We look at 10 of the best examples of this approach, including a house that expands in width, another that expands in height, and yet another that slides the roof off.

For this look at extraordinary tiny house design we've focused on the most interesting ideas for maximizing small living space, rather than concerning ourselves too much with practicalities like maintenance worries or cost. We've also only highlighted models that are actually built – at least in prototype form – so there are no impractical blue-sky ideas.

Check out the gallery for a closer look at each selection and read on below for more on the homes themselves.

The Stephanie, by Optinid, is a remarkable tiny house that looks quite unassuming but offers its owner a unique indoor/outdoor living experience.

It measures 6 m (19.7 ft) in length, and has a floorspace of 20.4 sq m (220 sq ft). While it has a functional downstairs with kitchen, living room and bathroom, the really interesting part of this one is its roof, which is placed on rails and can be opened when the weather suits, opening up the entire bedroom up to the outside.

Ample's Stella the Stargazer resembles a rural farm shack from a distance. However, the off-grid dwelling's rustic appearance hides a luxurious tiny house comfortable interior that has a neat trick up its sleeve.

Visitors can raise the tiny house's glazed wall and slide out its "stargazing bed" manually, allowing them to sleep outside. There's also a mosquito net to keep away creepy crawlies. The unique design allows the 10-m (32-ft)-long home to fit a fully stocked kitchen and a living room.

Slide-outs are an old concept from the RV scene that haven't really made a huge impact in tiny houses yet, apart from a few notable exceptions, such as the Aurora, by Zero Squared.