Try them on for size or plan a getaway in one, no strings attached

The curious but non-committed may wonder, however, what it is like to actually live in a tiny home without going through the whole process and cost of designing and building one, or may be wanting to find a tiny house or cottage to stay in while on holiday. In that case, take a look at our visual tour of some of the many tiny homes for rent all over the world.

Serene tiny home

Tiny wooden house in Southam, UK

This rustic miniature house is located on a farm in Southam, Warwickshire, United Kingdom. The house itself has a one acre parcel of mown pasture that is reserved exclusively for guests and their pets. Adjacent to the structure is a "South African styled ‘stoep’ or veranda with an indoor wood-fired BBQ or ‘braii’ which doubles up as an open wood burner," plus a wood-fired hot tub for a luxurious soak. Details here .

Armadilla Eco-Pod in the Scottish Highlands

Surrounded by the beautiful natural vistas of the Great Glen region of the Scottish Highlands, near Inverness, this custom-built Armadilla eco-pod offers a comfortable, modern interior that serves as basecamp for explorations -- a fun alternative to traditional camping. More information here .

The Wheel House, New Zealand

Micro-Home in Tennessee

Up next is this recently built microhome in Collierville, about 30 minutes from downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The rental sits on the seven acre property of a local tiny house builder, who's offering it for people to try a tiny home before they buy. It's not the biggest tiny home at 70 square feet, but can fit up to two people. If you're in the area, it's a very affordable place to stay; more details over here .

MiniHome Prefab in Brighton, Ontario

Our next tiny house is a prefab unit, a flagship show home available for rent at Brighton, Ontario's still-growing Green Eco-Trailer Park. At a spacious 375 square feet, the MiniHome is outfitted with lots of green features (formaldehyde and vinyl free, solar panels, wind turbine, optional biofuel generator) and is made with sustainable materials. Truly packed with green virtues, it uses 1/10th the materials, and consumes 1/10th the water, 1/10th the gas and 1/100th the electricity of a conventional home.

For more details, check out our recent posts on it here and here. To book a chance to stay in this sustainably designed and ultra-modern tiny home, head on over to Timberhouse .

Full disclosure: The MiniHome is owned by TreeHugger Managing Editor Lloyd Alter.

Caravan: The Tiny House Hotel

Now over to Portland, Oregon for what has been dubbed that nation's first tiny house hotel. Caravan boasts three uniquely designed, well-built and energy-efficient tiny homes that can accommodate up to ten guests. Nestled in one of the city's bustling arts-oriented neighbourhoods, all three houses have amenities you might expect in a regular hotel -- running water, electric heat, a kitchen, flush toilet, and a hot shower. The one pictured above is the 90-square-foot Pearl, which can sleep up to three persons and has a dining table that turns into a queen bed. Check out the other distinct models in our earlier post and book over here .

Hobbitat / Walden for rent at Blue Moon Rising, Maryland

We first wrote about tiny, repurposed "Hobbitats " (also known as "Waldens") at Maryland's eco-tourism retreat center Blue Moon Rising. where visitors can try before they think about buying one from design-build partners Sue and Bill Thomas. Pictured here is MoonShine, one of the first tiny homes to be built there, featuring reclaimed barn wood on the floors and walls surrounding its updated, modern interior of efficient toilets, lighting and heaters. Space is maximized by the Murphy bed and built-in bench on the first level. To find out more, head on over to Blue Moon Rising.

A tiny house to stay in while exploring Southern California

Got a hankering to visit sunny Southern California? There's a tiny house in "America's Avocado Capital" of Fallbrook that may fit into your itinerary, and within easy reach of Orange County and San Diego. Surrounded by scenic hills and a fruit orchard, this comfortable little house is outfitted with a sleeping loft, plus a comfortable futon couch sleeper on the ground floor and a galley kitchen with sink and refrigerator. And let's not forget a private pool with a view! More details over at Airbnb .

Hexagonal, tiny retreat in southern Spain

Now out of the box and into a hand-built, hexagonal wooden home nestled in the mountains of Solterreno, southeastern Spain. Ideal for quiet meditation and repose, this 300-square-foot tiny abode comes with its own bathroom, kitchen, hot water and electricity. There's a generous deck outfitted with a barbecue, where guests can cook on while soaking in the region's incredible views -- including a far view of the sea some 20 kilometers away. To book, go here .

Bayside Bungalow in Olympia, Washington