If you’ve ever dreamed (or maybe worried) about living in a tiny house, you’re in good company. Tiny-home life stirs up a lot of curiosity—so we chatted with a couple who’ve lived in an 188-square-foot space for over two years to answer the questions you’ve been wondering about. Their insights reveal both the charming and challenging sides of tiny living. Also, we’re celebrating a sentimental milestone at home, and Sherry has finally embraced a decorating trend she’s been hesitant about.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen to it below. Use this page to find links, notes, and photos we mentioned. Note: If you’re reading in a feed reader, you may need to click through to the post to see the player.
What’s New
- We’ll publish a full post with photos and details about our son’s bedroom update this week. Above is a sneak peek at his new big-boy bed — a daybed that’s already a hit.
- A complete source list will appear in that upcoming post, but here are a few quick links to items we mentioned: his sheets, the sconces, the gray bolster pillow, the bee pillows, and the art. The wall color is Going To The Chapel and the built-ins are Senora Gray (both Benjamin Moore).
- Before this update, the room was mostly unchanged since 2014 — except for a recent discovery six months ago when our son figured out he could peel off the “T”-shaped wall decals, so those finally had to go.
Tiny Home: 188sqft
- If you want to learn more about Mandy and Kevin of 188sqft, check out their blog and follow them on Instagram for daily updates and inspiration.
- They’ve posted great before-and-after photos of their renovation that show how they transformed their compact space.
- To get a clear sense of how their home functions for them and their pets, watch their house tour video embedded below.
- Mandy also shared other tiny-home families she follows who balance life in small spaces with kids. Here are a few accounts they recommend for ideas and encouragement:
- Tiny Shiny Home
- Mali Mish
- Our Vie
- Our Home On Wheels
- Demi-Brooke
We’re Digging
- Sherry picked up a pink letterboard for the beach house (10″ x 10″). We have the Light Pink version, though there are several other colors available like seafoam green and white. Letterboards are an easy, playful way to add personality to a room.
- For letterboard inspiration, we like following Letterfolk on Instagram—they offer a variety of sizes and frame options for different styles and spaces.
- For smart lighting, we recently tried a smart bulb starter pack that included two bulbs and a hub. It made a great budget-friendly gift, so watch for sales if you’re considering the same setup.
- To clarify the Philips Hue lineup: the White & Color Ambiance bulbs can display any color and any white tone; the White Ambiance bulbs can shift between tones of white; and the basic White bulbs provide a fixed soft-white output. The bulb shapes and color options vary, so pick the type that fits your needs and fixtures.
If you’re trying to find something we mentioned in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to check, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve been digging from past episodes.
Finally, a big thank-you to Grove Collaborative for sponsoring this episode. New customers can receive a free $30 gift set, including a tin caddy and Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning supplies, when they sign up and spend their first $20. (Offer details available through Grove.)
Thanks for listening, everyone!
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