Whenever I tell people I relocated from the suburbs to a major city for more space they are astounded. In a pre-vaccine world everyone was fleeing cities due to close proximity to others, public transit, etc. In this *natural* shift it is now time we demand cheaper rents for actually liveable square footage. Storing shoes in your oven is a thing of the past. With Covid seemingly never going away, I’ve made it my personal mission to find some small positives, like looking for a townhouse-sized apartment in an urban area.
The Hunt: I didn’t do anything abnormal to find said apt. Apartments.com had more customizable filters than Zillow so that’s where I hung out for three or so months. In unit washer and dryer (You guys know how many clothes I have!), central AC (Hi, yes, I am looking for a humane 21st cent. place that I can dwell in comfortably.), and an outdoor space preferably a pool. This may seem like a long, expensive list of demands, especially to those who’ve lived in big cities for years. However, how are you going to get exactly what you want if you don’t ask for it? Or at least see what’s out there? So that’s my advice when real estate/job hunting: 1. Figure out your absolute must-haves, dealbreakers, and extra amenities that would be nice but aren’t needed. (Bye pool.) 2. Don’t rest until you find it. And obviously in a world where we know we could go back into quarantine in a snap: never settle. Same goes for dating.
Now comes the fun part: making the space your own! Let’s start in the basement and work our way up.
Light up the Basement: When I say basement I mean any kind of dimly lit area that can hinge on the dreary side. Instead of a typical desk side lamp, Google for something more fun! We got these bendable starbursts in classic white, to fill an otherwise wasted brick archway. They remind me of my two favorite holidays that are never looped together (But should be!) New Year’s Eve and Fourth of July. These are battery operated so they won’t jack up an electric bill plus, with 9 light display settings you’ll never get bored!
Tapestries for Grown-ups: In a bigger apartment, the easiest way to fill a bare wall is with a tapestry. Like the Ruggrats, I am All Grown Up so anything that remotely resembles dorm decor is a no for me and hopefully every other Millennial. Keep the concept but level up with a dreamcatcher the size of your dreams. Mine? Massive.
Fresh Flowers are the Happiest: A bouquet just makes a new place brighter and more homie home-y.
Anything can be a Nightstand: I was on the hunt for a non-nightstandy nightstand. Why? Well for one, the rest of my bedroom furniture is the same as my old place so I rearranged it for a breath of fresh air. The towers that I used as a nightstand before have ample storage and doubled as a dresser, so I was excited that we were able to move them in one piece. However, they just didn’t fit next to my bed in my new apartment. Gold metallic is my go-to in life in general and I loved the idea of the nightstands not 100% matching. Next time I move I can repurpose these as an end table in almost any room or a mini bar cart.
Mirror Mantas: Every life coach ever recommends surrounding your mirror with mantras or words of wisdom to propel your day. For me, it is the well-wishing of each of my family members in their recognizable handwriting that I will cherish forever.
DIY Backsplash: The subway tile craze is still very real! For my kitchen I’ve been looking for a peel and stick tile sticker for a pop of color. As a renter, I am looking for something that can easily be removed and rearranged. More to come on this, I'll share some ideas on Instagram!
Work hard, get the cool apartment, and make it you.
Love this and your new place!