This 3D modeling tutorial is a 6-hour video series that starts with the basics of using SketchUp, moves on to simple tiny house layouts, and finishes with the dissection and manipulation of our Tiny Nest design.

Tutorial FAQ

Do I need to buy SketchUp Pro?
No, everything shown in the videos and example files uses the free version, SketchUp Make.

Isn't SketchUp 2017 out of date?
2017 was the last year that a free stand-alone version of SketchUp was released. To date, it is still the best and most comprehensive version to learn on. Transitioning from stand-alone to the new web-based version is much easier than the other way around.

Is this compatible with Mac?
Yes. The tutorial was recorded on a Windows PC, but SketchUp is available for Mac and is fundamentally the same. There are some differences in the user-interface, but Mac-users should be familiar with the environment and adapt quickly.

Are you affiliated with SketchUp in any way?
No, we are simply sharing the experience and knowledge that we gained throughout our own tiny house project.

How will I watch the tutorial?
You will receive information on how to access the streaming watch-page. You can also make a request to download the video files if you need to watch them while offline.

Update History

SketchUp 2016 has some upgrades to the user interface and inferencing. We've made an UPDATE VIDEO about trays, and THIS OFFICIAL VIDEO gives an overview of the additions to the inferencing system.

SketchUp 2017 has some additional minor tweaks and improvements that you should catch up on in THIS OFFICIAL VIDEO

SketchUp 2018 did not include a "Make" version, but instead has been complimented with the web-based SketchUp Free. While this has potential, we feel that it is not yet as powerful/versatile as the standalone "Make" version. So for now, we recommend using SketchUp Make 2017 - Windows Download - Mac Download

SketchUp 2019-2022 were all incremental releases with no major changes or improvements over the recommended 2017 version.

We designed every inch of this 3D model from scratch and referenced it directly while building. It has also been updated throughout the project to reflect the build that actually took place, which is why we refer to this model as an "as-built". It's not certified or engineered in any way, so we are providing it as a tool for learning and inspiration, not as building plans.

We are offering this resource by donation. If you are unable to make a donation, contact us by email.

In 2013, we had never set foot inside a tiny house, so we took a trip to Portland OR to stay at the Tiny House Hotel. Naturally, we were interested in the trailers that the homes were built on and we noticed that several of them were from the same manufacturer. Upon speaking with a few people in the area, including someone who was in the middle of their build, Iron Eagle Trailers was recommended to us multiple times. They were already building a specialized tiny house foundation with a very clever design. It wasn't long before we put in our order.

After we had published a few of our first YouTube videos, we got back in touch with the owner Rob to let him know that we had some videos of his product in action. He was very interested in our feedback, and actually made an improvement to the design (the addition of flanges on the front and back of the frame) based on comments that we made in a video. There has been a consistent forward momentum at Iron Eagle to iterate and tweak their already excellent design to keep up with the growing knowledge and development of tiny house contruction techniques, which is extremely helpful in such an emergent field.

We are very fortunate to have connected with Iron Eagle and worked with them to promote their product.

When we started to design our home in 3D, the most important thing to get right was the trailer, since it would dictate the dimensions of the entire shell. Any errors at this stage could lead to major headaches further along. We completed this process from scratch for ourselves, but since we had started a relationship with Iron Eagle Trailers via our videos and feedback, we made a proposal: we could create spot-on acurate 3D models of all of their trailers to ensure that anyone who follows the same path as us could get a reliable head start. And so the dimensions for these models were provided directly by Iron Eagle and reviewed for acuracy.

Naturally, this resource goes hand-in-hand with our Tiny Nest Discount over at Iron Eagle. You can 3D model your home directly onto one of these virtual trailers, and then buy a real life trailer with $50 off.

Several informative videos about this resource can be found in this YouTube Playlist

The standard width from flange-to-flange is 100 inches. All of our SketchUp models are made to this specification. However, if a narrower trailer is needed for your design (to allow for more overhang for example) please contact us via email and we can provide a model of any of the following widths: 90, 93, 94, 96, 98.

Standardized bumpouts are available and included in the model.

All of the options for the trailers are separated by layers. This makes it easy to toggle their visibility while designing.

The options are: Galvanized Bottom Pan, Fender Flashing, Leveling Jacks, Rectangular Front Bumpout, Tapered Front Bumpout.

The leveling jacks are not welded to the frame, and can be removed for travel.

Further documentation in PDF format (including pricing) is included in the download.

Please let us know if you find any defects in the models!

Originally designed & built by Shelter Wise, these plans are sold by PAD Tiny Houses. Click the "Plans" button above to view their product page for a full description of the product.

We became friends with the builder Derin Williams as well the folks at PAD through our tiny adventures, attending conventions and shooting videos for our YouTube channel. This led to a collaboration to add a detailed SketchUp model to compliment their existing plan set for the Cider Box.

Created and sold by Ethan Waldman over at thetinyhouse.net - Building a tiny house can be time-consuming, expensive, and overwhelming... but it doesn’t have to be.

The Beginner’s Illustrated Guide to a Complete Tiny House Build will cover everything from buying the right trailer to building a sleeping loft. The information is presented in a beginner-friendly format that is easy to read and pick up intuitively. By the end you should feel relaxed relocating a window, putting up trim and picking out a hot water heater. And if you already have some building experience, this guide can help you adapt those skills to the unique process of building a tiny home.

Tiny house plans are scattered around the internet, but this website has gathered a high-quality selection and offers them at the best-price.

It's also worth noting that the site was founded by Gabriella & Andrew Morrison, who were among our earliest influences when it came to learning and research material. We bought their video series "The How To Guide To Building A Tiny House" which was very helpful.

Before there was much video content online, there was "The How To Guide To Bulding A Tiny House" by Gabriella & Andrew Morrison. It was an excellent resource then, and still is, especially when combined with the larger amount of information available online today. This is definitely a series that you'll want to absorb during your research phase.

They also have an extensive Digital Workshop, and although we haven't watched it ourselves (because our build was well underway by the time it came about) we've heard good things about it and we've seen Andrew in action at live events.

We placed an embarassing number of Amazon orders throughout our project... and while we are very critical of excessive consumerism in general, sometimes you need something in order to reach a goal... and occasionally you simply want something and that's ok too, as long as you aim for balance and avoid being the cause of unnecessary waste.

Ok that got a little preachy, but it's all about staying mindful of your actions :)

We've organized this storefront into categories and included things from tiny learning to household items to electronics.

If you do any shopping on Amazon, please bookmark our store and visit it on your way to the rest of Amazon. This is an effortless way for you to support us without costing you anything.

Although we bought materials from a variety of suppliers, we found ourselves at The Home Depot quite often. If you place orders through our affiliate link, it doesn't cost you anything extra, but it does generate a commission that is paid out to us. This is a great way to support us if you've made it to the build phase after benefiting from some of our tiny resources!

This is where it all started... we thought it would be cool to film our tiny house project. Well, it's been quite the journey, and an incredible amount of work, but it's the reason you're reading this. Everything evolved from the growth of our YouTube channel.

After becoming interested in virtual reality and 360 photos, we started capturing and producing virtual tours of tiny homes, mostly from conventions and events that we attended in person. This is an awesome way to explore a variety of spaces and get a much better feel for them compared to what regular photos can provide.

To really put yourself into these spaces, use your smartphone in a simple VR viewer... trust us, it's worth it!

Yes there is enough space in our 20ft tiny house to LAN two PCs X'D - ok well one is a laptop, but it's a legit setup. If you're into gaming, follow us on Twitch and come spam the chat of our next stream!

Jake also has another Twitch channel that is dedicated to EVE Online, a game that he's been playing since 2006. The channel name is DamassysKadesh and linked below:

DamassysKadesh Twitch

Jake recently got into rock climbing... like REALLY into it... and managed to get Kiva climbing too! He's been posting some videos and photos to a dedicated Instagram account called DesperatelySending :)