09 October

What You Need For An Elevated Apartment

My favorite TikToks are the ones where New York City residents show their apartment to a random stranger. They boast a $650 rent (but it’s near Central Park, they swear) to live in a shoebox with no shower and the bed is lofted inches below the ceiling. They literally have to roll out of bed in the morning.

What a great deal this is! They try to convince themselves and the viewer. It’s actually super cozy if you like no closets and no windows!

And I get it. Living in Hoboken, the rent is high and there’s (granted) more space than NYC…but not much. Compared to my Philadelphian friends who pay $800 a month for an entire three story condo…I weep.

Please, don’t lecture me about “location” and “proximity” to the “Greatest City in the World,” I’ve heard it all. The price of rent still sucks, and even then a majority of apartments won’t have luxury amenities like a rooftop gym, stainless steel appliances or how bout a laundry unit?

But, beggars can’t be choosers. I’m still living here, regardless of the quality of housing. It’s a rite of passage, and everyone knows it’s completely about interior decorating.

I’ve lived in some shoddy apartments so far in my life, and I know a thing or two about transforming a dodgy space into a cozy home. Whether your apartment was painted a weird dark turquoise tinged with brown (like mine was!), or it has the Landlord Special (everything, including sockets, is painted over), it’s about making the place feel liveable.

For over three years now, I’ve become an expert at elevating an apartment so it feels luxurious…even if it’s not the best space.

Here are some of my musts:

Paint Your Space A Light Color

Hutoma Abrianto via Unsplash

I think this is the most pivotal of all apartment advice. No apartment is as capacious as you want it to be — one way to create the optical illusion of space is by painting your walls a light shade.

Whether it’s a White Linen or Eggshell — or perhaps a robin’s egg blue hue — it instantly expands your walls and opens the place up. Seriously, when I moved into my old apartment, my bedroom had dark green walls (ugh). And, once I painted them white, I felt less imprisoned.

Head to your local Home Depot and grab some swatches. Make a day out of it and paint your heart out. You’ll thank me later and consider your apartment elevated.

Invest In Good Curtains & Good Sheets

I wasn’t a firm believer in this until I finally bit the bullet. I never cared about sheets at all growing up, I just used whatever my mom gave me. And then I found threads like linen and sateen and my life changed forever.

Your bed is the centerpiece of your room. It’s the statement that sets the tone for the rest of your bedroom’s decor. For me, I prefer light colored sheets to keep a relaxing vibe. These sheets from Brooklinen or Quince are dreamy — and I mean that literally.

It’s the same with curtains. Floor to ceiling curtains made my room go from drab to fab — and I’m saying that unironically. It captures a hotel essence while making your room look more home-y. If you want an elevated apartment, then curtains are a must.

Right now, linen curtains are especially trendy. They’re terrific for living spaces — I’d recommend a light color that also filters in sunlight for an airy look.

Luxury Accents

Times are tough, I understand that. Which is why I often save money by buying my furniture on Facebook Marketplace, Amazon, or discounted on Wayfair. You can get a ton of luxury dupes without breaking the bank…but I do recommend the occasional splurge on accent pieces.

Whether it’s an elegant vase from Anthropologie that you’ve been eyeing or that cute mirror you’ve been pining for…the accents do the talking in your space. For some, that’s a Diptyque candle strategically placed on the mantle so people are sure to notice that you have exquisite taste.

For others, that’s a set of wooden serving bowls kept throughout your elevated apartment. Or the most adorable baking dish set to brighten up your dinner parties. Here are some of my fave luxury accent picks to spruce up your space:

Put A Little Light On The Subject

One fact dawned on me when I moved into my apartment: overhead lighting is not a guarantee. My living room had no lights!!! Only the dining room. And my bedroom overhead light was broken, so that was also an issue.

And this is a problem that I’ve seen in multiple houses I’ve visited. The main goal is to filter in as much light as possible…because windows aren’t always an option. The lighting you choose is key for an elevated apartment, it sets the tone.

Get creative with it. If you don’t have enough floor space for a lamp, try “Swag Lamps,” which hang from the ceiling and plug into an outlet. I opted for neon signs to cast a colorful glow throughout my living room at night.

Here are a few easy lighting options for your apartment when space is limited: