Decorating & Design
Small-Space Inspiration: The Best Bunkies, Campers & Tiny Hideaways
Updated on November 28, 2023
There’s something so special about small, secret retreats. From bunkies and backyard studios to campers and compact summer houses, these tiny hideaways prove you don’t always need ample square footage to achieve gorgeous style and optimal function.
Whether you’re looking to work or play, these sweet escapes will inspire you!
A Bunkie With A Kitchen
Can a bunkie with an entire kitchen still be considered a bunkie? It can if you’re staying at Wander The Resort in Prince Edward Country. This luxe cabin makes the most of its square footage with a one-wall kitchen layout and combined dining area.
A Modern Getaway
Nestled in the trees of Charlevoix, Que., is a modern and compact bunkie. This dreamy escape embraces its woodsy locale with a hardwood exterior and oversized windows to take in the view.
A Beachy-styled Bunkie
Designed by Glenn Ban in East Hampton, N.Y., this bright bunkie has a beachy vibe. The wooden bed frame warms up the all-white space, which serves as a great spot to nap, read or sleep.
A Loft-style Bunkie
Perched on the water’s edge near North Bay, Ont., is a DIY bunkie built by Patrick Biller. He used a Bunkie Life kit to create this charming structure featuring a rich wood exterior and vibrant roof.
Inside, wood paneled walls and a raw birch headboard channel major cabin vibes. If you’re building a bunkie without electricity, take cues from this space that features a lamp with a rechargeable lightbulb.
A Bunkie With A Patio
A modern black bunkie is contrasted by a wraparound wooden patio. Glass barriers border the structure to ensure your view of the water is left unobstructed.
A Cliffside Retreat
For rocky and rugged landscapes that can’t accommodate traditional structures, A-framed bunkies are a perfect alternative. The Backcountry Hut Company managed to build a striking 10- by 10-foot sleeping room that blends right in with the setting.
Inside, soaring ceilings and full height windows make the small space feel open and airy. Light walls and simple white bedding ensures the focus stays on the picturesque view outside.
Modern Cabin In the Woods
Woods On Pender is a nature-filled getaway in Pender Island, B.C., and offers a variety of glamping accommodations. This modern glass structure ensures you always have a great view of the outdoors, while pot lighting provides hotel-like comfort inside.
A Miniature Cottage
With a white exterior and country charm, this bunkie is a delightful spot to accommodate overflow cottage guests. Designer and homeowner Montana Burnett added cheerful pops of yellow on the window planters and entrance rug.
The petite interior feels private, but still gets flooded with natural light from the wraparound windows. Teal bedding, mustard accents and twin canopies give the space a youthful charm.
An Indoor Garden
Dedicate a small space entirely to your plants! This hardworking garden shed fits 12 raised beds for growing fruits and veggies, complete with loads of windows for optimal sunlight.
An Art-Filled Creative Studio
Tucked away in artist Virginia Johnson’s Toronto garden, you can find her secret sanctuary. “I’d never had an art studio,” she says. “Creating this space was about valuing that more and acknowledging that it’s important to me.” The exterior has a time-honored look with traditional doors and reclaimed bricks.
Virginia paints and sews at a long table bought from an online auction. The inspiration wall behind includes a painting she did of her sister swimming in a friend’s pool, travel photos, sketches and work by other illustrators she admires.
The kitchenette feels like an art gallery with quirky sculptures, colorful ceramics and petite artwork. The white cabinet skirt conceals open storage.
Having a bathroom was a must, so Virginia could wash up after a painting session. Geranium-print wallpaper adorns the walls, while a petite vintage sink evokes a quaint cottage vibe. “I love things that once belonged to someone else,” she says.
A 250-Square-Foot Cottage Bunkie
Inspired by its stunning surrounding landscape, this small cottage bunkie in Lake Muskoka is decorated in a soothing palette of blue, green and brown. “You embrace the environment and the view out the windows and go with that,” says designer James Davie. With the shell already constructed, and plumbing and electrical roughed in, James got to work applying the finishing layers.
Seafaring style comes ashore in this living room, complete with a storage ottoman and pullout sofa. Two glass lamps (made from flea market vases) balance out the space, while a large metal sign and copper lantern add playful patina.
Despite the small footprint, James managed to fit a full-size farmhouse sink, under-counter fridge and plenty of storage into the kitchenette. Mint-green enamel shades give the light fixtures a vintage look.
James designed a ladder and rope railing to give access to the second floor. With one full and two twin beds in the loft, and a pullout sofa on the main floor, the bunk can sleep six. “This isn’t your typical woodsy cottage bunk. It’s more of a nod to Hamptons beach style,” he says.
A Secret Studio In The City
The studio of landscape designer Meredyth Hilton of Artistic Gardens is set at the base her Toronto garden in a lush setting of peonies, roses, hornbeam trees and boxwoods.
Meredyth’s sheltered porch is an ideal spot for her shade-loving ferns. The family’s two lovebirds, named G and T, hang out next to the vintage granite trough that was repurposed as an ice bucket.
A Backyard Shed Turned Home Office
Screenwriter Tassie Cameron retreats to a backyard shed to write her award-winning series. The original circa-1940s shed exterior was preserved to keep the rustic look. “When I bought this house in Toronto’s Little Portugal neighborhood in 2012, this shed came with it,” she says. “We used it for storage, but my designer, Mary-Beth Jenner, convinced me that, with some time and money, it could be a four-season writing space: it’s as warm as my house.”
“We have a lovely house to hang out in, but my daughter, Sadie, and I will often play games here because it’s so cozy and casual,” says Tassie. “When I ask friends if they want to sit in the living room by the fire, sometimes they just prefer to head out to the shed. It’s a great spot for a glass of wine.”
“This desk belonged to my parents,” says Tassie. “It’s from the farm I grew up on and it just fits in here so well.”
Tassie often brings in fresh flowers from the garden. Her mother, journalist Stevie Cameron, gave her an antique wooden letter writing box. “My favorite thing about this shed is the light from all sides — including from above, because of the skylight,” says Tassie. “To be able to sit in a quiet, bright, solitary space away from the doorbell and the dishwasher really provides a place to focus that I usually can’t find.”
A Sunny Yellow Camper
Designer Reena Sotropa, who heads up Reena Sotropa In House Design Group in Calgary, had been scouring Kijiji for a year before she spotted and adopted Poppy, a sunshine-yellow trailer from Saskatchewan. Named for the canvas top that can be popped up 18 inches when parked, the circa-1970, six- by 10-foot rig became a welcome addition to the designer’s family.
While friends with big RVs need up to 90 minutes to set up their rigs, Reena says Poppy is ready in 10 minutes, and she’s so light she can be moved by hand. “We can do a water and electrical hookup, but the beauty of this trailer is that we can fit it in the smallest of campsites and be self-sufficient,” says the designer. “We can plug in power for our lights, or we operate off marine batteries.” In her off-hours, Poppy is compact enough to get parked in the garage and doesn’t require an SUV to tow her.
Reena found that drawers were more functional than shelves in the new MDF cabinets. She uses the wood veneer-clad alcove as a pantry. In the kitchen area, Reena replaced the full-height cabinets with white oak millwork because she needed a counter. The food is stored in a cabinet next to the icebox, a cooler in the SUV and on the counter. Recessed pulls were another nautical-inspired find; traditional pulls would just catch on the family’s belt loops in the compact space.
The back cushions slide down to form a mattress with the seat cushions, “like a jigsaw puzzle,” says Reena. A custom “bed cap” covers the cushions. She had two floating shelves installed to act as bedside tables, and new sconces illuminate camping-themed watercolors.
A New-Build Boathouse
This well-considered boathouse on Lake Muskoka is equipped with everything required to be a self-sufficient living space, with a 650-square-foot guest suite on the second level. Cory DeFrancisco, principal designer and owner of Muskoka Living, says the whole boathouse has that relaxed look and feel of sitting on a veranda.
The lower level holds three boat slips, plus a storage room (background) that’s usually pressed into service as an entertaining space. Furnishings in a breezy classic pairing — white upholstery and natural textures — instils a summery vibe and is forgiving of wet bathing suits and sandy feet. The cedar decking’s painted checkerboard pattern dresses up the space, and high-gloss white shiplap walls reflect the light. When a boat is as beautiful as this visiting mahogany Hacker-Craft, it can serve double duty as decoration.
To prevent an all-white palette from looking flat, Cory made judicious use of wood tones and other natural elements with patina. Old bricks, sourced from Detroit, add a mellow softness to the fireplace surround, and reclaimed oak floors bring in a rich brown tone. A wooden console was left in its natural shade and embellished with hand-painted details. “This is a brand-new space, but we didn’t want it to feel that way,” says Cory.
The sofas are upholstered in outdoor fabric so they can be pulled out onto the deck, and rustic carriage lanterns are repeated inside and out for a cohesive look.
A marble-look Caesarstone countertop and antique French metal stools (customized for counter height) add a vintage vibe. “The whole space is painted by hand — we wanted to see the long brushstrokes,” says Cory.
Who wouldn’t want to fall asleep to the gentle lap of the waves below? The addition of luxurious Portuguese cotton bed linens and a jute rug delivers a hit of texture and sophistication.
A Lush, Light-Filled Conservatory
Flower aficionados may dream of having their own greenhouse, but this conservatory in a Toronto backyard is more than a place to repot the African violets.
Practical slipcovered furniture and a modern coffee table impart a summery, fresh look. Stone floors blur the distinctions between inside and out. Specimens such as a mini orange topiary, dwarf gardenia and podocarpus (in the corner) stay inside all year long to enhance this reading area with color and fragrance. The glass walls and ceiling make it an ideal spot to savor the afternoon sun.
A large, light-loving ficus tree — draped in tufts of Spanish moss to encourage the growth of orchids — is a majestic touch inside the conservatory. A lush carpet of baby’s tears conceals the soil in the ficus tree’s boxy planter. The zinc-topped potting table in the center of the conservatory is a practical work surface with a quintessentially French flavor.
Hardworking spaces can also be pretty. The dark millwork is a polished touch, while botanical prints above the sink are a natural fit in a garden room. The potted tropicals — such as agapanthus, jasmine and gardenia — are brought into the conservatory in the winter, and then returned to the garden in spring.
A Cool Cabana & Pool House
In this Toronto backyard by landscape designer Meredyth Hilton of Artistic Gardens, a cabana and petite pool house create symmetry and mimic the Cape Cod-style architecture of the main house.
The pool house is where guests can change, hang wet towels or store their bags, and where the homeowners stash away essential outdoor items when they’re not in use.
Given how often the homeowners love to entertain, they added a marble-topped wet bar to make cocktails and prep meals. It’s built on the covered back porch patio and includes a double sink and plenty of open shelves for storage. Baskets keep essentials organized and make it easy to carry items to other zones of the backyard.
An Ultra-Cool Garage Lounge
In this downtown property, a decrepit deck was removed to make way for a courtyard. The homeowner wanted to keep the garage for resale value, but the addition of 20-inch accordion doors made it feel like a private, open-air café. An elegant pond with a fountain helps mask the sound of cars, making this city backyard feel like a true urban escape.
The driveway and garage floor epoxy are covered in softly-hued Copthorne interlocking brick from Unilock that gives these spaces continuity. The brick is paired with Owen Sound flagstone for the stairs and pond, and a deep blue-green on all trim and screens complements the reddish tone of the brick. Anchor an outdoor living space with a welcoming seating area. This one is set up like a living room, with a sofa and chairs around a big coffee table.
A cool, tropical lounge vibe is established with juicy chartreuse bentwood bistro chairs and an oversize, shimmery capiz shell chandelier. The dark teal paint on the millwork fades into the background, so a display of candles and barware takes center stage on open shelving.
A Creative Backyard Studio
Designer Theresa Casey turned her Toronto garage — previously just used for storage — into a creative retreat, set within a welcoming yard.
“The studio is my place to write or paint or play piano,” says Theresa. “It’s a sanctuary where I can really be creative.” Exposed brick and wood beams hint at the studio’s past as a garage, while the walls are adorned with found objects, postcards and artwork that Theresa has been collecting for years. A new skylight floods the room with light, enhancing the welcoming atmosphere of the space.
A haunting black and white image from the 1930s sets off an ever-evolving display in Theresa’s studio.
A Compact Boathouse
Toronto designer Michelle Lloyd Bermann of Lloyd Ralphs Design, and her husband, decorating contractor David Bermann, added an upper-level bedroom to their 250-square-foot boathouse for a waterside aerie. The couple kept the footprint of the original boathouse, but raised the entire structure, adding three feet to the lower level to accommodate David’s sails and boards. To capture the views, they installed French doors on the lower level and reasonably-priced stock sliding doors facing north and west on the upper level.
Decorative touches, such as raffia pillows and ornate lanterns, lend a tropical resort ambience reminiscent of St. Barts, one of the couple’s favorite destinations. In the boathouse’s narrow upper-level bedroom, Michelle installed floating ledges flanking the bed. “Having no tables or table lamps lends ease to a tight space,” she explains. The antique French sconces, which the couple had owned for years, were painted white and capped with elongated contemporary shades.
Shiplap walls and a round window heighten the nautical spirit in the bedroom, which leads out to a balcony overlooking the lake.
On the other side of the bed’s partition wall is a change room houses a bar fridge — and why not? “It’s our leisurely breakfast or cocktail area when we don’t want to wander over to the kitchen,” says Michelle. The porthole window, echoed at the front of the room, is original to the building.
A European-Inspired Summerhouse
“This new space is like having a cottage in the city,” says designer Julia West. “Instead of driving up the highway, you can just wander down to the bottom of your garden and go missing for a few hours.” The existing garage was demolished to build this structure, reminiscent of 18th-century Palladian garden pavilions with classical features. Raised in England, the homeowner loved the idea: “Roald Dahl wrote all his books in a rustic summerhouse, and I was taken with the notion of having a place for rest and refuge, removed from the busyness of the main house,” she says.
The interior, which includes a bathroom and kitchenette has a light color palette and traditional furniture. Julia chose durable indoor/outdoor fabric for the upholstered chairs and covered the floor with no-fuss cream porcelain tile. “It looks like limestone but doesn’t scratch, so it’s perfect in a room where you’ve just walked across a gravel patch to come inside,” she notes.
A Cottage-Inspired Guesthouse
Located just beside the owner’s main house in The Beach neighborhood of Toronto, a charming two-bedroom guesthouse feels like it’s nestled in the heart of cottage country. “The owners wanted something like an English garden house,” says designer Margot Bell of Peaks & Rafters.
The great room’s fir columns, trusses and curved beams feel appropriate for a cottage in the city. Large folding doors open up the back of the guesthouse to a stone patio and garden bursting with ferns, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, boxwood and oak trees.
“We want it to look like the owners always had these pieces,” says Margot. The sofa’s cabbage rose fabric sets the tone for a garden room feel. A trio of chandeliers draws the eye up to the vaulted ceiling, which is framed by whitewashed fir trusses.
The island’s curved corners have retro flair, and the biscuit hue is reminiscent of a 1940s Bakelite finish. “White marble and cream paint is a lovely combination,” says Margot. A bridge faucet, quirky plates and a trellis-print shade reinforce the vintage vibe.