Sarah Zoellner
07/15/2026, 10:26
Time for yourself, just closing the door behind you, peace and quiet – difficult when you live in a small space. These three couples decided to do it anyway.
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Living together in a small space for a few days while on vacation sounds appealing to many people. But for ten years? Imke Liebau And Tobias Chluchnikboth 33 years old, did just that. They met in Australia in 2015 while being tourists. They have been together ever since. Travel. They visited five continents in various home-built campers, and also traveled through Asia, Central America, Australia, Canada and many European countries. Approximately six square meters.
“Not financially rich, but rich in experience and impressions.”
“Perhaps the decisive role is that we know why we are doing it,” concludes Tobias. “The freedom to travel, meet other people and experience countries and cultures simply inspires us. Plus an independent life.” Imke adds: “We are not rich financially, but we are rich in experience and impressions.”
Sasha and Iris Previously lived in an area of more than 200 square meters and lived in a tiny house for seven years.
© Private
Step by step we have each other Sasha Weisel56 and Iris PrzybilleThe 40-year-old woman approached her life in a small space. They’ve been living in the same place for two years now. Small house with an area of 40 square meters near Karlsruhe. “Ten years ago it was unpredictable,” recalls Sasha. “We had a big house, about 220 square meters, and a lot of things. We worked all day long to finance it all. We were basically in a rat race.”
Then there was a brutal breakup in 2019: Sasha and Iris sold their house, quit their jobs and traveled around Europe. They were like Imke and Tobias for about four years. traveling in campers and motorhomes. Insight: “We don’t really need much to be truly happy.” It created a desire to stay forever small room live.
Also Julia-Janine Bressem30 years old, social media manager on maternity leave, and her husband MaxThe 31-year-old lived with his two children in just 58 square meters in Braunschweig for seven years. Initially, this was not planned: they lived together in a three-room apartment until 2021. She then had a four-year-old son and a second child about a year ago. The small apartment remained, initially for reasons of economy.
Julia Janine and Max All the children are happy in their small apartment. More information on Instagram: @julia_janine.
© Private
How to live in a small space?
Three times life in a small space. What’s the recipe to make this work? “Accepting life as it comes and placing less importance on material wealth than on the treasure of experience. This is what unites us,” say Imke and Tobias. “We are both independent, eating, sleeping and working while traveling in a van, just like other people at home,” says Tobias. “Sometimes we sit at the laptop from morning to evening. But we can also close it spontaneously and go swimming in a beautiful place.”
Sasha and Iris also value theirs Freedom: “Our tiny house is energy self-sufficient and has low operating costs,” says Sasha. “This leaves more money and time for the things that really make us happy.” Iris adds: “It’s great that living in a tiny house creates so much more intimacy between us. In our big house, we sometimes didn’t see each other for half a day. Here we automatically start talking again and again.”
“In fact, we don’t need much to be truly happy.”
“Friends who come to visit us are often surprised at how generous it all seems,” Sasha emphasizes. There are three rooms on two floors: a bedroom, an office on the ground floor, closed by a door, a living-dining room with kitchen on the ground floor and a small bathroom. Furniture offers hidden storage space or can be used in a variety of ways. “We’re very careful,” laughs Iris. “There’s no other way to do it in such a small space.” Of course this requires Willingness to compromise.
Small but beautiful: Tiny house from the inside.
© Private
Julia-Janine, Max and their two children also need them in everyday life. “You also get closer in a figurative sense. Of course it’s difficult sometimes, but in the long run it’s good for us as a couple. Our apartment also gives us freedom simply because it means we have to buy fewer things and also have fewer expenses. As a result, our lives become more carefree.”
Each of the three rooms has several functions: The living room is also a work area and play area for children. Everyone sleeps together in the bedroom, but it also serves as a sanctuary during the day. A small balcony in summer is a kind of fourth room.
But this is impossible with such proximity. Points of conflict? “We give each other time, allowing each of us to exercise alone or do something with friends,” Julia-Janine reports. Max adds: “That way we don’t feel like we’re living too close to each other.” They both also enjoy their now fairly minimalist lifestyle. “Every thing in our home has its place, and what we don’t need we regularly borrow or lend to others.”
“As for the order, at first we had disagreements,” Sasha admits. “But now we are a well-coordinated team. Everyone has their own tasks and directions.” What if there is an explosion? “I usually walk with our dog Angel,” explains Iris. “Sasha tends to zone out while watching TV. Because of course, when you really fight, you can’t avoid each other. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen often here.”
Not suitable for everyone
Imke and Tobias in their converted camper.
© Imke Liebau and Tobias Chluchnik
Camper Couple Imke and Tobias agree that his life is not for everyone. “Tasks such as filling water and draining drains, finding a suitable place to sleep or washing clothes sometimes take entire days. Besides, being sick on the road is not exactly fun. Honestly, in moments like these, something is missing. Safety– Imke sums up. “And if the car breaks down and has to be repaired, you essentially lose your house.” And despite all your independence, you, of course, depend on the appropriate infrastructure and the help of others.”
Iris and Sasha love to be around people since birth. Tiny House life. “We spend a lot of time outdoors, which naturally creates opportunities to connect with other tiny home owners who share the same property as us. Last but not least, our friends now visit us more often than before. Many people find our lifestyle fascinating. But they do not dare to take this step themselves. Perhaps in retirement – that’s what many say.”
“I can’t afford a life like yours: we hear about this often,” Sasha reports. “But it’s not that expensive. Of course, our house in its current form costs a lot of money, only about 250,000 euros. But our living expenses are also much lower. The way we live today, we have less space but much more freedom – and therefore a lot more Quality of life. We wouldn’t know if we just didn’t try.”
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