Enhancing Privacy in our Tiny, Shared garden
This blog post (which is about enhancing the privacy of our tiny shared, multi-use outdoor area around the garden shower,) was sponsored by eBay and ShopStyle. As always, all words, opinions and images are my own.
This time of year, we use our compact thoroughfare garden and our shared porch almost as much as we use the interior of our tiny cottage.
Since all of the outdoor areas here at the cottage are either used or visible by other neighbors, privacy (or sometimes just a sense of it) played a key role in the design of these spaces.
Although our back garden is shared in parts by one neighbor and is visible by two others, it’s still the spot that is most dedicated to just our family. As such, it was the logical choice for the placement of our outdoor shower.
Last year the shower was almost entirely used for quick rinse-offs upon our return home from the beach, bike rides, or various other outdoor excursions.
Now, however, as we’re still sheltering at home to best keep our communities and medical systems as safe as possible, we’ve started to incorporate the shower in our routine as a way of winding down and relaxing.
To enhance the privacy a bit — whether or not we’re wearing our swimsuits — we wanted a solution that was mobile, since our shower can be moved if need be thanks to the hose-style water hook-up.
We also wanted it to be temporary / easy to move, so it wouldn’t infringe upon our limited garden space when the shower isn’t in use.
Lastly, we wanted something light and airy to suit our SoCal lifestyle and style of home.
We found our solution via a folding privacy screen on eBay, which is such a handy site for sourcing both new and rare/retro home decor.
What I enjoy most about eBay is the ability to discover unique items that keep a space from looking like countless others. Plus, it’s an easy resource for unearthing sold out items, and both on-trend AND out-of-the-ordinary styles.
I also appreciate the ability to set eBay’s search parameters to source from within a set number of miles, helping cut back on the carbon footprint of long-distance shipping.
It also serves as a convenient accessory for holding robes, bathing suits, undergarments, and towels.
We’ve long stuck with lightweight, versatile towels in natural fibers like this one. They dry quickly on the line, can be used in multiple ways, and don’t require much space for storage.
To create an extra surface for our low waste haircare bars and dog bath bars, we mounted a porcelain soap dish to the nearby wall as a supplement to the one built into the shower.
(There were a few other styles I loved, but ultimately, I picked the simplest style for this space, since there’s so much going on visually thanks to the overgrown vines and plants.)
We also introduced a sturdy, waterproof stool we found on eBay for a touch of extra surface space.
It provides a practical place for things like the jewelry I remove when showering, mugs or glasses, or a mosquito-repellant stick. The stool also serves as our side table on the porch when not near the shower.
When we bathe, slim plant trays slid beneath the shower platform catch water, which we then use to water the plants around our home.
(Here’s a shower that’s similar to ours.)
With these simple accessories, we feel like our lil’ outdoor shower space is both refreshed and finally complete.
Thank you, eBay, for helping us finish our garden shower and for sponsoring this post. Thank you as well to the readers of this blog for helping us keep our small business going, and our tiny home’s twinkle lights glowing.
