Roundup: Double-Duty Accents & Inspiration
Furnishings aren't the only items in a small home that can pull double-duty to save space-- accessories should function in multiple ways as well. From mirrors that act as jewelry organizers, to everyday countertops that transform into work or dining surfaces with the help of a stool, to vertical decorative accents that save surface inches below, there's no end to the clever ways in which you can maximize the capabilities of your tiny space.
I'll forever be inspired by functional decor, such as under-the-shelf hooks and bins, to table-top risers that create instant storage. I've rounded up a selection of imagery (below) that demonstrates some simple, beautiful ways to get the most use out of select household accents. One of my favorite features from the visuals below is the last one, by Margo Hupert. Margo runs her art studio from her home, and her flat files, shipping tubes, and administrative accessories are always carefully curated and artfully organized, making her company's "warehouse" into a gorgeous, uncluttered, live-work gallery.
But before you go about trying to organize everything, be sure to get rid of a thing or two... or twelve. Remember: "When you have cleared all of your clutter, you can be of greater service to those around you." - M.B. Kitson
Creating a Divider with Greenery
When we acquired the front tiny house, we knew we needed to modify our porch to suit our updated living situation. The porch, which is 8’ wide and nestled between the two craftsman cottages, was formerly outfitted with an outdoor couch and a folding dining set. We loved it, but we found ourselves using the pieces less and less.
"BEFORE" - The porch between the cottages shortly after we moved in.
"AFTER" - The porch between the cottages. We had it set up this way for years in order to accommodate dinner guests or host happy hours.
"AFTER" ... again! The porch updated for West and his friends, as well as all the parents.
We host guests for meals very infrequently these days, whereas we spend more and more time here with West in lieu of sending him to daycare. Additionally, a fair number of our friends had children around the same year we had West, so our social gatherings now involve bringing several children (about 5-8 toddlers per event) together at once. So Adam and I decided that it was time to turn the couch into dual-purpose storage / lounge seating, collapse the dining table, and convert the resulting square footage into a play space.
A full blog post on the transformation is coming soon, but I wanted to tune in to one particular obstacle with which we needed to deal during the conversion. How would we keep the end of the porch (which drops about 1’ down to the stone garden pavers below) safe for the newly-toddling kiddos?
We borrowed a plastic baby gate from a friend to test out, but it was too flimsy for West. We then tried a temporary, metal garden gate. Unfortunately it was pretty ugly, and it felt like a barricade. We didn’t want to discourage the kids from entering the garden— we just didn’t want them falling dangerously backwards into it on accident.
I found three perfectly-shaped, compact, outdoor planters at Ikea (there were some great runners-up at CB2, too,) and I asked the skilled team at Rolling Greens to help me find friendly, space-dividing plants to add height, weight, beauty, and life to the troughs.
I love any excuse to visit Rolling Greens in Culver City.
Rolling Greens lined the planter boxes with plastic to keep the soil from falling out the slats, and then surrounded that wrap with moss to beautify the exposed segments. They then filled the boxes with little Olive Tree plants. They added a pop of color on the parameters with a touch of secondary greenery, then topped it all off with bark, and voila!
Now we have low space-dividers to trim the edge of the porch. The boxes are too heavy for the kids to push over, but light enough for us to shuffle around when needed. Adults and the pups can step between the planters, but now the kids won't go tumbling or bolting off the side of the porch!
We absolutely love our new, living porch barrier. Thank you, Rolling Greens!
Roundup: Other Lil' Living Spaces I Love
Despite the fact that I live in a small house, I'm just as fascinated by them as anyone else, so I wanted to share some of the lil' living spaces that inspire me. One of them measures under 200 sqft, while another teeters just around 1000 sqft. Some of these homes interest me with their simplicity, others stun me with their artful layers. All of them balance form and function beautifully.
Sugarhouse Homestead
Photos © Sugarhouse Homestead via Instagram
I first fell in love with the home of Natasha Lawyer &and Brett Bashaw when they began sharing glimpses of their Tincan Homestead Airstream life on Instagram. Now that they're in their 166 sqft cabin in Vermont, I find their living situation to be even more swoon-worthy than ever.
County Road Living
Photos © Angie Wendricks
I visit County Road Living’s Instagram wall and Stories daily to view an Indiana-based stylist's endless gorgeous moments from her minimalist farmhouse in the country. The passing seasons and glowing natural light provide a lovely backdrop to Angie’s visual inspiration for a more purposeful way of living.
Jungle By The Falls
Left Photo © Cat Thomas / Right Photo © Jared Soares via Domino
Hilton Carter's lush and moody Baltimore apartment is all over the internet lately, and for excellent reasons. This expertly-styled space, which Hilton enjoys with his girlfriend Fiona and their pup, has pioneered a new class of design that includes textured walls, pops of warm lighting, dozens upon dozens of thriving plants, comfy reading nooks, and creatively-mounted living wall decor.
Chelsae Anne
Photos © Chelsae Anne
I feel cheered by the color, layers, and handmade touches in Chelsae Sahlman's 640 sqft apartment. I rarely "pin" inspiration for my own projects, but a photo of the reading corner within Chelsae's bedroom was one of the few images I kept returning to when seeking creative sparks for our front tiny cottage makeover.
Craftsman Mini-Me
Luckily, one of my favorite tiny houses of all time is located just down the street from our own cottage! Susan's Craftsman Mini-Me is an old carriage-house style space, located in her own back yard here in Venice. This incredible indoor-outdoor dwelling is also available to rent on Airbnb, so you can experience it for yourself! See my entire blog post about it, here. (Fun side note: Adam and I were actually staycationing at the Mini-Me when we discovered that we were pregnant with a boy! I can't believe that he's now already 16 months old...)
Roundup: Small Space Wall Decor
One of the goals of small space living is to shift emphasis away from belongings, and redirect time and energy towards experiences instead. One of the ways we practice this philosophy and further simplify our lives at the Cottage is by finding alternatives to traditional wall art.
I feel the need to preface this by sharing that I'm a fervent lover of the Arts. My mother has been a champion of arts education, and she made sure that her own children were immersed in the arts. I've worked professionally and enthusiastically with galleries, museums, and libraries for over a decade. I am an avid believer that art experiences and appreciation are vitally important for people of every age and background.
But now, with finite walls and very limited storage options in general, we have to get creative in devising places to store our essentials for daily life. As such, I no longer regard our walls as being reserved strictly for 2-d art. Luckily, hanging a basket, guitar, plate, or scarf can be beautiful, AND save storage space. Plus you can change up your look with ease by swapping out pieces, while allotting spots here and there for more traditional works of art that speak to you.
So grab a scarf off your wall and step out! Let’s go to galleries, become museum members, support street artists, and visit art fairs with the folks we love. And when you're back home, take a quick moment to consider these easy, inexpensive, and practical ways to liven up lil' walls:
USE THEM FOR STORAGE
Create functional, decorative walls by artfully hanging select everyday items. This will free up valuable space in your drawers and cabinets.
Above: I love this simple yet personality-filled room that I visited recently. A horizontal hanging made of oversized beads takes up plenty of wall space, while providing a place for the designer-- my friend and neighbor Heather Tierney-- to hang some of her necklaces.
Left: The front tiny cottage. Market baskets are displayed as decor when not in use. Right: The front tiny cottage. Kitchen goods, such as a spoon rest, bottle carriers, candles, measuring cups, and more are on view as functional art.
Left: The back tiny cottage. A found branch is repurposed for bath storage. Right: The back tiny cottage. A mixed-media gallery wall in the bedroom holds a half-moon basket that stores our son's brushes, alongside hats, a grape leaf from our garden, and an ink drawing by an Insta-friend/Etsy artist.
Left: The back tiny cottage. Adam's bedside wall holds our son's diaper changing roll, as well as hats and clothes. Right: The front tiny cottage. A mirrored wall basket with hooks holds a coloring book, a leather note roll, a produce bag, a leash, and keys.
OPEN THEM UP WITH MIRRORS
No new news here-- we all know that mirrors can help make a small space feel larger. Reflect light and open up a room by using an oversized mirror, or give your walls more depth by using multiple smaller sizes.
Left: The front tiny house. A collection of rattan mirrors in West's room bounce sunlight around an otherwise dark section of the space. Right: The back tiny house. A series of simple hanging mirrors enlarge the tiny bedroom and help disguise an ugly (disconnected) wall heater.
Left: The back tiny house. Here are two views of the same space. The oversized mirror above the desk makes this room feel exponentially brighter and more cheerful. (We once removed the mirror to repaint the wall, and the house instantly felt darker and duller.)
BRING THEM TO LIFE WITH PLANTS
Plants will immediately make a home feel more inviting, while adding color and pattern, and even improving the air quality. I place most of our plants on invisible floating bookshelves. It's a quick and easy way to create a dynamic and easily updatable look at a very low cost. I don't even buy pots for the plants, and opt instead to continue using the containers in which the plants came. This makes everything even more affordable, while also ensuring that there's nothing to shatter if the plants tumble down during an earthquake.
Above: The back tiny cottage living room, with plants propped on invisible floating bookshelves.
Above: The back tiny cottage kitchen, with herbs planted in wall pots near a window.
Left: The cottage porch, with a living garden wall. Right: The back tiny cottage, with a plant on a floating shelf in the background, and market greenery displayed via reusable bags.
Above: My friend Lindsay's stunning home, Casa Joshua Tree. I love how she created a beautiful mantel vignette (at a low cost) with potted cacti.
GIVE THEM TEXTURE WITH CLIPPINGS
If you don't have the patience for plants but you still want the look, try dried items or clipped greenery. There are a myriad of ways to display lightweight bundles or branches from your walls.
Above: My friend and neighbor Heather Tierney used a dried branch above her bed in lieu of a headboard or framed art. The draped capiz shells catch and reflect the sunlight in this Venice home.
Left: My friend Lindsay of Casa Joshua Tree suspended a tumbleweed from her ceiling to create striking visual impact at no cost. Right: Polly of This House Our Home tied dried eucalyptus to a driftwood branch, creating a lovely, natural work of wall art that can be modified to be as full or sparse as desired.
Above: The cottage porch, decorated with inexpensive glass beaker vases (simply tacked to the wall), and market clippings.
Above: These simple strings of faux-florals made Olive & June one of the most instantly recognizable spots on Instagram. The garlands leave the walls feeling open and airy, while adding color and texture. Bunting like this can be made to accoMmodate walls of any size.
TURN THEM INTO A LIBRARY
Put your books on double-duty by storing them in a decorative way.
Above: The back tiny cottage: A wood + wire bookshelf mounted on the wall displays books as art.
Above: The headboard of @AllThatIsShe
Left: A hand-crafted bookshelf-nightstand on Etsy. Right: Hanging book bins that keep kids titles on view and at-the-ready.
COVER THEM WITH TEXTILES
You can decorate your walls with textiles without feeling like you're tossing up a tapestry from college. Repurpose beautiful rugs, blankets and scarves by bringing them up onto your walls.
Left: My neighbor Heather Tierney used an indigo cloth to decorate a larger wall. The textile draws the eye upward, adding height to the room. Right: My friend Lindsay of Casa Joshua Tree used a Blockshop scarf to add color and a modern, geometric look to her entryway.
Tiny House Tour: The West Cottage
Let’s stop and chat about interior design on Social Media for a second. After scrolling through thousands upon thousands of decor-related photos over the years, I have to take a step back and remind myself that lots of us— MOST of us— don’t have the disposable income for the major overhaul projects and dream properties like the ones we see online. (And, in addition to budget constraints, what about the renters out there who want to make interior updates, but aren’t permitted to do so? What types of creative solutions are available?) It’s easy to get sucked into feeling like life will be better when we have a new home, more money, and free rein to craft our ideal house. This is where I always pump the breaks.
I don’t want to live my life waiting for the next phase. I want to be satisfied and content in the now. And, personally, I don’t want to spend my time agonizing over items and details that pull my focus away from the things that matter most in my life— family, friends, and community.
Having said that, I obviously care about how my home looks and functions. I’ve made a career of it. But my aim is for everything to be accessible, and to create beauty, function and joy in simple ways.
When the opportunity arose to rent the front cottage on our property late last year, we jumped on it. We knew it would be the perfect place for my parents to stay when they visit LA, as well as a convenient spot for the events and creative crews that regularly set up shop here. (After all, this tiny house is a twin to our own, and sits just 8’ away from ours.) But the house needed some love— certain elements were rotting away, and others were simply, well, not our style But as renters on a very tight budget, we had to pick-and-choose what to tackle, and what to accept. We took our time, weighing out everything we wanted to do, versus everything we felt like we needed to do. Here’s how it turned out
LIVING ROOM
WHAT WE DID:
Just like the main room of The Tiny Canal Cottage, this room is TINY. We knew that we needed the ability to fit a queen-sized bed in here, but the solution wasn’t going to be a quick fix. Inflatable beds are fine, but I wanted to offer my parents something a bit sturdier and more suitable to their needs. A typical pull-out or fold-down sleeper couch wasn’t an option either. Besides getting lumpy and warped, they also tend to take up a lot of room on the back side, and we couldn’t spare those precious inches. Plus I did’t want to block the living room windows, yet I knew the couch would be best situated in front of them.
Our solution was a custom accordion fold-out bench by Tumbleweed & Dandelion here in Venice, CA. The bench is a perfect height for our (very) tall family when in couch-mode, and the cushions are comfortable without being too bulky to stash when the bench is extended. To adapt the piece into a queen bed, we simply fold it out and twist on its wooden legs (which we keep stashed in a a wine crate on the nearby built-in bookshelf, where the spare linens are also kept). We can use a traditional or inflatable mattress. The conversion process takes about 5 minutes. As long as we scoot the bed over by a few feet, the front door can still open completely.
I also scrapped traditional window treatments on the living room windows. When we have overnight guests, a simple tension rod is added to the top of each window, and I suspend the same curtain panels that we once used in West’s nursery nook when he was a newborn.
WHAT WE SKIPPED:
We would’ve loved to remove the front door, widen the doorframe, and create custom French doors (like the ones in our “main” cottage), but that was beyond our budget as renters.
Similarly, we would’ve liked to remove the custom plantation shutters on the door and neighboring windows. They look pretty, but they’re horribly impractical in a small space. However, the interiors of the window frames would've had to be sanded, refinished and repainted, and we chose to reallocate that amount of money into savings for our son.
OFFICE
WHAT WE DID:
There was a giant built-in desk in the living room. I found it to be depressing (it faced the wall, and was partially enclosed on the sides), and outdated— it included a keyboard pull-out tray, which prevented many types of office chairs from being able to slide under the desk. I decided that with all the other surfaces available on the property, we didn’t need another work surface. So I ripped out the desk and replaced it with two high-backed chairs, which instantly enlarged the room, and made it into the perfect spot for reading, chatting, and relaxing.
We also removed the standard interior door that divided the office from the bedroom, and replaced it with a space-saving bifold door. We painted it white and finished it with a custom knob, and it's one of the best changed we made to the house. The accordion design saves so much room when the door is left open, and the frosted, tempered glass provides ample privacy, while still permitting soft light to flow through.
WHAT WE SKIPPED:
I was also interested in removing the built-in bookshelves, as we didn’t need all that extra storage space. A big mirror in its place would’ve opened up the room, and reflected the bougainvillea, sunlight, and cafe lights from the windows on the opposite wall. But the bookshelves are in great condition, and proved to be useful when paired with book baskets and wine crates that hold the spare linens, so we kept them.
KITCHEN
WHAT WE DID:
Our biggest investment was the kitchen… which is a bit ridiculous because (between both of our tiny houses,) we now have TWO kitchens in under 800 square feet. But we knew that these relatively small adjustments would completely transform the tiny house, which they did.
We removed the builder-grade wall cabinets, swapping them out for two open shelves, handmade from reclaimed wood. We also removed the 30” range hood, which hung over a 24” range and overpowered the space. We replaced the oven with a model that actually fit the space allocated for it. In doing so, we eliminated the sliver of space where the narrow trash can stood, so we decided to build a pull-out can into the base cabinets.
We installed exposed shelving by Tumbleweed & Dandelion. We added a pull-out trash drawer, a new sink and faucet, and new countertops from Cambria, installed by Giallo Stone. We recycled and adjusted the old wall cabinets doors for the updated base cabinets. An upcycled console table, counter stools, and vintage rug from New England Loom round off the kitchen.
The base cabinets and counter had an unnecessary 90-degree corner at the end, which partially-enclosed the kitchen, and made it feel cramped. Because of that corner, the sink wasn’t aligned with the windows above it. (The sink was horrible anyway— you could pop it out with a pencil.) We removed the 90-degree corner, and installed the pull-out trash and recycling in its place. We upgraded the sink to a larger Kohler, and added a pull-out Purist pull-out faucet. Then we repurposed and modified the old wall cabinet hardware and doors on the newly modified base cabinets. We topped everything off with a beautiful, milky matte slab of Weybourne from Cambria, which made the space feel polished and clean, without appearing too sterile.
We updated the lighting, and swapped out the butcher-block pub table and standard stools for a console table made from upcycled floor boards. We added two high-backed counter stools with an open-weave design, which keeps the space feeling airy and uncluttered. Lastly, we unified and defined the kitchen by adding a multi-color vintage runner rug from New England Loom
WHAT WE SKIPPED:
I would’ve very much liked to replace the base cabinets and the white subway tiles in the kitchen to give the room more personality. But both are in fine condition and function as needed, so we opted to save the money and headache and accept the kitchen without those upgrades. Despite the standard tiles and cabinets, we now love the room, which has so much more texture and depth than it did before.
BEDROOM
WHAT WE DID:
We turned the bedroom of the front cottage into West’s play space. We mainly made repairs in here, focusing on keeping it clean and safe for our toddler. We repaired the windows that were in horrible condition, and we patched and painted the walls, which were cracked, chipped and full of holes (some tiny, some several inches wide) after years of neglect.
We did make one hugely helpful design change: the doors. In this small room, which measures about 8’ x 10’, there were FOUR DOORS. (Why?!) The porch and closet doors would crash into each other when opened, much like the bathroom and living room doors did on the opposite side. One door from each corner was going to have to go.
We found a wonderful wood and frosted, tempered glass bi-fold door for the doorway between the bedroom and living room. Then we removed the closet door entirely and commissioned a gorgeous hand-made curtain from Luna Zorro to suspend in the frame. We couldn’t have used sliding barn doors, as we didn’t have the available wall space for those. And pocket doors require construction and are thus far more expensive. The bi-fold door and curtain were simple, fast, and affordable solutions that instantly made a huge difference in the appearance and functionality of the entire house.
West's closet and porch doors used to crash open into one another, so we swapped the closet door out for a custom, handmade curtain from Luna Zorro. We added rattan mirrors on the little wall between the closet and the bathroom to reflect sunlight, and we set up a little diaper changing storage station via a low, windowed hutch.
Our son still co-sleeps with us at night, but he now naps, reads, and snuggles with the pups in his amazing new convertible crib / toddler bed / daybed. (The items on the shelf above are anchored with earthquake putty.)
WHAT WE SKIPPED:
West has a tiny bathroom and (an empty) closet off his room that function perfectly well, but aren’t beautiful or interesting. As renters, we decided to skip construction, but freshen up the bath as best we could. A vintage rug, a linen shower curtain, hanging baskets, and cascading plants livened up the room without impacting our wallets.
Disclaimer: I received select products of my selection in exchange for inclusion in the front cottage makeover and subsequent coverage. All words and opinions are my own.
The West Cottage is on Domino!
Our "new" front house, The West Cottage, is on Domino today! This lil' craftsman home stands just 8' west of #TheTinyCanalCottage. The two units are so small and closely situated that they share a porch, garden, and washer + dryer.
Thank you, Domino!
Co-Sleeping in the Cottage
Note: Please consult professional sources and keep safety as the top priority when making sleep decisions with and for your child. I am neither advocating for or against bed-sharing via this blog post. I am simply sharing our personal experience in case it helps anyone else on their journey.
We receive lots of questions about how we manage the family’s sleep situation in our tiny home. Where does West sleep? What about the pups? How do we handle noise and keep from disturbing one another? What are our plans for the future? Would we recommend bed-sharing to other new parents living in small spaces?
Left: WEST In the DockATot Deluxe in the Cottage bedroom. Right: West In THE mini-crib in our tiny house nursery nook.
Adam and I never had a sleep plan in place for our life with the baby. We decided to go with what felt natural for us, day by day. The short story is that we’ve bed-shared for the past 16 months. The longer version involves many more layers, including a DockATot, mini-crib, and convertible toddler bed.
Months 1-12
Our Baby:
For the first year with West, we had a mini-crib. When our son was a newborn, he would take his naps there, or in his MamaRoo or the small DockATot. He would also begin his nights in the crib.
I worked full-time throughout my entire pregnancy and after our son was born, and I simply felt too tired to get in and out of bed for each feeding. As such, we would bring West into bed with us after his mid-night wakeups. At that point, he slept safely and snugly between Adam and me in the center of our bed in the DockATot.
West fit perfectly in the mini-crib until around 7 months, when he began to flail around a bit too much to sleep in there for more than a couple of hours at a time. We kept the mini-crib for for an additional 3 months for his naps. Sometimes we rolled the crib into other areas of the house and the garden, just to get him used to other views and environments.
Left: In the airplane bassinet, flying to France. Right: Up from a nap in a hotel in Maui.
Bed-sharing has been made life easier when we travel. West will fall asleep anywhere when his natural bedtime rolls around.
Our Dogs + The Noise:
Sophee sleeps at our feet in the bed, and Stanlee like to curl up on the floor in the tiny space between my side of the bed and the wall. They have THE LOUDEST beagle barks, but they rarely wake up West. I think it’s because West has been listening to those barks since the moment he could hear in the womb. I even remember him physically reacting to being startled by the barks when he was still just a bump in my belly. By his earliest days in the Cottage, he was very used to the sound. West doesn’t even wake up when Adam and I watch movies on the laptop in bed next to him. And, due to the skylights and numerous curtainless windows in the cottage, the light has never phased him either. We lucked out.
Months 12-16
Our Toddler:
West still sleeps with us in bed at night, but we no longer use the DockATot. We believe he's big enough now to sleep safely by our sides without it. He also uses his new convertible crib / toddler bed / daybed in the front cottage for naps, and at night when my parents or a sitter are with him.
Travel:
When we take quick trips by car we bring the large DockATot with us for the versatile options it provides. When we travel by plane, we simply plan on West sleeping in a regular bed with us.
Left: In the DockATot Grand in the garden. Right: Slumber party in the front cottage guest bed.
The Bottom Line:
Personally, I love sharing our bed. Since I work for most of the day, the nights are a wonderful way for me to be close to my son. It can’t last forever, I know, but it’s still enjoyable for us right now. Yes, he kicks and pivots and smacks us in the eyeballs. Yes, we are tired. But what parent isn’t? And the magic of it all far outweighs the disruptions. We plan to wean ourselves slowly off of co-sleeping at some point this year, when it feels right for all of us.
The Accordion Bench/Bed
I've yet to share the full house tour of the front tiny cottage, but we're already welcoming our first overnight visitor this weekend, so I wanted to share how we adapt the space to accommodate guests.
Much like our Tiny Canal Cottage, this little house is under 400 square-feet and only has three rooms: the bedroom (with a narrow sliver of a closet), the bathroom, and the main room (which includes the kitchen). So the issue was this: how would we create a playroom for West in the bedroom, while ensuring that we also have a comfortable place for my parents to sleep when they visit for long stretches of time? We knew we'd need some sort of Queen-sized sleeper-sofa option, but every style we explored either had a cushion that folded (which would eventually get lumpy), or chunky backs and/or bases, which would've taken up more inches than we could spare (and obscured too much of the window). We could've opted for an extra-high air mattress, but having a bed in addition to a couch would've overcrowded the room to a degree that would've made it impossible to navigate. We decided instead to have something tailor-made for our situation:
I contacted my friend Lizzie from Tumbleweed & Dandelion here in Venice to discuss the design and creation of a custom couch. Lizzie dazzles me with her wit, talent, positivity, and endless energy. I explained to her what we wanted, and what we didn't want. As we brainstormed, she drew up the perfect plan-- an accordion-style bench that folds out easily into a Queen bed platform:
Lizzie and her team brought the design to life, and the results are perfect for our needs. Keep scrolling to view the bench-to-bed set-up process, which takes us about 5-10 minutes.
We keep the bed legs and guest linens within easy reach on the living room shelf, and in old wine crates.
The seat cushion can be stored beneath the bed once it's assembled, while the seat-back cushions function as a headboard.
The bed accordions out smoothly, and the extra legs twist on easily.
We had planned to use an air mattress on the platform for an ideal space-saving solution. But then we were surprised with the gift of this cozy new mattress to try for the guest bed. With this unique situation, and since West's narrow closet is almost completely empty, we slide the mattress upright in there for storage when it's not in use. Obviously most smalls pace dwellers don't have an empty closet available (ours is empty since this house is used mainly for my parents, West's playroom, and visiting camera crews), so for those folks seeking a compact solution and would prefer to try something other than an inflatable mattress, there are roll-up and folding designs out there. Or Tumbleweed & Dandelion can make a version with the folding cushion included. And an air mattress is always an easy option.
The entire set-up worked out better than I'd hoped. The bed is a comfortable and sturdy sleeping surface for my parents or our other guests, and there's still plenty of space to navigate the room. We don't normally need curtains on these windows, but two white tension rods wait at the ready in the window frames, so I just attach the curtains from West's old nursery nook to give our visitors some privacy. Lastly, we slide everything over a couple feet so the front door can open fully. Voila!
Space-Saving Toy Tents for Kids
Children (and pets) so enjoy tents and forts. But in a small home, a store-bought toddler tent can easily eat up an entire room (if it even fits at all), and a DIY fort can quickly eliminate the limited space required for your daily routine.
Tablecloth tents could be a handy solution for your little one(s) in your little home. I found this one via Etsy, and it's a big hit here at our tiny cottage. Folding card-table sizes are also available, and custom-sized options are also commissionable. Throw one over your dining table or desk to encourage a child's creativity while also working within the realities of your square-footage. (And if you can't fit a tablecloth tent, not to worry-- use a doorway or hallway hanging playhouse instead!)
Update: Many of you loved West's beagle pants, so I thought I should share the details on those! They're handmade by an Etsy artist-- some of my favorites from her shop are below:
Cottage Plants
I receive a lot of questions about the plants we have at the cottage-- are they real? Are they toxic? How long do they take to grow? How much care do they require?
I am by no means a plant expert-- faaar from it. I look to Hilton Carter if I need help with my houseplants, and I am inspired by the creative ways that my friend Justina Blakeney of The Jungalow decorates with her plants. But I can certainly share what has worked for us here in our tiny home-office. While we have a wide variety of indoor and outdoor greenery, we routinely decorate with these three particular plants:
Algerian Ivy - I love this variegated vine, which drapes beautifully in hanging pots/baskets, and can also be used for ground cover. The mid-toned green and pale yellow help show off the texture and shape of the leaves, while the brown/red stalks contrast beautifully with the rest of the plant. Algerian Ivy can tolerate a decent amount of sun, but continues to thrive in times of lower light exposure. I usually display this ivy on shelves because it takes up a fair amount of space, allowing me to fill a room with warmth without cluttering it up with miscellaneous tchotchkes.
Silver Philodendron - Silver Philodendron is one of my favorite plants. In fact, it was one of the main visual inspirations for our home-wedding. This house plant grows rapidly, and has interestingly speckled grey-green leaves. In my experience, the vines will get sparse up top if the soil isn’t healthy and if the pot doesn’t drain well, so don’t forget to give these plants a bit of tending-to each week. My favorite spot to place these plants is on hidden/floating bookshelves on our living room walls. It is toxic to pets and people when ingested, so we simply keep ours high up out of the reach of all our little ones.
Vinca Vine - Vinca is one of my absolute favorites, because it grows incredibly long, and yet it barely sheds. This plant is simple and understated without being boring. It cascades and frames beautifully, adding depth and color wherever needed. My favorite place to hang them is near windows and outdoor corners, where the greenery livens up several feet of bare walls or moldings without consuming space. I’ve found that Vinca Vines require a touch of extra care in the winter, so I personally don’t leave them out in the cold. (Even here in SoCal they prefer to be indoors during the cooler months.) In the warmer season, they enjoy a few hours of sun, or regular dappled light-- nothing too harsh Cutting the vines back around Spring is a great way to spark new, healthy growth. (And don’t worry— they grow back in a blink.)
Roundup: Compact Speakers
One of the first realities I had to accept when we moved into our little home was that several forms of non-digital media simply had to go. I donated hundreds of books, keeping in mind that I could always download a copy of anything on my iPad if need be. I stopped receiving printed magazines and the Sunday newspaper, and opted instead for online subscriptions. I also got rid of any old DVDs and CDs, which was fine by me-- I can't remember the last time I had a computer with a disc slot anyway. The hardest decision was parting with our record player. However, we only brought it out for special occasions-- such as our home wedding (below), and over long weekends. So, ultimately, we gave the player to a friend. (It would've been tough to use with Sophee and West anyway-- I'm sure they would've toyed with the turning records constantly.)
We have three compact speakers on the property: an older Big Jambox (in white) over the kitchen cabinets in our cottage, a Bose SoundLink behind a plant on the exposed kitchen shelves in the front tiny house, and a tiny portable speaker that we use on the bikes, stroller, and/or while working out in the garden. I like them all, and have discovered that it makes a huge difference in sound quality if we place them in particular spots around the houses where the sound bounces and better fills the rooms.
For those who are in the process of downsizing their audio system, I've rounded up a diverse group of small or portable speakers, including the ones we have here. (I'd love to try that beautiful Stockholm Speaker, but it's on the pricier end of the spectrum. One day!)
Reusable Bags
Reusable shopping bags are everywhere these days. You're given polypropylene totes in checkout lines, you receive canvas slings for swag at events, and many makers and retailers use drawstring sacks when wrapping their online orders. While it's wonderful that we're no longer requiring and disposing of endless plastic bags, it can be a bit tricky for those of us living in a small space to find a practical place to keep the bulkier, reusable totes. Since these items come into play nearly every day, I thought the topic warranted a post. Here's how I deal with reusable bags and food wraps at the Cottage. Below, I've provided information on the styles I love, were I store them, and how I go about giving some away.
I have three groupings of reusable bags at the cottage, and I organize each category differently, based on their sizes and how I use them:
Market Baskets - I use these for the bulky or heavier duty items-- laundry detergent, beverage cans, oversized branches, beach towels, weekender bags, etc. These stay on display via a coatrack, either inside or on the stoop, depending on the weather. I also hang them on the walls as functional decor from time to time.
Canvas / String Shopping Bags - I have these in multiple sizes, and I use them for everyday groceries and errands. Canvas Shopping Bags - I keep these folded up in a wire, wall-mounted bin. Another bundle of bags stays in the car, and we keep a few in the base West's stroller.
Reusable Bee's Wrap + Sacks - I use these as often as possible in lieu of plastic wrap. They're ideal for sandwiches, baguettes, loaves of bread, and for preserving the freshness of almost anything other than meats. I roll these up when they're not in use and place them in a wire mesh vertical file/folder basket mounted magnetically to the side of the fridge. (Such baskets work well affixed to the inside of kitchen cabinet doors, too.)
EXISTING PLASTIC BAGS - Organizing existing plastic bags in easy-to-reach spots requires minimal time and cost if you simply repurpose select household items. For example, you can always recycle a used tissue box or canning jar to keep shopping or pet bags at the ready:
When (and How) to Give Reusable Bags Away - First off, I love the 4 or 6-compartment wine bags from the grocery store. As my mom pointed out, they're a handy way to safely store (and tote) sandals and flats. For this reason, they are usually the only "freebie" bags that I keep.
The SWAG and retail totes never stay in the Cottage for long. The minute they're empty, I challenge myself to load them up with donations, or I use them as gift wrap for outgoing presents. This can be an effortless way to keep track of how much you're bringing into your home, vs how much you're clearing out.
Roundup: My Top 12 Small Space Essentials
I'm commonly asked about my small space living essentials-- what would I recommend to others who are about to downsize, and what can I simply not live without?
The answer, of course, depends on the context. My life with West (our toddler) is so different than it was with just Stanlee and Sophee (our pups). And my life with all three of them is almost unrecognizable to what it was when Adam, Stanlee and I moved into the Cottage years ago. (Similarly, my office and business needs have evolved enormously as well.)
In other words, there's no easy answer. It all depends on what you love, who is sharing your space, and the ways in which you need your home to function. But, for what it's worth, here are my go-to, must-haves, across all categories:
WHAT: DockATot
FOR: Life with a baby
WHY: The DockATot is a portable, affordable, overnight bassinet, changing table, and tummy-time / play mat all rolled into one.
WHAT: Gathre Mats
FOR: Life with a baby, toddler, pets, outdoor adventuring, etc.
WHY: These clever mats are versatile, affordable, and adaptable. (And they only require as much room to store as a blanket.) They come in numerous sizes and colors. For babies, you can toss a small mat over your Dock-a-Tot or changing table, making it easy to clean. For toddlers, you can slide a medium-sized version beneath their high chair. For pets, you can wrap a larger mat around your sofa cushions to keep them clean and wipeable. For picnics, playrooms, and furniture assembly, they are useful temporary ground coverings.
WHAT: This Is Ground (organizational accessories)
FOR: Home-office needs
WHY: Travel accessories are great for everyday use in a small space, and This Is Ground makes my favorite leather gear for folks on-the-go. Swap out a standard workstation for a beautiful, organized, mobile office via these types of brilliantly designed tech accessories.
WHAT: Collapsible Vacuum Cleaner
FOR: Everyone
WHY: You can make room for a full-sized, cordless vacuum in the smallest of homes, as long as the model breaks apart into components. (View the full post on the cottage vacuum cleaner / storage solution here.)
WHAT: Compact Scanner
FOR: Home office needs + everyday decluttering
WHY: Use this portable scanner to keep your business and personal records digitally organized and accessible while eliminating your paper piles and file boxes. (Read more about the scanner here.)
WHAT: Compact air filter with heating and cooling features included
FOR: Everyone
WHY: Clear your home of air pollutants while also heating/cooling multiple rooms via a compact, all-in-one air filter. If you're in a small home or apartment, this handy little unit will most likely service the entire place. The heating and cooling functions might save you from having to buy (and store) fans, space heaters, and even an AC unit. (We got this one when West was born-- we love it, and regret not buying it sooner.)
WHAT: iPad (I know, I know, but hear me out...)
FOR: Everyone
WHY: Most of us have a love/hate relationship with our gadgets. Whether we like it or not, they now hold our record collections, libraries, maps, photo albums, televisions, cameras, address ledgers, games, and so much more. Consider opting for digital versions of items you used to buy or collect in tangible form, when possible.
WHAT: Single-Cup Automatic Coffee Maker
FOR: Everyone
WHY: As romantic and beautiful as pour-over and French press coffee methods are, many people just want a modern, automatic coffee maker. Try a model that requires no pods and no filters, like this single-cup brewer, which is small, uncomplicated, and easy to clean
WHAT: Over-the-burner cutting board
FOR: Everyone
WHY: All small-space dwellers could use a bit of spare counter space. Provide yourself with a few extra surface inches by using an over-the-burner cutting board in your kitchen. (As always, please keep safety in mind.)
WHAT: Roll-up Drying Rack
FOR: Everyone + Life with a baby
WHY: Regardless of whether or not you have a dishwasher, we all need a place to dry kitchen items. Keep your counters uncluttered by using an over-the-sink drying rack that can roll up when not in use. This item is particularly handy when it comes to drying baby bottles and breast pump parts, but it's also ideal for drying standard dishes and plastic bags.
WHAT: S-Hooks
FOR: Everyone
WHY: I can't tell you the number of times a basic S-hook has saved the day in our tiny cottage. Apply an S-hook to turn any grommet, railing, hooked ledge, or dowel into a makeshift spot for drying clothes, hanging accessories, stashing reusable shopping bag, keeping items out of the jaws of pets or hands of kids, and so forth.
WHAT: Vintage Hardware Organizer
FOR: Everyone
WHY: Create a straightforward spot for items such as jewelry, makeup, plugs, batteries, craft materials, and miscellaneous smaller items via a standard hardware organizer. (Pick a tall, shallow design that consumes less space, and can tuck out of sight in a closet or cupboard.) Or consider devising a makeshift organizer yourself by finding unused vessels around your home that can be grouped together and repurposed to hold these odds-and-ends in a unified place and/or manner.
RUNNER UP: Flexi Bath or Inflatable Baths
FOR: Life with a baby / toddler
RUNNER UP: Vertical shoe rack
FOR: Everyone
RUNNER UP: Lightweight hanging mirrors with built-in shelves
FOR: Everyone
WHY: You'd be amazed at what tacking one of these up on any wall can do to brighten and enlarge your space.
Roundup: Ideas for Tiny Corners
Struggling to find a way to make your small space function for all your daily needs? Don't overlook your corners! When outfitted wisely, corners can become highly practical (and beautiful!) spots within your home or office.
An old tv shelf above the cottage bedroom pocket door holds books, plants, tethered musical instruments, and a hanging sculpture.
Your corners can easily become any of the following:
Shoe / coat / bag drop
Source of light (just make sure your lamp shade has a small circumference)
Collapsable (or permanent) table or desk
Changing table
Bassinet or reading nook
Plant collection
Instrument storage + display
Misc. storage hutch
Hanging levels for decor and accessories
Mirrors
Decorative / blanket ladder or valet
Cat perch
Wardrobe Alternative
Bookshelves
Roundup: 5 small ways to start decluttering
Feeling the need to declutter amidst all the holiday layers and gifts? It's easy to get overwhlemed quickly, so start small, tackling one compartmentalized topic/area at a time. Here are five easy ways to get going:
Sewing Kit
Unless you sew on a regular basis, there's probably no need for an entire box of spare buttons, thread, and so forth. A simple jar or pocket-sized tin can most likely contain the basics that most folks need on-hand to repair slight tears and loose hardware.
Hangers
While it clearly helps to reduce the number of items in your wardrobe, don't forget to take a fresh look at the closet itself. Cleverly designed, slender, no-slip hangers can help your clothing last longer, while also freeing up much-needed space on the dowel. (Just round up all those old wire and plastic hangers and recycle them at your local dry cleaner.) If you have children's clothing that needs to be suspended as well, opt for recyclable cardboard hangers, which you can drop in the blue bin once your kids outgrow them.
Receipts
This project takes a bit longer, but it's an easy task to plow through while you chat on the phone, listen to podcasts, or watch a movie. For those of us who don't need to keep physical paper receipts and can use digital copies for our business and personal record-keeping purposes and taxes, a slim, speedy scanner can eliminate binders (or even boxes upon boxes) of old paperwork, freeing up surprising amounts of storage space in the home.
Desk Drawer
It bugs me that most pens and pencils-- along with other miscellaneous office supplies-- are sold in multiples. Why buy (and store) a dozen duplicates of something when you only need two or three? Consider donating your excess office items to a public school, and just rely on the small number of high-quality, beautiful, practical items that you actually need. Eliminate duplicate charging cords if possible as well, and check your local resources to find tech waste recycling options. Try keeping everything easily accessible and well organized via zipper pouches, or in kits primarily designed for travel use.
Cabinet Beneath the Sink
For years I've intended to make my own cleaning supplies in order to save space. But I have to admit that I just never get around to it. I do, however, make sure to manage our bottle build-up, keeping only what we need regularly on-hand. I don't buy in bulk, and I always make sure that we have no more than what can fit into our small upcycled cleaning crate or repurposed garden caddy. This ensures that we actually go through all the products in our home, rather than losing track of what we have and buying duplicates while older bottles expire and go to waste. Go through your cleaning and beauty items and get rid of anything out-of-date or unhealthy. You'll most likely find that you'll be more mindful of your future purchases once you've taken the time to organize your products back at home.
These are small steps, but in a tiny home or apartment they'll make a difference. And just remember to go easy on yourself-- it's the holiday season! Let's spend less time worrying about our stuff, and more time with our families, friends and/or communities.
Simple Holiday Gifting
As I look back at 2017, I'm eager to show gratitude and appreciation to my friends, family, and collaborators for their incredible love and support throughout this year of explosive growth and change. But I find myself more reluctant than ever to gift "things" to my loved ones-- especially since so many of them have expressed the desire to downsize (and the holidays are the primary time of year when decluttering can feel borderline impossible).
My family and I agreed-- no gifts, except a few for West. He's receiving a beautiful handmade set of toys, a bike basket, and some wonderful books in his present sack.
I'll be giving our friends and neighbors freshly baked bread wrapped in reusable linen cloths. In my mind, it's the perfect holiday present: simple, delicious, beautiful, and clutter-free.
I feel as though this year rushed by at a breakneck pace. For me, there's nothing I want more than to lounge around with my husband, son, parents, and pups, enjoying good food and swapping stories instead of presents.
However and whatever you're celebrating this season, Adam and I wish you and yours all the best from our tiny home!
Holiday Decorating
This is our seventh holiday season at the Cottage. In the past, we decorated small but completely-- stockings, a mini tree, pine cones, mixed garlands, snowflakes, figurines, and (of course) all the twinkle lights. But last year, after I removed our Christmas decor, I remember feeling a tremendous sense of relief-- the house felt so much less cluttered. I decided to hold on to that feeling this time around by scrapping the miscellaneous embellishmnets (which we donated), and using what we consider to be the essentials: the stockings, a live tree + garlands, and (of course) all the twinkle lights.
We made one other major change to our holiday routine as well. Instead of aiming for our cozy decor to pull us into the house, we wanted it to encourage us to step outside of our walls, in order to focus more on the people and places around us. (More experiences. Fewer things.) So we put our Christmas tree on the porch, and instead of glittering-up our garden, we decorated a bridge over a canal in our neighborhood.
We required some different lighting in order to make these changes happen safely. For our tree, we needed an indoor/outdoor safe string of lights, and I wanted strands that could glow white OR in color. These dual color option battery-operated string lights from Lights.com did the trick. With West's safety in mind, we tethered the tree to the lattice behind it, and arranged all of our breakable ornaments up top. We used these clever flameless taper candles to adorn branches within his reach, because they look beautiful and he loves to grasp and play with them.
For the bridge, I wanted everything to be as natural as possible. This time of year usually encourages so much more extra waste and disposability, and I really hoped to avoid that by using live plants and garlands, twig-based wreaths, and solar powered twinkle strands, and rechargeable, flameless, battery-operated lanterns. I loaded up the supplies on my bike, and met my friends Heather Tierney (of The Butcher's Daughter) and Sara Toufali (of Black & Blooms) on the canals, where we spent the whole morning chatting about life and brainstorming about business as we wound the lights and greenery around the bridge.
We got to enjoy the gussied-up bride again over the weekend with my friends during the community's holiday boat parade.
For me, THIS Is what the holidays are all about. Less shopping, more connecting + creating. And (of course) all the twinkle lights.
The lights I used for these projects were sponsored by the lovely folks at Lights.com. All opinions + words are my own.
Interior Doors for Compact Spaces
I find that one of the most common and frustrating issues in tight homes and apartments are the interior doors. Despite the unique floor plans of tiny residences, they're often outfitted with standard doors that make zero sense in the setting. But how do you fix the issue of space-consuming hardware if you rent, or if you don't have the budget for an elaborate solution, such as a pocket design?
Above: The Tiny Canal Cottage has 2 interior pocket doors.
In our compact cottage, we're lucky to have two wonderful interior pocket doors, which preserve the functionality of every inch of wall space around them. But when we acquired the neighboring house, we were confronted with three full-size interior doors (within mere feet of one another) that not only ate up usable space, but also crashed into each other (and into one exterior door) whenever one was opened.
Above: The front cottage doors before our updates. There were three interior doors-- plus an exterior door-- all within mere feet of one another. They would crash into each other when opened. (That's my father with Stanlee. I hate those doors, but I love that photo!)
We couldn't open one door without closing another first. After just 24 hours in the house, the issue was already completely maddening. But we are renting that unit, and didn't want to allocate funds toward constructing pocket doors. (And there is definitely no room for barn-style sliding doors, which would render nearby wall space useless.) Still, two of the doors simply had to go.
In the doorway that transitions between the living room + kitchen to the bedroom, we opted to remove the boring, typical door and install a bi-fold door with tempered panes of glass:
This new door makes a huge difference in both functionality and appearance. The glass is lightly frosted, so privacy can be maintained, but the translucent panes let light pass through, keeping the area feeling bright and airy. We painted the door white and replaced its standard door knob with something more fitting for the decor, and the end result is EXACTLY what we wanted. Now the bathroom and bedroom doors no longer hit each other, and every inch surrounding the doorway is now visible and usable. At $490, this bi-fold door is a bit of an investment (there are several inexpensive options, depending on the type of glass you choose), but it's certainly FAR easier and less costly than construction work.
In the bedroom, there's a (weirdly shaped) walk-in closet. It too had a full-sized door, which would crash into the exterior door leading to the porch when either was opened. There's a little window inside the closet, which creates a lovely coastal cross-breeze, but it was always snuffed out by the shut door. So, rather than installing another bi-fold, I decided to swap out the old door for a custom curtain from Luna Zorro:
This curatin adds texture, color and pattern to the small room, and it hides the closet without cutting off the airflow from the window. I love it-- it's a simple, functional, and beautiful handmade piece of art that helps make West's room feel that much more special.
Tiny Tub
This post was sponsored by The Honest Co. (All opinions are 100% my own.)
When Adam and I decided to have a baby, we did so with the plan of staying in our tiny house as-is for years to come. We had no desire to move or expand any time soon. But, at 14 months old, our son suddenly has a little room and full bath of his own. (View my blog post on this unexpected tiny house expansion here.)
Since we’re renting the “new” front cottage, we didn’t want to invest too much money into redesigning it. The bathroom is the perfect example— there are so many things that I would do differently if I could start this room over from scratch, but I decided instead to save that chunk of money for West’s future. Rather than reworking the room, I diverted my energy to carefully choosing the products we will use while in it.
When the previous tenant moved out, he left dozens of bottles behind. As I cleaned out the cabinets in the kitchen and bath, I took time to inspect every item, in case there was something we could use, rather than wastefully tossing it out. But, in the end, I couldn’t keep a single item. I threw out THREE trash bags of partially-used cleaning and personal care products. Some of them came from brands that I know test on animals. Some had ingredients containing potentially questionable chemicals. And frankly, others simply smelled and/or looked completely awful.
As much of a downer as it was to toss/recycle so many products, it was refreshing to stock the space 100% for our son. Now that he’s a toddler, we know what he likes and needs (versus when he was a newborn and we had to figure it out by trial-and-error).
For months, we’ve been using The Honest Co. products exclusively to care for our little one. They’re easy to find (we bike over to our local market to pick up some of our favorites,) and they actually work. Plus their line of products is simple yet extensive. We use everything from their baby multi-surface cleaner, to their “cheek to cheek” wipes, to their shampoo + body wash combo for West, because it’s ACTUALLY tear-free.
One of the biggest joys of expanding in to the neighboring tiny house was that we now have a tub! (The timing couldn’t have been better— Sophee punctured a hole in West’s duck bath the same week we got the keys.) West is super into bubbles, so we’ve been using the lavender-scented hypoallergenic bubble bath. He loves the super-foaming bubbles, and is now even excited by the bottle, because he knows what’s inside.
On a bubble-related side note: we also started making our own non-toxic bubble solution for West’s enjoyment. (I keep it in a travel-size tube so we have it on-hand nearly everywhere.) Directions: Mix 1 cup of warm water with 1 teaspoon of white sugar. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Mix in 1 teaspoon of glycerin. Gently stir in 2 tablespoons of Honest Liquid Dish Soap. Voila!
For me, small space living is all about being practical, mindful, and keeping things simple. This allows me to maintain focus on my family, rather than on my stuff. At the end of the day, there’s nothing more important than keeping Adam, West, the pups, and myself healthy and happy. Using easily-accessible, safe, and beautiful products helps me effortlessly achieve that goal on a daily basis.
Overdue Addition to the Bedroom
This post was sponsored by tulo.
Today I’m focusing on my favorite 60” x 80” of the Cottage: the bed. I’ve always loved so many things about it— its tall height, its headboard windows, its built-in bookshelves and drawers, and its nightstand cut-outs. The one thing I’ve not loved about it (until now) is the actual sleeping surface itself. And that’s because of our old mattress.
When Adam, Stanlee and I moved into the Cottage nearly 7 years ago, it was our first home all together. At the time, I had a Full-sized mattress from my previous apartment, and Adam had a King from his house. Naturally, the Cottage bedroom accommodates the size in between the two— a Queen. I adamantly refused to buy a third mattress. It seemed wasteful when we already had two on-hand, so I insisted on making one work somehow. First, we tried the Full. Obviously, it was too small for the frame, and constantly slid away from us when we climbed in and out of bed. At some point, my mom visited and noticed that I’d stuffed random linens into the gaps between the mattress and the bed to make it work. She kindly told me that I was being ridiculous, and that I should just cut Adam’s basic memory-foam King down to size. To my surprise, it worked with a simple bread knife. But it certainly wasn’t a clean cut. For years, foam flew everywhere whenever we changed the mattress cover.
I’m genuinely embarrassed to admit that, until this month, we STILL had that jagged, hand-cut slab of ugly foam on our bed…
We waited THIS LONG to replace our mattress because, frankly, the process always kind of seemed like a time-consuming pain. (Going to a store and trying out models, paying to have one schlepped to our place, hauling it into our tiny house, and then hoping that it felt juuuuust riiiiight in our bedroom, night after night.) But now that we’re co-sleeping with our 1 year-old son (plus our two year-old beagle, Sophee, insists on sleeping at our feet at night), we simply need a proper mattress.
I was a bit overwhelmed by the numerous “bed in a box” mattress options out there. I knew I wanted to try one, but I also wanted the option of selecting the level of mattress firmness that best suits our sleep style. I also wanted someone drop it off at the Cottage, AND pick it up for exchange if need be.
We decided to try out a tulo, mainly because we could choose between soft, medium or firm mattress models. (We went with medium.) We could’ve visited a Mattress Firm store, but the process of selecting a delivery date and time was so easy that I couldn’t resist just having the mattress dropped of on our doorstep.
Also, their delivery boxes are less wasteful by being mysteriously small for what they contain. Despite knowing that the tulo box was smaller than one would expect, I still cleared a path from the gate to our bedroom for the delivery team. When they arrived and unloaded a single, compact box from their enormous delivery truck full of massive mattresses, I legitimately laughed out-loud and asked them where the rest of our bed was. They pointed to the pink box and claimed it was all right in there.
I struggled to figure out how on earth a Queen-sized mattress was crammed in there. (Turns out it wasn’t crammed at all— apparently tulo uses a unique compression and folding process that doesn’t damage the foam in order to efficiently transport their mattresses.)
It took about 5 painless minutes to get the mattress set up— from unboxing, to unrolling, to cutting off the air-sealed bag around it. It was wild to see such a strong and durable mattress slowly rise from the pancake it was when in its packaging.
The first night we slept on it, I knew we wouldn’t have to exchange it. Our son was sick and had been sleepless and sweating for several nights in a row, but the first night with the tulo he stayed cool (as did we), and caught up on sleep by our side for 12 hours, with only one typical mid-night wakeup. And a happy baby meant a happy mom and dad— we slept better than we had in months.
So, tulo: thank you for this wonderful mattress, and thank you for the decadent level of sleep it has provided us. As new parents and small business owners, we really, really needed this.
For those who are interested in trying a tulo, visit a Mattress Firm store or order online at: www.tulo.com. (You have 120 days to decide whether or not you love it. Hopefully you’ll have the same experience as we did, and fall in love with it immediately.)
