I've been interested in tiny homes, container homes and various types of alternative tiny living for probably 20 years long before any of these tv shows came on and long before it was a trend. While people were really into tiny homes a few years back, it's still popular but the hype is fading a bit. Something like 80% or 90% of people who try tiny home living abandon it within a year or two so most people don't stick with it. A couple reasons why I do feel it's popular is one it's more cost effective, two its more environmentally friendly and lastly less and less people are getting married, having a lot of kids or even kids at all and more people seem to be open to less traditional living than the house with the white picket fence.