2 couples who have turned vans into tiny homes share how to make a tiny space feel big enough to live in
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Joey HaddenOct 24, 2020, 04:05 IST
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The most important thing about laying out a camper van is ensuring that it's functional for your lifestyle, she told Insider.