When we talk to folks who are thinking about dipping their toes into the yurt life for the first time, a question we often hear is: What can we do with a small to mid-sized yurt? We think the better question is: What can’t you do?

Pacific Yurts come in six different sizes, and each size offers a multitude of possibilities in furnishing and usage. In this article, we’ll go over some of the possible floor plans for our 16-foot and 20-foot yurts. This is by no means an exhaustive exploration – there are a lot more possibilities than we can list here. But hopefully it shows you the variety of options for furnishing and using your yurt – and inspires a few ideas of your own.

16-foot yurt floor plans

Our 16-foot yurts offer an internal area of 200 square feet. Their maximum height, in the center, is 10 feet and 3 inches, and they often have three windows. Here are some of our favorite floor plan ideas for these cozy yurts.

Home offices

200 square feet is the perfect amount of space for two comfy chairs, a side table, a desk, a storage trunk, and a plant for ambiance – all with ample open space in the middle of the floor. Imagine a space like this in your backyard, ready and waiting for those moments when you need a quiet place to get some work done, curl up with a book, or even roll out the yoga mat.

Meeting spaces

Who says every business meeting has to be in an office? Book your next company offsite at a venue with a Pacific Yurt and hold planning sessions, team-building activities, and more in an entirely new setting. The roundness makes even small yurts feel spacious yet intimate – the perfect environment for getting the wheels turning and making moves.

Solo or romantic getaways

If you’re a glamping operator or host on Hipcamp or AirBNB, a 16-foot yurt is perfect for attracting solo travelers or couples looking for a cozy getaway. This floor plan centers a queen-size bed, with a restroom on one side and all three windows on the other, bringing plenty of natural light to the main living space. 

We’ve got 16-foot yurts in stock and available for quick ship! Take a look at them here.

20-foot yurt floor plans

Our 20-foot yurts have an area of 314 square feet, a center height of 11 feet, and typically have 4 windows. Here are some of our favorite floor plan ideas with these slightly larger yurts. 

Family adventure

Our 20-foot yurt offers the perfect getaway spot not just for couples, but families looking for a rustic yet cozy adventure. The extra space allows for a twin bed in addition to the queen – families with two kids can make it a bunk bed. There’s even room to spare for two chairs and a side table.

Cozy living quarters

You might not think it possible in just 314 square feet, but our 20-foot floor plan offers enough space for a cozy one-bedroom apartment. That’s the beauty of life in the round: getting the most use out of your space without feeling cramped. With a kitchenette, living area, and queen-size bed in a separate room, the yurt life starts to sound pretty cushy.

Public facilities

Providing well-appointed restrooms is a crucial part of making outdoor spaces like parks and campgrounds accessible to all. Our 20-foot floor plan has enough space for two half-bathrooms, with a foyer space providing extra privacy.

Take a look at the 20-foot yurts we have in stock and available for quick ship!

If we were to go over every possible use for a 16-foot or 20-foot yurt floor plan, you’d be here all day. Got an idea of your own? Get in touch! Whatever you have in mind, whether for personal or commercial use, we’d love to talk about how we can help you make it a reality.

The post Get Inspired with These 16-Foot Yurt and 20-Foot Yurt Floor Plans first appeared on Pacific Yurts.

Build a Pacific Yurt With Confidence

Pacific Yurts has the highest quality features in the industry. We pioneered the modern yurt lattice wall and have developed an extensive variety of custom options to personalize and enhance your yurt based on your individual needs and site requirements. You can rest assured knowing that each option has been tested at our facility and on our own personal yurts. 

Before you choose a yurt, it’s helpful to identify how you will use your yurt, whether you plan to vacation in it, rent it out, or have a unique purpose in mind. You’ll also need to consider how much space you have to work with, and where you can build the yurt platform, which will be the base of your yurt. Our yurt sizes range from cozy 12’ spaces to sprawling 30’ rooms, and we’ll walk you through the options below.

Cozy Private Retreats

Pacific Yurts offers three smaller-sized yurts —12′, 14′, and 16′. These sizes will be ideal for personal use like backyard studios, yoga spaces, and cozy libraries. Businesses can leverage them for glamping accommodations, campground rentals, or massage therapy studios. Small yurt sizes combine well with creative outdoor spaces that can extend your living space, like patios, gardens, and outdoor social areas.

Roomy Round Spaces

Our three larger yurts offer comfortable living and commercial spaces, depending on your needs. The 20-foot yurt has plenty of room for a stove, bed, small living area, and kitchenette. With the assistance of a professional contractor, larger yurt sizes like the 24-foot yurt and 30-foot yurt can accommodate interior walls, a kitchen, separate sleeping quarters, a bathroom, and even a loft. 

Business enterprises and nonprofits can use larger yurts to maximize revenue and extend their facilities on a budget. These business uses can include meeting halls, retail spaces, or class and workshop spaces for ski resorts, scout camps, or fitness retreats.

How Climate Can Affect Your Yurt Design

Pacific Yurts’ standard yurts come with several weather-resistant features to keep your yurt comfortable, such as solid wood doors with weather stripping, windows with zippered weather flaps and sewn-in screens that keep bugs outside, a flame-retardant top cover with a 10-year warranty, and a rain diverter over the door. 

For those who live in more extreme climates, we offer several add-on features to protect your yurt from the elements such as:

• Roof and wall insulation options to keep you cozy year-round when combined with a good heat source.
• Weather kits such as snow and wind kits to improve the structural capability of your yurt 
• Stove flashing or custom gutters that keep things flowing in wetter climates. 
• A dome opener, a tinted dome, fan support, and/or bug/shade screens to keep things cool in sunny or tropical locales.

Have questions about yurts? Visit our Customer Support

Let Us Help With Your Yurt Design

If you’re interested in taking the next steps toward building your yurt, get started by talking with our yurt experts. You can lean on their expertise to guide you through the process from conceptualization to design, ensuring your yurt reflects your vision and meets your unique needs.

Get in touch with our team to start making your yurt dreams a reality!

The post How To Design The Perfect Yurt For Your Needs first appeared on Pacific Yurts.

There are a few elements that make for a successful small kitchen:

• Know your lifestyle
• A space-efficient layout
• Smart use of appliances
• Multifunctional storage solutions

Read on for small space design tips to transform your yurt kitchen into a functional workspace for you and your family.

Prioritize Your Yurt Kitchen Based on Your Lifestyle

When designing a small kitchen in your yurt, it’s important to plan your space according to your lifestyle. Considering your cooking habits, the number of people you’ll be cooking with, and your preferences all influence your yurt design. 

Ask yourself:

• Do you cook frequently or just occasionally?
• How much countertop space do you like?
• Are there specific kitchen appliances you can or cannot live without?

Knowing your needs and preferences can help you plan out an efficient kitchen space and design that complements the rest of your yurt layout.

Yurt Kitchen Layout Ideas

When considering the most efficient layout for your yurt kitchen, curved cabinets that follow the lines of the yurt just make sense. But if you’re on a budget, we recommend exploring off-the-shelf straight cabinets and countertops or a kitchen island rather than committing to a custom curved build. We also suggest positioning your kitchen back-to-back with a bathroom along a shared wall to consolidate plumbing for efficiency.

Here are a few ideas for kitchen layouts that work well with yurt spaces:

• Single-wall kitchens: This kitchen layout keeps your appliances, storage, and workspace along one wall.
• Island kitchens: Adding an island to a single-wall kitchen creates a galley-type layout that works well with the open space of a yurt. Islands add a second work surface and extra storage without blocking off the area. Plus, you can put it on wheels to easily move it around your space.
• L-shaped kitchens: An L-shape gives you a complete work triangle between the refrigerator, stove, and sink. A one-wall tiny kitchen design with a jutting peninsula counter works well for a space-saving breakfast bar or prep area.

Further reading: Expert Tips for Adding a Kitchen to Your Yurt

Choose the Right Appliances and Storage Solutions

When designing your small yurt kitchen, prioritize must-have appliances such as a fridge, stovetop, and sink. Many kitchen appliances now have alternative sizes to fit tiny homes and studio apartments and can be downsized to fit small spaces, for instance, slim fridges, half-sized dishwashers, or counter dishwashers.

Smart Storage Ideas:

• Use a cutting board that fits over the sink for additional prep space
• Hang cooking pots vertically on a pot rack
• Utilize a curtain rod to hang utensils
• Install pull-out drawers or lazy Susans in cabinets to access items easily

Space-saving ideas such as these create a functional and efficient small kitchen in your yurt that suits your needs.

Check out this clever kitchen counter-washer & dryer storage idea.

Get Help with Designing Your Yurt Kitchen

No matter if you’re visualizing a basic cooking space with a mini fridge and cook plate or a beautiful L-shaped kitchen with modern appliances, yurts can accommodate a variety of kitchen customizations.

If you’re interested in taking the next steps toward building your yurt and designing your dream yurt kitchen, get started by talking with our yurt experts. They’ll guide you through the process, from conceptualization to design, ensuring your yurt reflects your vision and meets your needs.

Chat with our team to start bringing your yurt dreams to life!

The post Tips For Designing A Small Kitchen In Your Yurt first appeared on Pacific Yurts.

Embracing the Charm of Yurts: Decorating for Small Spaces

Many people prefer smaller yurts for their cozy, efficient, and charming nature. Enhance your yurt’s comfort and functionality by using space-saving storage and purposefully picked decorations and colors. These choices maximize your space and create a more open, inviting environment while keeping everything neat and organized. We’ve compiled four of our best tips for maximizing and showing off the comfort and functionality of your Pacific Yurt.

1. Select Furniture That Does Double Duty

Opting for multifunctional furniture is key to making the most out of your floor plan. You may have already considered adding a futon or a bunk bed, but there are several other multipurpose furniture pieces that can save you space. Transforming coffee tables can add a much-needed dining surface to a small space, with options that can lift up and fold out to seat six people. If you’ve chosen to put walls in your yurt, you can mount a wall desk, which folds into a desktop by releasing a simple latch and the supporting end piece. This adds functionality while maintaining open space when not in use. Other table options include drop-leaf kitchen tables, which can tuck away; storage ottomans for hiding blankets or games; compact chairs that can fold; and nesting tables. If you’re okay with skipping a coffee table, replacing it with a pouf is a great option to add extra seating in the living area.

2. Choose Strategic Colors and Materials

Colors and materials play a significant role in how spacious your yurt feels. If you want to emphasize the cozy vibes in your yurt, decorate with dark, warm colors; for a light and airy feel, choose light, cool colors. Solid upholstery tends to work better for small spaces than busy patterns as it can help show off the natural space within the yurt.

You can add more lamps and lighting elements, incorporate transparent materials like glass and lucite, or decorate with reflective surfaces like mirrors. Round furniture such as curved couches and round tables complement the yurt’s natural shape, creating a sense of fluidity and openness.

3. Improve Your Organization Game

Decreasing clutter is an easy way to show off your space. Choosing closed storage over open shelving when possible is the easiest way to do this. Investing in storage containers like bins and baskets can help you organize and consolidate valuable square footage. If you have a kitchen in your yurt, incorporating pullout cabinets or an island on wheels can help keep your space organized.

4. Use Your Outdoor Space

One of the advantages of smaller yurts is their ability to blend in with nature. By maximizing your and your guests’ outdoor time with outdoor furniture, you’ll extend your living space while enhancing your experience. A wrap-around deck looks great aesthetically while providing easy access to your yurt’s windows. Some yurt owners in warm or tropical settings even place their shower and kitchen on the deck, to minimize interior moisture and maximize space. Beyond the deck, you can extend the living space with a pergola or an outdoor dining area with a dining or picnic table, a grill, or even a fire pit.

The Best Way to Visualize Your Yurt

From the exterior design to the interior furniture choices, yurts are endlessly customizable. Whether you envision rustic simplicity or modern elegance, the possibilities are as endless as your imagination. If you’re interested in taking the next steps toward building your yurt, get started by talking with our yurt experts. They’ll guide you through the process, from conceptualization to design, ensuring your yurt reflects your vision and meets your needs. Embrace the benefits of small yurts, and create a cozy, efficient, and charming space that you’ll love to call your own.

Talk with our team and let’s turn your yurt dreams into reality together!

The post Yurt Design Ideas: Maximizing Comfort and Functionality first appeared on Pacific Yurts.

The Importance of Room Window Design

The style of windows in your yurt helps determine the general feeling of the space. Think about the kind of environment you want to create then consider how different sizes and styles of windows can be used to enhance that space further.

Do you want as much natural light as possible? Consider broad windows that face east or west. Maybe you want windows of different shapes to give a little more character to your space. You can position your windows to work with the furniture layout too. A large window behind a couch overlooking eye-catching scenery might be perfect for the design.

There are many options for yurt window design ideas. The good news is you’ll be able to find a style that works with your interior design goals.

Yurt Interior & Window Design Ideas

Take Advantage of Natural Light

Natural light can work wonders for any space. Glass windows provide an unobstructed view and allow additional light to enter the yurt. The amount of natural light as well as cross-ventilation you get also depends on where the windows are positioned. Additional windows can also supplement the natural light provided by the central dome skylight that is included in every Pacific Yurt.

Enhance the Space with Window Frame Design 

How would a couch look framed by a window? Maybe a window in the kitchen directly above the sink? Think about how windows could be used to frame the space or the view outside. Where do you want people’s eyes to gravitate when they walk into your yurt? Get creative with how you position and choose your yurt windows to create the experience you want to have. You can also customize the window framework on our glass window system. Make your space your own by adding touches such as shelving, paneling, low voltage lights, blinds or curtains. The glass window system also includes a trim kit and removable screen. Each glass window system is manufactured to fit into your new yurt or built to retrofit into your existing Pacific Yurt.

Use Different Window Sizes

You don’t have to only use one sized window in your yurt. Try incorporating different window sizes with your yurt’s interior design. Different shapes of windows can make the space feel more playful and inviting. They pair nicely with bright colors and furniture. Within our yurts, horizontal windows are often used over a countertop or in a bathroom, while our vertical windows work very well as sidelight windows adjacent to doors. Use our helpful yurt window and door worksheet to properly place your Pacific Yurts’ windows. You can also consider an insulated glass yurt window that offers maximum energy efficiency while providing a gateway to the outdoors.

Pacific Yurts’ Low-E Thermal Glass

Pacific Yurts’ Glass Window System is specifically designed to be as efficient as possible. Our low-E thermal glass is framed with a unique fabric flange for a tight seal that prevents leaks. Our glass windows open or close from the yurt interior, making it a piece of cake to enjoy a fresh breeze. The structural framework for these windows is curved to match the yurt’s radius so you also avoid the awkward flat panel look of other companies.

Personalize Your Yurt’s Interior With Window Design

Yurt windows are not a one-size-fits-all model. You can style your yurt windows to cater to your personal style or any design theme you’re encompassing in the yurt. Think about natural light, shapes, sizes, and location when deciding what kind of yurt window to include, knowing that the style you choose could dramatically impact your yurt’s interior design.

Check out your window placement options in the yurt window and door worksheet. If you still have questions, we’re here to help.

The post How Windows Can Influence a Yurt’s Interior Design first appeared on Pacific Yurts.

While a yurt’s lattice may look practical in its appearance and use, many yurt owners look at it as a DIY canvas to express creativity. However, we know it can be challenging to know where to start when decorating your yurt. And while it can be tempting, you don’t always have to break the bank to spruce up or add more creativity to your circular abode. 

We also recommend that you don’t hang anything over 15 pounds from your lattice unless your yurt has the snow & wind kit. When this kit is installed, items are typically mounted onto the vertical rafter supports rather than the lattice wall itself. 

To encourage more family fun in your yurt, we’ve come up a series of creative and affordable ways to decorate your yurt’s lattice—DIY style! 

1. Turn your circular space into an art studio

DIY creatives know the benefits of using the yurt as an art studio, presenting them as a great place to show off your illustrations, paintings, or incredible collection of hand-knit potholders. Luckily for yurt owners and aspiring artists everywhere, a yurt’s lattice is the perfect place to create a DIY art gallery and present your work to friends and family in a circular environment. You can also start a yurt-related DIY arts and crafts night and display your family’s creativity from your yurt’s lattice. When you’re ready to present your work, we recommend using clothespins, s-hooks or other less intrusive or non-damaging methods to hang your masterpieces that are 15 pounds or less. 

2. Create a garden backdrop

If you have a green thumb (or simply love having a house full of plants), your yurt’s lattice is the perfect place to create a simple, yet beautiful arrangement of succulents or other small plants. With a variety of ways to hang, fasten, and pot your plants along your lattice, it’s easy to create a varied display of greenery to keep your yurt fresh and decorative without breaking the bank. If you’re able to, try finding a few different vessels to keep your plants in, from traditional miniature pots to hanging spheres of plastic or glass that maintains the integrity of the lattice by being 15 pounds or less. Just don’t forget to water your plants!

3. Add color to your yurt by painting your lattice

Need a new DIY yurt project? One of the easiest ways to freshen up your yurt’s lattice is by simply painting it. Painting your lattice is relatively affordable and allows you to add your own unique artistic flair to your circular home by transforming its appearance. If you’re someone who enjoys changing up your space frequently, commit to repainting your lattice every year, or add on designs, stencils, or additional colors as you see fit. 

4. Adorn your lattice with spectacular lighting

Adding lighting to a yurt is one of our favorite DIY yurt projects to take on. While all of our yurts include a dome skylight that provides natural lighting, location, weather, and access to electricity may encourage you to consider adding additional lighting. Decorating your lattice with tea lights, string lights, or any other form of sustainable and easy-to-implement illuminations are all great ways you can freshen up your space and improve its ambiance. Remember, even if you don’t have access to electricity, there are several lighting options available that run off of rechargeable batteries or solar power. DIY-ing your yurt has never been easier! 

5. Add hooks for hanging small kitchen items or clothing 

If you’re a practical creative, consider refreshing your lattice with command hooks, thumbtacks, and other adhesive devices. S-hooks are also a great way to hang items from the lattice wall and can be hooked virtually anywhere on the lattice. While this task may not be as elegant as an art gallery or adding DIY lighting fixtures, you can maximize your yurt’s space by hanging smaller household items from your lattice. Alternately, rope fastened to shelving can be tied directly to the tension cable. Make a spot by the front door to hang a coat, your favorite suit jacket, or your winter gear in the colder months. If you have a makeshift kitchen or cooking area, create a space to hang utensils, dish rags, or other lighter items you use daily. The possibilities are nearly endless, and every hook or basket you add will make your yurt cleaner and more comfortable in the long run, so long as you stay within the 15 pound weight limit.  

6. Build shelving that slides into the lattice.

The post 6 Creative and Affordable DIY Tips for Decorating Your Yurt’s Lattice first appeared on Pacific Yurts.

In the world of yurts, longtime owners and new builders alike continue to create unique and inspiring interiors that bring new meaning to the phrase “creative living.” From the most luxurious circular structures on the market to the beautiful – yet straightforward – bohemian yurts, here are a few yurt interior design trends to watch in 2020. 

1. The Luxury Masterpiece

While not a new narrative in the world of yurt living, the story of Sharon and Tom Minogue’s yurt home in Patton Bay, Maine is a primary example of modern and exceptional yurt interior design. While maintaining an air of simplicity, the Minogue’s managed to flawlessly connect two separate yurts to make a full-time dwelling that’s complete with a breezeway and a separate rentable basement that’s available on Airbnb. 

The interior design choices, while simple, are as luxurious as they come. The overall layout is open enough to accommodate up to 16 people. It also includes natural lighting thanks to its full glass windows (a Pacific Yurt specialty) that guarantees their guests never feel too far away from their surrounding property. As a full-time living space, the yurt is also decked out with heat pumps in almost every room, including the open and airy main living area, which offers comfortable chairs, a bookshelf, and a vintage Kuwaiti chest for added luxurious detail. 

2. The Creative Desert Lodge 

The Stargazer Yurt at Luna Vista Ranch is a simple, clean, and non-traditional way to escape to the great outdoors while maintaining a few essential comforts of home with added creative desert design choices. Its interior design and Southwestern color palette complements Joshua Tree’s surrounding natural beauty. The yurt includes a dome skylight so visitors can spend the night awestruck while stargazing. With the side cover responding to the colors of the landscape and a few pieces of intentional furniture, this yurt presents itself as the ideal place to disconnect with little distraction while staying creative.  

3. The Urban Bohemian Experience

The 36th Street Urban Yurt is a getaway that combines the flair and vintage bohemian style with the convenience and simplicity hallmarked by urban living. Situated on just over a quarter acre of private garden property in Boise, Idaho, this yurt is a case study for creative yurt interior design. It includes large, exquisitely-patterned rugs, and a row of Tibetan prayer flags adorning the entryway, complete with a small desk and a creaky wooden chair for the emerging writer looking to start their dream novel. With a few modern upgrades (a mini-Keurig and a wood-burning stove), this yurt provides the necessary materials for a quiet weekend away while still giving visitors access to downtown Boise or the famous Buena Vista foothills trail.

4. The Upscale Rustic Retreat 

The yurts at Savage River Lodge in Maryland are as exquisite as they are simple. They’ve become a shining example of how a little rustic interior design flair can go a long way while including modern amenities that won’t distract you from the natural scenery beyond each door. Their floor plans include full and elegant bathrooms and kitchen areas with heated flooring, so you can escape Maryland’s cold winters if you decide to explore the outdoors and cozy up in a king bed that’s centered underneath the spectacular dome skylight. Besides having luxurious amenities, each yurt offers comfortable sitting areas both inside and outside on the patio. Perhaps the best aspect of each yurt design is the intentional elegant and soft lighting, which allows visitors to relax in the presence of an abundance of natural beauty. 

Pacific Yurt Interior Design Inspirations and Photos

Pacific Yurts has been the leader of the yurt industry since 1978. We’re always impressed to see new ways our customers are innovating yurt floor plans and design choices by utilizing their creativity. Are you looking to get inspired with your circular dwelling? Follow us on Instagram to see more images of yurt interiors and use the #MyPacificYurt hashtag to share your own. 

The post Inspiring Yurt Interior Design Trends to Watch in 2020 first appeared on Pacific Yurts.

Before we begin, it’s important to note that decorating small spaces should start with decluttering. For this reason, decluttering is highly recommended as the first step in a move to a yurt. Once the clutter is out of the way, the decorating can commence.

Trick the Eye with Color

Color is a great way to make your yurt feel spacious. For an open feel to the space, light colors are the perfect choice and can complement your home décor. It’s recommended that you use a monochromatic color scheme, (with colors chosen from the same family only in different shades) to create a seamless sense of cohesion in the space. This also makes the space feel bigger. On the flipside, dark colors can enhance the cozy feeling of a space. To create a more cozy space in one part of your yurt, you can use dark colors from floor to ceiling, either on an interior wall or with the use of a curtain.

Let There Be Light

For a sense of space in your yurt, the natural light that pours in from the skylight and the windows is a bonus. But the more you can do with light in your yurt home décor, the more spacious it’s going to feel. Anywhere you can replace your home decor with “see through” equivalents, you should do so. This can be done with clear glass tabletops, transparent Lucite workspaces, and opaque curtains. Another way to play with light is by adding reflective surfaces, such as shiny countertops and strategically placed mirrors. For evening and night times, artificial lights should be used to define the spaces in your yurt. Rather than one overhead light, consider using multiple lamps to illuminate each separate space in the yurt.

Stay Solid with Upholstery and Curtains

Select solid colors for your home décor and the more neutral, the better. Big, bold patterns can affect the sense of space. However, if you have a patterned piece you love and still want to use it, you can balance it out by having the other colors around it fairly neutral. Also, remember that when decorating small spaces, sheer light-colored fabrics are best for window treatments. When these are used in other places as well, they can help ensure you are making the most of that natural light in the yurt.

Think Carefully About Furniture and the Floor Plan

Making your yurt feel bigger is all about keeping things open. You want to see as much of the floor as possible. Anything blocking the view of open space will make your yurt look and feel smaller. Here are some tips for consideration with furniture and the floor plan of your yurt:

• Keep big pieces of furniture to a minimum and place them on the interior perimeter of the yurt. (However, if your choice is between a few larger pieces and a bunch of smaller ones, choose the fewer large pieces. One larger statement piece, like a sofa, is better than three smaller seating options.)
• When decorating small spaces, it’s best to divide the total floor plan into areas for each activity. You can give a sense of these divisions without putting up actual walls by strategically using rugs, furniture arrangement, lighting, curtains, and other subtle room dividers.
• Note that furniture with exposed legs creates a more of a sense of space than furniture with upholstery that hangs all the way to the floor.
• Remember that round pieces are ideal for yurts! And, if these double as seating or tables with storage inside, it’s an even bigger win.
• Before buying a piece of furniture for your yurt, ask for a tear sheet from the store. Tape out the dimensions on the floor and get used to the idea of that space being taken up a while before deciding to buy the item.

For more ideas and inspiration, please visit our online gallery. And, as always, if you have questions about yurt living or about purchasing a yurt, we invite you to give us a call today.

The post How to Make Your Yurt Feel Bigger with Home Décor first appeared on Pacific Yurts.

In yurt décor, light plays a significant role. Here are some ideas for making the most of this aspect of yurt living.

Natural Light

Natural lighting is an amazing feature in most modern yurts, and certainly any Pacific Yurt. First and foremost, the star of the show is the overhead dome skylight. This feature cannot be touted enough, as it is often one of the biggest reasons yurt living feels superior to traditional home living in the minds of many of our customers. The circular nature of the space is made even more impactful by the overhead natural lighting. Additionally, each of our yurts can be customized in ways that best suit your lighting wants and needs. For example, our Custom Curve Glass Window System is truly unique in the industry, and many of our door options invite large amounts of daytime natural lighting.

Night Lights

At night, light becomes a necessity more than a luxury. Additional yurt lighting options will require some kind of power source, whether from a utility hookup, a solar or wind energy option, or even an old-fashioned flame. Conventional utility-based power and solar or wind options are always considerations.

Access to other power sources is usually routed through the floor of a yurt. Outlets can be placed on perimeter posts around the yurt or simply flush to the floor. In yurts with partition walls, wiring can be done within the walls, just as it would be in any site built home. We provide additional information about powering your yurt on our website. With these additional power sources, yurt lighting options are endless!

Creative Lighting

Yurt owners will often opt for strings of lights for both utility and cozy ambiance. LED-string lights are easily installed on the rafters, center ring, and around the perimeter of the roof or floor. These can add a charming aspect to yurt décor. LED or battery-powered lanterns also create a cozy feeling, and lanterns can be purchased in almost any form or made from any number of materials.

Traditional lamps are always an option, but pendant lamps are especially beneficial in yurt spaces because they provide light without taking up floor space. Pendant lights can be mounted from the rafters or loft spaces and they come in a wide variety of design options, from high-end art pieces to homemade Pinterest projects. Also, out-of-the-way fixtures, such as upward or downward facing lights along shelves or counter spaces, are great options for creating ambience.

Outside Lighting

Solar-powered LED lighting boxes and flood lights are growing in popularity, and they make excellent lighting solutions for the outdoor living spaces around a yurt. Festoon lights on strings can be mounted on stakes or cane-shaped crooks to enclose an outdoor area or stand on either side of a path leading up to the front door. Small hanging lanterns are also an option for outside lighting. Stringed lights of almost any kind can add a festive or twinkly feel to your setting.

Lighting ideas for yurts are numerous and we encourage you to search your favorite sites for inspiration. As always, we hope the plentiful resources on our site can help you with your yurt planning and decorating.

The post Best Lighting Options for Your Yurt first appeared on Pacific Yurts.

Just like those who choose a boathouse, a tiny house, or even a small urban apartment, modern yurt dwellers must get inventive with their use of space. Unless you want a lot of clutter, you must consider how to create storage anywhere you can. Over the years, we’ve seen some truly creative ideas from our yurt-loving friends. From them, we offer these five tips for maximizing space in a yurt house.

#1: Look for Storage Below

When it comes to finding storage space in a yurt, the first place to look is down. For those who choose to build on a taller platform, the space under it can be extremely useful for stowing anything that is not needed for daily use.

Our customers store everything from seasonal sports equipment to hand tools in the space under their platform. That space can be enclosed and customized with locking doors for increased security as well. Yurts built on a hill, with the platform on leveling posts, benefit from even more space under the yurt on the downhill side. Some really beautiful yurt homes have been built on top of garages, too. In those cases, the storage options are endless.

#2: Build Storage Above

The second tip is to make use of the spacious high ceilings in a yurt by building a loft area. A loft is a freestanding structure on partition walls or posts, usually over the kitchen or bathroom in the yurt. For those that include a loft in their yurt plans, a number of new storage solutions become possible.

First, there is the loft itself. The space created is semi-private and is often used for sleeping, television viewing, or relaxing. Many people also make use of the stairs leading up to the loft and build in storage under or even within the stairs. Under the loft, the partition walls provide additional creative storage options. Some of our customers build floor-to-ceiling shelves on one side, which have the added bonus that the open storage draws the eye upwards and gives the illusion of even more space. Built-in storage is also sometimes created utilizing the area between the joists on the underside of the loft. The partition walls can have built-in retractable pantry drawers to store small appliances or a hidden pull-out vertical shelf from the side. A loft also provides a ceiling for whatever is below it, which comes in handy for hanging pots or other items on hooks.

#3: Try Some Furniture Tricks

Furniture storage hacks provide some of the most inventive ways to maximize space in a yurt house. Cushioned ottomans with removable tops can be used to store away remotes or magazines in the living room area. Shelves turned on their sides and topped with a long cushion can do double duty as seating and storage as well. An armoire can organize and hide clothes, coats, and shoes, and a fold-up table can be hung on a rolling wall to make for a dining room transformation anywhere on the main floor of the yurt.

Other popular options for yurt living are Murphy beds built into partition walls or any kind of bed that doubles as seating, such as a futon. Shelving built between rafter supports or cubbies built above window frames are small touches that provide big solutions. It’s important to note, however, that furniture that is light and low will take up the least amount of visual space in a yurt, which brings us to our next tip …

#4: Use the Light

As we’ve seen, space can be created by storing things away in inventive ways. But a sense of space can also be produced by using the power of light. Dark places feel less spacious, whether they are or not. This is why we recommend making use of the wonderful natural lighting in a yurt, coming in from windows, doors, and of course the beautiful central skylight.

We’ve probably all heard that a sense of space can be created by multiplying the light in any room with the use of mirrors. This certainly holds true in a yurt. But a sense of space can also be increased by minimizing the use of pieces that block light. Many yurt lovers will use open room dividers that separate a space without blocking the light to it. Examples of these are open shelves (bonus for the extra storage) or thin, light-colored screens. Gauzy curtains are also helpful to divide a space and give a sense of privacy without losing all the light.

#5: Take it Outside

Our final tip for maximizing space in a yurt house is to create outdoor living spaces around the exterior of the yurt. Wraparound decks are popular additions to yurt plans, and many people enjoy a fire pit with lots of seating adjacent to their yurt. Outdoor kitchens and showers are popular ways to maximize yurt space in appropriate climates. And because the boundary between indoor and outdoor living is more easily blurred in a yurt house, the outdoors can very easily become a gorgeous extension of your living space.

For more ideas on how to maximize the space in your yurt, visit our downloads page, where you will find sample yurt floor plans and lots of inspiration for lofts, kitchens, and bathrooms. Plus, click here to download our helpful checklist below.

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