A 380-Square-Foot Brooklyn Studio Went from “Bland” to Colorful and Kitschy

Written by

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
published Jan 28, 2025

A 380-Square-Foot Brooklyn Studio Went from “Bland” to Colorful and Kitschy

Written by

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
published Jan 28, 2025
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Style
Bedrooms
Square feet

380

Sq ft

380

Writer Kim Narby, whose day job is at a tech startup, says this 380-square-foot studio apartment in Crown Heights was “functional and bland” before she moved in almost five years ago. “A couple lived in the apartment before I moved in, and there wasn’t much thought put into interior design. The priority seemed to be more economical than visual,” she begins.

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Credit: Kim Narby
"My favorite *part* of the apartment is probably my living room area," Kim writes. "The couch is the most expensive purchase I've ever made (outside of my college education and my recent car purchase), and it completely transformed the space. I spend most of my time on the couch — either watching TV, writing my novel, or reading. I love the combination of the colors and textures in that corner of the apartment — the green of the wall and the plants, the red pillows and table, and the yellow of the couch. The couch is also velvet, while the pillowcases are linen."

Kim says this is her first time living alone, and admits that while the rent was “slightly outside” of her budget “at the time I signed the lease,” she says “it seemed worth the stretch. I’m especially grateful for that choice now because the building is rent-stabilized, so my rent has only gone up about $100 since that first year.”

Credit: Kim Narby
"I organize my books by self-defined genres," Kim explains. "These ones pictured are on the bottom shelf for easy access — my queer section, the one I revisit most often. You'd think I'd have endless space for books, but I do run out frequently and try to cull my books once a year or so."

To turn this studio into the “[b]right, colorful, organized, and kitschy” home it is today, Kim “painted, put up hooks on the walls, hung paintings, and put vinyl countertop paper in my kitchen.” She says the small home is actually the perfect amount of space for herself and her dog, Georgia. There is even a “dedicated work area, [a] table to eat at, and room for a full-sized couch and queen bed. Georgia arrived about six months after I moved in, and the apartment also allows her to have two different bed areas (we love options). She is also a big fan of having a snooze on the ottoman while I’m working.”

Credit: Kim Narby
"When I first moved to New York I measured every bedroom I looked at to ensure it had enough space for this dresser because it was a non-negotiable. They don't seem to make this set in red anymore so I'm very glad I was able to get it when I did!" she writes of the IKEA HEMNES.

Although Kim says she doesn’t really describe her style as maximalism, she does “appreciate collecting art and items from my travels. I spend a lot of time in my home, especially since the pandemic. I certainly have a lot of art that is queer in my apartment (not to mention books), but I think my space mostly reflects my identity as a New Yorker. Making a small space work efficiently, and not being afraid of color, is definitely a result of my having embraced New York culture, which allows for any type of style experimentation.”

Credit: Kim Narby

RESOURCES

  • “Most of my furniture has come from IKEA, Target, or Wayfair. You can dress up anything.”
  • Yellow sofa — West Elm
  • Wall shelves — DIY
  • Bed frame — IKEA. “[S]till the first bed frame I ever bought at 24 years old; the cheapest one IKEA offers. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to make things look nice!”
  • Red dresser — IKEA HEMNES
  • Red nightstand — IKEA

Thanks, Kim!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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