A Small NYC Rental Apartment Was Furnished for Around $500
Name: Morgan Beech and my kitten, Pru
Location: New York City — Upper East Side
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 6 months, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I live in a one bedroom with my kitten Duchess Prudence Elizabeth (she just goes by Pru) on the Upper East Side. Before this apartment I had always lived with roommates so getting to decorate an apartment with just my style in mind was a dream. I wanted the apartment to be glam and fun but also comfortable. Like most NYC apartments when I first moved in the walls felt so bare and white.
That’s when I discovered removable wallpaper… and I went a little crazy with it. Every section of my apartment has a different wallpaper to accent the room and divide the space. I wanted my bedroom to feel calm and serene so I went with a koi fish/floral pattern for the wallpaper. For the living room I wanted it to be glam, fun, and a little whimsical so I went with a gold polka dot. A lot of my decor and furniture actually came from off-price (thanks Ross!) and salvage stores. I was able to completely furnish and transform my apartment for only around $500!
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Quirky, Glam, Comfortable
What is your favorite room and why? The kitchen, if you can even call it that, lol. Even though it’s basically just a hallway, it’s the area I put the most work into. Figuring out how to make a small kitchen functional wasn’t easy. My favorite part of the kitchen is actually the faux wood shelf that was originally added as a way to save cabinet space. I love how my blue dishes look against the metallic pink wallpaper!
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last thing I bought was the picture frames hanging in the living room. Since this is the first time having my own space I wanted to have my family and friends’ pictures everywhere! I love the personal touch it adds to the space.
Any advice for creating a home you love? When I started decorating I had no idea what style or theme I was going for. I just picked out what I like and it all managed to come together. Buy what you love—it’s your space, it should make you happy!
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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