A Renter Tested 6 Layouts in Her 415-Square-Foot Apartment to Find the Best One
In the three years that Jenn Kinnear has been renting this 415-square-foot studio apartment in Chelsea, she’s experimented with six layouts. That’s a lot of furniture arranging, but the effort was ultimately worth it for small-space expert Jenn, who settled on this final configuration.
When she first moved in, it was a “blank white box” with “solid bones and two big windows, but zero built-in charm.” But while the apartment was empty of character, Jenn loved that it wasn’t a railroad-style layout.
“It was more of a square, which seemed to give me more unique layout options. A railroad layout pretty much decides where your furniture goes for you, but with a square layout I got to choose,” Jenn explains.
“I also loved the big windows, and that there were two of them. The cross breeze with both windows open is a game changer,” Jenn continues of the apartment, which she says also had views that “were unbeatable for the price.”
Jenn was working with a small budget when she tackled decorating her small space. “I’ve moved so many times, and since I’m not in a forever home that I own, I always have it in the back of my mind not to spend too much on anything, because I don’t know how long I’ll be there.”
“That being said, I’m still a major advocate of designing your space for now!” she continues. “In my opinion, designing on a smaller budget fosters a more curated, personal style, because you have to be very choiceful about what you buy or bring in, or you have to make it yourself, which always makes for a better story!”
Resources
ENTRY
- Claret Ladder Bookcase — Bed Bath & Beyond, no longer available
LIVING ROOM
- FINNALA Sleeper Sofa — IKEA
- Velvet Sofa Slipcover, color V70 — Etsy
- Cozy Cloud Plush Throw, Light Mocha — Pottery Barn
- Almus Abstract Handmade Tufted Wool Rug, Beige/Ivory, 6′ x 9′ — Wayfair
- Addy Coffee Table, Natural Sand — Joss & Main, no longer available (similar is the Celeste Solid Wood Oval Coffee Table from Bed Bath & Beyond)
- Mid-Century Modern Accent Chair, Teal — Amazon
- Stick Metal Floor Lamp, Green — Threshold Designed with Studio McGee from Target
- Sage Green Ticking Stripe Linen Curtains — Amazon
- DIY TV Shelf, Select Pine Board — The Home Depot
- DIY TV Shelf, Black Floating Shelf Brackets — Amazon
DINING ROOM
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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