Whim Breaker: My 610 Sq Ft. Space

Decorating on a budget when you’re already cheap requires lots of time and patience. It took me six months to furnish my apartment, considering my move-in boxes only consisted of books, journals and a few dishes. I was practically starting from scratch, so it was important for my new space to feel like home, and I didn’t want to hurry the process. Size was an important factor in the selection process of furniture and accents so naturally, Ikea was my #1 go-to stop. But Ikea can be so overwhelming so I made sure I searched for items online first- via the catalog, Pininterest or Craigslist. When it was time to visit the actual showrooms, I went during non-busy hours- weekdays during the day or later in the evening to avoid the amateurs milling around. Oh, and always check out the As-Is department first. I’ve purchased everything from an extra sofa cover to coffee cups for more than half-off the original price. How I decorated my 610 sq ft., 1 bedroom/1 bath space after the jump:

 

Ikea’s Blekinge White Karlstad Sofa was a Craigslist find for $100. I searched for months till I found one in decent condition for under $150. It was originally green so I swapped out the removable cover for a white one, and even found extra pieces on clearance. Perfect for fabric rotation in between washes. Its summer so I’m keeping the colors light with bright yellow pillows imprinted with eclectic, white patterns, and gray trim to bring out the rug (Ikea, $27). 

A vintage, black and white photograph of my parents is the centerpiece, and makes the room dreamy and romantic (Ikea frame, $15). Any photograph will do. Just make sure its big and in black and white. Office Depot did the print for $10.

It took me three months till I finally purchased a foam mattress. Yes, it had to be foam because well their better and after sleeping on a friend’s rustic couch for two months, I deserved it.

 The ottoman was a recent splurge-(Ross, $100) Yes, Ross has items that cost $100. I know, cray. But it doubles as extra seating and storage unit for winter clothes. 

Polka-dotted Ralph Lauren sheets (Marshalls, $40) give the room some texture. My minimalist approach to designing makes me shy away from patterns and heavy textures but I take chances when I can. Prior to these, I stuck with all-white, el cheapo sheets, which were incredibly thin and wore out after a single wash. So if you’re going to do better quality on anything in your apartment, let it be the sheets and pillows. A good night’s sleep is priceless.

The Calvin Klein pillows in the back come extra firm, while these jumbo size Cynthia Rowley bean-bag style pillows are used to accent the bedspread (Marshalls, 19.99 each)

I don’t spend much time in my kitchen except to grab more wine but that doesn’t mean I overlooked it in the decorating process. I’m a regular juicer and raw foodie so glass tupperware, a cutting board and easy access to utensils and a dish rack are essential. Ikea has great hanging dish racks and cup holders (originally a plant rack) that I purchased for under $15. The silverware rack was a Target find for $5. 

Ah, where all the magic happens. I like a big desk, and the fact that my office is in my living room didn’t stop me from buying one. This one from Ikea ($69) sits pretty in an L-shaped corner of the room where it faces the front door. I’m not a fan of desks facing walls. As a writer, being able to look outside the window for inspiration is essential  Sidenote: my home office is always a bit cluttered, but I never feel compelled to tidy it up. Despite its location, it in no way overpowers the room.

The hanging shelves (Ikea, $10 each) are perfect for small spaces like these. I use them for notebooks and journals. And in case you were wondering, those white things that look like blenders are speakers. Don’t worry, I get that all the time. (Amazon, $69).

Its typical for the older apartments in my city to have ugly bathrooms, and mine is no exception. The kiwi green tile doesn’t help the situation so I keep everything white besides a large Leonardo Dicaprio poster hanging over the toilet.

The story: my aunt found it in a thrift store bin for $3 and thought it would look great in my male cousin’s bedroom. He of course, disagreed but when I saw it sitting outside her house awaiting trash day, I couldn’t bear to see it go. Heeey Leo!

Total Cost: $1200

Inspiration: apartmenttherapy.com, PinInterest, Vogue Decor

Sources: Ikea, Marshalls, Target, Craigslist and Amazon