This NYC Loft Is Filled With *Actually* Affordable Decor

Name: Jessie Ruane, boyfriend Ryan, and Dusty the pup
Location: Prospect Heights — Brooklyn, NY
Size: 1000 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, renting

I share my Prospect Heights loft with my boyfriend, Ryan and our puppy, Dusty (@simply.dusty). When we moved in, we quickly realized filling a 1,000 square foot (estimated) loft was going to be expensive. Since I don’t have the luxury of filling my apartment with West Elm (ahh I wish!) I started researching elsewhere. A little over a year later, I’ve filled my home with affordable finds, Ikea hacks, and hand-me-downs. The only thing in my apartment that I can think of as a “splurge” would be our Crate & Barrel Sectional, which we found on Craigslist for 1/5 of the price.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Affordable, Homey, Eclectic, Welcoming, Quirky

What is your favorite room and why? I would say the bedroom! Half of my apartment is exposed brick and it really shines in the bedroom. The red of the brick contrasts with our white bedding and the natural light that spills in through the windows. It always looks picturesque!

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? When I say we have zero closets, I mean ZERO closets. There is NOWHERE to hide anything. While this is still a work in progress, we have gotten pretty creative at hiding our stuff. There are lots of baskets, extra dressers, a small credenza, and luckily, a tiny loft space above the bathroom. Just ummm, don’t look up 😉

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I recently found this wooden chevron wall hanging on the STREET! I hung it up with some dried roses draped over it, and now it’s my favorite thing in my apartment 🙂

Any advice for creating a home you love? Fill it with things you love! Don’t rush to decorate when you first move in. Get the basics, but take time with the rest. Also, don’t overlook old decor from your past! We’ve framed old posters from college, memorable T-shirts, old vinyls, and iPhone photos. If you nicely frame something, it will look nice, no matter what it is.

Thanks, Jessie Ruane!

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