Happy Friday y’all! Over the next couple of months, kyle and I have some exciting news regarding our home. But in the meantime we have been practicing how to live in a tiny space together… mind you Kyle and I both come from lifestyles where tiny living has been a norm. He lived on his ship where he really only had his rack and I’ve lived in tiny dorm rooms. Since we have moved in together we’ve fully embraced the tiny living lifestyle which has geared us towards the house we’re picking. But I wanted to share some tips with y’all on how to live in a tiny space.
- Condense what you own
We all know it can be so easy to let out storage closet pile up or even let our dresser drawers stay overfilled because “you never know when you’ll need it.” Not gonna lie I still struggle with that some times but if you want to live in a tiny space you need to realize you can’t hold on to the extras. Go through everything, set in designated “keep” “maybe” or “get rid of piles” and go from there. (Ps if it’s in your maybe pile odds are you can get rid of it). Keep only the absolute necessities and things you’ll know you have a spot for
2. Practice tiny living
This can be tough for some, especially if you’re used to living in a large home. But it’s so important to practice before living in your tiny space. Practicing allows you to get a feel for how you’ll be able to work in the kitchen or how to adjust to not having as much room. It can also be a fun exercise to do with your spouse. Depending on how small you’re going, set yourself up for success. Pack a bag, tape off the area of your house that equals to your tiny space, then live in that area with your stuff for 24 hours. Make sure you practice what you’d do during a regular day whether it’s your hobbies, cooking, exercise.. you need to know if your space will work.
3. Create a laundry schedule
Most tiny homes don’t have laundry which sucks BUT it can make for a fun date. Setting a laundry schedule can make for a weekly date for you and your spouse or even a chance to get you out of your tiny space. Kyle and I have a set day we go to do all our laundry (clothes, bedding, extras). We will pack up our car then head to the laundromat where we spend a couple hours doing laundry and just spending some time laughing together. Using a laundromat similar to The Clothes Spin is perfect for us. They have such a clean facility, they’re open 24 hours a day & 7 days a week, and have the option to pay with cash or an app on your phone (which is a huge perk). To my Virginia friends in Lynchburg.. this is the perfect laundromat! They’re such a safe facility that allows you to wash loads of any size on your own schedule! Kyle and I love our laundromat dates cause we’re getting our “chores” done all while making it fun!
4. Grocery shop weekly.
Regardless if you’re in a tiny home, an RV, a dorm room you probably only have a mini type fridge and we all know there isn’t much room in those! Kyle and I go grocery shopping once a week to get everything for our lunches and dinners. We plan out what we want to eat that week and then we shop accordingly. This is great because it prevents us from overstuffing the fridge or freezer.
5. Find ways to create personal space.
It’s great getting to spend so much quality time in each other’s personal bubbles but it’s so important that you find a way to have my time. Whether you lay in bed to read a book, sit outside by a fire, go for a walk, even just enjoy the shower a bit longer. Having that little bit of time to refresh your mind helps tremendously when living in a tiny space with someone!
6. Find ways to create an outdoor living space
If you’re living in a tiny space you need to create a dual living area… inside and outside. Set up a cute sitting area outside where you and guests can hang out. Get some yard games.. we love cornhole, bocce ball, or even just card games. Sitting inside a tiny space can make you feel trapped so it’s good to expand your living space outside as well.
7. Get creative with storage
Your space is already limited so it can get tough find spots to store things. Get creative with it. Hang cooking utensils on the wall, use a bungee cord with netting to create a spot to store shoes, get the double hangers that can allow the second piece of clothing to hang lower than the top. Observe your space and see how creative you can get. A little space goes a long way as long as you’re willing to get creative.
8. Think about guest space
Do you want to be able to host overnight guests or no? Kyle and did want that option we were able to get a pullout couch that allows us to host guests in the living room overnight. If you don’t then maybe look into the areas around you where guests/family will be able to stay. Cabins, hotels, Airbnb’s. This one is definitely a personal preference but I think it’s always important to make guests/family feel welcome regardless of the size of your home.
9. Just have fun
You picked this living for a reason so have fun with it! Get creative with the way you live, have fun, cook dinners, do laundry! Life’s an adventure and you chose to do it tiny styled! Kyle and I have so much fun with it!
