A Bright, Cozy, Warm Small/Cool Space
A Bright, Cozy, Warm Small/Cool Space
Name: Kate Topalis
Size: 600 sq ft
Home type: Apartment
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Years lived in: 1 year, rented
Household: Self
Have any design professionals worked on this space: No
How did you use color in your space? Pops of bright! I LOVE color, and don't worry about mixing and matching throughout. As long as there are neutrals to even it out, every color is welcome! Same goes for patterns — in this space, I used a bright, bold carpet up against a muted, striped couch to keep it from feeling too busy.
Describe your space:
This space is essentially a series of long lines, and it was hard to arrange furniture in a way that flowed nicely. It also lacks essentially any meaningful storage space, and so it was difficult at first to find ways to create this without making it look cluttered. I tried to keep the background of neutrals intact to make it feel larger, but then added in pops of color throughout to brighten the space and make it feel more personal. I love how warm and happy it feels, and different rooms take center stage throughout the day depending on where the light is hitting.
Did you DIY anything in your space? And, if so, what's your favorite DIY?
My mirror/dresser combo in the bedroom! I purchased, sanded, and painted the chest in a single day, which was quite an event. I had found the mirror on Craigslist several weeks earlier, which was detached from a separate dresser set, and purchased it on an impulse. It took three people to get it up the stairs, and it sat on my bedroom floor for several weeks until I came up with the idea of propping it on a chest. I love the mix of colors and natural wood — it truly is a statement piece, which is exactly what I was looking for.
How do you make your small space work for you and feel bigger than it really is?
I tried to find storage pieces that were decorative in and of themselves — bright bins on bamboo shelving in the bathroom, a bookshelf that I stained from an old bunk bed ladder, and, of course, my clothing rack, which became a focal piece in and of itself. Storage can take up space in a wonderful way too — by creating height and dimension to otherwise blank and colorless walls. I also have bins hidden EVERYWHERE — I would never have survived without hidden storage too!
How does your home reflect you?
I hate clutter, and yet I wanted the space to feel eclectic and personal. Creating small bursts of colors throughout keeps it feeling happy and inviting, but my choice of bright colors means I only need a few key pieces to create that feel — meaning less clutter!