Shipping container home design is creative and versatile and is taking the world by storm. A home made from one of these used containers is special and unique and will be the talk of the town and the envy of all the neighbors. More and more people are using shipping containers for construction of all kinds and the possibilities for them are endless.
Shipping containers are affordable and easy to modify to any homeowner’s desires. They are simple to modify and reusing them in this way is environmentally friendly and financially smart. Once you have decided to use a shipping container in the design of your new home, you’ll be amazed at all the options available to you.
Shipping Container Home Design is Great
There are many reasons that designing your home out of one or more shipping containers is a great move. First of all, there are thousands of shipping containers out there just waiting to be used. Some estimate that there are over seventeen million shipping containers in existence worldwide. Only about six million of those are currently being used for shipping purposes.
That leaves a lot of unused shipping containers available for other uses. Standard shipping containers are eight feet wide and eight and a half feet tall. Lengthwise, they are either forty feet long or twenty feet long in most cases.
There are many companies that purchase used shipping containers and then resell them individually or in bulk to consumers and businesses for storage and construction purposes. The price of these containers can vary based on a variety of factors including the number being purchased, condition, color, and other things. However, consumers should be able to find a decent one starting in the range of about $2,000.
Building with Shipping Containers in Texas
Texas is a great state for shipping container construction and it’s not uncommon to see homes, businesses, and offices made from them. Due to Texas’ relaxed building regulations, homeowners will have little difficulty in getting approval to build a shipping container home in most areas. Once you have purchased one or more shipping containers to build your home, the possibilities are endless. Read on to learn about some great ideas for shipping container home design. You will be amazed.
Nine Creative Ideas for Shipping Container Home Design and Decor
There are thousands of great ideas for shipping container home designs, but the following suggestions are just a few to help put your mental wheels in motion.
Many people who first hear about shipping container homes picture a rectangular box with windows. That is one option, but it is rarely the path homeowners choose to take. Those who have done their research know that a shipping container home can be so much more than that.
A Single Container
One shipping container used alone is, in fact, a rectangular box with windows. However, homeowners can do a lot with even just one. Cutting out big sections of the sides and replacing them with glass can really open up the space. A large, wrap-around deck can also increase the living area as well.
Two Containers
More can be done with two containers. They can be assembled next to each other, therefore doubling the width of the living area. Or, they can be stacked on top of each other to create a two-story home. Some people choose to connect the two containers in a T shape, or have them criss-cross into a plus sign. You could line them up end to end for a longer version, or offset them next to each other for a more creative shape.
Three or More Containers
The more containers you buy, the more options you will have. Three containers could be used together to create a home with two downstairs and one upstairs, or a wide variety of shapes could be created using different arrangements. Four shipping containers next to each other would create almost a perfect square. Alternately, you could organize them into a box with a small courtyard in the interior. Homeowners could also use four or more to design a very interesting multi-level home.
Subterranean Container Homes
If you’d like to live underground to avoid the hot Texas heat, in a shipping container home, you can. Many people bury one or more shipping containers to create a subterranean home or storage area. This method is especially great for man caves and perhaps she sheds.
Create a Swimming Pool
Shipping containers are also great for swimming pools. As with subterranean living construction, you will need to hire someone to dig the hole for you. Once you get it in the ground and add a liner and filter, shipping container pools are easy to maintain and enjoy.
Build a Home on Stilts
If you have a small lot or simply want your home to be elevated, you can build a container home on stilts. You can use the space below it to park your car or to create a lovely, outdoor, screened-in or open-air patio area. Everyone will be so impressed by your treeless treehouse.
Decorate the Outside
Some people do not like the look of shipping container homes because even with windows and doors added, due to the metal exterior, they still look like shipping containers. Although some people love this modern look, others find it off-putting. There are many ways to alter the exterior of a shipping container home design so it looks more like a regular house. Siding and shingles can make a world of difference, and added features like cupolas and porches or decks can change the look entirely. Further, great landscaping can help as well.
Include Lots of Windows
Some of the most beautiful shipping container home designs include broad and numerous windows. Although the use of floor to ceiling glass can add a lot to the cost of construction, it will be worth it. Shipping container homeowners tend to want to invite the outdoors indoors. The contrast between the metal vessel and the natural exterior is striking. Some people add many windows around the container; others add an entire glass wall on either one of the long sides or on one or both of the short ends.
Bring Inside Outside and Vice Versa
Because of shipping containers’ shape, your design may allow you to get much closer to nature than you might in a traditional home. Use deck and patio space to expand into your surroundings, or consider working a tree or two right into your design in some way. A garage-door style door could allow you to literally be just steps away from your kitchen garden. Outdoor seating is great for entertaining guests or simply sitting back with a good book. Hang a hammock between a wall and a tree or pole for more relaxation space.
Happy Designing
These are just a few of the many options available to you when you decide to build your home out of shipping containers. Shipping container home design is exciting and is growing in popularity all the time. It’s wonderful because it puts the power of design in the hands of the homeowner in an eco-friendly and affordable way.
Be ahead of the curve and start building your shipping container home today. Contact us with any questions you have. We have seen it all, have done it all and we have great ideas to share, too. We can’t wait to hear from you.
