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From a space-saving floor lamp to my dream coffee table.
After a delightful year of living in a Brooklyn duplex with a roommate—and several years before that in a revolving door of shared college apartments in Missouri—I’m finally moving into my own first place. I’m truly over the moon about setting it up, as is evidenced by my ever-growing “Saved for Later” cart on Amazon and the amount of time I’ve spent on Wayfair in the past few weeks. Not only am I ready for the privacy and agency, but I just can’t wait to decorate when my opinions are the only ones that matter. The amount of power (and number of options) is almost overwhelming at times, but I do have some parameters at play that help me set boundaries.
I’m still a renter, so I can’t exactly do a gut renovation on my kitchen or knock down walls in my bedroom. Every change and choice I make has to be renter friendly—and preferably within my budget. Moving comes with a lot of upfront costs, so I’m staggering my purchases in phases. In Phase One, I plan to invest in the necessities I need right away: a sofa, a dining table and chairs, floor lamps, and the not-so-sexy essentials like a kitchen trash can. In Phase Two, I have things I want to enjoy for as long as possible. They'll help my home feel complete, but I can wait a little longer to purchase them to give my budget time to recover from the first phase: an armchair for my bedroom, a washable kitchen runner and doormat, and new pots and pans, to name a few. Then there’s Phase Three, for the perfect fit, worth-the-wait items I really need to save up for, like this lift-top coffee table with built-in ottoman seating that’ll be perfect for cozy girl dinners with my friends. I'll keep dreaming about those luxury items for now.
I know my home’s aesthetic will change and evolve over time. But from the practical choices I plan to make to the slow decorating I’ll do, I feel lucky to have full design control. For now, that’s striking a balance between clean lines in my area rugs and squiggly, dopamine decor–fueled throw pillows. Scroll on to see the picks I’m most excited about—and shop them for yourself.
I’ve never understood the concept of having a rug in the kitchen. As someone who’s deeply afraid of mold, putting a rug in one of the areas of the house that’s most prone to spills and messes always seemed counterintuitive to me—until I considered getting a washable rug. Not only is this one’s size manageable enough to actually fit in my apartment’s washing machine, but the pattern is simple and cute enough to make my kitchen feel like more than a wall of appliances.
A sofa is the biggest piece I need for my apartment. The sofa I’d been sharing with my roommate (and come to love) was velvet, so I’ve had my heart set on a velvet sofa of my own, preferably in a shade of green or blue and deep enough to comfortably stretch out on. Luckily, thanks to the dozens of sofa articles I’ve written or contributed to since joining HB, I know what brands offer high-quality, stylish pieces, and Albany Park is one of them. I’ve ordered the Barton sofa because the Dark Teal velvet option is perfect for my color palette. The deep cushions, supportive block legs, and modern profile all helped its case.
To make up for the lack of a chaise (and add some hidden storage), I paired it with the Barton ottoman in the same color. I think it will actually give me more flexibility for entertaining: When you push the ottoman up against the sofa, it forms an L-shaped sectional that can be just as easily taken apart and configured in other ways.
If there’s one person I’ll always trust with a decor recommendation, it’s a fellow HB editor. Assistant Market Editor Catherine DiPersico mentioned that she loves this table so much she’s bought it twice, and I’m in need of a dining table. With its simple yet sleek tulip shape and glossy white finish, it’ll brighten up my space and I can match it to any dining chairs I choose. I can’t wait to set it with a decorative bowl filled with faux fruit—or any other bright decor I want to put there—without it clashing.
Now that I won’t have to share my kitchen cabinets with a roomie, it’s finally time to part ways with my college pots and pans. They’ve seen better days: Once I started to see the shiny metal under the nonstick coating, I knew it was time to invest in something new. I love the terra-cotta color of this multipurpose pot so much, I’ll be happy to bring it to the dinner table or leave it out on the stove.
Of course I’m excited about the investment furniture pieces I’m getting, but I can’t resist fun, affordable decorative touches. I love the iconic Bistro tile pattern from Anthro (I already have the matching mugs!), and this tray will add just the right amount of glamour to my coffee table or credenza.
This is definitely a Phase Three purchase, but I just can't resist Serena & Lily's signature carefree design style. As I keep adding pieces that make my apartment feel calm, this light coastal blue side table is perfect. The painted linen is such a unique texture to add to my living room. I love the soft close drawer that can hold my votive candle collection, lighters, or coasters for easy access. Plus, the included shelf can show off my favorite vibrant coffee table books.
After seeing these cordless lamps take off in popularity (and being jealous of my roommate’s own set), I wanted a pair of my own. I thought they would make great kitchen countertop lighting—practically no rentals have undercabinet lights, so they’d help brighten the whole space. This pair for just under $40 is perfection.
I love a little whimsy—and lumbar support—in my space. This adorable french fry bolster pillow fulfills both desires. When I first saw it in person, I described it as befitting an “upscale iCarly bedroom,” which really is my dream aesthetic. It doesn’t hurt that the plant-based foam and velvet feel cuddly and gentle on my skin.
I won’t have space for a full-scale mudroom, but with this wall organizer and my bamboo shoe rack, I can still create a transitional space to help me move from the chaos of the street to the peace of my home. I’ll mount this near the door so I can stay organized and keep my keys and important info in one place. I love that it’s magnetic rather than the traditional chalkboard, and it has a little shelf up top that can hold all the figurines and small sculptures I like to collect on my travels.
I want to turn one of the darker corners of my new bedroom into a reading nook. This slightly reclined armchair with a wide seat will be my favorite thing to sink into at the end of a long day. It was one of few I could find with a high weight capacity, so I have no concerns about it falling apart after a few uses. Plus, it looks way more expensive than it is.
I want to add pieces to my bathroom that make it feel like an oasis, and since my shower door is so low to the ground, I want a bath mat that will eradicate moisture, not trap it. I can’t wait to step onto this stone bath mat when I get out of the shower and feel the quick-drying, antibacterial features get to work immediately.
I know I won’t have room just yet for the sprawling pit sofa of my dreams that can hold all of my friends with ease, so every bit of seating in my apartment needs to be purposeful. I want dining chairs comfortable enough for guests to lounge on in a pinch, and these velvet ones (in my favorite shade of blue!) fit the bill.
When the last box is unpacked, I know exactly how I want my new home to smell. I’ve been talking about getting this Jonathan Adler votive candle set for weeks, and it’s going to be my treat to myself once the dust has settled. When the refreshing grapefruit, basil, and sea salt scents have faded and the candles are all used up, I’m going to plant succulents in the gorgeous vessels. They’re works of art in their own right.
I’ve come to the realization that I don’t have nearly enough family photos in my home, and I’d love to rectify that with this geometric photo fixture. Custom framing for every picture isn’t in the cards for my budget, so for now I’ll hang this this kitty-corner to my desk where it’ll be easy for me to switch out the photos.
I first bought a storage ottoman on Amazon just so I’d have somewhere organized to store playbills, blankets, chargers, and any other miscellaneous items I collect. It’s more function than fashion, though, so I’m ready to upgrade to this tufted bench. I already have a bed frame with built-in storage, so instead of putting the bench at the end of it, I plan to sit it under the windowsill, where I can do all the reading and dramatic city skyline staring my heart can take.
My new apartment’s walls fell victim to Millennial Gray, and I won’t risk the ire of my landlord by painting it. I still want to add some color and fun so it feels less clinical, though. This duo of paintings will help me romanticize my morning skin-care routine and dream of the day I get to design a custom vanity.
A trash can might not be the most glamorous purchase, but that doesn’t make it any less necessary. I won’t have as much kitchen space in my new place as I did in my duplex; I know it can’t fit two full-size cans. This dual-compartment one will still encourage me to recycle, and I can remove the individual sides easily for trash day.
I'm lucky enough to have larger windows in my new apartment, and ones that I don't have to block with my bed or couch. To add some cohesion to my space, I'd love to use the same curtains in my living room and my bedroom. I just adore the sparrows taking flight across these curtain panels, and the pattern is minimal enough to not overwhelm the rooms. Plus, they control natural light without being blackout curtains, which will help me as a heavy sleeper.
My current roommate plugged in these night lights in different rooms around our duplex, and it’s very helpful for the electric bill to not keep the overhead light on at all times. I plan to put one in the bathroom and one in the kitchen so I’m less likely to bump my shin on something in the middle of the night.
I fell in love with this floor lamp after seeing it in Assistant Editor Meghan Shouse’s living room. The column shape means it can fit in the corner between my new track-arm sofa and the wall and still make that space feel multipurpose. I’ll use the shelves to display small sculptures, and extra books or just hold TV remotes.
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