I never thought I could live in a tiny home. Staying in a 250-square-foot Airbnb changed my mind.

• In 2021, I spent two nights in a tiny home I found on Airbnb, and now I can see myself living in one.
• I’d never stayed in a tiny home before and thought I’d feel limited in a 250-square-foot house.
• The home’s impressive space-saving hacks and lush outdoor area won me over.

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.