See Inside a Renter-Friendly 495-Square-Foot Vail Apartment

This “Very Standard” 495-Square-Foot Got a Colorful but Renter-Friendly Refresh

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495

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“When I first moved in, the space felt very plain, almost too quiet, but I was drawn to the light and the feeling of being tucked into the mountains,” begins Paola of the 495-square-foot apartment she’s rented with her partner, Slava. Paola posts about her home under the moniker The Door 23 on Instagram and on TikTok.

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Credit: Agustina Williams

"One of my proudest DIYs is a vintage-style lamp that I reworked after it broke," Paola explains. "Instead of throwing it away, I saw it as an opportunity to transform it into something more unique. I repaired it and added delicate details like lace, embracing its imperfections and turning them into part of the design. It now acts as a soft, almost theatrical light source in the space."

"That piece really reflects how I approach my home. I don’t believe everything has to be perfect or new to be beautiful. I’m more interested in giving things a second life and reimagining them in a way that feels more personal and expressive."

The one-bedroom rental apartment, located in Vail, Colorado, simply didn’t have its own identity or style when she and Slava moved in. This made Paola feel like she “could slowly turn it into something that reflected” her. Transforming the apartment is something she’s been working on in the past year they’ve rented the space.

But Paola wasn’t about decorate the apartment in a traditional way, though. I build everything based on feeling,” she writes. “I’m very sensitive to colors, light, and how objects interact with each other. Sometimes I’ll look at a corner and feel a small rush, like everything just clicks visually.

Credit: Agustina Williams

Paola has taken a similar approach with other pieces like she has with the lamp she fixed. There's a mirror she customized "by adding sculptural details to its frame, turning something simple into a more playful and distinctive element. Working with a limited budget pushed me to be resourceful, so I often rely on secondhand finds, small modifications, and intuitive decisions rather than buying everything new."

Since the couple is renting, they weren’t able to do any major renovations, so Paola focused instead on “small, intentional transformations that could completely change the feeling of the space.”

Renter-friendly solutions, like “peel-and-stick wallpaper in the kitchen and bathroom, and styling through layering textures, lighting, and color,” was a big part of the home’s transformation. “I also worked with a mix of affordable pieces, secondhand finds, and DIY projects,” she writes.

Credit: Agustina Williams

The couple shares the home with their pup, Haku.

Does the home have a sort of 1960s or 1970s vibe? You’re not imagining things. “I’m drawn to things that feel a little nostalgic, a little playful, sometimes even a bit strange, but when they come together, they create something warm and alive,” Paola writes. “I like spaces that feel slightly unexpected, more like a scene you can step into than just a place you pass through.”