For those that live in them, a tiny house can be a blissful reprieve from the constraints of city living and accelerating cost of living crisis.
These self-contained homes, which are often on wheels to comply with varying council regulations, can understandably be considered a dream home for minimalists - given their tiny size.
For interior designer Justine Wilson, founder and director of Vault Interiors (and self-confessed maximalist), moving from a large four bedroom, three living room inner city terrace to a studio sized 40-foot container home in the country was a significant, yet meaningful, change.
"With the rising cost of living, it made sense to downsize my rental property, as a single person living in a 3-lounge room, 4-bedroom home I didn't really need all that space and a tiny house in the country seemed like a great trade off," she explains.
While Justine admits it was a big change in lifestyle - after all, what design enthusiast doesn't love collecting trinkets and furniture? - she says that moving into a much smaller space gave her a challenge to scale down her collection and surround herself with a trove of her most treasured items.
When you're living with the constraint of space, making the room look as big as possible is the first step in maximising its design potential.
"I opted for an overly muted neutral monochromatic look, white walls, white floors, white furniture which makes the space feel double the size. I also have several mirrors which enhance the feeling of space and reflect the pretty views," Justine says.
Neutral colours often reflect light - as do mirrors - and beyond extending the illusion of space, create an open, brighter atmosphere in a tiny home.
Her next challenge was decluttering. Stacking things in groups, such as stacks of tone-coloured books, then grouping her trinkets on top, was a key design choice that helped Justine strike a fine balance between the minimalism required for a tiny home, and her personal, maximalist design aesthetic.
Investing in storage furniture - like ottomans that could open, or gas lift beds - allow for hidden storage, another significant way she reduced clutter. In fact, storage was a significant part of acclimating to her tiny home.
"For instance, I have risers inside each kitchen cupboard that allow me to double up the cups and plates, and I use a lot of small tubs or baskets to further organise and group things inside drawers or cupboards also," she explains.
While the interiors can pose a challenge, it's important to note that one of the biggest appeals of tiny homes is the ability to enjoy the outdoors. It's no surprise then, why alfresco dining areas are ubiquitous among tiny homes.
In Justine's home, her outdoor area comprises of a deck with a pergola, and is the main place that she does her hosting and entertaining.
"It's fairly all-weather with the roof and has a cute little pot belly stove which makes it warm and cosy in winter. I have an outdoor wine fridge, BBQ, outdoor sofa and a dining table there which doubles my internal living space," she says.
If you're looking to move into a tiny house in Australia, Justine explains that the increased quality of life is immeasurable. Not only are bills, time and energy saved, as she observes, but the reconnection with nature is invaluable. If anything, the first step is the biggest one.
"Just go for it! You can still enjoy all the things you love and possibly even enjoy life more," she says.