See How a Stylish Renter Used the Same Stuff in Different Small Spaces
Moving into a new place isn’t just a back-straining hassle, it’s also a wrestling match of design: Can the decor elements you loved from your old place fit (literally or aesthetically) into the new place? And how?
Amanda knows this furniture fight well; she moved from one small apartment to another, across the country. We’ve toured both of her stylish homes as house tours on Apartment Therapy (see her New York City home and her San Francisco studio). And though she admits she traded a lot of her old furniture for different pieces when she moved to her most recent home, I couldn’t help but notice that many of the decor elements made the move, too.
Below, a side-by-side comparison of the handful of items that fit in two very different types of homes (one a one-bedroom with a brick wall, another an airy and bright studio apartment). Pay attention not only to the exact items Amanda uses — shop this post for versatile items that will work from rental to rental —but also see how she uses the same items in different ways in each space. It just might inspire you to shake up your own space, even if you don’t have a move on the horizon.
Pictured above is the same Urban Outfitters gold floor lamp, looking great on either side of two bold couches.
This compact desk from DENY Designs fits right in, in both homes, complemented by the same rounded, warm wood desk chair and sheepskin. It’s a leggy desk that doesn’t take up a lot of space and is perfect for small spaces.
Well look at that! A handy little three-tier rolling cart can work as a side table in a living room or as a nightstand in a small bedroom.
From storing cooking tools in the kitchen to displaying beloved accessories in a living room, this tall and sturdy metal shelf certainly has industrial vibes to it, but is elegantly designed well enough to fit in when it needs to be functional or attractive.
This white table lamp in one living room (that boldly contrasts with the green couch and red brick wall) can easily fit into a bedroom area with a lot of soothing white.
The faux animal head decor elements that were clustered in the living room of one of Amanda’s homes are hung in different spots in her newest space.