I live with my cat in a 388-square-foot tiny home in a national forest. Here's what it's really like.

• I live in a tiny home that is 388 square feet.

• My house has a lot of windows and a deck that makes it feel bigger and brighter.

• I put a cutting board on top of my stove to get more counter space.

I moved from Minnesota to Southern California to live in a small house.

I'm excited to be in my new space after a couple of years of preparation.

The lifestyle of living tiny is rewarding. I can prioritize what's important to me because I have what I need. Living small helps me to be a responsible steward of our planet.

Escape is a Wisconsin based company that builds tiny spaces. The ONE XL model is under 400 square feet and has real stairs leading up to the bedroom loft.

Here's how it works for me.

There is a lot of light in my living room.

I have a couch that can be used as a bed for guests in this room.

I like the fact that the windows make the space seem bigger. It's easy for me to enjoy the views of the natural world from the windows of my tiny home in a national forest.

I put a cart in my kitchen because it's small.

Losing out on kitchen-counter and cupboard space was one of the reasons I didn't have my own washer and dryer.

The lack of room in the kitchen led me to purchase a cart to hold my dishes and counter space.

My stove has a board on top of it.

The cutting board my parents gave me gives me more counter space.

I rarely use my stove since I don't cook much. The space in the kitchen was not enough to fit the washer and dryer.

I love my bathroom in the house.

I think my space is more comfortable because my bathroom is bigger. I like the full-sized shower and tub because it has a lot of cupboard space.

The bedroom loft is great.

I climb the stairs to the loft. The space is small and can fit a queen-sized bed on its frame, a drawer and a closet.

I have a clothing rack.

Since I don't have a real closet, I got a garment rack and donated 15 bags of clothing to make room for the rest.

I have too many to fit in the space that I have.

My second loft is used for storing things.

The second loft is accessible by a ladder. It's used to store winter gear and other random items. This is where I wash my laundry.

The home is made of artwork.

Over the years, I have acquired a lot of artwork.

It was difficult to decide which pieces to take with me and which to leave at my parents' house.

The pieces I hung all have sentimental value because I left more artwork than I brought with me.

I was worried that my cat wouldn't like small living, but it's been great for us both.

I was worried about my cat adjusting to our new space in a tiny home. It is a huge relief to know that she is content here.

She loves watching the world from the windows in our home. She can look out the window while she eats.

She follows the sun and spends more time on my bed than anywhere else.

My dad made a small deck for me.

I wanted to get some outdoor space so I made sure my home had lots of windows.

My dad designed and built a small deck for my new home while my parents helped me move.

My small space feels more personalized and homey thanks to little touches like these.

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