How do couples live in tiny homes without killing each other?

[TheDynasty]

Most couples I know wouldn’t consider sharing a studio apartment. When my partner and I decided to move in together, we weighed the options of my centrally located studio versus his slightly distant one-bedroom. We ultimately decided on the latter, thinking that the lack of walls and personal space would be a dealbreaker.

Other cohabiting city couples have similar concerns. “What if we’re in a fight? What if you get food poisoning?!” They find comfort in having a wall.

But then, Instagram and Pinterest are full of the dreamy depictions of happy couples who — by choice! — live in quirky dwellings gone miniature: house boats, #vanlife and tiny houses. In particular, the tiny-house movement has stretched its legs since its initial boom. Not just for HGTV-happy hipsters anymore, couples and families who have made these tight quarters work.

So what can the intimacy-fearing and space-obsessed learn from couples who embrace a tiny-house lifestyle? I wasn’t sure. So I asked some.

You lose private space, material possessions, separate bathrooms and full-size appliances. But what do you gain?

For the most part, the tiny-house owners I spoke to found that the financial freedom they found from moving into smaller quarters directly benefited their relationships. And for the lack of sectioned space and stairways, they seemed pretty happy.

“I really think the biggest thing is that we’ve found that we’ve been able to have a balance, of that time of alone and together,” said Emily Gerde, 32, who lives in a 325-square-foot home with her husband, Justin, 32, their 3-year-old son, a dog and four cats. About a year ago, the family traded a four-bedroom home for their tiny house in southern Minnesota. In return, they now have more time to spend with each other rather than spending it on cleaning and maintaining their larger home.

for more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...651ea2 3ff15a

[Rochard]

It's easy - don't fight.

My wife and I have been together about twenty-five years. We don't fight. We've had one fight, July 2nd 2006. We don't always agree with each other but we support each other.

It's pretty simple really.

[bronco67]

Originally Posted by Rochard

It's easy - don't fight.

My wife and I have been together about twenty-five years. We don't fight. We've had one fight, July 2nd 2006. We don't always agree with each other but we support each other.

It's pretty simple really.

Same here.

My wife and I could spend a weekend trapped in a phone booth and have a great time. If a couple gets friction so easily when left alone together, maybe they should figure out if they're with the right person. It shouldn't be hard work.

[NatalieK]

here, some advice for you TheDynasty

How Not to Argue | HuffPost


oh & nice home

[kane]

Two adults, a 3-year-old kid, and four animals in that tiny place? I have a feeling in about a year that house will be on the market and they will be at each other's throats.

It's easy to say "don't fight" with your significant other when you have your own space and can at least go into another room. Here, short of going outside, there will be nowhere you can go where there isn't someone within arm's length of you.

It think I could live in one of those places by myself, but no way I could do it with another person let alone two more people and 4 animals.

[crockett]

Originally Posted by kane

Two adults, a 3-year-old kid, and four animals in that tiny place? I have a feeling in about a year that house will be on the market and they will be at each other's throats.

It's easy to say "don't fight" with your significant other when you have your own space and can at least go into another room. Here, short of going outside, there will be nowhere you can go where there isn't someone within arm's length of you.

It think I could live in one of those places by myself, but no way I could do it with another person let alone two more people and 4 animals.

Do you realize in some cultures entire generations of families live in the same house. Often it's only one room. In Tokyo some people live in little bed platforms in shared rooms with a sliding door for privacy..

[kane]

Originally Posted by crockett

Do you realize in some cultures entire generations of families live in the same house. Often it's only one room. In Tokyo some people live in little bed platforms in shared rooms with a sliding door for privacy..

And I feel sorry for them all.

[Paul Markham]

It's called love.

[pimpmaster9000]

Housing racket...

[Look Chang]

I love the concept and the aesthetic of tiny houses but I would be unable to live in such a small space

[Look Chang]

Originally Posted by crockett

This is what Japanese call a Capsule Hotel.

[yuu.design]

mmm, having sex the whole day ?