Advertisement

I spent 2 nights at a 2-story, 100-square-foot tiny home in Germany that was smaller than any I've seen in the US. Take a look inside.

Insider's reporter stayed at a tiny home hotel in Germany and was amazed at how well it used a small space.
Insider's reporter stayed at a tiny home hotel in Germany and was impressed by it's smart use of the 100-square-foot space.Joey Hadden/Insider
  • I stayed in a European tiny home I found on Airbnb for the first time during a trip to Germany.

  • The 106-square-foot home made smarter use of space than any tiny home I've seen in the US.

  • It had a unique cylindrical shape and was less than half the size of the US tiny homes I've booked.

As a renter of a 500-square-foot NYC apartment, I'm intrigued by tiny homes because they tend to make good use of a small space.

Four photos show the author's Brooklyn apartment
Inside the author's apartment in NYC.Joey Hadden/Insider

Read more: I'm a drummer living in a tiny New York City apartment. Here's how I fit 2 adults, 1 dog, and a drum kit in my 500-square-foot apartment.

I've stayed in tiny Airbnbs from Miami to Baltimore, and even toured a tiny home village in Austin to check out it's space-saving hacks.

A tiny home village in Austin (L). The author outside of a tiny home Airbnb in Miami (R).
A tiny home village in Austin in 2021 (L). The author outside of a tiny home Airbnb in Miami in 2021(R).Joey Hadden/Insider

Read more: I visited a tiny home village in Texas where 100 people live in 399-square-foot homes. Here's what it's like.

But to me, none of those homes used the indoor space as smartly as a tiny home in Germany I found on Airbnb.

The author inside (L) and outside (R) of the tiny home.
The author inside (L) and outside (R) of the tiny home in Germany in 2022.Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Airbnb

 

When looking for tiny accommodations in Germany, I thought this one had a unique, cylindrical shape that packed a lot inside, so I booked it for two nights for $140.

Tiny home vibe shots
Snapshots inside the German tiny home.Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Airbnb

Located in Neustrelitz, Germany, it's a part of a tiny home hotel called Slube, which designs minimal, concrete "Slubes" for up to two people, according to their website.

Tiny home accommodations at the hotel.
Tiny home accommodations at the hotel.Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Slube

There are three types of Slubes: Basic, which is one story, Home, which is two stories, and Tower, which adds a rooftop terrace.

Tiny home accommodations at the hotel.
A Tower Slube on the hotel property.Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Slube

I booked a Home Slube. The website states that it's 16 feet tall with two floors totaling 106 square feet, making it less than half the size of any tiny home I'd stayed in before.

The author's accommodation at the hotel.
The author's accommodation at the hotel.Joey Hadden/Insider

Source: Slube

Read more: I spent 2 nights in a 250-square-foot tiny home that's half the size of my NYC apartment, and now I think I could live in one

 

When I arrived by train from the airport in Berlin, there didn't seem to be any employees on the property. But an email from Slube informed me I'd be staying in room five and could check in by myself.

The tiny home hotel in Germany.
A wide view of the tiny home hotel in Germany.Joey Hadden/Insider

Read more: I spent 48 hours in Berlin and found an unexpected urban oasis of greenery and art. Take a look around these pockets of the city.

I checked in with a code sent to my phone, so I didn't have to keep track of a key during my stay.

The author in front of her slube with a seemless check-in process.
The author in front of her Slube with a seamless check-in process.Joey Hadden/Insider

Read more: I stayed in 5-star luxury hotels around the world for the first time and 10 things surprised me, from welcome gifts to pillow menus

Inside, the 53-square-foot bottom level packed in a sitting area, a bathroom, and a ladder to the second floor.

The first floor of the tiny home.
The first floor of the tiny home.Joey Hadden/Insider

In the sitting area, there was a table that folded in to save space when not in use.

The table shown folded in (L) and out (R).
The table shown folded in (L) and out (R).Joey Hadden/Insider

Read more: 12 space-saving hacks I picked up from staying in a 250-square-foot tiny home

Across from the pull-out table was a bench with two seat cushions, which felt to me like a tiny-space alternative for a couch.

Seat cushions on the bench.
Seat cushions on the bench.Joey Hadden/Insider

Beneath the benches, it looked like there was enough space for me to store my luggage.

Storage space underneath the benches.
Storage space underneath the benches.Joey Hadden/Insider

With hooks and storage cubbies above the bench as well, I thought this tiny home utilized more vertical space than those I've seen in the US.

The author's coats hang in the Airbnb.
The author's coats hanging in the Airbnb.Joey Hadden/Insider

In the back right corner of the room, built-in shelves created a nook storing a small coffee machine, a hair dryer, and a few dishes.

The coffee corner on the first floor.
The coffee corner on the first floor.Joey Hadden/Insider

To the right of the living area, I thought the bathroom felt efficiently designed with a curtain separating the shower head and sink from the toilet and storage space.

The bathroom inside the tiny home.
The bathroom inside the tiny home.Joey Hadden/Insider

Read more: A professional cleaner reveals the dirtiest thing in your bathroom isn't the toilet — it's the bath mat

 

The windows on the first floor had a film over most of the glass, which allowed me to let natural light in without sacrificing my privacy.

Windows in the tiny home.
Windows in the tiny home.Joey Hadden/Insider

After checking out the first level, I headed up the ladder to the bedroom. I thought it was easy to climb, but could be challenging for some.

A view from the top of the ladder.
A view from the top of the ladder.Joey Hadden/Insider

There was a latched gate at the top of the ladder, which I imagine was built to keep people safe from falling.

The lock on the gate at the top of the ladder.
The lock on the gate at the top of the ladder.Joey Hadden/Insider

The bedroom was the same size as the living space and bathroom combined — 53 square feet.

A peak inside the bedroom.
A peak inside the bedroom.Joey Hadden/Insider

On the floor was a full-size bed I found comfortable. I thought the pillows had the ideal ratio of fluff to firmness for my neck and head.

The author lies in bed in the tiny home.
The author lies in bed in the tiny home.Joey Hadden/Insider

Above the bed, a TV equipped with Netflix and other streaming services was mounted on the wall.

The tv in the tiny home's bedroom.
The TV in the tiny home's bedroom.Joey Hadden/Insider

On the far side of the bed was a lower platform I used as a nightstand. It had easily accessible outlets, a pocket for the TV remote, and more space for my electronics and water bottle.

Outlets by the bed in the tiny home.
Outlets by the bed in the tiny home.Joey Hadden/Insider

Above the bed, a large window opened so I could let the breeze into my room. It had a black-out curtain for privacy.

A view out the bedroom window.
A view out the bedroom window.Joey Hadden/Insider

The Slube also had smart electricity that made my stay feel a little luxurious. I controlled the lights and temperature of each story from my phone.

Smart controls on the author's phone.
Smart controls on the author's phone.Joey Hadden/Insider

I found it fascinating that this tiny home truly left no space unused, from the loft bed to the wall cubbies.

The author in the bedroom.
The author in the tiny home bedroom.Joey Hadden/Insider

While I can't stick a second story into my own rental, the European tiny home still gave me inspiration for how I could make better use of my space, starting with vertical storage hacks.

Inside the tiny home (L). The author ponders vertical storage options in her apartment (R).
Inside the tiny home (L). The author ponders vertical storage options in her apartment (R).Joey Hadden/Insider

Read the original article on Insider