I stayed in a tiny cabin full of space-saving hacks. I'm so impressed, I'll use them in my new apartment.
Maria Noyen
- I recently spent two nights in a tiny, 161-square-feet cabin in the woods.
- I noticed several space-saving storage hacks in the cabin and plan to replicate some in my new home.
In a few weeks, I'm moving out from my family's home in London, and into an 867-square-foot apartment in New York City.
As excited as I am about my new place, I'm also aware that it's a significant downsize; the house I currently live in is multi-storied, has three bedrooms, and a basement.
But a recent stay in a cabin in the British countryside showed me that you don't need a ton of space to live comfortably — you just need really smart storage solutions.
The cabin was one of nearly 100 off-grid, tiny cabins run by the company Unyoked throughout Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. It was tiny — 161-square-feet in total — which is a fraction of the size of my new apartment. That said, I never felt cramped or suffocated during the stay thanks to the cabin's many clever storage hacks.
Although some of these space-saving techniques would be a little tricky to replicate in a rented apartment, I'm keeping a few in mind ahead of my move.
Earlier this year, I paid $398 to spend two nights in a tiny cabin in the British countryside.
The cabin wasn't luxe but, surprisingly, it felt spacious.
The cabin featured a queen-sized bed, a dining area, kitchen, mini-fridge, and a bathroom, equipped with a rain shower and a composting toilet, which slightly terrified me at first as it didn't come with running water.
Instead, the toilet was connected to a deep pit where waste is turned into compost. As a city girl, I was horrified initially, but in the end, it didn't bother me because there was no smell – thankfully.
I'm about to move into an 867-square-foot apartment in New York City. Before I do, I'm going to keep in mind a few storage hacks I picked up while staying in the tiny home.
My big move is a few weeks away, but I've already got decorating and furniture on my mind. Before I make any big purchases, though, I'm considering a few of the space-saving hacks I noticed during my tiny cabin stay and how they might work in my apartment.
It wouldn't be the easiest aspect to re-create in my new apartment but I was impressed by how elements of the cabin's furniture — like the dining chairs, table, and bed — were built into to the walls, saving tons of floor space.
Since my new apartment is a rental, of course, I'm not planning on doing any building work. However, seeing how built-in features saved space at the cabin has made me think more creatively about the different ways I could use the wide window ledges in my apartment.
Instead of buying a bookcase for my room, for example, I'm now considering simply using one of the ledges for this. I've also been toying with the idea of buying a few pillows, instead of a small couch or chair, for another ledge in my room to create a reading and journaling nook.
I also loved how some of the furniture in the cabin featured hidden storage spaces. One of the dining chairs, for example, contained a large storage bin.
I'm taking the smaller room in my new apartment, which unfortunately doesn't have a built-in wardrobe.
Although I initially considered buying a rack and storing most of my clothes in a closet located by the entrance of my apartment, seeing furniture that doubles as storage space at the cabin has encouraged me to look into buying pieces, such as chairs or love-seat sofas, that come with built-in storage features.
There was also plenty of storage space beneath the bed for several bags, a humidifier, and two yoga mats, which minimized unnecessary clutter in the rest of the room.
The bed in the cabin inspired me to consider purchasing one that comes with ample space incorporated into the frame, built-in draws, or a hydraulic lift where I can pull up the mattress to store clothing, shoes, and other items underneath.
This isn't a space-saving technique per se, but the huge windows next to the bed — where I spent a lot of time reading, working, and writing — made the area feel more spacious.
One of features that drew me to my new apartment was the amount of windows.
My bedroom will have windows on two of the four walls, just like in the cabin. As someone who spends a lot of time reading and writing in bed, I'm going to make the best use of them by positioning my bed right next to the wall with the most windows so I can make the most of the natural light during the day. (I'll have a few windows left on another wall where I can set up my reading nook and a bookshelf.)
Over in the kitchen, cooking essentials were accessibly stored beneath the counter and on a small ledge above it. Both helped keep the cooking space from becoming overcrowded with miscellaneous items whenever I made a meal.
Again, as my apartment is a rental, I'm going to avoid adding elements to the layout that could cause any long-term damage.
That said, when it comes to organization, I'm going to keep the tiny cabin kitchen layout in mind. I'll store cooking essentials, such as oils and seasonings, that I use frequently, in kitchen cabinets above my stove. That way, they're easily accessible but won't clutter the counter when I'm preparing meals.
I was most impressed by the pocket door connecting the main living space to the bathroom, which efficiently retracted back into the wall instead of swinging out and restricting walking space.
One of the quirkiest things about my new apartment is that a temporary wall is being built in the living room to create my bedroom.
Having this installed costs $1,250, but will ultimately help me and my roommate save money by splitting the rent on a one-bed apartment in a modern building in NYC that comes with several amenities, such as a doorman, laundry, and a rooftop.
Before staying in the tiny cabin, I hadn't given much thought to the type of door I'd choose for the temporary wall. But after seeing how much space a pocket door can save, it's my top choice.
I still have a lot to consider for the interior design of my new place, but after staying in a much smaller place with smart storage solutions, I'm less apprehensive about downsizing.
Although I'm not planning on moving any large pieces of furniture from the UK to the US, I have accumulated a fair amount of clothes, shoes, and other items that I was initially worried wouldn't fit into my new living space.
But after my experience of staying in an even smaller cabin, I'm way less stressed about where all my things are going to go.
By incorporating nifty tricks, like furniture with hidden storage spaces and a pocket door, I'm confident I'll be able to maximize every inch of space to make my new home feel just as spacious as my last.
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