space. They do no require ducts like central air. You can get A/C only or with a heat pump. Compressor goes outside, unit that blows the air is inside, and everything is remote controlled. TIP: You can determine the correct BTU based on the square footage of your space and geographic location. I would recommend for places that get hot in summer (i.e. Texas), but maybe not necessary in places like California or Colorado. A/C is energy intensive and the units are expensive, so if you don't need one, just go for a fan or open your windows. Space heaters, heating panels, or wood burning stoves can be used for heat during colder weather and are cheaper.
$525
Tankless water heaters provide "instant" and "unlimited" hot water without a physical tank which saves a ton of space. This unit is made for RVs, so it should hold up during travel. Works off propane. Inside control panel to set desired temperature level. Heats up within 1-2 minutes and lasts for as long as you have propane. I can go about 3 months before I need to refuel. TIP: I originally was going to use an electric tankless, but no company would back their warranty if installed in a mobile home. They also use a lot of electricity which may limit simultaneous usage of other appliances while showering, doing laundry, or washing dishes. Have an on/off switch installed inside to turn the water heater on/off in case of emergency and also to turn off when not in use overnight or when away to extend the life of the unit.
$960
Most popular tiny house composting toilet. Supports on or off grid. Separates solids from liquids which keeps it from smelling (smells like dirt). Small amount of electricity required to run the internal fan for venting. Liquids emptied 3-7 days depending on usage and can actually be set up to drain directly into septic or tank by removing the front piece that holds the tank and piping into septic/RV tanks. I use coconut coir for compost which lasts for several months depending on usage. I was hesitant about the toilet, but really like it. Only annoying things are emptying the liquid bucket and occasionally getting fruit flies through the venting. Just keep clean and empty regularly and/or use essential oils like citronella or lemongrass. TIP: Not needing to empty gray/black water from your toilet provides more options for tiny house placement.
$269
Sleek, ceiling fan that has a built in light with dimmer and 4 speed modes. Remote controlled. Can be reversed, but must take off the light cap. Silent even on highest setting. Great option for air flow throughout the main part of the house and saves money instead of A/C.
Smaller Stuff and Electronics
$126
Opted for a slightly more expensive smart lock to handle the deadbolt which offers several key codes that is perfect for yourself (no key to carry), friends, family, or renters. There are some smart locks that give you full access via smartphone app, but I personally feel the security isn't ready yet. Plus they are noticeably more expensive. Looks nice, easy to use (although sometimes you have to wait a minute for the keypad to illuminate), easy to install. TIP: Have an extra set of keys available, especially while you're learning to use the lock.
$18
Rather than planning electrical for an outdoor light and having it always on to attract bugs as you walk into your house, pick up this mountable light that is solar powered and offers several modes, including on at night or motion sensing. If you move your house, you will need to remove anything mounted that reaches beyond the 8.5' width, so this is easier to deal with than a typical light. Of course, you'd probably never get pulled over if you left it on. TIP: Make sure the light has sun exposure to keep it charged.
$161
Gooseneck faucet (pulls out) and hold magnetically. Doesn't retain fingerprints or water marks.
$65
Modern shower valve. Versatility in the hookup depending on plumbing, just make sure you get the right internal component to hook up to the handle and pipes.
$68
Modern, LED sconce lighting. Takes up little space and comes with LED bulb. I replaced with Philips Hue bulb which shine through great. TIP: Not all sconces are LED (use hardly any electricity and last a long time). If the sconce is not wired for LED, don't use one, use the bulb recommended by the manufacturer.
$100
Decided to try out elements of a smart home with the lights because you can change the colors (I went for the white ambiance bulbs) that can be adapted to your mood to improve concentration or to prime for bed by auto dimming and making colors warmer. It really does have an effect and has become one of my favorite purchases. Easiest to get the starter kit to get going. Controlled by app (Homekit if iOS) or remote. Easily expandable to additional lights.
$86
Add to any base Philips Hue system. Multi-color LED strip that can be cut to desired size and uses 3M adhesive. Controlled by app and Homekit for iOS. Many color options for mood, falling asleep, etc. I find it helps for falling asleep as you can set routines to have a softer light and auto dim. One of my favorite purchases. TIP: Requires Philips bridge to work.
$119
Dual function smoke and CO2 detection. Battery or wired (I did battery to avoid electrical wiring and so it could be moved if I wanted). Controlled via mobile app. TIP: Get the code for the app off the back before installing.
$23
Charge via AC wall adapter or USB. These in particular give 2.4 amps each port which provides faster charging (some split the power which charges slower).
Materials
This is not a complete list, but covers most of what’s in the house. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or see items in pictures of my house that aren’t listed here.
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