19 Inspiring Shipping Container Home Ideas

Container homes are now more popular than ever, which comes as no surprise given the current housing market. For one, these storage containers turned into livable spaces are more affordable than traditional houses. They’re also eco-friendly, plus extremely durable since their steel bodies are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions.

We get it, a steel box for a home sounds uninviting and uncomfortable but this couldn't be further from the truth, and we’ve got proof. Below, we’ve gathered 20 inspiring container home ideas, including cozy tiny options, grand builds, and sustainable solutions for your new, innovative home.

01 of 19

Sustainable Guest House

Design by Poteet Architects / Photo by Chris Cooper

Leave it to Poteet Architects to design an exceptionally unique guest house from a shipping container. It has everything a guest would need to feel at home: a shower, air conditioning, sink, and spacious living area with air-con. Eco-friendly features—such as a bamboo plywood interior, a roof garden, recycled light fixtures, and a composting toilet—top it all off.

Continue to 2 of 19 below
02 of 19

Industrial-Style Haven

Vaughan McShane / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Nestled in the Western Cape, this container home—which also doubles as an Airbnb—is a true showstopper. The exterior consists of a black shipping container, complete with a wooden deck, concrete steps, and a splash pool as the cherry on top. If you’re afraid the boxy structure might feel too cramped for you, incorporate large sliding glass doors to add a sense of openness.

Continue to 3 of 19 below
03 of 19

Protruding Top Floor

Edward / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Here is solid proof that container homes are indeed solid and sturdy. Imagine if that protruding top floor was made of wood! No thanks. Just like cantilevered houses, an overhanging container brings an interesting element to the design, provides shade to the space below, and maximizes surrounding views.

Continue to 4 of 19 below
04 of 19

Make It Quaint

Backcountry Containers

If modern fixtures aren’t to your liking, that’s ok. Instead, consider a farmhouse sink, embroidered curtains, and an old-fashioned wood-burning stove for a cottage look. This container home in particular exudes a warm, rustic atmosphere with its wood-themed interior.

Continue to 5 of 19 below
05 of 19

A Cozy Twist

rolu dsgn / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

Shipping containers look cold and unappealing on their own—they are utilitarian structures, after all. When paired with wood though, it’s almost shocking how cozy-looking they become. Two repurposed containers, a wood-framed entrance, and a shed roof come together to create this eco-friendly abode. Tip: leave the containers in their original state as a nod to their past or apply marine-grade paint to give them a completely renewed appearance.

Continue to 6 of 19 below
06 of 19

Modern and Sleek

Jed Owen / Unsplash

Here’s another example of combining containers and wood, but this time with a modern spin. This tiny house is clad with black oak, showing just a bit of exposed container metal around the front door. Apart from that, we are especially drawn to the outdoor spiral staircase and rooftop deck—the perfect spot for morning coffees, afternoon cloud-watching, and stargazing at night.

Continue to 7 of 19 below
07 of 19

Neatly Stacked

mokee81 / Getty Images

Small land size? Not a problem. Take a cue from this container home and stack the containers in a neat pile to form a larger living space. What about natural disasters, you ask? Container homes can stand up to earthquakes and hurricanes with the help of additional reinforcements, like bracing, welding, and twist locks. Team up with an experienced architect to ensure all safety measures are properly implemented.

Continue to 8 of 19 below
08 of 19

Packed With Personality

jbd30 / Getty Images

If you don’t like the bare look of container homes, there’s no reason not to spice it up. This one embraces a bright blue finish, accented with a grid-style door and wood panels. Vibrant potted plants, outdoor wall art, and stylish wall sconces are also welcome additions to give your container house a cheerful personality.

Continue to 9 of 19 below
09 of 19

Battered Containers Meet Luxury

HomeWorldDesign / Photo by Sergio Pucci

Large and luxurious yet also environmentally friendly, this container home ticks off all the right boxes. Each feature of this home instantly grabs the attention; from the large windows and colorful interior to the bamboo facades and giant cedar tree in the middle. Another element we particularly love is the reflective roof that not only reduces heat absorption but also collects rainwater.

Continue to 10 of 19 below
10 of 19

Raised Structure

Ninoon / Getty Images

The concept here is to convert two shipping containers into a modern villa. The first floor has been designed into an office, featuring lots of windows for plenty of natural light. The second floor is raised upon large metal beams and acts as the main living area. Don't forget to introduce an outdoor seating area to extend the usable space of your container home.

Continue to 11 of 19 below
11 of 19

Include a Rooftop Garden

scubalifesaving / Flickr / All Rights Reserved

Whether you’ve got a green thumb or not, adding a rooftop garden to your container home comes with major benefits. Not only does it beautify an otherwise dead space, but it also contributes to noise reduction and stormwater management. Better yet, a green roof helps regulate indoor temperatures, keeping the space nice and cool during hot months and minimizing heat loss during colder seasons.

Continue to 12 of 19 below
12 of 19

All Aboard

Nick Karvounis / Unsplash

Shipping containers are made for rough seas, right? Located at Copenhagen’s waterfront, this container boat house serves as student housing! Multiple upcycled containers are stacked together to make the most of limited space in a sustainable manner. This unit even has direct access to the sea via a ladder. What fun, but definitely not for those with motion sickness.

Continue to 13 of 19 below
13 of 19

Small but Majestic

Backcountry Containers

Measuring 20 feet long, this container home surprisingly fits a living/bedroom area, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Bold blue paint, an open porch, and a roof deck set the stage for a fun backyard suite. Or, join the tiny house movement and call a 20-foot shipping container your new home.

Continue to 14 of 19 below
14 of 19

Elegantly Curved

Yaryna Bakhovska / Unsplash

Most container homes are marked by clean lines and a boxy silhouette, but not this one here. Designed by Cosmos, this prefab steel unit flaunts an open-concept design that is both minimalist and refreshing. The standout feature, though, is the elegantly curved frame, sporting an all-black finish.

Continue to 15 of 19 below
15 of 19

An Unusual Combo

Paul Sableman / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

If unusual is more your style, check out this non-traditional house in St. Charles, Missouri. Showcasing an incredibly unique design, the main structure consists of eight shipping containers, topped with a brick facade at the front. The inverted arch windows give it an even more bizarre twist.

Continue to 16 of 19 below
16 of 19

Container City

marine le priol / Unsplash

Again, container homes aren’t just for single families. Located in Trinity Buoy Wharf, London, this container building features four stories, with a total of 15 live/work apartments. This building only took a few days to install and is made from 80% recycled material, offering a low-cost housing solution in a vibrant location.

Continue to 17 of 19 below
17 of 19

Tucked In Lush Foliage

Wentworth Hill Landscape and Tree Service / Facebook

What better way to make a container home more livable than by surrounding it with greenery? A dynamic landscape design greatly improves the curb appeal of this container home, taking it from basic to next level.

Continue to 18 of 19 below
18 of 19

Consider a Sheltered Patio

Nicolás Boullosa / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

While exciting and liberating at first, container homes can soon become confining due to the restricted space. To prevent this, plan ahead and include a covered patio or gazebo structure in your design. Doing so creates an additional living space that you can enjoy come rain or shine, thus encouraging you to spend more time outside.

Continue to 19 of 19 below
19 of 19

Have Fun With Shapes

asbe / Getty Images

Container homes can be stacked in so many ways. That said, a cross-box layout is one of the most eye-catching options. This project takes it a step further by introducing large round windows, sleek doors, a floating staircase, and a curved outdoor bench.