This New Yorker Squeezes an Office, Living Area, and Even a ‘Gym’ in a 350-Square-Foot Studio

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
Credit: Marianna Breytman

Name: Marianna Breytman
Location: Washington Heights — New York, NY
Type of home: Studio Apartment
Size: 350 Square Feet
Years lived in: 2 years, renting

Credit: Marianna Breytman

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I call my apartment “my little nest”—tiny, but my own. It brings together all of my favorite things—travel, books, color, and family. I wanted to make this a space that I loved coming home to and spending time in, so I put a lot of effort into creating cozy and welcoming areas.

Credit: Marianna Breytman

My biggest challenge was creating separate “rooms” in a space so small and I’m proud to say that after two years of furniture Tetris, I have a bedroom, an office, a living area, and even a gym sometimes (!) all in one 11×14-foot room. Most importantly, visitors always say they feel warm and at home here and there’s nothing better than hearing that.

Credit: Marianna Breytman

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Colorful, cozy, travel-inspired.

Credit: Marianna Breytman

What is your favorite room and why? My living area is definitely my favorite part of the space. I found a loveseat on Wayfair that is perfect for my height so I spent a lot of time here reading, journaling, and relaxing with Netflix here.

Credit: Marianna Breytman

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last thing I got for my home was this great peacock lamp from World Market.

Credit: Marianna Breytman

Any advice for creating a home you love? Find your balance between aesthetically pleasing and functional in terms of furniture. When you have such a small space, it’s important to find things that can double as storage or serve more than one purpose. Aside from that, be sure to fill your home with things that make you happy. For me, that’s books, plants, and tchotchkes from my travels. With all of us spending more and more time in our homes because of the pandemic, there’s no better moment to invest in our homes than now.

Credit: Marianna Breytman

This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.