This 308-Square-Foot Studio Is Packed with Unexpected Color and Moody Lighting

When you enter Charlène’s flat, you immediately notice her unique approach to home decor; nothing is generic, and each element tells a story. “Witchy, moody, with as many plants as I can fit,” Charléne says of her home decor style. As a renter, that is no easy feat — it took creativity and patience, she explains.

Living on her own for the first time, she painted the walls when she first moved in — turning them from an off-beige-yellow to neutral white, and creating a blank palette for her to start putting together the home she’d always wanted since moving to the U.K. from France five years earlier.

“When I first moved in, I thought that, as it is so small, I could not have the maximalist flat of my dreams, because I felt that it would suffocate the place completely. But I found that you can do this in a small place, as long as it’s balanced.”

Next came renter-friendly DIY additions. These included hanging new curtains, putting up new shelving in the kitchen, changing cupboard handles, and adding window stickers (the stained glass-style stickers in the bathroom instantly transformed the space).

Determined for the studio to “not just feel like a bedroom,” Charlène was intentional in putting the space together. She did this by framing different areas with art and lighting so, although next to one another, the corners feel distinct and serve different purposes.

“I knew I wanted a clear distinction between the different areas despite the space essentially being a small square. Designating an area to read, another for a vanity, bedroom, etc., while working with an open space proved complicated, but framing them with artwork, curtains, and different lighting helps to visually separate sections.”

As is often the case with small spaces, storage is a challenge: “Storage can be complicated, as the only storage I have is the tiny cupboard in the entryway. I try to utilize every bit of space that I have — so under my bed, in the cupboard under the stairs, it stores as much as it can. And I make sure to measure everything precisely! If something is not working, try to change it up; don’t be afraid to move furniture around and try something different.”

Living in a small space means any new purchases need to be thoroughly considered, as adding anything can significantly change the space. When Charlène finds a piece that works — usually thrifted — she will then curate the space around that item.

“The more you search for unique thrifted pieces as opposed to buying new and designer, the more it becomes easy to create a story around those thrifted finds to curate the space. All of my trinkets were either thrifted or gifted. Once you have a strong piece with character — for example, I did this when I found my red lamp — then you can build around that.”

The bookshelf is another excellent thrifted find. After years of looking for one, Charlène recently found the solid pine piece. She liked the light wood, as it brought in a natural feel, and she painted the outer edge black to match the rest of the flat.

“What makes the studio work are the trinkets and curiosities I’ve collected over the years,” says Charlène. “Most of them were found, gifted, or thrifted, and I love having a mosaic of trinkets that reminds me of friends and passions.”

You could look through her trinkets and decor pieces for hours; each one is unique and with its own interesting backstory. For example, there’s the Lola, the pole-dancing taxidermy mouse Charlène received a few years ago for her birthday from a friend; the dried flowers hanging in the kitchen made from flowers she buys herself weekly; or the deer skeleton that she found in the forest while hiking with friends.

“I want my studio to tell you who I am through its decor; every corner of the flat contains clues as to who I am.”

• Vesgantti Green Velvet Sofa  — Amazon
• Sideboard Buffet Cabinet — Amazon
• Solid Pine Bookcase  — Facebook Marketplace 
• Vanity and Chair — Facebook Marketplace
• Golden Mirror — Brighton Flea Market (Kemptown)
• All Lamps — Thrifted
• Most Frames — Thrifted

Thanks, Charlène!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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