A family of 4 moved into a 250-square-foot RV to save money while they build their dream farmhouse
Chelsea and Logan Hawley remodeled a 250-square-foot RV to live in full-time with their two kids while they build their dream farmhouse over the next five years.
Their RV sits on 5 acres of farmland, and the family owns one pig, one rabbit, two cows, five goats, and 18 chickens.
The tiny home on wheels features a full kitchen, a private bedroom for the kids, and a coffee bar.
"My kids have learned to be content with less, and they have learned to entertain themselves," Chelsea told Insider of how her children have adapted to living tiny.
Chelsea and Logan Hawley came into five acres of farmland in Florida in 2019.
At the time, the couple were living in a 2,500-square-foot home with their two kids, Madison and Maverick.
They planned to build a farmhouse on the land over the next five years, but they didn't want to have to live paycheck to paycheck while they saved for the house.
Downsizing seemed like the perfect solution to the Hawleys' problem.
The Hawleys bought a used, 250-square-foot RV to live in full-time while they built their dream home.
They bought the RV in the fall of 2019.
After remodeling the space to fit their family's needs, the Hawleys moved into the tiny home on wheels in April 2020.
Chelsea said buying and renovating the RV cost approximately $16,000.
The first thing you see when you walk into the home is a daybed.
The daybed serves as a couch in the living room area of the home.
The entire RV has vinyl hardwood flooring that gives the space an elevated look.
The kitchen is next to the living room.
The farmhouse sink takes up a large chunk of the small kitchen, and it makes a statement in the space.
The kitchen only has a refrigerator and a stovetop in terms of appliances, which saves room.
Built-in, open shelving above the sink keeps things organized and pretty.
Chelsea describes the decor aesthetic as modern farmhouse.
Farmhouse touches, like the white walls and wood cabinets, mix with industrial elements, such as the tile on the kitchen walls and the black faucet.
The kitchen also features a separate coffee bar.
The cute addition adds character to the space.
Plus, it ensures the family's main kitchen countertops don't get overcrowded.
Chelsea and Logan's master bedroom is on the other side of the main living area.
Their bed is nestled into a nook in the wall.
The majority of Logan's clothes fit in the cubbies next to the bed.
Chelsea keeps her clothes in the nearby closet, and she told Insider it's more spacious than people would think.
Madison and Maverick's bedroom is the only private room in the house.
The Hawleys intentionally made the kids' bedroom private, as it gives them a space for their toys and enables Chelsea and Logan to continue to walk around and talk after the kids have gone to bed.
"It's really designed for them," Chelsea said of her kids' bedroom. For instance, the ceiling is painted to look like the night sky, which Madison loves.
The kids' room features floor-to-ceiling storage, as does the rest of the RV.
The family also remodeled the bathroom in the RV.
The bathroom originally only had a shower, but Chelsea said they completely gutted it and added a tub for the kids.
Despite the upgrades, the bathroom is Chelsea's least favorite part of her home because of its small size.
Because they're stationary much of the year, the Hawleys also have outdoor space they make use of.
The family has a patio with seating and toys for the kids.
The patio sits on the family's five acres of land, where they've already started growing their farm.
At the time of writing, the Hawleys own one pig, one rabbit, two cows, five goats, and 18 chickens.
Chelsea said that the money the family saves with the RV is what allowed them to start the farm.
"We have been able to save for our farmhouse," Chelsea said. "We've been able to start a farm. We were able to start a lifestyle that we wanted much earlier."
Chelsea is a stay-at-home mom, so the extra income is a big help for the family.
Although they're in one place much of the year, the Hawleys also get to travel in their RV.
"We are able to do monthly RV trips, and we've been able to see a lot of cool places in Florida," Chelsea said.
They're hoping to explore other areas in the South once it's safer to travel.
Living in the RV can be difficult for the Hawleys when they can't spend time outside.
It rains frequently in the summer in Florida, so the Hawleys had to stay inside for most of the hot months.
"When you're inside in a tiny space, there's so much clutter and you're just on top of each other all day long," Chelsea said. "That was definitely a challenge of trying to figure out how we could manage in a small space."
She told Insider that keeping the home clean, giving the kids chores, and teaching them to play by themselves helped a lot.
"My kids have learned to be content with less, and they have learned to entertain themselves," Chelsea told Insider of what it's like raising children in a tiny space.
"I've noticed that their imagination has soared because there are fewer things for them to do," she said. "They've had to kind of create their own play, which has been so cool."
The small space has also helped the kids' bond with each other flourish.
"They are the best of friends," Chelsea said of Madison and Maverick. "I'm sure that would've happened in a big space, too, but I definitely think the tiny space has made them rely on each other more."
"It's been precious to watch," she added.
Chelsea advises people who are considering downsizing to really focus on their purpose.
Whether you want to live minimally or save money, focusing on the reason you're downsizing will help you transition successfully, according to Chelsea.
Chelsea and Logan gave away the majority of their belongings when they moved into the RV, and focusing on why they were doing it helped her a lot.
"Take a good look at what you have and think about what you could live without," she said. "It's very hard to get rid of your things at first, but the moment you start doing it, you get a new perspective."
"For me, it was very freeing," Chelsea said.
You can follow Chelsea on Instagram here.
Read more:
A family of 7 lives full-time in a 429-square-foot RV that has a fireplace and a massive porch
50 photos of beautiful tiny homes that will make you want to downsize
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