Designing a better life and a better home are top of mind for many Atlantans these days. Whether that means downsizing, aging in place, making the most efficient use of a property or simply getting organized, there are strategies and best practices that can help make change more successful. And visitors to the 4thAnnual Tiny House Festival, coming to Atlantic Station next month, will have the chance to learn them while also touring 20+ tiny homes and structures that have already put these skills into practice.

The Atlantic Station Tiny House Festival, presented by Mitsubishi Cooling, features dozens of tiny houses and other mini-dwellings, along with food trucks, children’s activities, eco-friendly vendors and more. Whether attendees are ready to downsize or just want to get a handle on all of the “stuff” of today’s “more is more” lifestyles, the two-day event has a variety of expert speakers, presenters and participants who will offer tips, tricks and updates for living simpler, more organized lives today and in the future.

Tiny House Festival attendees will gain insight into today’s popular design strategies, including:

1. Organizing – From expert speakers to builders and owners of tiny homes, organization tips will be found everywhere at the festival. Attendees will encounter new storage solutions, ideas for minimizing and personal stories of deciding what to keep and what to let go. No one knows how to organize like a tiny house resident.

2. Aging in Place – A big buzzword with Baby Boomers, aging in place is almost synonymous with retirement today. To talk strategies for planning for better communities of any generation, the Tiny House Festival welcomes speaker Kay Sibetta with AARP. And Candace Kortovich will explain how to create spaces that incorporate universal design.

3. Sparking Joy – The term might have been made famous by Marie Kondo, but interior design professional Bonnie Cassimasima will be at the festival presenting on “The Psychology of Sparking Joy in Our Spaces.” She helps clients understand how their spaces can be designed to enhance quality of life.

4. Downsizing – Whether downsizing means moving from a McMansion to a Craftsman bungalow or taking the plunge with a tiny house, building a simpler life is easier with the right strategy. Coles Whalen has worked in the tiny house industry since 2015 and will be at the festival explaining how to simplify to a better lifestyle. 

5. Traveling Tiny – Going tiny doesn’t have to mean a full-time commitment. At the festival, attendees will have the chance to check out mini mobile adventure vehicles like sCAMPer Vans, vacation RVs and teardrops. Visitors will also get to hear from Alexis Stephens and Christian Parsons who have traveled 55,000 miles with a tiny house! 

6. Adding Structures in the Backyard – They are called Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and Eric Kronberg, AIA, LEED AP, principal of ATL ADU CO will explain how they can help build communities and benefit well-being in cities of any size. Plus, ADUs can be a great way to earn additional income – think Airbnb – or keep mom or dad close, but not too close.

7. Hygge – Whether they come in the gates knowing this Danish term or not, festival attendees will understand how microliving leads to serious hygge, or “creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people,” according to VisitDenmark. Attendees may even leave the festival knowing how to pronounce this special word! 

8. Eco-friendly Practices – More sustainable lifestyles are at the crux of the tiny house movement. Scott Bunn with Treehouse Internatural offers two workshops at the festival to teach sustainable building practices that can be used in any size home.

9. Tiny Houses in Georgia – Attendees can find out just what is happening with the tiny house movement locally. From zoning laws to new tiny house communities, living small requires more knowledge than simply building 300 square feet. The founders of the MicroLife Institute will hold a State of the Tiny address to provide audiences with the latest local news.  

10. What Tiny House Living is Really Like – In addition to touring dozens of real tiny houses, container homes, Skoolies and more, festival visitors will have the chance to hear from a variety of speakers like Jewel Pearson, founder of Tiny House Trailblazers, what it’s really like to live in a tiny home.

Find the full speakers schedule here: https://tinyhousefestival.com/speakers.

In a new location this year, the 4th Annual Atlantic Station Tiny House Festival includes 20+ real tiny houses and cool structures like container homes, school bus homes (Skoolies) and tiny travel vehicles. Attendees will be able to tour a Tiny Village; enjoy speakers who are experts in micro-living, organizing and design; and visit food trucks, beverage carts, local and national vendors, the Tiny Travel area and an interactive Kid’s Corner with fun activities and games for tiny attendees.

WHEN: 
Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12 

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days

WHERE:

Atlantic Station

Pinnacle Lot

241 20th Street NW, Atlanta 30363

TICKETS:
Saturday or Sunday festival pass - $20 in advance

Weekend festival pass - $35 in advance

Fast Access VIP Pass (one day) - $45 includes shorter VIP lines to tour homes, Tiny House Festival T-shirt, six-month membership to MicroLife Institute and other perks

Workshops - $30 each (in addition to festival ticket)

Children 12 and younger – FREE 

Tickets are available at:  http://tinyhousefestival.com