A Couple Has DIYed This 350-Square-Foot Apartment into a Serene, Minimal Home

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Name: Kayleigh Archbold, my husband Jason, and our cat, Coconut Sage
Location: Montclair, New Jersey
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 350 square feet
Years lived in: 8.5 years, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My husband and I moved into our tiny space back in 2011 when we were still dating and it’s been a labor of love ever since.

I’ve loved watching it change over the years and become the minimalist space we dreamed about. Between painting the entire apartment, hanging and re-hanging art, rearranging furniture, fighting over rugs, and some do-it-yourself projects, we’ve created a home instead of just a place to live.

Throughout our time here, we’ve gotten engaged, married, traveled around and out of the country, adopted our curious kitty Coconut Sage, lost jobs, found new ones, and watched each other grow into the people we are.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Boho, warm, bright, textured, and cozy.

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is most definitely our bedroom. In such a small space, it’s important to create a warm environment you can relax in. Our bedroom is where we spend most of our time so I loved figuring out how we could not only best utilize the space, but create a place we love.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last thing I bought for our home was a wool wall hanging from Ore and Wool. It was on sale during Black Friday and I instantly fell in love. It now hangs beautifully in our bedroom.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Find what speaks to you. Whether that’s modern, vintage, boho, or farmhouse. Don’t worry about trends and instead understand what will make you happy when you walk in the door. For me, it’s plants, neutrals with a pop of color, and art. And since finding those three things coexisting can be difficult, I combine multiple styles to find my own.

This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.