A 400-Square-Foot San Francisco Home Was Furnished in Only 3 Months

Name: Prathima Nalluri
Location: Nopa (North of Panhandle) — San Francisco, California
Size: 400 square feet
Years lived in: 9 months, renting

I moved into my apartment about nine months ago with not much furniture except my bed and a console table. I know they say take your time to furnish your place but I did it in less than three months (and I don’t regret a single purchase!). I love spending time at home and I wanted to create a space which is airy and cozy at the same time.

I grew up in India and I have things in my apartment that remind me of home—a vintage map of the Indian subcontinent which I found on a road trip on the East Coast few years ago, a signed print by M.F. Hussain who is a famous Indian artist (it is also one of my favorite things in my apartment), and the large prints in my living room from Blockshop are made in Jaipur!

I love to travel and I have reminders of my travels sprinkled around in my apartment—like some woven baskets I found on my recent trip to Bali or the wooden piece of art in my bedroom, which was in my hotel room in Sri Lanka and I convinced the owner of the hotel to sell it to me because I was so in love with it! I have a terrible habit of never giving away/selling books and I keep lugging them around from apartment to apartment. I arranged them by color, and that corner in my living room always gets attention when I have people over.

I am lucky to have found a place I can afford and live by myself (especially in San Francisco!) with so much natural light. This apartment describes me so well and feels wholly mine.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Modern, airy, and eclectic.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Invest in furniture or art you love and know will keep around for a long time. Also buy candles, lots of them—a good candle makes a room so much more classy and luxurious.

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room has got to be the living room. This is where I spend most of my time when I am home. My couch is incredibly comfy and I am surrounded by art, books, and my monstera plant! But my favorite spot in the apartment is my couch by the bay windows in the bedroom. I love sitting there with a book and glass of wine. It’s a perfect spot to begin my day with a cup of coffee or end it with a glass of wine.

Thanks, Prathima!

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