2 couples who have turned vans into tiny homes share how to make a tiny space feel big enough to live in

Joey HaddenOct 24, 2020, 04:05 IST

Sara and Alex James have converted more than a dozen vans into homes.Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

Making the best use of space in a camper van is all about recognizing your priorities from the start.
Sara and Alex James, a couple who converts vans into tiny homes, told Insider that you should go in with three priorities in mind for how to transform the van, like having a bed, a bathroom, and a workspace.
Kara and Nate, who recently bought a converted sprinter van and renovated it for life on the road, told Insider that selecting the right van for their lifestyle was crucial for making the best use of it.
Both couples shared additional recommendations with Insider on how to maximize space for life on the road including prioritizing space for a shower and a convertible bed.

Sara and Alex James have transformed more than a dozen vans into tiny homes since 2017 when they started living in their own self-converted sprinter van.

Sara and Alex James make custom van builds. Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

While they no longer live on the road, they still customize vans, and they have some tips for maximizing a van's limited space.

The couple no longer lives on the road. Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

First, Alex said, it's important to pick the right van for you. To do this, he recommends consulting with a van builder and test driving a lot of vans.

Sara and Alex in their second van build. Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

When selecting and customizing a van, you should have three priorities in mind for how to use the space.

Sara and Alex build custom vans out of Boise, Idaho. Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

For Alex and his wife, Sara, being able to shower and use the restroom in the van without having to set anything up was important.

The couple has several customs builds to choose from. Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

Others might want to find space for their bikes or other large equipment in the van. Some people may need their vehicle to fit dog crates or make room for a family of four.

The family van is built for four people to live and sleep in. Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

Others might want to find space for their bikes or other large equipment in the van. Some people may need their vehicle to fit dog crates or make room for a family of four.

Sara added that your bed and bathroom situations should be the most important factors when it comes to designing the layout.

The couple lived in a van with their dogs. Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

The couple recommends prioritizing having a bed that converts into working and eating space because beds take up a good amount of a van's interior.

A versatile area saves space. Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

New to the van life scene, Kara and Nate Buchanan told Insider they bought a van when the coronavirus pandemic slashed their international travel plans and renovated it to suit their needs.

Kara and Nate Buchanan are based in Tennessee. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

New to the van life scene, Kara and Nate Buchanan told Insider they bought a van when the coronavirus pandemic slashed their international travel plans and renovated it to suit their needs.

When selecting and renovating their van, Nate and Kara prioritized having a work station, a bathroom, and securing their electronics.

This is the couple's first van. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

To accommodate their work station, Kara and Nate bought a van with a convertible bed.

The couple lives and works in the van. Courtesy of

The couple turned the van's closet into a charging safe for their electronics.

Kara and Nate altered their van's interior to better suit their needs. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

They keep their clothes in the cabinets.

Kara and Nate don't have a closet in their van. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

For the bathroom, Kara and Nate put their toilet in the shower, because privacy was important to them. This way, they can use it behind a curtain rather than having a toilet slide out of a drawer in the middle of the van, Nate said.

The toilet lives in the shower. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

For the bathroom, Kara and Nate put their toilet in the shower, because privacy was important to them. This way, they can use it behind a curtain rather than having a toilet slide out of a drawer in the middle of the van, Nate said.

Once you have your essentials squared away, Sara and Alex said that you can work around the leftover space to add additional things.

The interior of one of Sara and Alex's vans. Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

Nate and Kara converted their van's TV nook into a coffee station because they don't watch a lot of television.

Kara and Nate's van includes a coffee corner. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

Sara and Alex warn van builders not to get too creative with their layouts and to know when to let things go. "There's only so many ways you can do things in a van," Alex told Insider.

Alex James working on a custom van build. Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

Sara and Alex warn van builders not to get too creative with their layouts and to know when to let things go. "There's only so many ways you can do things in a van," Alex told Insider.

For example, Sara said her clients often want to include a stovetop in their van, but ultimately they typically decide against it because it takes up necessary counter space.

Sara added that you're probably not going to cook as much as you think you are. Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

For example, Sara said her clients often want to include a stovetop in their van, but ultimately they typically decide against it because it takes up necessary counter space.

The most important thing about laying out a camper van is ensuring that it's functional for your lifestyle, she told Insider.

Sara and Alex in one of their custom builds. Courtesy of Sara and Alex James

6 wedding trends that will start to disappear by 2021, and 9 you'll see everywhere

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

2 couples who have turned vans into tiny homes share how to make a tiny space feel big enough to live in

Sara and Alex James have transformed more than a dozen vans into tiny homes since 2017 when they started living in their own self-converted sprinter van.

While they no longer live on the road, they still customize vans, and they have some tips for maximizing a van's limited space.

First, Alex said, it's important to pick the right van for you. To do this, he recommends consulting with a van builder and test driving a lot of vans.

When selecting and customizing a van, you should have three priorities in mind for how to use the space.

For Alex and his wife, Sara, being able to shower and use the restroom in the van without having to set anything up was important.

Others might want to find space for their bikes or other large equipment in the van. Some people may need their vehicle to fit dog crates or make room for a family of four.

Sara added that your bed and bathroom situations should be the most important factors when it comes to designing the layout.

The couple recommends prioritizing having a bed that converts into working and eating space because beds take up a good amount of a van's interior.

New to the van life scene, Kara and Nate Buchanan told Insider they bought a van when the coronavirus pandemic slashed their international travel plans and renovated it to suit their needs.

When selecting and renovating their van, Nate and Kara prioritized having a work station, a bathroom, and securing their electronics.

To accommodate their work station, Kara and Nate bought a van with a convertible bed.

The couple turned the van's closet into a charging safe for their electronics.

They keep their clothes in the cabinets.

For the bathroom, Kara and Nate put their toilet in the shower, because privacy was important to them. This way, they can use it behind a curtain rather than having a toilet slide out of a drawer in the middle of the van, Nate said.

Once you have your essentials squared away, Sara and Alex said that you can work around the leftover space to add additional things.

Nate and Kara converted their van's TV nook into a coffee station because they don't watch a lot of television.

Sara and Alex warn van builders not to get too creative with their layouts and to know when to let things go. "There's only so many ways you can do things in a van," Alex told Insider.

For example, Sara said her clients often want to include a stovetop in their van, but ultimately they typically decide against it because it takes up necessary counter space.

The most important thing about laying out a camper van is ensuring that it's functional for your lifestyle, she told Insider.