This 40-calendar year-old pays $1,600/thirty day period to dwell in a little residence by the beach—it’s more compact than the average parking location

From 2020 to 2022, I break up my time involving two rentals: a just one-bedroom condominium in New York Town and a tiny house in Santa Monica, California.

But one day, I made the decision I wanted a alter. My stepfather experienced passed away, and I was going through a breakup. These losses shifted my viewpoint, and realigning my life to in shape my values grew to become a precedence.

I recognized that I didn’t want so a lot of belongings, allow on your own two locations to stay. So in May well 2022, I marketed or donated most of my stuff. I place five containers of winter products into a storage unit and left New York with two suitcases and a digicam.

Now, at 40 decades outdated, the 140-square-foot very small residence in Santa Monica is my key property. I am an eight-minute push from the seashore, and there are loads of spots to hike nearby.

The dwelling is lesser than the common size of a parking spot (which is about 150 square ft). But it can be created in a way that won’t feel cramped.

I observed the listing on HotPads, an on the internet rental market. The residence was developed by architects at Minarc Design and style Studio, and is parked in the backyard of a solitary-family house.

The principal room capabilities as my dwelling room, office, wander-in closet and kitchen area. I additional a number of little aspects like hooks and accessories, but or else the position is just as it came.

The glass door lets for a lot of natural mild and truly opens up the space. The indoor LED lighting has six adjustable configurations. I use softer lights in the night and only have lights on in the toilet in the early morning.

Due to the fact you will find no stovetop in the house, I preserve a double propane burner exterior. I have honed my Woman Scouts capabilities and now cook at property at the very least six days a week.

The bedroom location is a minor a cove that thoroughly surrounds my mattress. I have a concealed drawer beneath the bed for more storage. To maintain issues structured, I use tender dividers and zippered pouches.

The only storage place in the bathroom is below the sink, which has a 2.5-foot body and a smaller shelf to keep towels. One of my favored attributes in the home is the sink encounter, which is created of recycled rubber, creating it purposeful and uncomplicated to clean.

Designed to be energy successful, the temperature is controlled by concrete panels. This implies I really don’t want air conditioning, and a portable heater is enough to keep me warm all through wintertime.

Most times, I work from household jogging my kid’s manufacturer, Major Tiny Universe. Due to the fact I expend so a lot time right here, meticulous organization is not a preference — it truly is a necessity.

Dwelling with intention in a tiny area has a lot of benefits: I help save time, electricity and funds (particularly following getting rid of my $4,500-for every-thirty day period New York condominium). It is really extremely serene and grounding. I only have a person substantial-good quality variation of every little thing, and every item has its own area.

I’ve grow to be extra aware with my social commitments, much too. I only have 1 human being more than at a time. And I journey to go to family members and good friends in New York every single handful of months.

With my new way of living, I’ve come to respect the art of slowing down. It assists maintain me present and calm.

I see myself dwelling in a small property endlessly, and I want to use my structure expertise to create a little property group of my possess one particular day. But I am going to usually cherish this pivotal space — and instant — in my life.

Sung Yoo is the founder of Massive Little Universe, a children’s model that provides minimalistic design to multi-intent toys and merchandise. She acquired a bachelor’s degree from Parson’s School of Style and design. Her previous clientele contain Birchbox, Dermalogica, L’Oreal Paris and Victoria’s Top secret. Stick to her on Instagram @biglittleuniverse and @sungsation, or on Tiktok @biglittleuniverse_co.

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