Sure, tiny homes are cool and fun to look at, but after a while, they all start to look more than a little bit alike. That is not the case, however, with this roundup of miniature abodes. From jaw-dropping yurts to tree-suspended boats and biblically inspired structures, these tiny houses — many of which can be rented online — are without a doubt one-of-a-kind (as is one rumored occupant).
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Boca Chica Casita
Boca Chica, Texas
While this tidy, tiny home is worthy of attention for how easily it can be set up (in just one day) and the relatively low price tag for a fully-furnished model with everything from lights to a fridge (under $50,000) by building start-up Boxabl, what is especially unique is the purported latest inhabitant of one. Though Boxabl would neither confirm or deny the Tesla tech magnate lived in one of their casitas, Elon Musk tweeted as much after Boxabl reps stated a top secret resident would be living in one of their tiny homes in Boca Chica: “My primary home is literally a ~$50k house in Boca Chica / Starbase that I rent from SpaceX. It’s kinda awesome though.”
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Ultra-Modern Yurt
Portland, Oregon
This yurt in the Pacific Northwest was built by couple Zach Both and Nicole Lopez. Although it might look like a fairly typical yurt outside, inside it’s anything but, starting with this entryway, which sets the stage for the rest of the space.
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Ultra-Modern Yurt | Interior
Lopez and Both note that they were not super experienced in construction when they took on this project, but it turned out so well that they created a site called Do It Yurtself, which assists other DIYers who want to do something similar with helpful resources like a build guide, lifestyle guide, FAQs, and more.
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Ultra-Modern Yurt | Bedroom
The “wow” moment in this tiny home is the bedroom, which sits atop a 200-square-foot circular platform lined with live plants. The yurt’s ringed skylight gives the owners views of trees, birds, and the stars at night.
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The Yellow Submarine Tiny House
New ZealandCheck prices and availability If you’ve dreamed of staying in an unusual tiny house that also comes with its own earworm, you’ll want to check out this Airbnb tucked into the redwood trees of New Zealand’s North Island.
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The Yellow Submarine | Interior
The space sleeps four in double-bed bunks and includes a two-person Chesterfield sofa and lots of nods to Victorian steampunk design. The ladder leads to the “captain’s room,” which renters note can be a great place to catch the sunrise. One fun feature: The owners used a recycled spa tub as a ceiling in this room, turning the spa’s jets into porthole windows.
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The Yellow Submarine | Kitchen
This unusual tiny home’s kitchen is limited but includes a faucet, sink, and countertop that was converted from an upcycled dressing table. The house also includes a full bath — with a sink, shower, and toilet.
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Silver Maple Treehouse
Lake Chelan, WashingtonThis fanciful structure was built by Nelson Treehouse, a family of five that has built treehouses all over the world. It was built for a client with grandchildren and includes a turret, a suspension bridge, and more.
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Silver Maple Treehouse | Interior
The interior living space is “almost completely devoid of hard angles and straight lines, giving the treehouse a fantastical, whimsical look,” notes Nelson Treehouse. A window in the living area gives the adults a chance to check in on children playing in the “Dream Net” below.
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Silver Maple Treehouse | Exterior
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This tiny home borders a pub/saloon and other community amenities like a barn gathering area with games, a community kitchen, and more.
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Vintage Train Car | Sleeping Quarters
This train car is actually a restored 1913 Victorian “Red Rattler” with sleeping accommodations — including bunks and beds — for up to 16 guests.
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Vintage Train Care | Pub and Saloon
Be sure to bring your own beer as the saloon isn’t actually licensed to sell liquor, but you can throw one back with your fellow guests while also shooting pool, sitting around a fire pit, spotting local birds, or just exploring the 50-acre property.
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The Ark House
Washington CoastAbel Zyl of Zyl Vardos Inc. builds lots of truly unique tiny homes, but he tells us he has a “soft spot” for the Ark, built in 2015. With its cedar curved exterior, it is now the home of a bicycle mechanic living on the Washington coast.
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The Ark House | Interior
The Ark’s interior includes a kitchen, bath, office area, and two sleeping lofts. Each sleeping loft is accessed by reinforced shelving that doubles as ladders.
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Located on four acres of land near the village of Bonnavoulin in the Scottish Highlands, this unique Airbnb property has great views of the Sound of Mull and the surrounding Scottish hillsides and mountains.
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The AirShip | Kitchenette
This rental is designated an Airbnb Plus property: “a selection of only the highest quality homes with hosts known for great reviews and attention to detail.” Indeed, guests leave comments like: “Airship 002 is quirky, unique, extremely comfortable and beautifully designed,” and “has bags of charm and style.”
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
ÖÖD Hötels Jõeranna
Estonia If the idea of staying in an entirely glass house jangles your nerves, note that this tiny home’s exterior is actually a mirror. So, while you can see out, any passersby — which won’t be many since it’s pretty secluded — won’t be able to see in.
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ÖÖD Hötels Jõeranna | Sleeping Quarters
We wouldn’t suggest this property for anyone who likes to sleep in because, especially in winter, there is a lot of natural light. But you probably won’t want to anyway — this area of Estonia is filled with things to do like trails, beaches, landmarks, the nearby Jägala River, and a golf course and country club. It takes an early riser to tackle all that.
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ÖÖD Hötels Jõeranna | Sauna
At the end of a long day, shore up those tired muscles in your own private handcrafted Nordic Iglucraft Sauna.
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Stargazing Bubble House
Joshua Tree, CaliforniaCheck prices and availability Sure, you have to actually rent a larger house to get access to this bubble-shaped tiny house, but you’ll get the best of both worlds. Larger quarters to get comfy in, and a truly one-of-a-kind experience in the form of your very own inflatable sleeping quarters with a deck.
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Stargazing Bubble House | Bath
The bubble house comes complete with a plumbed toilet and sink. There’s even a skylight in the bath area, so you can even stargaze during any nighttime trips to the loo.
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Stargazing Bubble House | Exterior
No shower? No problem. The main house has two full baths, and there’s this outdoor shower, which gives you a view of the surrounding area’s stark desert beauty.
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1945 Converted Boat House
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1945 Converted Boat House | The Shack
The secondary space houses an industrial-style bath and kitchen with a vintage carpenter’s workbench for prep. If you prefer a bath connected with nature, the deck also offers a clawfoot tub (with roll-top curtain for privacy).
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1945 Converted Boat House | Bedroom
The sleeping quarters include a wood-burning stove, two single beds (that can be pushed together at day’s end to form a king bed), and views of the English countryside. There’s even tea, a kettle, and Wi-Fi inside the boat hull so you can enjoy leisurely mornings.
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Dome Tiny House
SpainThis tiny home — dubbed the El Avistador — is located about an hour or so south of Madrid, near the base of the Iberian Toledo Mountains.
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Dome House | Interior
The inside of this tiny home has a minimalist-yet-cozy vibe due in large part to its plywood walls and ceiling. A large window provides opportunities for spotting wildlife by day and stargazing at night.
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Dome House | Pool
The property shares a pool with another nearby accommodation, and there are hiking and biking trails in the area, too.
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Pirate Ship Treehouse
New ZealandCheck prices and availability on Airbnb This tiny home, which is now suspended in the trees near Auckland, has a rich history. Built in 1935 in England, she enjoyed an existence as a fishing and pleasure boat before touching down in the land of the Kiwi, where the current owners found her as a “rundown shell.”
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Pirate Ship Treehouse | Interior
The owners note on their website that they used a lot of upcycled materials, including kauri, a wood native to New Zealand’s North Island, to help restore the boat’s interior.
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Pirate Ship Treehouse | Sleeping Quarters
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