The Tiny House of Happiness

The Tiny House of Happiness offers short-term rentals designed to incorporate principles from positive psychology, helping people lead more meaningful, sustainable, and satisfying lives by fostering mindful relationships with their possessions.

Our Story

The idea for The Tiny House of Happiness emerged from the intersection of founder Danny Torrance’s expertise, passions, and interests in positive psychology, hoarding intervention, and the tiny house lifestyle. Danny earned a Master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania in 2015, focusing on the behaviors, characteristics, and environments that enable individuals, communities, and organizations to flourish.

Through his studies, Danny realized that true well-being often comes not from material things, but from relationships, a sense of purpose, and a deep connection to nature. This realization led him to minimalism and the tiny house movement, both of which emphasize living with intention, focusing on meaningful experiences and relationships rather than the accumulation of possessions.

Following his MAPP degree, Danny worked with several non-profits, supporting both individuals and staff, and became a specialist in hoarding intervention through his involvement with the Philadelphia Hoarding Task Force. This work gave him valuable insights into how attachment to material things can result in unhealthy accumulation, affecting both physical safety and mental well-being. In his work, Danny helps clients prioritize what truly matters while guiding them through strategies for sorting and letting go of unnecessary items that create barriers in their lives.

Danny realized a common theme in his work: our complex relationship with material belongings. While possessions are an integral part of life, placing too much value on them often leads to dissatisfaction and even safety concerns. Research shows that the culture of consumerism in America hasn’t delivered on its promise of greater happiness through bigger purchases and more consumption. In fact, the opposite is true—happiness comes from living a life full of purpose, intention, and connection. While the tiny house movement embodies these ideals, and positive psychology provides the research-based insights, the two communities had yet to merge—until now. Spotting the potential for collaboration, Danny envisioned creating a tiny house rental experience that would teach people how to cultivate sustainable happiness using principles from positive psychology. This vision became the foundation for The Tiny House of Happiness.