Full-time content creator Maitri Mody instantly fell in love when she spotted this 450-square-foot studio apartment. “I said yes to the agent even before I checked out the bathroom or closets,” she writes. “I decided to get it quicker than I would buy a pair of shoes.”

“This is my first ever solo apartment, which I moved into during peak pandemic in September 2020. Finding a good, affordable apartment on the Upper West Side, close to Central Park, can be quite challenging. I love this neighborhood and take my dog for a walk every day. I saw so many apartments that were tiny, dark, and dingy. This would not work for me, as I am a full-time content creator who needs good daylight to create content at home. The rent was slightly lower due to pandemic, but not by much. Luckily it was still within my budget,” Maitri writes.

“It had a great vibe when I walked in. It has big bay windows that bring in plenty of daylight and a view of pretty brownstone buildings on the street. It also has a brick wall with a faux fireplace and a spacious separate kitchen (which is rare in Manhattan studio apartments). I also love the location — there are bars, coffee shops, and restaurants all around me, and it’s super dog friendly.”

Inspiration: Color is my biggest inspiration and starting off point. I grew up in Mumbai, surrounded by colors and chaos. I cannot live in a white box, and my aesthetic is far from minimal. I would say my style is girly maximalism. 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. I think I have managed to create that.

Favorite Element: I would say my bed placement next to the bay window. Sometimes I can see airplanes flying at night, or I wake up to a pink-orange sunrise. I can also look onto the street and a tennis court. People watching from bed is fun for me and my pug.

Biggest Challenge: Storage was a challenge since there wasn’t much that came built-in. So I have used a whole bunch of sleek lockers in different colors and sizes in corners and small spaces. Not only do they look cool and colorful, but they also hold a lot of stuff.

Proudest DIY: I painted my IKEA dresser pink and changed the knobs to this cool black-and-white checkered design. It completely transformed the dresser, and it’s now one of my favorite pieces in the apartment!

Biggest Indulgence: My sofa is the most expensive piece of furniture that I bought. But it’s a very pretty curved design, plus I was very limited in the amount of space I had. So, most regular sofas didn’t work. This one was the perfect size for two people, or for one person to stretch out and read a book.

Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? Normally, a desk is not placed in the kitchen, but since I have a big window in the wall between the kitchen and living room, I can still look into my living room or outside the windows while sitting at my desk. This made the most sense, and utilizes the extra space in the kitchen since it is kind of big compared to average NYC kitchens.

What are your favorite products you have bought for your home and why? My favorite would be my IKEA PAX closet. I don’t have enough closet space and my dog and I own quite a few clothes. So I customized it to hold both our clothes and my accessories. And the colorful clothes have become a part of the decor.

Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: I would say that if you want to maximize your wall space to have art or other decor items displayed, then swap your TV screen for a pull-out movie projector that gets attached to the ceiling. This way you can keep it rolled up when it’s not in use and you don’t have to sacrifice movie nights.

Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? I would say don’t be afraid of color. Colors have a big effect on our moods. So adding colors to enhance the vibe of a specific room or corner would do wonders to a space.

• Checkered purple wall and arch ⁠— Behr’s “Flower Girl”
• Pink dresser and radiator⁠ — Benjamin Moore’s “Spring Azalea”
• Kitchen cabinets ⁠— Lick’s “Pink 03” and “Yellow 01”
• Green Living Room Wall ⁠— Lick’s “Green 13”
• Fridge Wallpaper⁠ — Wallpops’ “Peachy Keen” Peel and Stick
• Bathroom Wallpaper ⁠— Wallpops’ “Bubblegum Leaping Cheetah” Peel and Stick
• Kitchen wall Wallpaper ⁠— Wallpops’ “Ochre Clementine Garden” Peel and Stick

• Pink Sofa — Remy Loveseat from AllModern
• Acrylic bookshelf — Wayfair
• Checkered rug — Berber Stuff
• Mushroom Ottoman — Target
• Wavy lamp — Wooj
• Bed frame — Wayfair

• Storage shelf — Hay Design
• Desk — IKEA
• Desk Chair — Article

Thanks, Maitri!

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity. Share Your Style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form