The last year has been a whirlwind for me. I have moved twice, first to a temporary apartment with a friend when I first moved to New York City and five months ago into my very own NYC studio apartment. To say I am living my dream is an understatement. I have wanted to live alone for as long as I can remember. I think it is very important to have that time to yourself to really get to know who you are as a person, before you settle down and move in with a potential partner. Although the odds are not working in my favor, but more for your sake!
I am going to walk you through my empty NYC studio apartment and share my decorating plans and take you along the process.
MY PLANS FOR DECORATING
DESIGNING A SEAMLESS LIVING ROOM/BEDROOM SPACE
There is something to be said about an open concept floor plan. I am not sure exactly what that is, but I know it has to be positive. This window and this view were my selling point when choosing what apartment to move into. It will not come as a surprise how particular and annoying I was during the entire process. My real estate agent was an absolute saint and I refer anyone I know to him because he was really patient and understanding of my hesitations and wanting to view about 40 apartments before I signed my life away.
Having one room for your bedroom,living room and dining room can go one of two ways. You can either have your bed serve as a couch and spot for you to eat in, while watching tv, or you can try and separate the space to have the feel of two rooms. I want to have a space for me to sleep and relax in and also have a designated area that serves as a place to entertain without feeling like guests have to sit in my bed. The space limitations pose some boundaries, but with some measurements, lots of pinterest inspiration and careful planning you can make any space you are working with meet your needs.
CREATING A FUNCTION KITCHEN WITH LIMITED STORAGE AND SPACE
The kitchen in my apartment could not be smaller than what I have ever been used to, but it is brand new and that is a dream in itself. I wish you could see half of the dirty and old apartments I viewed. Having brand new stainless steel appliances was on my wish list but not something I thought I was going to realistically have. I am not much of a chef, although Plated has changed how I make my way around the kitchen, so I never put much thought into this room. Storage and counter space are the limitations in this tiny kitchen.
As you can see, I have no draws except for one very slim one. Coming up with ways to store all my dishes and appliances without feeling cluttered poses a challenge, but one that I am very excited to take on.
DIY BATHROOM RENOVATION
The one drawback of this apartment for me was the bathroom. It was the only thing that was not updated. On a positive note, the bathroom is all white which happens to be my favorite color and has provided me with the proverbial blank canvas I need to make this room of the apartment exactly what I want. My vision for the space is to make it have that spa like oasis vibe, but being clean and modern with a black and white color scheme. More to come on inspiration photos as the decorating process continues.
GETTING CREATIVE WITH STORAGE
2 closets in this entire apartment. I feel spoiled living in NYC admitting I actually have 2 closets, but at the same time are 2 closets ever enough for a female, especially a female who is as clothing obsessed as I am. I am lucky enough to live semi close to New York, that I can seasonally switch out my wardrobe freeing up some much needed space in my closet to have some sense of organization. As organized as they come, I will get extra creative about finding ways to maximize all the space I am working with. The Container Store should probably think about sponsoring me ;).
Fun fact: I wanted to be an interior designer and I honestly thought I would be a designer on TLC’s trading spaces. I am excited to share all my decorating and home decor tips throughout the process!
