With the cost of property rising all over the world, downsizing is becoming ever more popular. However, moving into a tiny home doesn't mean sacrificing smart home comforts. From party-ready properties to sustainable off-grid structures, discover the clever tricks and brilliant gadgets hiding in these high-tech micro homes.

The Breezeway, a high-tech party home decked out with all the latest gadgets, was designed by micro home building company Tiny Heirloom. At just 32 feet long, the angular structure was inspired by the mountain and valleys in the home's rural Texas location. The exterior is made from 100% recycled steel and cedar wood, combining industrial and organic materials.

 

Inside, the home is decked out with everything you need for modern living; there's a well-designed kitchen with a Belfast sink and mixer tap, marble tops and an integrated cooker hob. At the back of the house, a large garage-style door slides up into the ceiling space, opening up the interior to the great outdoors. For tech fans, The Breezeway is equipped with a Bose sound system and an LED-illuminated wine rack.

Full of clever design, the wood-topped cabinet under the wine rack contains a TV lift, which raises the screen on command. There's even touch-activated storage embedded within the structure. The master bedroom, which is located upstairs in the loft, also features a swivel TV so you can watch your favourite programmes in bed or in the kitchen below.

The master bathroom was finished off with marble-style walls, a porcelain tiled shower and a washer and dryer, all in just 30 square feet of space. When it comes to design, this tiny home is just about as smart as they come. 

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If you're tempted to go off-grid and hi-tech at the same time, an Ecocapsule might be the perfect fit. A smart, self-sustainable micro home, the futuristic pod can be set up in the most remote places. 

 

The 120-square-foot pod boasts solar cells, rainwater collection technology and its very own wind turbine. Made from insulated fibreglass that's laid over a steel framework, the home also comes with the option of a low-energy consumption air conditioning unit.

But what about a water connection if the home is completely off-grid? The water tank has a high capacity and can use water from any source such as lakes, rivers or even rainwater, which is then filtered by the system automatically.

The furniture is super lightweight and made from honeycomb panels that have a wood veneer finish. The interior is fitted out with a kitchen, desk, built-in storage, and a folding bed complete with mattress, so comfort is guaranteed too. All this could be yours can be your from £68,000 ($89k).​

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Measuring 650 square foot, the Urban Micro Home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was created Wind River Tiny Homes. Designed as a space to entertain as well as a home that caters to outdoor hobbies, the hut has an extra 300 square foot of outdoor space. 

Inside, the open-plan ground floor is the perfect entertaining space, featuring glazing that opens up to the outdoors. Above the kitchen, a paddleboard can be hoisted up on to a pulley system for ease – perfect for avid surfers.

The kitchen is sleek and modern, with charcoal grey cabinets and plenty of shelving space. If that wasn't enough, the house also comes with a training bike that's hooked up to a rechargeable battery, which can help to power the property.

The home interior features reclaimed wood wainscoting from an old elk lodge, as well as a range of smart technologies including cameras and integrated speakers.

Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey house in Virginia, the Minim House measures only 264 square feet but packs a punch in terms of amenities. It has its own off-grid solar panel to power the house, plus an off-grid rainwater collection system with seamless roof gutters.

The generous galley-style kitchen is as roomy as anything you'd find in a full-size apartment and it features all the mod-cons you'd expect, including a gas hob, fridge freezer and wall-mounted heater.

The pull-out bed slides neatly under the home's floorboards when not in use, which creates plenty of floor space for day-to-day living, despite its limited square footage.

If all that wasn't enough, the Minim House also features a full-sized projection screen in the living area that's perfect for movie nights. We'll fetch the popcorn...

Built on a beach in New Zealand that's a designated erosion zone, this hut has been designed to be towed out of harm's way. Although it looks like a simple timber box from the outside, it's full of clever design elements on the inside.

Designed by Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects, this movable hut measures just over 430 square foot. Built on an innovative sledge, the hut's facade can be opened up to reveal glazed doors or closed for protection against weather or when not in use.

The hut is completely sustainable and includes a worm tank waste system and portable water tanks. The layout utilises every inch of space with storage hidden underneath cabinets and secret cubby holes concealed in the bunk beds.

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It may be small but the two-storey hut comfortably houses a family of five, with an open-plan living area and a mezzanine bedroom located at the back of the property. Elsewhere, a three-tiered bunk bed is a fun way to accommodate smaller sleepers.

Start-up company Kasita designed this sleek and stylish 352-foot micro home which is packed full of smart technology and beautiful design elements.

The frame of the house is made from steel and clad in aluminium composite panels. The innovative windows are made from tinted glass that darkens automatically or at the homeowner's demand, so you can fend off the glare of the sun or prying eyes at the touch of a button.

Most of the home's smart devices are linked to a mobile app, with the lighting, temperature, entertainment system and video doorbell controlled from a smartphone. The property also comes with an Amazon Echo Dot, so residents can use voice control to adjust their environment too.

The home takes a few weeks to build and just a day to install. It's completely move-in ready, with all appliances included and even a queen-sized bed. Fancy getting your hands on one? The starting price of a Kasita is £114,000 ($150k).

Designed by Viva Collectiv, this 230-square-foot tiny home is full of hi-tech features. This particular design, known as The Modern, contains an array of smart fixtures, from lights to door locks and window tinting controlled from a smartphone app.

The clean, modern exterior mixes natural cedar with black painted pine and a black metal roof. The home is just as stylish inside, with a games space, kitchen, living room and a mezzanine bedroom.

Upstairs, the master bedroom features carefully concealed storage and pull-out shelving. The space is illuminated by ceiling spotlights, with light and privacy controlled by a smart tinted window.

The games room, which is a rarity in a tiny home, is fully decked out with TV, games consoles and audio gadgets.

This sleek, streamlined floating home was designed by Carl Turner Architects. It was created to utilise unused space on the waterways and provide a sustainable living solution for the future.

As well as having a beautiful design, it's also incredibly eco-friendly. The semi-transparent solar panels on the side of the structure generate electricity, while a rainwater harvesting tank provides greywater. There's even a floating allotment for homeowners to grow their own produce.

The interior features minimalist decor with light wooden walls, matte grey worktops and large windows which, frame tranquil views of the water. The PV panels allow even more light to spill in, while still maintaining a good level of privacy.

If you're searching for an affordable eco home, this could be just the ticket. The plans for this floating property can be downloaded for free online, where they can be adapted and built to suit any waterway in the world.

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You may not get a plethora of smart gadgets with this woodland cabin in Vancouver, Canada but you do get a super clever architectural design. Amazingly, its innovative flat-pack structure can be assembled in less than 24 hours in a similar way to IKEA furniture.

Produced by The Backcountry Hut Company, the hut was specifically designed for easy construction in locations that are wild or difficult to reach.

The hut is pre-made in a factory and assembled on site. It has a modular, pre-fabricated shell which is highly energy efficient and airtight, so those fierce Canadian winds are kept firmly outside!

The exterior is clad in durable metal so it can brave even the most extreme of climates. The timber shell is crafted from sustainable lumber, while the interior uses 100% recyclable materials for a zero-waste finish. 

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Designed by Cocoon9, the Cocoon Cabin is a micro prefab home that's full of sophisticated, smart features. Made of steel, the property can withstand winds of up to 150 miles per hour, while the exterior can be finished in a choice of wood, stone or metal.

The pocket-sized one-bedroom property features crisp ultra-modern interiors with statement lighting and a wall-mounted TV, plus a spacious deck that overlooks the home's generous swimming pool.

The interior features an array of built-in storage and appliances, offering a number of different finishes including bamboo and white lacquer. Most of the furniture and appliances open up or fold away into walls, floors and ceilings for a fluid, customisable layout. Prices for this 485-square-foot cabin start at £171,000 ($225k).

If more space is needed, the layout can be customised further with stairs and railings added to the rooftop for extra entertaining space or a garden with a view. Basically, this super smart tiny home can be whatever you want it to be!

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