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After a pretty intense 2020, I needed a refresh. Like a large portion of the world, I quarantined at my apartment day after day, trying to make corners of my Brooklyn apartment interesting with new art, smell-good candles, and banana bread — but ultimately, I needed a renovation.
First, I put together a list of action items: repainting all the walls and kitchen cabinets, new window, and bathroom fixtures, retiling the bathrooms, and new furniture. I made a mood board of pieces I wanted to buy and the general feel of how I wanted the apartment to feel. Clean lines with eclectic touches best describe my style. I then hired a contractor and we made a timeline and modest budget.
Four months later — after a lot of complaining, Home Depot visits, and adding items like a ½ inch metal bullnose to my shopping carts — my home was renovated.
Now, you may be thinking, “Great for you but I can't relate to renovating anything in an apartment I share with roommates or a dorm room on a college campus.” But the truth is, giving your space a facelift is something we can all do. Here's how:
1. Create a mood board
I cannot begin to tell you how many late nights I spent on Pinterest looking at furniture, design, architecture, and art. Through the process, I realized that I really love design (mid-Century modern to be exact). Scrolling through beautiful images and getting a sense of who I was based on the kind of home decor I was attracted to was revolutionary for me. Even if you're not in a position to buy fancy home items, there's something cathartic about pinning things you would love to own. Get to know your style! Don't feel constrained by your current circumstances. Manifesting is everything, friends.
2. Control your sound
Music is the ultimate mood booster, so I got HomePod minis for two rooms in the house. The sound quality adjusts for the space, so in addition to being sonically crisp, its sound won't disturb the neighbors. The new line of HomePods have Siri (who regularly gives me weather updates in the morning), sync with my iPhone 13, and come in a variety of fun colors. At under $100 you can get one for your home (or ask as a housewarming gift!) or gift someone else one for the holidays.
3. Find inexpensive vibe boosters
For me, I feel coziest in minimal spaces with accents like small rugs (a gorgeous option from House of Jade that's $58 but Etsy has great options, too!), chic heaters (like this beauty from dyson), and cozy sitting chairs (splurged on this from Urban Outfitters). Figure out what makes you feel most comfortable and start adding them to your space. Maybe it's an accent wall you paint or a framed photo from Jungalow or other inexpensive sites where you can score great art. It can even be a candle from a Black-owned company or an incense holder for your bedroom. Get small items that bring you joy when you look at them.
4. Invest in a good couch
A couch was the very last thing I got for my place because it's a huge investment. I looked for months when Valyou, a Hawaiian-based furniture company, reached out about their Feathers Sofa. So, I tried it out. In addition to matching the color scheme of my apartment, it's stain proof, ships quickly, and is soooo comfortable. I literally sink into it every time I sit down — which means everything at the end of a workday. The couch itself isn't too heavy and the covers are removable for stains that require a deeper clean.
Its only downside is that it needs to be fluffed up every couple of days since it truly does contour to the shape of your imprint. All that to say, you'll be incredibly happy if you spend time doing your due diligence to get the best for whatever your budget is on big-ticket items. So, be sure to skim
5. Declutter and give some things away.
Yes, I am a minimalist. Yes, I am someone who loves to give things away. But, I truly believe that when you have essential items you love — and only things you love — in your home, the energy shifts. The reason why my apartment looks so different is because I got rid of so much stuff. I assessed what I wanted to keep and let go of everything else via donation or giving away to friends. Do the same, I promise the change will be incredible.
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