I stayed in a 250-square-foot tiny home for the first time. Here are 10 things that surprised me the most about it.

The author stayed in a tiny home for two nights and was surprised by how spacious and livable it felt.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

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. Now, I could see myself living tiny.

As a New York City resident, I’ve lived in my fair share of tiny apartments.

And as a travel reporter, I’ve stayed in a range of tiny homes worldwide. I’ve slept in a 100-square-foot tube in Germany. I’ve booked a night in an Airstream trailer in Vienna. I’ve crashed in a converted wine barrel.

But I’ll never forget my first tiny home accommodation — an Airbnb on wheels I booked for $100 a night in Miami in 2021.

At 250 square feet, the home was half the size of the apartment I was living in then — and the stay was full of surprises.

Since it was advertised as being on wheels, I figured the tiny home would feel like a mobile home, but this house didn’t look like it was going anywhere.

the outside of the tiny home with arrows pointing to cinder blocks — Cinder blocks are seen underneath the house.
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The type of tiny home I stayed in had wheels meant to be pulled by a trailer, but this particular home 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 that 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.

side by side photos show the outside (L) and inside (R) of the tiny home — Outside and inside the 250-square-foot home.
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From the outside, the tiny home looked to be the size of a bedroom.

But inside, there was a kitchen, a bathroom, decor, 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 windows — eight, in fact — an unusually large number for such a small building.

tiny home windows are seen on the outside (L) and the inside (R) — Four of the eight windows are next to the front door.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I arrived at my Airbnb at night. Seeing how much larger the room felt with the window curtains drawn the next morning 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.

side by side photos show the sliding bathroom door — The sliding door leads from the kitchen to the bathroom.
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Some space-saving hacks in the tiny home were expected, like a mounted TV or table that doubled as storage.

But the sliding bathroom door was unexpectedly clever. I never would have thought of using a door to save space. The sliding feature saved room that a swinging door would take up, and I thought that the door’s decorative nature 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 more spacious that I expected.

side by side photos of the bathroom — The tiny home bathroom’s sink and closet.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

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.

The bed is seen inside the tiny home — The bedroom area in the evening.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

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 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.

The home is seen in the morning with the bed unmade — A wide view of the home first thing in the morning.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

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 you feel like you’re living in filth.

Because of this, I cleaned up between every task, more than I usually might otherwise.

I used to think that tiny living was only for minimalists, but this home’s maximalist style seemed unexpected.

wall decor and storage in the bathroom (L) and main room (R) — Wall storage and decor in the bathroom and kitchen.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

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, which, in effect, drew my eyes up and elongated the space.

The home had a yard full of plants and furniture, and it was much more important to me than I thought it would be.

side by side photos show outdoor furniture in the yard — Tables and chairs decorate two different parts of the yard.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Having additional outdoor space to work, relax, and host guests outside would be crucial for me to live happily in a tiny home, I realized during my stay.

I pictured myself working in the tiny home’s 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.

The author lays on the tiny home bed — The author gets cozy in the tiny home.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I didn’t think I’d leave this tiny home sincerely considering the lifestyle for my future. But seeing how storage hacks, sliding doors, and outdoor furniture made the home feel larger has me thinking that I could live like this without sacrificing my love for decorating.

Read the original article on Business Insider

This article was originally published by Joey Hadden at All Content from Business Insider (https://www.businessinsider.com/tiny-homes-airbnb-most-surprising-things-2022-2).

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