A 460-Square-Foot Rental Apartment Is Like a Colorful Jewel Box Thanks to Accessories, Textiles, and Art

Name: Claire Koller-Smith
Location: London, United Kingdom
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 460 square feet
Years lived in: 2 months, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I moved to a one-bedroom apartment in February this year. This is my first time living alone and decorating an apartment exactly how I want it, and I’m loving having something that is exactly to my taste. I was lucky to already have a number of artworks and decorative items from my travels over the two years I’ve lived in London. (I’m originally from Australia). I love beautiful things, in particular art, ceramics, textiles, and flowers, and I have tried to fill my apartment with all of these.

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is the living room. I love the vintage rug, the plants, flowers, all my books, artworks, and mementos from trips overseas.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Jewel box in the sky

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? A slow stitch kit from Wattle & Loop. I’ve been getting into at home crafts (embroidery and pottery) during lockdown, and my next project is a textile work of a rooster, which arrived this morning.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Buy things you love. Use color to create richness. Try to get something for your home whenever you are overseas so your home is full of memories of wonderful holidays. Also, flowers and plants never go awry.

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

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