A YOUTUBER has revealed how he built the “world’s smallest house” that is the size of a cupboard and has all the amenities of a modern flat.
The tiny space, which measures just 19.46 sqft, has everything a home has to offer – but there is a catch.
Levi Kelly, from the US, built what he claims is the world’s smallest functional home – and it even has wheels.
For the past six years, he has been running a YouTube channel that focuses on exploring unique Airbnbs all over the United States, showcasing some of the most innovative and creative living spaces.
But when he decided to take on the challenge of building his own tiny house, he took things to a whole new level.
The YouTuber told The Sun: “I saw someone else build what they called the world’s smallest tiny house.
“And I thought, you know, I can make one smaller and better.”
Levi’s journey began with a spark of inspiration and a trailer he already had on his property.
He said: “I measured it out and realised that if I built something on it, it would be smaller than what was already out there.
Over the course of a month, Levi constructed the house himself, using a mix of standard and high-end materials.
It has a seated lounge area, a separate bed, a kitchen and a toilet and shower – all squeezed inside a trailer.
Levi, who spent around £3,824 on the project, said: “There is a seating area which is kind of like your living room.
“There is also a bed and a kitchen. Having all of these things separately matters when you have such a small space.”
The tiny home is built on a single-axle trailer and uses multiple jacks to keep it balanced.
The entrance of the home opens to a small lounge area with bench seating that can accommodate up to four people.
It has an integrated storage space with a heating and cooling unit fitted under it.
Attached to the seating area is a small kitchen that has water tanks for freshwater and greywater, a filter and pump system, plus a water heater.
There is even a mini fridge inside installed for drinks or the occasional food item and an electric cooktop is stored in a drawer between uses.
The sink has a folding tap and is covered with a cutting board insert when not in use.
Levi found a brilliant way to fit in a small bed inside the home to make it even more functional.
All you need to do is look up and you will find a fold-down bed that has hooks to hold it in place up in the ceiling.
And it is big enough to accommodate a fully grown adult.
Levi mentioned that despite its small size, the space is surprisingly comfortable for sleeping, and he has personally spent entire nights in his compact trailer home.
“You can fully stand in it, and the bed is big enough to lie down comfortably.
“I’ve had my whole family in there—me, my wife, and our two kids—and even four fully grown men just to see if we could fit. And we did!”
Sharing his experience, Levi recounted a particularly memorable night he spent in the trailer during a snowstorm last month when his area received 18 to 24 inches of snow overnight. He described it as a fun and adventurous experience.
“I even made like a 4-course meal at my tiny house.”
“It was perfect because it’s a fully functional house. It’s cosy, and it’s definitely way more roomy than what it might look like on video.
However, there is a downside of having your entire flat packed into a 20sqft space.
While the house comes with a camping style toilet and an outdoor shower, they are fitted outside of the trailer because of lack of space.
“I’ve gotten a lot of comments about the outdoor shower, but hey, it works!” Levi laughs.
But the YouTuber says they can be prought inside for more privacy if needed.
Levi’s tiny house currently sits in his backyard where he continues to make videos featuring the house.
The most recent one showed him cooking a delightful four-course meal using the house’s amenities alongside a campfire outside.
He now hopes to use the home to go on camping trips with his wife Savannah and their two children.
Levi said: “The fact you can just take it anywhere makes it so special.
“I put it in the woods in my backyard, and I just think that’s really fun. It just has all the luxury amenities you would need.
“It’s really cosy and I think that’s what makes it special. It’s not about the size—it’s about making the most of the space you have.”
Tiny Homes FAQs
THE tiny house movement began in the USA before gaining popularity in the UK.
What is a tiny home?
Tiny houses are small, fully-equipped living spaces designed to lead a more sustainable, off-grid lifestyle.
Although they vary in size and shape, tiny homes tend to be between 15 and 50 square metres in capacity, made of sustainable materials and are easier — and cheaper — to maintain than traditional brick homes.
Are tiny homes legal in the UK?
The legality of tiny houses is all to do with where it is and what you use it for.
If you want to put your tiny house in the back garden of the home that you own, and the overall size of your tiny house does not exceed 19.8m x 6.7m (65ft x 22ft), then good news! You do not require planning permission.
Tiny houses that fit within these dimensions and are constructed on trailer bases are legally classified as caravans, which means you can legally park them within the curtilage of your home without planning permission.
If this is your plan, then it is a legal requirement that you only use the tiny house as additional living space, like an office, a gym, or a studio, but you cannot rent out the space to a tenant.
For those of you who live on farmland, what is defined as curtilage can be complicated. In these cases, and under any circumstances where you are unsure, we recommend that you speak to your local planning officer.
You can put a tiny house on your land as a temporary structure for 28 days, but for any longer than this we recommend that you speak to your local planning officer as different permissions will be required
Can you get a mortgage for a tiny home?
The small size and relatively low cost of tiny houses means they’re not generally considered eligible for a mortgage.
However, there are plenty of options to take out a loan to fund your dreams of the perfect, moveable home.
