New York

Lisa’s rental home might only be 350 square feet, but the location is unbeatable and an “outdoor” space makes it feels much less smaller.

Erik works from home, and needed a bright, airy space that "inspired me while keeping me in a good mood (happy colors) but relaxed."

Brigette Muller, known as @hummusbirrd on IG and TikTok, may only rent her 560-square-foot NYC apartment, but she’s invested in her own happiness by designing and renovating it to fit her style.

Kate and her husband loved this small unit's natural light, original details (like molding and inlaid hardwood floors), and location, despite not having been updated in many years. "We knew we wanted to keep as much of the original charm as we could, while also updating it to bring in natural elements and modernize the space."

It was small, the kitchen was basically nonexistent, and the bathroom wasn't pretty, but Irene Shamas saw the potential in this studio unit. She worked with Luki Anderson of Studio Officina and EDR Construction to transform this small one-room apartment into a space that can be a living room, dining room, bedroom, office, and more.

Ana shares this tiny studio apartment with her boyfriend, and while there's technically only one actual room for the entire home, her simple but successful room-dividing solution helps make the space much more usable.

Even though Laura Mullaney’s rental apartment is small, she knew the layout had a ton of potential when she first moved in. “I was also super impressed with the amount of storage for such a small space.”

Aaron's favorite "room" is the entire apartment, "because it is a studio that has been designed with intention to give each area a specific use and vibe. Although it is one open space, each section serves a different purpose."

"I filled my home with objects I made, and furniture I gave a second life to (i.e., with paint)," writes Kira. "I worked hard to create a curated environment with a lot of personality on a budget."

When Carissa and her husband moved to NYC from Florida, they had to downsize from a 1,500-square-foot home, so they "had to really process not only the functionality of objects, but also their significance."

Designed by Rosario Candela in the 1930s, Isabel’s apartment building has a rooftop terrace with 360 views of midtown and the East River. But that’s not what sold her on the apartment. “I fell in love with the classic black and white foyer tile marble the instant I walked in the apartment,” she writes.

Monica Johnson is a psychologist and the host of the podcast, Savvy Psychologist, and has infused this apartment with color and different elements that inform their identity and interests as a person.

Tiffany and her cat, Jinju, have turned their small New York studio into a gorgeous home by mixing styles and creating a layout that gives her space for all of life's necessities.

After losing her mom, grandfather, and aunt fairly close to one another, Ruthie used her apartment as a space where she could honor and remember them with photos and knickknacks that bring happy memories.

Caroline Danehy, Chief Brand Officer and co-founder of sustainable clothing and lifestyle brand, Fair Harbor, accomplished a dream when she found this 500-square-foot, one-bedroom walk-up apartment in an old building with history and charm.

Because Jung Hi Han's rental is just a large rectangle, she had to figure out how to arrange the furniture to make different areas. "I used an IKEA bookcase to separate my 'bedroom' from the entry, along with wallpaper to visually create a bedroom. I used the gallery wall in my 'living room' to separate that space, and the two Tara McPherson prints to section off my 'dining room,'" Jung Hi explains.

Zubaida is originally from Bangladesh and is currently completing her MBA at NYU. She and her cat, Mushu, live in a one-bedroom apartment in Hell's Kitchen, which is carefully curated with cute, unique objects in every corner.

Dotun's Crown Heights apartment is filled with bright yellows and oranges that bring the space to life. Inspired by Early West African graphic design and pop art, Dotun believes in bringing in pieces from your travels to make a space your own.

After going through a breakup and having to move out, Hayley committed to making her next life chapter about celebrating herself, starting with living alone for the first time. She found her home on the Upper East Side and began curating a collection of clean neutrals that keep her home looking pristine.

When Jennelle moved into her place for the first time, she realized buying everything at once would be expensive. So instead, she slowly collected things from the curb, Facebook Marketplace, and places within her budget to create a beautiful New York apartment that nods to her parents who immigrated from Jamaica.

Chandler and Lucy were living in California when they decided to move to NYC for the first time. Though they initially were looking for one-bedrooms, when their friend saw a great studio on the Upper West Side, they submitted their application and trusted that it would work!

After her uncle's passing, Sophia inherited his Manhattan apartment, and her grandmother lives only six blocks away. At first, it was difficult for her grandma to come visit. So Sophia decided to decorate the space with her grandma's art to bring joy into her home.

Nina Haines, founder of the Sapphic book club Sapph-Lit, painted cabinets purple, installed marble contact paper to countertops, added a squiggle-shaped painted accent, and more in her Brooklyn rental. “There are colors and patterns and kitschy touches everywhere. My friend once commented that it looks like Lizzie McGuire threw up everywhere," she says.

After living in sixteen different apartments with roommates, Coralie took a huge step and moved in on her own for the first time. She found a one bedroom in Fort Greene that she has decorated with art of her favorite artists and books while staying true to her neat and tidy minimalist roots.

Kayla works in HR at Apartment Therapy and has turned her home into her sanctuary. Working with a small space and budget, she used the color palette of her neighborhood to bring to life her gorgeous bohemian home.

Lucy was about to sign the lease on a Brooklyn apartment when she found her dream home in Manhattan. She switched gears and moved into this small studio during the pandemic, getting a big discount. She has thrifted and stooped many of her apartment treasures to create a stunning New York City home.

Meher immigrated to America ten years ago and never believed she'd be living on her own in New York. When she was finally ready to take the leap, she created a vision board of everything she wanted in her apartment. Just as she was about to settle, she found the perfect spot that she's decorated with items and color palettes from all over the world.

When Calvin moved into his Manhattan apartment, he recruited the help of his friend Colton Ackerman to bring his home to life. Calvin's home now is covered in fun murals that make every inch of the place a work of art.

Brendan and Kiersten got married in July and have been living together for six years. They moved into their current apartment two years ago with their Corgi, Lottie. Being lovers of books, they transformed their second bedroom into a library and office space that would make any bookworm jealous.

At first, designer Linda Cava only meant to replace her 10-year-old bedframe. But then she swapped out a bedside table to fit the new bed's style, next decided to trade the old sofa for a larger sectional... and then a mix of paint updates, vintage furniture elements, and more made her small home feel completely refreshed.

Journalist Jessica Bennett and her partner Sam did a gut renovation on this Brooklyn loft, updating the kitchen, bathrooms, and building custom furniture for many of the rooms.

The walls of Marty's Lower East Side Apartment are covered in photos and notes from friends throughout the years.

By shopping secondhand and grabbing items off the street, Bronwyn Tarboton, a musical theater performer who runs the brilliant Instagram and TikTok accounts, @nyctrashtotreasures, was able to make her dream home an affordable reality.

When Katelyn Sailor and her husband, Kyle, decided to try living in New York City a year ago, they arrived with only their clothes, a bed, kitchen items, and some basic decor. 

Michal Kolaczkowski and Trevor Kuhn have been renting this 300-square-foot studio apartment on New York City's Upper West Side for about seven months.

The entire home is full of historic architectural details, from original herringbone wood floors, original dog-bone tiles in the bathroom, mirrored cabinet in the kitchen, gorgeous crown moldings on the walls, and the high ceilings, which Jessica says make the studio feel spacious.

Brianna Holt, a freelance journalist, took this plain condo and transformed it with a Parisian Modern-inspired aesthetic, fully remodeling the kitchen, renovating the bathroom, installing built-in shelves, and adding new doors and crown molding throughout.

Jenn and her partner are both artists who wanted to turn their home into a funky combination of their two aesthetics. Through pops of color, gorgeous floating shelves, and tons of house plants, they have achieved their dream home.

Home decor TikToker Michelle Pham and her partner, Akshay Kumar, moved into this large full-floor rental loft in New York City sight unseen -- and without any furniture. Thanks to DIY skills, discounted buys, and Facebook Marketplace, the couple has created an eclectic, maximalist, colorful, worldly, and bohemian home... and all during a supply chain crisis!

As a fashion accessory designer, Courtney is used to taking on creative projects and making art. With her studio apartment in Manhattan, she uses thrifted furniture and brings it back to life with a fresh coat of paint to add a finishing touch to her home.

Sarah Jackson, her husband Greg, and their dog Rex live in a well-curated apartment on Roosevelt Island, best-known for the tram that connects it to Manhattan over the East River.

When I moved into my Colonial Revival-style building, I was a freelance editorial assistant and was simply striving to pay rent on my own!" exclaims fashion stylist James Bianca. "Despite having very little money, I had a hardy wish list, which included a full kitchen, a working fireplace, south-facing exposures, and outdoor space."

When Victoria was subletting in New York for the summer, her cab home drove past a brownstone in Harlem with a "For Rent" sign in the window. She had her driver let her out early in front of the building that would become her new home.

During the pandemic, Brian left his apartment with a rotating cast of roommates and gave himself time to find his perfect home. When this loft in the West Village went up, he knew he had to have it. He has since converted the small space into a plant filled oasis.

Pratika and Mareya are roommates with an eye for design. They've made their small NYC apartment feel bigger with the use of natural light. They focus on surrounding themselves with things they love to complete the space.

Lauren brought her love for the '60s and '70s into her Brooklyn apartment through color, using orange as the main hue. The small studio features an orange mirror and couch and lots of cute retro decor elements to complete the look.

Katie has turned her Harlem apartment into a home by adding in her Alaskan roots and finding beauty in small spaces.

When Bailey moved into an Upper West Side studio, she had to make purposeful purchases and decor decisions to fit all her favorite items in this very small space.

Visual artist and designer⁠ Meagan Jain and her partner, Nikolas, fell in love with the skylights and the south-facing windows of this Brooklyn rental apartment. They also loved the amount of space; there is enough room for her art studio and more.

As an artist, Jessica has transformed her apartment into a colorful paradise. She fills the walls with her own art and works by other artists to make her home into a bright, DIYed space.

Maitri Mody (@honeyidressedthepug on Instagram) grew up in Mumbai surrounded by colors and says she can't live in a minimal white box. "I moved into this apartment after separating from a 10-year marriage and starting off on my own. So, I wanted it to be happy, cheerful, and positive," she writes.

Tay is a set designer, builder, and DJ, and describes herself as an “audacious welder of dreamscapes,” like the colorful apartment she rents in Brooklyn.

Thanks to great layout planning and smart storage ideas, this couple's small apartment feels much bigger. And there's an adorable terrace, too!

"My favorite color is pink, which is also very evident in not just my apartment but anything I design at work too. If I can work the color pink into a project or my home, I will absolutely do it," says Briana Guin, who shares this 635-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn with two roommates.

The moment sisters Farah and Vanessa walked into this studio apartment, they knew it was the one and put in an offer the same day! "It was the perfect space with a little balcony."

Astead W. Herndon thinks you should always invest in a good couch. His is a gorgeous pink one... a bold color suggestion made by a Hinge date!