boston is famous for teeny, tiny apartments with huge price tags; and the neighborhoods that I chose to live in during my 7+ years have been some of the smallest & priciest. I've managed to make every space homey and true to my style, while sticking with a budget, and maximizing the given space. leaving this apartment behind is going to be tough, my room here is exactly what I imagined and my ascetic is in each and every common room, but a new apartment means new chances to decorate and find treasures to make this space a home.
paint is one of the biggest game changers when moving into a space. most (if not all) landlords are adamant about keeping the walls in pristine condition- but if you're a lucky soul who has the green light to unleash your inner designer, have at it! paint can completely transform a room, can create the illusion of more space/height/different areas within one room, and is my favorite decorating tricks. my current bedroom has cream and white horizontal stripes that I had been dreaming about for years. they made my little room seem bigger and airy, but were a bitch to paint. using deeper/darker colors can make larger rooms seem cozier, and different colors/tones can help to differentiate between the sleeping area of your studio, and the living area.
statement pieces are great for setting the mood/motif of your space. in my bedroom, my large tufted mint green headboard is totally the statement piece of the room. it provides the majority of the color in an otherwise neutral space, and is the first thing you see upon entering my room. a bench in a cool fabric, a rug with a graphic print, a gallery wall full of different pictures, or a bright colored piece of furniture are great for being the statement in a room, and guiding the rest of your purchases. since we're talking teeny, tiny city apartments- statement doesn't' necessarily have to mean statement size. a cluster of pillows in great colors/patterns/textures takes up no extra space- but really adds a lot to the room.
double duty pieces are mandatory when you're short on space. an apartment with all the space in the world can be full of knick-knacks and strictly decorative elements, but when you're working with limited square footage, every inch is precious. on my bureau I have a large mirrored jewelry box that is both beautiful and functional. it's perfect for storing pieces that I don't always grab for, and more sentimental jewels that are put away for safe keeping. baskets and bins can look great when displayed, and are perfect for storing shoes, extra blankets, and out of season clothes. since my roommate and I converted the living room into another bedroom, we have one large space that doubles as the kitchen and living room (this is the second apartment that I've done this arrangement- and it works out perfectly every time). our coffee table has to be usable as a coffee table, and kitchen table. our wine rack/butcher block has to double as extra counter space since ours is very limited.
using your stuff as decor sometimes has to happen. as a girl who loves her clothes, I've never had an issue with having my clothing and accessories on display. I've had rolling racks in multiple apartments, and find that it makes getting dressed a bit more fun. instead of shoving all of your shoes in the bottom of your closet, or under your bed, line up your favorite (or the prettiest) pairs, and display them against a wall or at the foot of your bed. a great jewelry collection can be displayed in shadow boxes, hung on your wall, or displayed on a mini mannequin. hang a coat rack in an area of wasted space and use it to display your favorite bags and scarves.
a huge piece of living in a small space, is staying on top of messes and clutter. small apartments/rooms look extra messy (even if there are only a few things out of place), so purging your wardrobe/cabinets/surfaces on the regular keeps everything looking neat and tidy. I think it's also important to allow for your space to evolve over time. it's fun to tweak things as you go, swap out items as the seasons change/as you get more comfortable in your space.
what are some of your favorite tips&tricks for creating your ideal space? do you constantly battle for space in your space?
xx, marissa
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