Tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses? Ditch the house and move into a tiny cabin like these beautiful homes which allow their owners to be at one with nature



The population of the U.S. is constantly growing - but America isn't getting any bigger.



The country's ever-increasing population density is forcing many to downsize their living arrangements and do more with less.



But some inventive homeowners are taking advantage of this apparent necessity to craft a new way of life where quality beats quantity.



Pioneering: Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed Tiny House Company makes miniature portable homes

Inspired: Julie Martin started building cabins like this one after losing her home in Hurricane Katrina

Portable: Ms Martin's houses can be transported around the country by a pickup truck

Off the grid: Max Magick's getaaway in Washington relies on candles and rainwater

Tiny House Blog showcases the intrepid pioneers who are happy to live in no more than a cabin.

In many cases, the thrill of being connected to the natural world negates any sense of claustrophobia which could be produced by the limited living space.



For example, while Jay Shafer's 'tumbleweed' tiny houses may seem restrictive, their small size means they can be easily transported onto woodland and similarly unspoilt areas.



Floating: Steph's home sits in a marina in Portland, Oregon and started life as a regular houseboat

Aquatic space: The well of Steph's boat is currently being converted into an office and laundry

Remote: This mining cabin in central Colorado would once have housed a rugged workman

Modern: Not all small living spaces have to be rustic or old-fashioned, as this house in Arizona proves

Minimalist: This cabin was built in Colorado by Stephen Atkinson and is a great link to the natural world

And Max Magick, who built a cabin in Washington at a cost of just $27,000, enjoys a natural lifestyle where rainwater and candles take the place of plumbing and electricity.



For Julie Martin, her transition to a cabin began with the tragedy of Hurrican Katrina, which destroyed nearly everything she owned.



But she took inspiration from the new start, and now builds houses small and light enough that they can be moved by a pickup truck.



Hobbit-like: But this fantastic eco-house is actually in Wales, not in Middle Earth

Homely: Simon and Jasmine Saville's Welsh home is built into the landscape from natural materials

Lightweight: The yurt is made of a canvas covering stretched over a wooden frame

Cosy: The wood-burning stove makes this yurt comfortable even in the winter months

The trend for compact living is not restricted to the rugged outdoors.



Due to New York's astronomic rents, the city's mayor Michael Bloomberg has launched a contest aimed at finding a way to house residents in smaller apartments without reducing their quality of life.



The adAPT NYC programme solicited bids from designers for 'micro-units' packing bedroom, kitchen and bathroom into no more than 300 square feet.



The new apartments will start construction towards the end of next year in the city's Kips Bay area.

Updated: This old-school yurt has been brought into a new era with its geodesic design

Unusual: Domespace builds houses made entirely of wood which are nonetheless hurricane-resistant

Compact: But more and more people are proving you don't need a lot of space for a great lifestyle