This Small Apartment’s Temporary Kitchen Backsplash Idea Is Cute and Stylish

Name: Emily Bedell and my cat Artemis
Location: East Bayside — Portland, Maine
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 700 square feet
Years lived in: 1 and a half years, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I am a 25-year-old Pennsylvania native who moved to Portland, Maine, for its thriving arts community, its quaint and historical architecture, and its cool and rugged coastline. I found this apartment while going through a breakup, and it reinvigorated my passion for interior design. I grew up as a child watching HGTV, drooling over any home catalog that came to the house, and constantly rearranging my bedroom. Having this space of my own as an adult has allowed me to get really creative and make design decisions that don’t have to please anyone but myself, which sometimes feels reminiscent of my days re-doing my childhood bedroom.

I have always been attracted to bold colors and prints. Many people told me I was crazy for buying a pink couch, but when it comes to design I trust my gut instincts, and those instincts were telling me to go big or go home! So far, I have no regrets about the couch. In my eyes, design has no rules. If you are drawn to a piece of art, a pillow, a crazy wallpaper, go for it. If you love something, I believe that it belongs in your space, no matter how wild it might seem to someone else.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Eclectic, whimsical, bold, unique, retro.

What is your favorite room and why? My living room. This is the space where everything happens. Dance parties, making art, playing guitar, watching movies, cuddling with my cat, late night talks with friends. This is the room I spend the most time in. It is so bright, colorful, and happy. Not to mention, it also gets killer light during golden hour.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? An arched rattan shelf! I had been looking for one forever. I was buying a different shelf from a woman on Facebook Marketplace and saw the rattan shelf behind her in the garage. I asked if it was also for sale and she said yes! I nearly cried.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Trust your instincts and trust the process. I’ve had a lot of people approach me and say they love how bold and eclectic my space is but they wouldn’t know how to go about it in their own home. Very few components of my space were “planned” ahead of time.

I allow myself to be drawn to special pieces that I know I love, and the rest falls into place. It isn’t about buying the most expensive or trendy items, it is about surrounding yourself with things that you love. Designing a space is always an experiment, and the beauty of it is that you can continue to tweak, refresh, and rearrange when you need a change of pace.

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