A Minimal, Cozy 500-Square-Foot Brooklyn Studio Was Furnished for About $300

Name: Sylvia
Location: Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Type of home: Studio
Size: 500 square feet
Years lived in: 7 months, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I moved to Brooklyn in the middle of a pandemic as a health care worker. I had never lived alone before, nor did I ever move into an unfurnished home. I immigrated to the U.S. eight years ago at 19 years old and always felt like a stranger, outsider, without a permanent home. Because this was the first time I got to really furnish my own place, I wanted to really reflect who I am.

I’ve been trying to be minimal, and in fact, everything in these photos was found through Facebook marketplace, stooping the streets, and/or gifted by the community share groups.

I wanted it to be simple, with some color accents — red, green, and white everything — in order to have the natural sunlight shine!

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Simple, cozy, plants, wood, and light

What is your favorite room and why? I live in a studio, so every square foot of my studio!

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? My most recent find is actually the wooden shelf. This shelf was in the street with a lovely sticky-note that said “FREE” right in front of my building! It was an easy drag up to my studio from there.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Take your time, and be picky! There are so many options out there, and it is so easy to budget! Just to give you an idea, I bought plants or was gifted on FB marketplace for all under $100.

I bought three red chairs for $10 on Craigslist, the loveseat for $50, the coffee table for $40 on Facebook. The mattress and bed frame were bought used from a neighbor, and the rest are street finds! I think I spent less than $300 for all my furniture. It’s possible to be eco-friendly, re-used, and not get bedbugs in NYC after all!

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

Share Your Style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form