Step Inside A Tiny Scandinavian-Inspired Hideaway in the Wilderness

You’d be forgiven for thinking this tiny cabin is an attefallshus tucked away in the garden of a Swedish summer cottage. But in fact, this charming red-and-white retreat is located on the other side of the world, in Tasmania (yes, I know—I’m obsessed with Tassie, even though I’ve never actually been!).

Owners Maša and Michael, the duo behind Heartful Table—a blog dedicated to plant-based recipes—are passionate about tiny homes and the magic of Scandinavian living. Embracing the simplicity and cosiness of both, they built this wilderness escape near Little Blue Lake and aptly named it Little Falu.

The name is a nod to Falu red (Falu rödfärg), the traditional deep red paint used on wooden cottages and farmhouses across Sweden. Originally derived from the Falun copper mine in Dalarna, the pigment not only gives that signature rustic look but also helps preserve the timber.

Though compact, every detail of Little Falu has been thoughtfully considered and designed for comfort and practicality. The kitchen is fully kitted out, inviting guests to settle in, enjoy the surrounding wilderness, light a fire, and maybe even indulge in a bath or two.

Small space living at its finest—let's take a peek inside! 

The stairs have been designed around the cabinets in order to maximise the full use of the space. 

A kitchen with modern amenities is especially important to Maša who is passionate about plant-based cooking. 

When space is of a premium, every inch counts. Everything in the cabin has been built bespoke to fit the space. Notice how a small gap between the sofa and door has been used for extra storage! 

Note the 'Dalarna häst' (or Dala horse) - a traditional, hand-carved and painted wooden horse from the Dalarna region of Sweden. Originally made as children's toys, these cheerful figures have become a beloved symbol of Swedish folk art and heritage. Have you seen one of these before? 

While the cabin may be small, the owners have made sure to make room for comforts such as a soothing bath! 

Wow, this cabin is so incredibly well designed—it’s like a TARDIS!

I’m a huge fan of tiny house living ever since building my own tiny cabin, which only measures 30 sqm (323 square feet), but somehow has everything we need.

Do you live small too? If so, I’d love to hear about your experience!

Or maybe there’s something that caught your eye in Little Falu? Let us all know below!

You can find out more about this gorgeous little space, book a stay (lucky you!), and see more pictures here.

Shall we take a peek at a few more tiny homes today? Check out:

A tiny off-grid Swedish cabin in the woods
A dated Swedish caravan becomes a stylish and cosy home
A tiny cabin and pottery studio in the woods
A Swedish couple turn a Mercedes Sprinter into a tiny home

Would you also like to feel inspired by some lovely small apartments today? Head on over to this archive. 

Have a great start to the week all! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @littlefalu / littlefalu.com, shared with kind permission. 

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A Dated Swedish Caravan (Camper) becomes a Stylish and Cosy Home

Homes come in all shapes and sizes. And today, I'm excited to share Monica Karlstein's caravan. 

Monica is well known in Sweden for her DIY expertise - and recently transformed a dated caravan into a beautiful home from home in which to travel the country and beyond in comfort and style! 

Let's dive in to the before and after renovation: 

It's quite incredible what you can do with a few rolls of Sandberg wallpaper (I love the print we put up in the summer cottage bedroom!), a link of paint and layers of textile, don't you think? 

Tiered hanging baskets offer extra storage where needed, and since they move with the caravan, you can be sure nothing will fall in transit. We use baskets like this on our boat and they are so handy! 

Note how Monica has used strategically placed linen curtains to separate the cabin and sleeping quarters when needed. 

The kitchen fittings have remained unchanged, but a lick of paint has transformed the area into a light and airy space to prepare meals. A row of hooks provide space for tea towels and other small items. 

The dining area now has uber comfy seats for evenings indoors (when the weather isn't behaving), while seatbelts can be used for passengers when in transit. 

Small touches like braided decor and baskets with plants help to make the space feel homely. 

Such a beautiful renovation. And best of all, they'll have a lovely place to stay wherever they go! 

Could you imagine touring Scandinavia in this caravan too? 

You can find more details about this makeover here (in Swedish but nothing that a few pictures and google translate can't solve!). 

I love to see what people can do with tiny spaces and have featured a few other 'homes on wheels' before  including a Swedish couple who turned a Mercedes Sprinter into a campervan and a tiny house built on wheels. Or for tiny home inspiration you might like to discover: dream life on a budget: a tiny home and pottery studio in the woods and a tiny Danish cabin that's big on style. 

I hope this post has inspired you today!

Kram! 

Niki

Photography by Monica Karlstein, shared with kind permission. 

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This Tiny Swedish Cottage is a Perfect Summer Oasis!

I can never resist a tiny living space - especially when they are this pretty! This cottage is located in Slottsskogskolonien - Sweden's second oldest allotment! It is a mere 19 m2 (204 ft2) but has everything you might need for the weekends and holidays. In the entrance, simple hooks and shelves serve as a makeshift hallway and a dining space is bathed in daylight. Step into the main living room, and an open-plan kitchen and living room offer a place to chill. At night, it's time to climb the ladder to a cosy nest in the rooftop and snuggle up for the night! The owners also have shared access to an onsite communal bathroom. 

At these allotment cottages, the real magic happens outside though. After all, the purpose of them is to provide a garden in the city for those without. The plot provides a place to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables, as well as dine al fresco all summer long surrounded by the sweet scent of lilac! 

Ready to look around? Välkommen! 

High shelves above the windows provide extra storage space for books and other small treasures. 

Built-in seating helps to maximise space - and can also offer more storage underneath. 

Notice how the underside of the table has been painted Klein blue - this seems to be the theme this week (check out Wednesday's Danish home tour!). I love the idea of using paint to bring in the latest trends, it's a sustainable way of keeping your home upon to date! 

A traditional Swedish sofa and two simple wicker chairs ensure a social area in the main living room area, while a little spot under the roof serves as extra storage. 

A simple wooden ladder leads to the sleep loft. 

It took me several goes through these pictures before I noticed the door above! It conceals a storage cupboard. 

I love the use of two-toned wood panelling in the kitchen! Note how this panelling is beaded for a more traditional look. 

How lovely. I could sit in that spot in the garden all weekend, how about you? 

Here's an idea of the layout: 

Glossary: kök - kitchen, stuga - cabin, förråd - storage. 

Speaking of small spaces, Per is headed up to our little cabin this evening, while I travel to Karlshamn in Blekinge (it's a beautiful part of the world which I once covered in this travel guide) for my daughter Liv's swimming gala. Fingers crossed for her - I know she's a little nervous! 

I hope you have some fun plans too! 

In the meantime, I'll leave you with some of these beautiful tours from the small space archive: 

This allotment cottage is a true summer oasis

A charming allotment cottage in Malmö, Sweden

A beautiful allotment cottage in summertime

See you Monday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Kvarteret Mäkleri - where it is currently for sale! 

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Small spaces: a little summer cottage in the heart of the city

Cycling through Malmö, it's exciting to see all the bright green leaves spring to life on the trees after many months of dormancy. And across town, allotment season has begun! I was amazed to discover that Swedish allotments often have 'kolonistuga' - small inhabitable cottages in which you can live from late spring to early Autumn, providing a country oasis in the heart of the city. Do you have something similar in your country?

This pretty cottage was on the market last year and I was excited to see it snapped up by Hannes Mauritzson (who's apartment I once featured here). Located on 'Slottsskogskolonien' in Gothenburg, which I believe is the same allotment area as Elin Lannsjö's charming allotment, the cottage measures a teeny 27 m2 / 290 f2. Hannes has applied his own signature touch to the little cottage using a lick of paint and vintage touches - while some of the original wood still shines through. Take a quick peek at how it looked when Hannes bought it and then scroll down to see how the pretty cottage looks today! 

What a perfect place to tend to blooms, maybe grow a few veg, sip rosé and sleep over the summer, don't you think? His faithful four-legged friend Charlie certainly looks content! 

And just in case the Swedish weather gods aren't playing nicely (fair chance!) - there's always the wood burning stove too! 

Would you like to see more allotment cottages today? I've featured quite a few in the past: 

A truly idyllic Swedish allotment cottage

A charming little summer cottage in the heart of the city

Lovely details in a Danish allotment cottage

An endearing cabin on a Danish allotment

I hope these lovely spaces have filled you with inspiration today. 

Niki

Photography / credits: Hannes Mauritzson - shared with kind permission

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