Life in a mobile home
Who are you? 👪
My name is Caroline, I am 31 years old and a preschool teacher. I am currently on parental leave with our three-month-old first child. My husband Emanuel is 30 years old and an engineer. We live in a small village in Dalarna, in our mobile tiny home.
Emanuel and I met more than ten years ago, and we have been exploring different ways of living ever since. After a few months of dating, we went to Australia, bought a Ford Falcon, lived in it and travelled around for three months – and that is where the idea began. After spending three months in the Swedish mountains, living in tents, we decided that we wanted to invest in a simple and small home.
Life in a tiny home 🏡
We wanted a home that adapts to us and our lifestyle. A home that serves as a base to start from, and that can be left as it is during winter without the risk of freezing. Another important reason behind our decision to build a tiny home was the desire to live in a more environmentally friendly way and without a large loan.
After considering different options, such as living on a sailing boat or in a van, we eventually decided on a tiny home – a small house on wheels. Emanuel first built a model using Lego and designed the house in a computer program, after which we started building.
Right from the beginning, we decided to use as many natural materials as possible. The house is built mainly from wood and insulated with cellulose fibre. The pine floors have been treated with linseed oil, and the exterior cladding has been painted with Roslagsmahogny.
How did you choose a toilet for your tiny home? 🚽
If there is one thing that should be challenged, it is today’s flush toilets.
It is truly absurd that we use drinking water to flush away human waste.
We wanted something different and decided on a urine-diverting toilet. When handled correctly, toilet waste can be put to good use, for example as fertiliser for plants. Separett Villa met our criteria – the toilet has a 12 V fan and uses very little energy.
We have been using the toilet for about eight months and have been very satisfied. There are no unpleasant odours, and emptying is easy thanks to the containers with lids and bio bags.
As a small side note, we know a couple who have used a Villa toilet in their regular home for more than 20 years and are still satisfied.
When building a home entirely from scratch, there is room for creativity. In our experience, young children enjoy being close to their parents, and we see no obstacle to family life in a small space.
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Many thanks for letting us share your story 💙