Windows Make The Difference

Once you cut windows into your container you realise you are looking at just one big room.

The process of designing your interior container home needs careful consideration. Are you minimising or planning to expand. These are key to comfort living in a container.

A single container requires minimalist design while expansion allows for more traditional design application.

One or Two Containers

If you were to design a simple minimalist granny flat apartment you could easily accommodate all in a single container.

On the other hand conjoined containers provides a more spacious opportunity for traditional occupancy.

The beauty of a container is that you can add to it if needed. Either on top or at side, a second container is easily adapted.

Plan Your Single Container.

If your plan is a single container you need to plan in detail all options.

For example keeping the double doors as a feature entry and adding a sliding door set as the entrance.

At the rear there is the bathroom incorporating shower and toilet. Followed by bedroom options.

Partitioning Space

A partitioning is placed between bathroom and bedroom. Another partitioning to separate bedroom from kitchen area.

Open area living from entrance into kitchen area. Windows added to allow natural lighting.

The choice of furniture is critical to space and storage. I have a workstation set up which is my office and fits within living and kitchen.

Inspirational Hands On

Look at caravans and mobile homes as to best practices and inspiration. These will give you great ideas to play around with.

Motor homes are basically a container on wheels. People enjoy the freedom to travel and live comfortably in a mobile home. The interior design of these homes on wheels will provide you with great ideas for your container.

That Roof Structure

Roof structure has advantages. You could leave your container flat roofed. You can however add a peaked roof and incorporate an attic.

A peaked roof also allows for additional Verandah living around the container. Not only does this help with climate control but gives you additional room for entertainment or simply to follow the sun in your deck chair.

I favour the verandah option as it gives shape to the metal box and provides insulation from the elements.

Farms in outback Australia always used to have a verandah to keep the heat of the sun at bay. Nowadays they just use air-conditioning. Shame.

Keeping Things Simple

Designing the interior does not need to be difficult. Planning does need thought.

Getting ideas from viewing mobile homes and caravans can provide insight into what is achievable.

Traditional homes allow us to clutter without thought. Container living does require more thought.

Your Comfort is Primary

Comfort can be achieved easily if you look at your options. There is no need to be cramped into a non functional environment.

The cost comparison between traditional and container living is a no brainer.

The container wins hands down. For a third of the cost of traditional you can live just as comfortable if not more so.

Location Location

Here in Australia a container home is more practical than a traditional style home in so many ways.

The beauty of having no mortgage is freedom to enjoy life more. Living on a 1/4 acre semi rural farm within range of city and services is dramatic.

Making full use of solar, but I still have electric for refrigeration and cooking. Water is service supplied but I have two IBC 1k tanks to collect rain water for the vegetables.

Life Style

Work! Well being self employed I get to work from home. Internet is the door to all I require.

Living in a container home is no different to living in a traditional home.

All the facilities are in place. Interior furniture, and comfort essentials are the same.

Dare I Say Cost

The biggest difference is the cost. For me a personal loan compared to a mortgage for life. Do the math.

I’m adding another container. It is being modified and will be set in place next month.

I decided to add an extra bedroom and ensuite. A guesthouse for family and friends from overseas.

The two containers will be joined by a open kitchen eating area. It will be covered by a roof structure. Something I experienced in the Philippines.

Planning and Preparation

Most common containers are either your 20ft or 40ft. These are good sizes to mix and match.

Preparation is key to getting what you want. Planning permissions and approvals go hand in hand.

Having architect or designer drawings to present to council can help the process forward. There is still some scepticism in regards sea containers.

Consider Container Living

The sceptics will put a downer on container living. It’s not traditional, or it will fail, or some lame fictional tale of shame will strike you down.

The truth is container living is not only practical, it will save you mortgaging your life.

Traditional is very old old school. Mortgages are so old school. You do not have to follow in your parents footsteps.

We live in a world of change.

Technology is constantly impacting our lives. Our living choices today are far greater than what our patents had.

We need to grasp with both hands opportunities that present themselves to us.

Soon you will be sitting in a vehicle with no steering wheel or driver on your way to a unique destination. The future.

Conclusion

Plan your container home. I think that is the most important primary when deciding to create your home.

A home is a place of comfort, safety, and for many a place of work. It can be a comfortable environment.

Whether you are occupying the space as a single or with a family, you don’t need to mortgage your life. Better to live your life and be free.