This Renter Made Her 500-Square-Foot Los Angeles Studio Apartment Feel Like Separate Rooms
Writer and interior design student Brett Bralley‘s studio apartment in Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood might only be 500 square feet large, but she’s managed to fit many different distinct areas in her rental that she’s lived in for three years.
The headboard is from West Elm, the art above the bed is by Liz Lane, and the throw pillows are from Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing.
“As soon as I walked into this Spanish-style historic apartment, I knew it was for me,” she describes of the apartment built around 1930. “I loved the terracotta tile, the built-ins, the archways, and all that natural light. It’s a small space, but I saw the potential for lots of functionality.”
Brett explains that even though her space is small, she was able to divide the main room into different zones for sleeping, lounging, and dining. “I floated my sofa in the middle of the room, which helped section the areas off. My bedroom area has the perfect alcove for a queen-size bed. It’s possible that may have been for a Murphy bed once upon a time,” she surmises.
Brett is a writer and needed a space to work separate from her living/sleeping area (but close to her espresso machine, she jokes); she chose to use the apartment’s dining nook as a home office.
“I rarely need a dining table, so this made sense. I really enjoy the challenge of small spaces and making them work for me. I’m an interior design student, and maximizing small spaces is definitely something I’d like to help others achieve for themselves.”
Creating distinct zones isn’t the only way that Brett makes her small space work. Focusing on making sure there is “ample storage” has been a priority. “If I can give any advice when choosing to live in a tiny space, be sure to have plenty of storage. I have a large deep closet that does lots of heavy lifting. But this apartment also has great built-ins. On top of that, I choose pieces that offer storage, like my media credenza for example. That’s where I store my towels, linens, and my hairdryer.”
“My home is my favorite place to be, and golden hour is the absolute best time to be here,” Brett writes. “I designed this place to be a reflection of who I am: joyful, creative, and a little weird. I love color and use it boldly. I leaned into pink and feminine details and curated an eclectic mix of art, textiles, handmade objects, and trinkets — many of which I picked up while traveling.”
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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