Mom Builds A Minimalist Tiny Home For Only P1.6M

Life wasn't always easy for 26-year-old MJ Loleng. During her younger years, her family would keep moving from one home to another.

"Inaasar ako ng mga friends ko na 'NPA' [ako]: 'No Permanent Address,'" MJ tells the OG team.

These experiences motivated MJ to pursue owning her very own home, and one she would be proud of. "'Yon ang naging inspiration ko to have my own house someday."

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Having set up businesses, she used the earnings from these to slowly build her dream home in Victoria, Laguna.

Inspired by minimalist Japanese houses

MJ's house may be tiny, but it looks and feels spacious. Measuring just 49 square meters, MJ took inspiration from books about minimalism and minimalist homes in Japan to create an airy, inviting feel.

"Normal sa mga house na natirhan ko before [na] sobrang dilim, konti lang ang lighting," MJ say. "[Pero sa bahay ko,] the only time na magbubukas ka ng ilaw is kapag madilim na, kasi may natural lighting."

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The first section that greets visitors is the living room with a two-seater couch. "Itong sofa ang pinili ko [kasi ito ang] pinakamaliit to give more space sa family. After namin mag-work, hindi talaga kami nagiging connected," MJ explains. "This is where we bond. This is where I play with my kid."

The walls are painted in neutral colors and potted plants pepper the area, adding a sense of freshness. To save on costs, MJ bought decor online.

Small but big on comfort

Next to the living area is the dining area and fully-functioning kitchen, which features cooking equipment and ample storage for supplies and pantry items. An extension of the granite kitchen counter serves as their family's makeshift dining table, while across the kitchen is the laundry area.

The minimalist, all-white theme continues with the bedroom of MJ's child, made tidy with toy containers for easy cleanup and a study table.

Out of all the areas in the house, MJ's favorite is her work area, which she considers the most comfortable. "Mayroong natural light. 'Pag umaga na, ang magiging alarm clock mo is ang liwanag, nanggigising.

"This is where I do everything that I need sa business, my reports, printer... Ang gusto ko rito, nandito ang lahat ng books na kailangan kong aralin."

Planning is key

To those planning on building their own home, MJ says details must be planned thoroughly and that the home should be built from scratch, so that any issues or errors can still be addressed.

"Once na nandiyan na [pero] may mali [pala] sa plano, wala na, hindi mo na mababalik 'yon."

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