Simple Chic

Vase with orange tulips on a light wood table, next to a matching stool.
Great DIY Desks with IKEA Countertops and LegsHome Projects
This is a pearl of wisdom that I received years ago and wanted to bring back right now. When in need of a really simple, nice, natural material desk, use IKEA butcherblock countertop (which is cuttable, sandable, stainable and paintable) and some cool legs (like the Vika Inge style seen here, which has been replaced with Vika Runtorp).
Maxwell Ryan
Oct 12, 2022
A 480-Square-Foot Dutch Apartment Was Furnished Beautifully on a BudgetTours
The decoration of Van Anh Langelaan's apartment is tremendously budget-friendly, with vintage furniture, DIY-wall decor, and even an old dresser she refurbished and painted herself.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 14, 2021
Before & After: A Previously Abandoned Airstream's Transformation Is BeautifulTours
This creative couple bought an abandoned Airstream on the side of the road for $600, eventually spending two and a half years and $20k to completely renovate it themselves!
Laura Guidry
Mar 25, 2021
A Tampa Townhouse Has Rooms That Do Triple Duty for a Family of FiveTours
Though not exactly tiny, Kim Bui's house still had to fit her family of five and all the various functions they needed during the pandemic — including two home offices and school for three kids — in to her house. She did so by making rooms perform double and triple duty!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Mar 19, 2021
If You Hate Heavy Shelves But Love Books, You'll Love This ApartmentTours
Podcast Host Becca Freeman needed to find a creative display and storage solution for her books, and a gorgeous custom bookcase from Soil and Oak was just the right fit.
Sarah Lyon
Mar 18, 2021
This Cute Toronto Apartment Is PACKED with Brilliant Budget Renters SolutionsTours
Like installing pink peel and stick backsplash tiles, replacing fixtures and hardware such as handles, light switches, faucets, and more!
Lauren Kolyn
Mar 12, 2021
A Former Small/Cool Winner's Small Home Now Includes a WFH Spot & GymTours
Former Small/Cool Contest winner Pamela Kaupinen's tiny apartment has had to turn into many different things during quarantine, including a home office and gym! See how she fit more functions in her small space with this updated look at her NYC rental apartment.
Adrienne Breaux
Mar 12, 2021
B&A: A Small Studio's Closet Becomes a Functional & Cute Kitchenette Tours
Lily Fuentez transformed her standard sliding-door-closet into a kitchenette using a storage cabinet from Home Depot and some creative use of shelving that is usually meant for under sinks.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Mar 3, 2021
This Chic Rental Was Furnished for What Most People Spend on a Nice SofaTours
Alann says that nearly everything in this apartment was either found, stolen from his parents’ house, or picked up at a flea market or yard sale.
Adrienne Breaux
Feb 15, 2021
You'd Never Guess This Condo Was Decorated in Part Thanks to Rentable FurnitureTours
Léa purchased very few new things for her apartment. The owner left the couch, bedframe, and kitchen island, and she scored deals on Marketplace and items from her parents. But she also rented her entire dining set, leather chairs, and kitchen chairs through a furniture rental company called Pivot.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jan 14, 2021
A Design Expert's 750-Square-Foot Rental Is Full of Brilliant Hidden Storage
Professional Organizer House Tour
Through her business Maximizing Tiny, Shamika helps clients with practical and creative solutions—like what size furniture to purchase for a small home and how to maximize storage space. And she's also designed a smart, functional, and ultra stylish home in just 750 square feet for her and her family.
Adrienne Breaux
Jan 6, 2021
This Renter Used Colors and Shapes to Update Her Small 1970s-Style ApartmentTours
Battling beige wall-to-wall carpeting and plain wall paint colors isn't easy when you're renting, but Dominique Fluker played around with intentional use of shapes and colors to create a fresh look that matches her and her partner's style.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 31, 2020
A Small, Cozy San Francisco Apartment Has the Cutest Mid-Century Holiday Style Tours
When this couple saw the beautiful Spanish tiles on the fireplace and molding details on the wall, they knew this was the home for them!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 15, 2020
A 440-Square-Foot Studio Apartment Is Scandinavian-Inspired & Incredibly SereneTours
Carla Loo's apartment layout allows her to place furniture in a way that makes it functional as a living and working space.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 14, 2020
A 100-Year-Old Spanish Bungalow Has Beautiful Bones and Awesome ArchesTours
There are original barrel ceilings, hand-done textured plaster and a giant arch window, arch bookcases, arch doorways, and a fireplace.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Dec 11, 2020
A 600-Square-Foot New York City Apartment Has a Ton of Small Space Decor InspoTours
French expats have made this charming one-bedroom apartment in a pre-war building from 1900 into a lovely, cozy small home.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Nov 24, 2020
B&A: This 323-Square-Foot Studio Was Transformed into a Cozy One-Bedroom Tours
There was dated '70s decor, a mothball smell, and lots of clutter in this teeny studio apartment, but Michelle and her husband were able to transform it into a cozy and clean one-bedroom!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Nov 27, 2020
A Small Condo Has Clever Renter's Solutions and a Gorgeous Mini PatioTours
Nayana used white marble contact paper on the counters and removable white subway tile backsplash in her dark rental kitchen to brighten up the space.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Nov 24, 2020
This Interior Designer's Blank Rental Was Decorated Beautifully on a BudgetTours
Budget was a challenge when Samantha Stein first started her interior design business. She had to search through Craigslist, Facebook Marketplaces, estate sales, garage sales to furnish her rental home.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Nov 19, 2020
A Plethora of Plants (and Custom Murphy Bed) Makes This 280-Square-Foot NYC Studio Feel Refreshingly BigTours
This teeny studio apartment feels like a small indoor jungle where everything fits together well.
Chinasa Cooper
Nov 17, 2020
The Co-Author of 'Plantopedia' Has a Soothing, Plant-Filled Australia HomeTours
Sophia Kaplan wrote the book on houseplants. No, really. She and Lauren Camilleri, her business partner at their Sydney-based indoor plant and pot delivery service Leaf Supply, are the authors behind "Plantopedia."
Adrienne Breaux
Nov 12, 2020
With a Little Design Magic, a Photographer Turned a One-Bedroom Rental into TwoTours
She replaced some furniture with smaller, more functional pieces and created a "cubby house bed" to turn this one-bedroom rental apartment into essentially a two-bedroom apartment.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Nov 5, 2020
A Light-Filled New Orleans Apartment Features Rental-Friendly Decor IdeasTours
Laura and Ashley love the open layout, wood floors, natural light, fireplace, and mint green bathroom tiles of their Uptown New Orleans rental apartment.
Laura Steffan
Oct 29, 2020
A 280-Square-Foot Studio Proves the Space-Maximizing Power of Vertical StorageTours
This tiny NYC studio has a piano instead of a couch, an expandable table that can seat up to six, and lots of vertical storage solutions for small spaces.
Adrienne Breaux
Oct 28, 2020
This Renovated 100-Year-Old House in Buenos Aires Is an Utterly Stunning HomeTours
This house was near collapse when a couple bought it, but boy was it a steal! It took them three years to complete the renovation of this 100-year-old house.
Magali Saberian
Oct 27, 2020
B&A: A Beautiful 600-Square-Foot Studio Was Furnished on a Small BudgetTours
Photographer and stylist Erin Miles shares this 600-square-foot, lofted studio apartment with her boyfriend and designed an elegant, beautiful small home... all on a very low budget.
Adrienne Breaux
Oct 23, 2020
A Small, Chic Icelandic Apartment Is an Absolutely Dreamy Minimal, Modern Home
Dream Week
In a year where I'm not sure when I'll ever be able to travel again—let alone move to a foreign country—dreaming vicariously through Jewells Chambers' Iceland home is sustaining me.
Adrienne Breaux
Oct 22, 2020
This Charming House Is Filled with Art & Decor, Including a Very Cute BenchTours
This charming 1840s Richmond row house from the front with a lush yard/garden nestled in the back, and windows on all sides giving glorious light all day long.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 16, 2020
A 180-Square-Foot NYC Studio Proves the Power of Flexible Furniture Tours
The tiny studio apartment was furnished entirely from Amazon orders, street-side finds, and local Chinatown treasures from the shops of East Broadway and Grand Street.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 2, 2020
A Spanish Space Shows How to Craft a Warm, Interesting Home While Being Minimal Tours
Apartment Therapy contributor Alicia Macias photographs beautiful house tours from Spain, and now shows off her own light-filled, airy, and ultra inspiring home.
Alicia Macias
Sep 10, 2020
Before & After: A Neglected 1924 Spanish Casita Got a Beautiful Budget RenoTours
Over the years there have been some built-ins and add-ons that didn’t quite make sense to this home’s history, so Taylor and Philip are working tirelessly to restore the home to her former glory.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Aug 26, 2020
A Small 100-Year-Old House Renovated on a Budget Has a Cute DIY Paint Detail Tours
At just 865 square feet and 100 years old, it is small but mighty, and was done on a very tight first-home buyer budget!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Aug 22, 2020
A 421-Square-Foot Accessory Dwelling Unit Feels Much Larger Than It Actually IsTours
Shawn built this ADU in the original garage on their mom’s property—it's got everything you could want in a cozy home... just on a smaller scale!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Aug 20, 2020
14 Ways to Decorate with Vintage Pieces in Your BathroomDecorating
Despite being small, bathrooms can be the trickiest to decorate. We find ourselves thinking wisely about every decision, since this room holds a captive audience. If you’re looking for a little country or vintage charm in your bathroom, try recycling or repurposing something you may already have.
Melissa DiRenzo
Jul 15, 2020
A Cute 264-Square-Foot Converted Bus Feels Just Like a Real HouseTours
What inspired this young couple to downsize and move into a tiny home was the exhausting lifestyle of working to pay rent each month.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jul 14, 2020
A 415-Square-Foot San Francisco Studio Shows How to Go Glam on a BudgetTours
Abigail's specialty is turning a small living space into a home on a budget... and her teeny studio apartment is a great example!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 12, 2020
A Small NYC Apartment Is Filled with Natural Light and Clever Book DisplaysTours
The apartment is just 600 square feet, but the 13-foot ceilings and white wooden floors make it appear much larger. And there are exposed beams, soaking tub, and working fireplace in this remodeled space.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 9, 2020
A 600-Square-Foot Studio Apartment Proves the Power of a Painted Half WallTours
From the bold pinks and oranges to family vintage items and a lot of hidden brass cats, this rental apartment is a little magical paradise.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 1, 2020
A 600-Square-Foot Austin Rental Apartment Shows How to Keep it Casual and CozyTours
Each area of this small rental apartment is filled with stories and memories, and this interior design loves living here.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 30, 2020
A 500 Sq. Ft. NYC Studio Feels Larger Thanks to Its Furniture LayoutTours
Even though this studio apartment is an open space, thanks to good space planning, it feels like it has different nooks.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 19, 2020
A Sunny Minimal 588-Square-Foot Apartment Seems Larger Than It IsTours
Keeping the furnishings minimal makes this small rental apartment feel quite airy and spacious.
Minette Hand
May 14, 2020
A 650-Square-Foot Rental Has Cute Cat Decor and the Perfect Pale Pink ColorTours
This creative couple fell in love with this Chicago rental apartment because of its older design and closed concept.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 10, 2020
Thanks to Murphy Beds, a Small 1-Bedroom Apartment Acts More Like a 2-BedroomTours
A neutral color palette, multi-purpose furniture, and prioritizing how the space NEEDS to function are the design tools self-help author Karen Salmansohn used to make her 650-square-foot apartment work for her and her young son.
Adrienne Breaux
May 6, 2020
B&A: A Small Studio's Custom Furniture & Storage Ideas Maximize Every InchTours
It's only 330 square feet big, but this New York City studio apartment is INCREDIBLE.
Adrienne Breaux
May 5, 2020
An Old Airstream Was DIYed into a Dreamy, Minimal, Cozy Boho HomeTours
This 1988 Airstream Limited went from being full of junk and brown recluse spiders to a warm, cozy, minimal home on wheels.
Adrienne Breaux
Apr 28, 2020
After a Fire, This Couple Had to Decorate From ScratchTours
While Nicole and Josh were grateful to make it out of their apartment building's fire alive, they left behind all of their furniture, clothing, electronics, AND had to downsize when they find a new apartment a few weeks later.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 24, 2020
B&A: This Home's a Reminder That a Refresh Can Be Both Low-Budget & Low-Impact
Green Week
Low-waste design expert Laura Baross helped redesign nonprofit founder Larissa May's small Brooklyn rental apartment.
Adrienne Breaux
Apr 22, 2020
A Light-Filled Barcelona Apartment Strikes the Perfect BalanceTours
This art director's rental flat is filled with great natural light.
Alicia Macias
Apr 17, 2020
A Simple Apartment's Kitchen Was Improved Thanks to White Paint and an IKEA CartTours
This spacious and delightfully old two-bedroom apartment has wonderful hardwood floors and the most beautiful crown molding ever seen in a rental!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 16, 2020
Kellie Brown's L.A. Apartment Is as Stylish as She IsTours
Lifestyle blogger (and founder of And I Get Dressed) Kellie Brown describes this apartment's style as "California meets 'Golden Girls' hideaway."
Adrienne Breaux
Apr 15, 2020
A 100-Year-Old Mill House Was Given a Gorgeous Scandinavian-Inspired UpdateTours
"Our home was built in 1911 and belongs to an entire street of similarly built mill houses and I love that it has been around for over 100 years."
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 14, 2020
Thanks to Pocket Doors, a Renter Calls Her Home's Layout 'Optional Open Concept'Tours
Hattie Kolp has lived in this rental apartment her whole life; when her parents retired and moved out of the city, the home became hers to redecorate!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 10, 2020
A 180-Year-Old Stone-Built English Cottage Is Just as Dreamy as You'd HopeTours
Eloise and her partner have been re-decorating and renovating it for the past two years, introducing color and mid-century style to complement the natural stone textures and original features of the house.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 7, 2020
This Small Chicago Rental Has Great Art, Removable Wallpaper, and Gorgeous DecorTours
Each room has a beautiful, different vibe.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 8, 2020
A 600-Square-Foot Brooklyn Home's Full of Mood-Boosting Colors and Great IdeasTours
Health and wellness expert Liz Moody calls her home a "non-toxic, book and plant-filled Mexico City-inspired oasis."
Erin Derby
Apr 6, 2020
A Small Portuguese Apartment Is an Inspiring Arrangement of Vintage FindsTours
And the teeny tiny terrace is everything!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 3, 2020
A 315-Square-Foot Studio Shows How to Use Art to Create Distinct ZonesTours
This small home also shows how to master a "French country meets mid-century modern" style.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Apr 2, 2020
A Horticulturist's Small Home Is as Plant-Filled and Green as You'd ExpectTours
Thomas Denning and his partner live in this small Melbourne apartment absolutely brimming with lush green plant life.
Natalie Jeffcott
Apr 1, 2020
This Barcelona Apartment Masters Effortless, Airy, and Very Affordable Decor Tours
See inside the lovely Barcelona home of one of Apartment Therapy's house tour contributors: Lula Poggi!
Lula Poggi
Mar 31, 2020
A Small NYC Studio Has Clever Storage Solutions and Cute Plant DisplaysTours
From using the built-in hamper for bathroom storage to purchasing a storage sofa from IKEA, this studio dweller has found ways to be creative with her small home.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Mar 30, 2020
A Ceramicist's Victorian House in Brooklyn Is Full of Art, Books, & Decor InspoTours
Molly Prentiss, a novelist, and Forrest Lewinger, a ceramicist for Workaday Handmade, live in and work from this airy, modernized Victorian house in Brooklyn.
Chloe Berk
Mar 30, 2020