A 15-Minute Renter-Friendly Fix Helped Fit the Furniture in This Apartment’s Quirky Layout

It’s not uncommon for people to want their small spaces to feel bigger. People might hang curtains in a studio to distinguish separate “rooms” or use unexpected room dividers to delineate one space from another. However, C.J. and Zoë went the opposite route in their 415-square-foot Brooklyn apartment — they essentially turned a one-bedroom into what they call a “glorified studio.” 

“The apartment has a quirky layout, including a curved wall and a bedroom door that opens inward, making it surprisingly difficult to arrange our furniture,” C.J. explained at the time of the House Tour. So the couple simply removed the bedroom door, making it one of the simplest 15-minute hacks for dealing with a funky layout. 

What inspires me is how C.J. and Zoë didn’t live with the “quirky layout” that was causing furniture placement issues, and went against the grain. While it’s unexpected and means they lost a little bit of privacy, it’s a decision that made their bedroom feel much larger and benefitted the entire apartment’s flow. 

“That might be our favorite home project that we’ve done,” C.J. said about removing the door. “It opened up the space and gave us more options. While without a door our 1-bedroom might be a glorified studio, we wouldn’t change a thing.” 

C.J. describes their apartment layout as “two giant rectangles with a hallway connecting them.” When they removed the door, it allowed the spaces to flow together. He enjoys sitting at the red chair in the living room and looking down the hallway into their bedroom and seeing the sunlight streaming through the windows.

While temporarily removing the bedroom door benefited the home’s layout, it’s important to consider the potential safety implications of this decision. Before removing a bedroom door, remember that closed doors can help slow the spread of smoke, heat, and flames during a fire. That’s why the Fire Safety Research Institute recommends sleeping with bedroom doors closed as part of its “Close Before You Doze” campaign.

Taking out the primary door was a rental-friendly trick to make their layout work better for them. (They’re not the first House Tour participants I’ve seen who’ve done this.) C.J. simply used a power tool to remove the door from its hinges (though a non-power screwdriver would work as well) and then stored it in a place where it isn’t visible. 

“We don’t have a lot of storage in our tiny Brooklyn apartment, so it is strategically hidden behind our dresser,” C.J. shared in an email.

Deciding on a somewhat controversial move to remove the primary bedroom door made C.J. and Zoë’s home work for them. If you feel stuck with an inward-opening door that’s making your layout feel unnecessarily compact, follow this couple’s lead and get creative. To see more of this wonderful home, visit the full House Tour.