12 Shipping Container Home Ideas to Inspire You (2023)

If you’re ever feeling cramped in your home, or you’re looking for a more sustainable way to live, you may want to consider a container home. Container homes are growing in popularity and for good reason. They are cost-effective, sustainable, and stylish.

However, turning a bland shipping container into a beautiful and comfortable home is easier said than done. We’ve rounded up some truly amazing container home ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

The 12 Container Home Ideas to Inspire You

1. The Modern Beach House Container Home by Apartment Therapy

You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for a beach house!

This container home style features bright colors and light materials, such as wood and glass. The container is left exposed on the outside, creating a modern industrial look. Inside the container, you can add space-saving furniture, allowing you to create more living space than in a traditional home.

To match the beach and coastal vibes, look into colors such as blues, whites, and yellows for the container walls. Also, go for light-colored furniture, such as wicker chairs or wooden tables, to create a more relaxed atmosphere.

2. The Cozy Cabin Container Home by Decoist

This container home features rustic elements, such as distressed wood walls and exposed container beams, and is perfect if you are looking for something warm and cozy.

For this container cabin, colors such as browns, tans, and creams work best. Go ahead and clad your container home with actual timber for a more rustic and authentic feel. To complete the look, you can add earthy decorations such as rugs, blankets, and throws to create that cozy cabin atmosphere.

Large glass panels are always a nice touch, adding natural light to the container and allowing you to take in your surroundings.

3. Stylish Studio Apartment by Small House Bliss

If you’re looking for an affordable housing option that’s stylish and modern, then container homes are perfect. This container studio home features sleek lines and a minimalist design, making it perfect for those looking for a contemporary living space.

To achieve that modern container home look, paint the container in neutral tones such as white, black, or gray. You can then add bold splashes of color with furniture and decorations to make it your own. Inside, you can install modular furniture that best fits your space such as fold-out beds and storage shelves.

4. The Stylish Studio Apartment With a Garage by Contemporist

This container home combines style, convenience, and functionality. Here, your space is divided into two sections—one to live in and another to use as a garage or workspace.

The container itself stands on its own and can be painted any color you like, but you can opt for a multi-floor design. That way, you can use the ground floor as a garage and the upper container as your living space.

Of course, you’ll need a door and staircase that connect the two sections for easy access! For the garage area, you can install shelves or workbenches to store tools and materials.

Feel free to add insulation to keep it cool in summer and warm in winter, and install large windows to let in plenty of natural light.

5. Container Guest House by Tiny House Town

If you don’t have enough room at home to welcome guests for the night, then the container guest house is just what the doctor ordered. This container home style is perfect for those with limited space, as it requires minimal installation and offers plenty of room for your visitors.

The container can be painted in any color you like or clad with timber to give it a warm and cozy feel. Inside, you can install furniture such as bunk beds or futons for guests to sleep on. You can also add a small kitchenette with a sink, refrigerator, and microwave for easy food preparation. Don’t skimp on the interior decor unless you want to give off the wrong vibe.

Large windows are welcome to ensure your container guest house is full of natural light and ventilation. With the privacy of their own separate dwelling, your guests will surely feel right at home.

6. Container Guest House With Eco Roof by Dwell

Container homes are sustainable on their own, but if you want to take it up a notch, you can always install a solar roof. These eco-friendly container homes come with solar roofs, making them self-sustaining and reducing their carbon footprint.

The container can be painted in natural colors such as brown or green or clad with wood for a more rustic feel. Inside, install energy-efficient appliances and lighting to reduce your energy consumption even further. And for a touch of nature, add some plants and flowers around the container’s exterior.

7. Stacked-Up Container Homes by Decoist

The stacked-up container home design is perfect for those who need a lot of living space but don’t have the budget or land to build an extension. By stacking two container homes on top of each other, you can create a spacious two-level container house that stands out from the crowd.

To keep the design cohesive, stick to neutral colors like white, black, or gray. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you can mix and match different-colored containers. Some folks choose to add insulation or double-glazed windows and doors, and solar panels to make the container more energy-efficient

8. Luxury Container Home by Tiny House Town

Do you want a luxury home without splurging millions? If so, then a luxury container home should do you justice. This container home design combines the look and feel of a modern house with the convenience and affordability of container homes.

The container design is sleek, stylish, and airtight—perfect for keeping out unwanted noise! You can paint it in any color you like or clad it with timber to add visual interest. If you want to take it up a notch, you can even add a rooftop deck or a large balcony for entertaining guests.

A few luxury elements are necessary for it to become a luxury home. For example, a state-of-the-art entertainment system, lavish lighting fixtures, quality furniture, beautiful wall art or paintings, and plenty of storage.

9. Tiny Nomad Container Home by Home Steading

The tiny nomad container home isn’t just for those looking for a temporary residence. This container style is perfect for those who want to live off the grid or take their container home on the road.

It’s highly portable, so you can easily transport it from one location to another with minimal hassle. Also, it’s incredibly energy efficient, thanks to its insulation and solar power system. Inside, you can install furniture such as a bed, sofa, or kitchenette.

Installing a small window will help with ventilation and natural lighting. And if you want to customize your container further, you can always paint it in bright colors or clad it with wood for a more rustic feel.

10. Container Country House by Home Steading

Are you looking to bring the countryside right to your backyard? If so, then maybe you should consider the container country house. This container home design is perfect for those who want to enjoy the fresh air of nature without leaving the comfort of their own home.

The container can be painted in natural colors such as brown or green. Inside, you should install energy-efficient appliances and lighting to reduce your energy consumption. And don’t forget to add some plants and flowers around the container’s exterior for a touch of nature.

Make sure the interior gives the container home a country feel. Look into antique-style furniture, wall decor, and rustic accessories. You can also paint the container walls in warm colors like yellow or deep green to give it a more homely feel.

11. Tiny Scale Container Home by Home Steading

Maybe you’re a little strapped for cash or don’t have too much space to spare. If this sounds like you, then think about building a tiny-scale container home.

This container design is perfect for those who don’t want to commit too much money or space but still want the container home experience. The container can be designed with a single container in mind, or you can stack multiple containers on top of one another. The goal is to make the container look like a regular house, so you should use creative design solutions to make this possible.

When it comes to furnishing your container home, keep things small and functional. Choose furniture that’s built specifically for container homes. Modular furniture works well, but you can also choose vintage pieces and modern designs to add interest.

12. Caribbean Style Container Home by Inhabitat

Are you looking to let the Caribbean breeze into your container home? Then the Caribbean-style container home is for you. This container design exudes comfort and relaxation, perfect for a beachside getaway or an island holiday home.

For this container design, you can use bright colors such as oranges, blues, or turquoise, all color palettes that capture the Caribbean feel. Inside, you should install some large windows to let in as much natural light and fresh air as possible.

Furniture-wise, focus on comfortable pieces such as armchairs, couches, and loungers so you can relax and enjoy the island life. And don’t forget to add plenty of artwork and wall hangings throughout the container to bring it to life.

Final Thoughts: Build Your Container Home Today

Container homes are ideal if you’re looking to save money on construction costs without sacrificing style. From container guest houses to luxury container homes, these container home ideas will surely provide some inspiration.

Now that you have some container home ideas to inspire you, why not start planning your own container house? With a little creativity and careful planning, container homes can be both stylish and sustainable. So get ready to build your container home today!

See also: 5 Space-Saving Furniture Ideas for Your Apartment (with Pictures!)

Featured Image Credit: Jed Owen, Unsplash