For those folks who have made the jump to tiny-house living, they are finding there are benefits that far outweigh traditional-home living. Living mortgage-free or cutting the time to pay off the mortgage way sooner, paring utility bills down to a minimum, and learning to live simply are just some of the perks of tiny-home life.

However, for those who do not wish to make this jump, or are not ready quite yet, be aware that a tiny house is a versatile animal, which can be used for more than just tiny living, so check out these other handy uses of a tiny, which can be placed in your own backyard or on some vacation land you may have.

A tiny house can be used as an office – If you currently work from home, and wish for your own professional space that’s not next to the kitchen or living room, using a tiny house as your office area can be a great idea. The stand-alone structure of a tiny house can separate your work life from your home life, serve as a quieter area to work from, plus at the end of the day, you can walk away (even if it’s only a few steps!).

A tiny house can be used as an online zone – Wi-Fi has connected the world nearly everywhere, and it’s always at our disposal, sometimes to the degree of alienating us from our family lives. Having a dedicated place to go to check email, be online, and play games could be the answer to effectively separating our online presence from reality. Even if it’s just in your backyard, going to your tiny-house tech zone can place a healthy divider between the activities we pursue on the internet and improving our family time.

A tiny house can be used as a weekend home or a second home – Everyone gets a hankering to get away for a little while, and whether it’s in your backyard or situated in another, relaxing area, a tiny house can help fulfill this requirement, without costing an arm and a leg. When you decorate it the way you want (and decorating IS cheaper to do in a tiny, rather than a larger house), you’ll have your own personal Shangri-la to escape to!

A tiny house can be used as a workshop or studio – whether you’re a DIY type of person, a hairdresser, a writer, a massage therapist, or you fit somewhere in a slew of other professions or hobbies, using a tiny house to create art, write, perform massages or cut hair is a great idea. Additionally, you get the benefits of this space without worrying about paying a landlord rent for it (which can increase at any time), nor do you have to be bothered by any tenants occupying spaces close to yours, such in a strip shopping center or the like.

A tiny house can be used for your teens – Teens crave independence. You may crave a break for a blaring stereo, TV, or the constant drone of video devices. Win-win, right? Keep the peace, while giving your teen(s) more time on their own to do their own thing by putting a teen tiny space in the backyard. You can even teach them about budgeting for the energy and water used in the ‘teen house’.

A tiny house can be used as a rental – You’ll have to check out your local regulations and possible restrictions for a rental property on your residence, but if the rules in your area are relatively lax, renting out the tiny house on your property could help with your own mortgage and other costs in your life. Air BnB and similar services are becoming more popular all the time, so you could perhaps offer up your tiny house for this purpose.

A tiny house can be used to homeschool – Homeschooling is quite popular. Sometimes, it can be hard to keep kids on task and focused while in their own house, surrounded by pets, their toys and games and by other familiar objects or other household members who may distract their attention (and yours). By using a tiny house as a dedicated place for learning, separates school from home and could make children feel more excited about learning. Remember – in the early days of this country, one-room schoolhouses existed everywhere. You can bring back that old tradition in a new, modern way and make learning more fun!

Even if you don’t imagine tiny-house living full-time, these great little structures can be re-purposed for so many other things in your life. By erecting a tiny house unit on your property, think of the benefits it can offer you, plus, if you’re considering living in a tiny home down the road, you’ll get to experience first-hand what this will be like!