A Maximalist, Vintage, Budget Small/Cool Space
A Maximalist, Vintage, Budget Small/Cool Space
Name: Emily Haugen
Instagram: @emilyahaugen
Size: 500 sq ft
Home type: Studio apartment
Location: Chicago, IL
Years lived in: 1 month, rented
Household: No one
Have any design professionals worked on this space: No
How did you use color in your space? I chose rich but bright colors to give a very warm and cozy feeling, firmly believing that a wall color gives my collection of things a chance to "pop" against the contrast of the walls. I chose yellow for the closet and bathroom, to marry the spaces together, and green for the kitchen and dining area to create an elegant feel in such a small space.
Describe your space:
With a collection of thrifted items, a staunch rejection of minimalism, and a need to make a rental space feel personal, my studio is a reflection of my personality. Using my space efficiently gave me room for everything I found essential, including a dining space, a separate bed area, and a library doubling as a room divider. I also painted, redid the kitchen counters, added saloon doors to separate the closet, and updated all hardware.
Did you DIY anything in your space? And, if so, what's your favorite DIY?
My favorite DIY is the closet saloon doors, made from curtains, that i used to separate the closet and give myself a bit more hidden storage.
How do you make your small space work for you and feel bigger than it really is?
I used IKEA KALLAX shelves to create an L shaped room divider that from the entry creates a library nook. I custom made cane doors for the unit to close off storage and hide my linens, and used the depth of the unit to shelve books on both sides, so from the bed you also see a collection of books.
How does your home reflect you?
It is very colorful and warm, with a lot of character seen in all of the DIY touches and thrifted items.