She traded her larger home for simpler, more affordable life and chose smallest tiny home model

Colleen has found her “happy place” in a 394 sq. ft. tiny house in a welcoming Florida community designed for people looking to downsize.

Originally from Connecticut, she moved three years ago, trading her larger West Hartford home for a simpler and more affordable lifestyle.

“It’s a little less than half the size of my house that I moved from in West Hartford, Connecticut,” she says.

A cozy and functional living room in Colleen’s ‘happy place’

Despite its small size, Colleen’s living room feels open and inviting. High ceilings and an open floor plan connecting the living area to the kitchen create a sense of space.

She brought most of her furniture from her previous home, adding an electric fireplace for extra warmth and ambiance.

Colleen spends much of her time in this space, relaxing on the couch, watching TV, or starting her morning at the kitchen stools.

“This space here, my living room area, I am in here all the time because I love that feeling of being like cozy,” she shares.

Unlike in her old home, where she often gravitated toward smaller rooms, she now enjoys a living room that is functional and fully used daily.

Staircase and loft’s smart storage solution

Adjacent to the living room, a unique staircase leads to the loft. Colleen calls it a “statter,” a mix between stairs and a ladder.

She has turned the area beneath the staircase into functional storage to maximize space.

“Every spot has to function in a tiny house, and this does,” she explains.

The loft serves primarily as a sleeping space for visiting family and adds visual appeal to the home.

“Aesthetically, I love having the loft. It adds some kind of a really neat look when you come in,” she says.

Given the low ceiling, the loft remains simple, with just a mattress on the floor.

The functional and efficient kitchen inside Colleen’s ‘happy place’

Colleen’s kitchen blends seamlessly with the living area. Though compact, it meets her needs.

“It’s small, very small, but it works for me,” she says.

She primarily uses a microwave and toaster oven, keeping her cooking routine simple.

Storage was a priority in her kitchen design.

“As you can see, I have a lot of cabinets here,” she notes.

The space accommodates everyday essentials and less frequently used items like a heating pad, iron, and extra paper goods.

She opted for a small refrigerator and a compact washer/dryer unit to save space.

She chose a smaller-sized refrigerator to create extra storage space. Without a dishwasher or garbage disposal, her kitchen remains practical while keeping a minimalist design.

Financial considerations and community living

Colleen purchased her tiny home about three and a half years ago, selecting the smallest model available—394 square feet—priced at $131,000.

As a retiree, affordability was a key factor in her decision.

“It was the smallest one they offered, and it was $131,000, which was a very big factor for me because I’m retired now,” she explains.

In addition to the home purchase, she pays a lot rent, which she believes offers great value.

“I bought the tiny home outright, but in that lot rent, I get a lot of bang for the buck,” she says.

The fee covers yard maintenance, Wi-Fi, cable, water, and access to community amenities, with electricity as her only expense.

“It’s simplified and cheap,” she adds.

The community provides a vibrant social environment with amenities like a gym, pool, yoga classes, and creative activities like painting classes, trivia nights, and themed parties.

“To me, it’s a no-brainer,” Colleen says, appreciating her community’s sense of connection and convenience.

Bathroom, alcove, and bedroom inside Colleen’s ‘happy place’

Despite living in a tiny house, Colleen’s bathroom feels surprisingly spacious.

“Although this is a tiny house and we’re in the bathroom, it’s actually not much smaller than when I was in my regular house in West Hartford,” she says.

It includes a full-size shower with seating, ample storage, and space for her cat’s litter box.

“This, to me, functions pretty well,” she adds.

One of Colleen’s favorite spots inside her home is what she calls “the alcove.” Found in only four homes in the community, each homeowner uniquely uses this space.

For Colleen, it houses a baker’s rack filled with sentimental items.

“All the things around me on the walls have a story, and they make me happy every time I walk by them,” she shares.

The alcove also holds her cats’ food and a laundry hamper, maximizing its functionality.

At the back of the house, the bedroom offers a cozy retreat. Though compact, it is designed to be both comfortable and functional.

It includes a double bed, a small table for makeup and charging devices, and built-in storage with barn doors concealing the closet and dresser.

“I come here at the end of the day, turn my TV on—it’s this little comfy, cozy area,” she says.

Though much smaller than her former bedroom, she finds it far more comfortable and efficient.

The front porch

Colleen’s favorite feature of her home is the front porch.

“We have come all the way through the house, and now we’re out onto the front porch, and I have to say—this is my happy place,” she says.

She spends most mornings drinking coffee and reading outside while her cats enjoy the fresh air.

Weather permitting, she keeps her doors open all day to enjoy the openness of her surroundings.

“I love the feeling of the fresh air and just the whole openness of this,” she explains.

The porch also offers a view of a nearby lake, and Colleen enjoys greeting neighbors as they pass by.

“I look out across, I see my little lake over there, neighbors come by walking their dogs, you greet them—it’s just a really cool spot,” she says.

Colleen has always been drawn to a minimalist lifestyle, preferring simplicity over excess. She never needed a large house, multiple rooms, or luxury cars.

Her interest in downsizing led her to the Simple Life community, which she discovered through an online mailing list.

Impressed by the options available, she made her purchase over the phone without hesitation.

“I picked this house, bought it over the phone—which probably sounds bizarre—but it’s absolutely true, and I’ve never looked back or regretted it,” she says.

For Colleen, downsizing was not about sacrifice but finding comfort, simplicity, and community. Her tiny home is not just a place to live—it’s her “happy place.”

Tour Colleen’s “happy place” by watching the video below:

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