Tour My Cozy Minimalist Home
FAQs, Small Space Tips & Links to My Favorite Items
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Curious about how our family lives in under 1,200 square feet? Welcome to our cozy, minimalist house tour! While small by American standards (the average US home is 2500 square feet), having less space provides us with more time, energy, and freedom with less clutter to manage. Plus, we’re always ready to welcome guests, take off on a trip, and even rent or swap our home with others. Here's a full tour of our space-saving tricks and most-asked-about items. All photography by Vivian Johnson.
Home Overview
Style: Craftsman bungalow, built in 1916
Size: 1,200 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths
Paint Colors: Nimbus, Light Pewter, Vapor Trails, and Snowfall White.
Since we bought our home in 2013, we’ve optimized it to fit our family’s needs with thoughtful storage and design. Keep reading to see how we’ve made the most out of every square inch.
The Entry
Our front door opens directly into the living room, so I designed a custom cabinet right as you walk in for shoes, coats, and bags. In the winter there is enough room for each of us to hang one coat, and wet boots stay outside on our covered porch. An oversized basket stores our kids’ shoes, and a hanging bag keeps our market totes handy and the dog’s leash at arm’s reach.
Living Room
This small room doubles as a pass-through but still works for hosting, reading, lounging, and movie nights. We chose a sectional that hides dirt, and a boucle swivel chair, and hand-knotted wool rug, to make the space feel cozy.
Dining Room
Our hardest-working room! We use it daily for family meals, but it’s also where we host (cozy) dinner parties, where I write, see clients, and work, and where the kids do homework, art projects, and eat endless snacks.
The built-in cabinets serve as discreet storage for liquor and barware, platters, vases, napkins, candles, art supplies, organizing supplies, work and reference materials, and our tiny portable printer!
Kitchen
The very moment we bought our home I replaced the black and green granite with budget-friendly white subway tile, removed the cabinet doors, and painted everything bright white. I found the vintage Turkish runner on Etsy.
The other side of the kitchen houses our food pantry (labeled glass jars from my friend Blisshaus) our stackable washer dryer and the world’s smallest bathroom. The stairs lead down to our tiny and terrifying unfinished basement that I avoid at all costs. It stores our memento bins, tax documents, and house paint only.
This little nook perfectly fit our spice jar rack, and we use the two-tier organizer for cooking oil, salt, pepper, and herbs to have easy access while cooking.
Primary Bedroom
Our upstairs floor has three modestly sized bedrooms, a linen closet, and a bathroom. I am a big believer in reducing clutter and distraction in the bedrooms so they are conducive to relaxing, reading, and sleeping. That being said we live for cozy movies in bed, so I broke down and installed a flat screen a few years ago.
Shared Closet
Jordan and I share a 3x6-foot closet which forces us to pare down to the essentials. Our space maximizing closet system was designed and installed by California Closets with our mutual love of shoes in mind. Slim vertical shelving enable us to store up to twelve pairs each. In addition we share one six-drawer dresser which we use for socks, underwear, lounge and athletic wear.
Instead of feeling cramped, or space challenged, we are both thrilled with how perfectly everything fits, and how streamlined our space looks. Sometimes we just hang out in our closet for fun. Kidding, it’s way too small for that, but we would if we could!
Linen Closet
In addition to sheets and towels, our linen closet stores all of our personal care products, first aid box, seasonal accessories (hats, gloves, swimsuits, etc.) as well this set of woven baskets we use as our laundry hampers.
Bathroom
One tiny bathroom for two adults and two teenage girls? We are making it work! Our two-drawer vanity stores only the everyday essentials - toothbrushes, toothpaste, face wash, q-tips and cotton rounds, toilet paper, and a handful of back-up products.
Inspired by hotel living, we keep comunal pump dispensers stocked with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in our shower for all to share. Obsessed with this minimalist product line. Full disclosure: the girls have recently added a wild array of candy cane and mango-scented body scrubs as well as a cluster of (potentially toxic?) bath bombs. I’m told I need to release control. Onwards!
Now that my girls are teenagers, their rooms feel too personal to share (both of their walls are plastered with photos of their friends), but here are some photos from a few years ago (before the revolt) to wrap up the house tour. Emilie’s room (below) was a former sun porch (sans closet) and just fits a small bed and dresser.
Chloe’s room is a bit larger and fits a queen sized bed, nightstand, and dresser. Hand-woven rug was a steal via Etsy. Bedding was a splurge from Vintage Rug Shop and Erica Tanov. She also has a large-ish closet that we use for stowing all of our suitcases, family mementos, and long-hanging coats and dresses. As you can imagine, she’s so excited to be sharing with us!
You made it to the end - thanks for visiting! I hope you came away with some fresh ideas for your own home, and feel free to ask me any specific questions in the comments.
Movie Rec: Didi was shot in the San Francisco Bay Area using primarily first time local actors. The film perfectly encapsulates the complexities of being a teenager and growing up online. Highly recommend.
The Only Sweatshirt You Need: My super chic friend, designer Amanda Cercone sent me this rec, and I can happily report that the search is over for the softest, coziest, gray sweatshirt. Even better news? It’s on sale for $29.
House Tour Links: I’ve rounded up links to my favorite home furnishings and accessories for you all in one place. Click here.
Work With Me 1:1: No-fluff strategy and support to help you tackle your large and small goals. Get support here
“I told my husband this is the best investment I ever made! LIFE CHANGING- you are a LIFE CHANGER!! - Theresa Palmer, A Palmer in California
Curated Product Recs: My fewer, better faves for your home, life, and wardrobe. To the recs
Get the Books: Actionable strategies to clear clutter, get organized, & elevate your home and life. To the books
Pre-order LifeStyled now from your favorite bookshop! bookshop | target | amazon | barnes and noble | signed copies - so grateful for your support!
Hi Shira,
Thanks for the house tour, it makes me smile to see everything so perfectly organized! I love it! So beautiful! I do have a question that has been on my mind since I read your first book. When you wear your shoes outside, and then put them back in your beautiful closet, how do you clean the bottoms so your closet shelves don't get ruined? I know this sounds crazy to ask, but I live in Toronto and we have messy, snowy, rainy weather a lot and I want to keep my California Closet shelves in perfect condition.
Fun to see! Thanks for sharing. Are there no piles of school papers, permission slips and soccer and dance shoes?