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- I stayed in a tiny home for the first time in 2021 and was surprised by how much I liked it.
- I found the 250-square-foot home on Airbnb and thought it felt quite spacious for its size.
- I was shocked that its maximalist style didn’t feel cluttered.
A 100-square-foot tube in Germany, an Airstream trailer in Austria, and a converted wine barrel in Switzerland — these are just a few of the tiny homes I’ve crashed in during my travels in a quest to discover how to make the most of a small space.
But I’ll never forget my first tiny home accommodation — an Airbnb on wheels that I booked for $100 a night in Miami in 2021.
At 250 square feet, the home was half the size of the NYC apartment I was living in then — and the stay was full of surprises.
Since it was advertised as being on wheels, I figured the Airbnb would feel like a mobile home, but this house didn’t look like it was going anywhere.
The type of tiny home I stayed in had wheels meant to be pulled by a trailer, but this house didn’t look like it had been moved recently.
Located in the hidden yard of a larger home, the home was positioned against a wall with cinder blocks for a foundation. Its wheels were not visible from the accessible side, and I thought moving it would be no easy feat since it was far from the street.
This didn’t deter me from the lifestyle, since I wouldn’t want to move my hypothetical future tiny house, even if I had the option.
Inside, I was surprised that the house felt so much bigger than it looked on the outside.
From the outside, the tiny home looked to be the size of a bedroom.
But the inside had a bed, a kitchen, a bathroom, and storage space, all without feeling cramped.
High ceilings made the space feel even bigger, and there was just enough room for me to do yoga on the floor, which I didn’t expect. The tiny home also had electricity and plumbing.
The spacious quality was mostly due to the eight windows — an unusually large number for such a small building.
I arrived at my Airbnb at night. The next morning, the room felt much larger with the window curtains drawn, which made me realize that windows can make a small space feel more open — especially with so many plants right outside.
I was surprised to find so many space-saving hacks that all made the home feel larger, including some I’d never considered.
I expected to find some of the space-saving hacks I saw in the tiny home, like a mounted TV and a table that doubled as storage.
But the sliding bathroom door was surprisingly clever. The sliding feature saved space that a swinging door would take up, and I thought the door’s decor made it double as a piece of art.
Similarly, next to the shower, a storage closet had a curtain rather than a door, which I thought looked better while saving more space.
The bathroom was bigger than I expected.
The bathroom felt spacious because there was no furniture in it, either, thanks to clever wall storage for toiletry items and towels.
Back in the main room, I wasn’t expecting to sleep in a queen-sized bed.
Since the square footage was so limited, I was expecting to have to sleep in a full or twin-sized bed. But seeing this queen-sized mattress made me realize I wouldn’t necessarily have to compromise on the size of my bed in a smaller space.
While a smaller space means less to clean, I wasn’t prepared for how quickly and easily the inside can start to look messy.
Every mess can quickly feel like a big one when you’re in a tiny space. That’s because something as harmless and typical as an unmade bed or some clothes on the floor can be enough to make the room look chaotic.
Because of this, I cleaned up between every task, more than I usually might otherwise.
I used to think tiny living was for minimalists, so this home’s maximalist style surprised me.
This home’s use of color, unique storage spaces, and wall decor was inviting and made me realize that filling a small space with decor doesn’t have to make it feel cluttered.
Paintings, prints, and sculptures extended to the ceiling, drawing my eyes up and elongating the space.
The home’s yard was full of plants and furniture, and it was much more important to me than I thought it would be.
I realized during my stay that having additional outdoor space to work, relax, and host guests outside would be crucial for me to live happily in a tiny home.
I pictured myself working in the lush backyard and thought this outdoor space made the tiny home seem more livable.
Overall, the tiny space felt big enough to live in — and that was the biggest surprise.
I didn’t think I’d leave this tiny home actually considering the lifestyle for my future. But seeing how storage hacks, sliding doors, and outdoor furniture made the home feel larger made me think I could live like this without sacrificing my love for decorating.
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