Start by installing plenty of floor to ceiling windows and large glass doors. Remember that both sides of your container are load-bearing. If you compromise this integrity with lots of cutouts, you’ll need to support the container somewhere else to compensate.

Then build hidden storage into your tiny house. You could build the home on a platform and then install lift panels on the floor. Or build out one end of your container with a separate storage room.

Your final step is to create an outdoor living space. You can do this by building a deck to create an outdoor extension of your living room or kitchen. Or, install a staircase that gives you access to the roof. You could then build a rooftop patio with an outdoor kitchen and bar area.

5. Single Shipping Container Home

While many of the container homes that you see will use more than one container, this isn’t necessary. You can create a completely livable space inside one container. You can use all of the same tricks that you would use when building a tiny home. This includes installing plenty of windows, an outdoor area, and a rooftop patio. But you’ll want to go further because space is a premium and you need to plan your home’s layout carefully.

Plan to put your bedroom at one end. Then to simplify the plumbing and electrical, try to place the kitchen and a small bathroom next to each other. This will minimize the amount of plumbing pipe and electrical wiring that you need to run. These two areas could be in the middle of the container or on the opposite end of the bedroom. Then plan for a living area in the remaining space.

When building with a single container, your home is a maximum of eight feet wide. This could limit how you place your rooms. Be sure to check your local building codes as they may have minimum square footage sizes.