"About a month ago, I traded in my 400-square-foot studio apartment for—wait for it—a 450-square-foot convertible studio. Although it might not sound like much, I was beyond excited to move and just be in a different environment. And as annoying as the process of moving actually is, there are few things I love more than starting fresh in decorating a space.
I can’t even tell you how many hours I spent browsing Pinterest, and how many tabs of different home decor items I constantly had open on my computer leading up to the move. As much as I would like to have an unlimited budget, I really needed to find affordable pieces that would also give me the elevated look I was going for, while providing me with the complete refresh I wanted in the overall feel of my apartment.
My vision was warm, boho, and slightly eclectic (yet still put-together), and I really wanted to put a lot of thought into everything I added to the space. So after months of researching, shopping, and dreaming of pieces that were way too far out of my budget, I feel like I finally achieved the look I was going for.
Here are the home decor products I purchased to refresh my space for the move:
1. More house plants
One of the things that made me most excited about moving to my new apartment was how many windows there are, and therefore how much natural light there would be. In my last place, I had one and a half windows that basically just looked at a brick wall, so (as I’m sure you can guess) I had about zero natural light. Obviously, my first thought was plants. I have now amassed quite the collection, and I am very thankful for my plant care app that helps me track when they all need to be watered. I picked up plants everywhere from the local nursery to Home Depot, and maybe a few from my mom’s house (sorry, mom). And you can’t forget the cute planters either. If you don’t trust yourself to be a plant mom just yet, I’m a huge fan of faux greenery as well.
2. An accent chair
There’s something about an accent chair that is simply chic as hell—it makes a statement, brings a room together, and really just has a celebrity home tour vibe that I can’t quite explain. I had always dreamed of having one, but never had the space for it. Now that I have some more room, I finally fit one into my living room. But let me tell you, the search wasn’t easy. Accent chairs are insanely expensive, so it took me a while to find one I loved (I had my heart set on a VERY specific shade of green) that was in my budget. But I found it, and it was so worth it. I included my budget-friendly runners-up as well, because it’s a harsh world out there.
3. Throw pillow covers and blankets
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being one of the most indecisive people on the planet, it’s the power of throw pillow covers. I am constantly wanting to change mine out, but for some reason, pillows are like, a million dollars?! Instead of breaking the bank and buying entirely new pillows, I usually just find a few covers I like and put them on old pillows. And voila, an entirely new look. Because I was planning on changing up my color scheme in my new place, I needed to switch a few (and how cute are these?!). You can’t underestimate the power of a throw blanket either, and Amazon has tons of super affordable options that really make for a cohesive look in a room.
4. Thrifted home decor items
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Goodwill is your best friend. Whenever I am decorating a space, I always check out thrift stores first. Who knows what you might find for a fraction of the price of traditional retail? This time around, I decided to bring out my old DIY skills, and with the help of a TikTok hack—adding baking soda to paint to create a more textured look—turned some old vases into chic new pieces. I also picked up some vintage artwork, a stunning crystal and gold lamp, candlesticks and candles to go in them, and a few small wicker baskets.
5. Coffee table books
Again, I was taking tips from celebrity home tours here. They always have a ton of coffee table books, and I think it always makes a space look much chicer. I actually found this Plant Tribe book at HomeGoods, and knew I had to get it because it perfectly matched the color scheme of my living area. Although it isn’t actually on my coffee table, it now serves as a piece that really ties a lot of the room together.
6. A clothing rack
Other than the plants, my number one dream in this new space was to have a clothing rack for all of my newer pieces. I’ve seen them all over Instagram, and I just knew I needed to have one—and now I can confidently say, I am obsessed. It not only looks super cute, but it is extremely functional too. I keep all of my pieces that I haven’t worn yet on it, so it is much easier to make sure that I do wear them. I also keep some favorite bags and shoes here, and it really makes me feel like a fashion blogger.
7. Kitchen and bathroom upgrades
I have had mismatched pots, pans, and kitchen utensils since my college days, so I saw moving as the perfect opportunity to upgrade and get some nicer items for my kitchen that I would also enjoy looking at. The Always Pan was definitely a splurge for me, but I really do love how versatile it is and how stunning it looks sitting out on the stove. It is a focal point of the kitchen and brings everything together. I also traded crusty old kitchen utensils for this chic new set and falling-apart bathroom storage for this spinning organizer.
8. A new runner
The first time I toured this space, I knew that the hallway entry needed a fun runner. I was really wanting to add some more color and uniqueness, knowing that my main living area rug is white. I set my sights on a vintage-inspired, warm-toned runner that would pull some of my colors together in a cohesive way. I love that it’s the first thing you see when you walk in, so it really sets the tone for the space.
