Dealing with Living in (very) Small Spaces

Happy faces in small spaces!

1. Establish Personal Space Zones (Even Tiny Ones)

Yes, your whole home might be smaller than your old bedroom, but every person needs their “zone.” So, when living in close quarters, whether it’s the left-hand couch cushion, the folding chair outside, or the bathroom (door closed, please), create invisible boundaries and respect them.

2. Schedule Solo Time, Yes even when living in close quarters

It’s not rude to want a little “me time.” Go for a walk, explore the campsite, or just sit under a tree with a book. The other person should know it’s not personal — it’s preservation.

3. Use Humour as a Pressure Valve

When tempers rise, humour saves lives. Laugh at the ridiculousness of it all — the leaky tap, the squeaky floor, the fact that your partner somehow takes up three-quarters of the bed. If you can laugh, you can last.

4. Share the Chores

Nothing breeds resentment faster than one person always emptying the grey water tank. Divide and conquer — and rotate the unglamorous jobs like toilet duty and dishwashing.

5. Declutter Often

Stuff multiplies in a caravan like rabbits in spring. The more clutter you have, the more cramped it feels. Once a month, do a mini “spring clean” and donate or ditch what you haven’t used.

6. Create Outdoor Living Space

Your caravan might be compact, but your camp site isn’t. Use a ground mat, a few comfy chairs, fairy lights, and maybe a small table to extend your living area outdoors. You’ll breathe easier — literally and emotionally.

7. Develop Quiet Communication Skills

In a house, you can storm off to another room. In a caravan, the furthest you can go is about two metres. Learn to talk things out calmly — shouting in a confined space is like setting off a firecracker in a shoebox.

8. Keep Separate Hobbies

You don’t have to do everything together. If one of you likes fishing and the other prefers photography, great! Time apart doing what you love gives you new stories to share around the campfire.

9. Plan “Date Nights”

Routine can make romance fade faster than a cheap awning. Light a candle, cook a proper meal, or head to a local restaurant. Even a simple braai and a shared bottle of wine under the stars does wonders.

10. Remember Why You’re Doing This

When things get tense, remind yourselves that you chose this life for freedom, adventure, and simplicity — not for stress. Take a breath, look at the view, and remember: some couples argue over curtain colours, while you’re arguing over which mountain pass to drive next.

Bonus Tip: Have a “5-Minute Rule”

If you feel an argument bubbling up, take 5 minutes apart — literally step outside. By the time you come back in, chances are you’ll have cooled off enough to talk (or laugh) about it.

The Takeaway

Close-quarter living can test your patience, but it also strengthens your bond — if you let it. You’ll learn teamwork, flexibility, and how to laugh when things don’t go according to plan (which, in caravanning, is pretty much daily).

In the end, it’s not about the space you live in — it’s about the space you make for each other.