A Small NYC Rental’s Paint and Wallpaper DIYs Pack a Personality Punch

Name: Mitali Gupta and partner
Location: East Village — New York City, New York
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 950 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My partner and I live together in a two-bedroom apartment. My biggest motivation for design is to create an area that reflects the feelings you want to associate with the space. For example, I want our bedroom to feel calming, our dining room romantic, and our living room disarming. I intentionally select colors, furniture, accessories, and lighting to create the aura we want in the space. It’s also essential for me to focus on comfort without compromising aesthetics. I believe I’ve achieved a good balance of this (as you’ll see in some of the photos!)

You’ll find a lot of bright colors, unique pieces, and quirky accents in our home. Our home reflects a combination of our two personalities! My partner and I have opposing personalities, families, and sometimes aesthetics! I grew up in a very structured, highly academic environment, whereas my partner had a more unstructured childhood and likes to joke about how his playschool taught him “creative spelling”! We love how our personalities challenge each other and this is reflected in our aesthetics.

My partner loves strong, energizing colors like reds and purples, whereas I’m drawn to more soothing colors like rust, rose, and beiges.

Our place has now morphed into a quirky combination of our two selves, and our conflicting tastes work together to create something uniquely beautiful.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Eclectic modern

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite area is my workspace. This was a challenging project because I wanted the area to be both functional and aesthetic, especially since it’s an extension of our living room. I was able to completely transform the space by lime-washing the wall and using my partner’s uncle’s artwork. The whole area puts a smile on our faces whenever we look at it, and just creates a very soothing environment in the evening — almost like a painting in itself.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Stay as authentic as possible and challenge yourself to defy trends. The most interesting and beautiful projects can sometimes come from things you never thought would go together!

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

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