$3,300 Brooklyn Rent: How I Styled My Tiny NYC Apartment
Welcome to my Brooklyn, New York City apartment… In this post I’m going to walk you through the style and interior design route that I took with it so that you can hopefully get inspired to do the same, in yours.
How I styled my Brooklyn New York City tiny apartment
First let’s start with the Swivel chair, you’ll see the backside of her here. I loved this chair because it was a BOLD color for me. I usually stick to the very basic colors but no, I felt like I needed a pop of color. This was the first time I was decorating my apartment with all new stuff, usually I just went with hand me downs. But now that I thought I was rich, lolz (*cries in poor*) I was went all out at West Elm. This chair was perfecctttt.
I mean, COME ON.
Her beauty captured throughout the tiny apartment… I moved her around a bit. The ottoman was from Article. I loved that thing, perfect for meals, or just resting my feet.
I loved her over here, because I was trying to create a reading nook effect after I sold my table that was occupying this area before I moved. The pillows are also from West Elm and I thought added the perfect accentuating touch! You may notice those frames, those are my parents, mom with cigarette in mouth, dad sippin’ on whiskey. I thought those pictures in Black and White and the frames would accentuate them nicely, from Amazon. You’ll also briefly notice in the window, small pride flags. Yes, I am gay, we don’t play in this house. Funny story I had them on my door once and the management company told me I had to take them down. What a mess! The management company was a nightmare, but I still loved the overpriced living. Don’t worry, I’ll show you the terrace toward the end of the post.
You see — I love a trinket… like, LOVE. From the himalayan salt lamp, to the globe (because of my love for travel), to the diffuser, to the small alarm clock, to the hour glass — I loveeeeeee trinkets. LOL! And, I occasionally like to read. Very minimally from actual books. I enjoy my audio books or on my iPad. That’s why you don’t see many books on this floating bookshelf from West Elm. But I love doing it this way because you can constantly move things around and display them however you see fit at the time. Also you can kind of see my sofa from a different angle. I loved this sofa, it was perfect for what I needed…. for my smaller space and it was really good with stains, when I occasionally spilled something on it. Scotch guard to the rescue!
The lamp in the corner was the perfect amount of lighting, because ewww — I’m like Mariah Carey I loathe overhead lighting. Small coffee table was also from West Elm. My only issue with it is the nuts and bolts came loose often. But it was fairly easy to tighten.
The rug you see here, is also from West Elm, I loved it because it was HUGE! Seriously it covered the entire living area and made perfect for acoustics and just overall sound in the apartment, which is a big deal in New York.
You can’t really see it here— but the first plant on the 2nd shelf is in the cutest vase. I loved this damn vase so much… very artsy, you can see it better below and purchase your own!
Okay let’s move outside… My terrace was EVERYTHING. I had like 50 plants out there. So here’s the vibe during the day. I was out here EVERY DAY. What I loved the most was my little table — I’d sit out there every day and just read, work, or enjoy wine/beer/liquor and/or grass ;). And, as you can see I had a green thumb. I loved that damn terrace. I will probably never have one like this again but man it was nice while I had it.
Anyway shop my outdoor terrace below…
The perfect vibe to work during the summer outside…
I loved this pot, every year I would grow sunflowers in it. I’d take the seeds from the year’s harvest and save them and dry them out for next year. =) Great way to garden in a city or small environment.
And I absolutely MUST have Terracotta planters — I don’t care if we’re not in Mexico — we’re having Terracotta, okay?! I found the perfect set on Amazon and they are perfect for growing herbs.
Here is how I decorated it for my 37th birthday announcement video I made… LOL! I’m so corny. But here’s how it looks from the manufacturer—
Thuma Bed — get a look at this thing here…
One of my FAVORITE things was roasting a chicken. I LOVED my Signature Round Dutch Oven from Le Creuset soooo much — I wore that thing outtttt, and it still worked great every time. Its the perfect edition to any home. And, it makes for a great holiday gift, too.
Okay, I have to be honest, this was a gift, but it was simply the best gift I have ever recieved. I am still obsesseed with this blanket from LoveSac. It was not only warm and cozy, but SO DAMN SOFT… Wow. I really don’t know what I was doing without it before. The only thing I hated about it was that it was white, but I made do — because it was literally perfect otherwise.
The most fabulous thing you can do as a bachelor is pour yourself a glass of champagne and enjoy an entire bottle. I did that often lol. Don’t judge. But hey, if I can work as hard as I work, I’m damn sure going to enjoy my rent. My $3,300 rent… Shop the glassware here.
Okay, we’re back outside. I can not rave enough about my terrace… The nighttime on the terrace was cute, too. I loved this little outdoor “fire pit” — again, its small, because NYC is small but mighty. But it was the perfect little warmer next to me when I’d be out there or a good ambience when it wasn’t cold. You fill it with rubbing alcohol and it burns nicely. I wouldn’t be tempted to make smores because its literally rubbing alcohol… so that probably wouldn’t be good for you. But its definitely a vibe!
The large table I had outside was perfect for dinners with 5-6 people, I loved how it wore in too. Shop the table here.
I’d often times go to the park on my bike and lay out on this waterproof blanket, its perfect. I actually still use it now at the beach in Puerto Vallarta, and its still my go to beach blanket. I LOVE IT!
Perfect to enjoy some spa water on in the park… Get the blanket here.
Or be a thot on the rooftop lolz. Shop the pool/beach/sun tan blanket here. Damn my ass is FAT! 😭
If its one thing about me, I love to be OUTSIDE! I loved this easy to use speed bike. I actually still have it, and I’m happy I kept it. Because I loved it so much! Shop the bike here from REI and the bike lock and helmet here.
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