I never thought I'd say this — but now I can picture myself living tiny.
In 2021, I took a trip to Miami and spent two nights in a 250-square-foot tiny home I found on Airbnb for about $200.
I'd never stayed in a tiny house before, and at half the size of my apartment in NYC, I figured I'd find the space uncomfortably small for more than a couple of days.
But this little abode, packed in a queen-sized bed, a kitchen, a bathroom, decor, and storage space, all without feeling cramped.
I also thought I'd have to let go of my maximalist decor style to live the tiny life. Still, this home's playful use of color, unique storage spaces, and mixed-media wall decor made it feel inviting without seeming cluttered.
The tiny home had a private entrance in the side yard and felt hidden away by plants.
Located in the lush backyard of a full-sized home, my Airbnb was hidden underneath 100-year-old oak trees.
When I arrived, I pictured myself working among the array of plants and thought this outdoor space made the tiny home seem livable.
To the right of the front door, the bedroom had a queen-sized mattress and frame.
I was surprised to find a queen bed in such a small space. It made me realize I wouldn't need to get a smaller mattress to live in a tiny home — as long as I was smart about how I used the remaining square footage.
There was a table next to the bedroom, and I thought it was clever of the owners to put crates on the walls for more storage space.
The table also doubled as storage shelving. I stored my belongings here to feel more at home during my stay.
The kitchen had a fridge, toaster oven, full-sized sink, and counter space to the left.
A sliding barn door led to the bathroom past the kitchen, which I thought was a clever way to save the space a swinging door would take up.
The bathroom had more storage and decor all over the walls.
Next to the shower, a storage closet had a curtain rather than a door, which I thought looked better while saving more space.
After a meal and a shower, I relaxed on the bed and thought, "Yeah, I could live somewhere like this."
In the morning, my feelings were confirmed when I saw all the natural light through the windows.
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Joey Hadden is a travel reporter and photojournalist at Business Insider based in NYC. She covers transportation modes, alternative lifestyles, and luxury travel. Many of Joey's stories are visual features that give readers a front-row seat to her personal experiences at home and around the world.Joey graduated from St. Edward's University in May 2019 with a BA in Photocommunications. Since joining BI in 2019, Joey has traveled by train in seven different countries, from day trips to overnight rides as long as 30 hours. She's ridden on many different train lines, including Amtrak, Via Rail, and the iconic Orient Express of the 21st century, among others. During her travels, she's slept in countless accommodations — five-star hotels, unique tiny homes, and private train cabins, to name a few.When traveling in North America, Joey takes readers inside the continent's wealthiest enclaves where billionaires hide away, from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to Medina, Washington. She spends her free time singing and playing drums for the indie-rock band Blanket Approval. You can follow Joey on Instagram or send her an email at [email protected].Popular ArticlesI spent $1,000 to have a room to myself on a 30-hour Amtrak ride. It was the best experience I've had on an overnight train in the US.I booked basic economy flights with Delta and United. They felt like 2 completely different classes.I went on an adults-only cruise for the first time, and 8 things surprised meI spent 2 nights in a 2-story, 100-square-foot tiny home in Germany that was smaller than any I've seen in the USStep inside the richest city in Arizona, where wealthy Californians are flocking for private mountainside estates
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