Elena Taber is a 23-year-old full-time social media content creator who recently rented her first apartment in the East Village neighborhood in New York City.
Taber shares the three-bedroom,>Shop for used items>Design with high-low pieces
Taber suggests looking for your "base pieces" of furniture, like your bed or dresser, at more affordable retailers, like Target or Ikea. "It's worth it, and then you can really make the space nicer by adding fun décor that suits your personality," she says.
For example, her bed was purchased from Amazon for less than $150. And her dresser, which she then refurbished, came from a Target sale. Her large bedroom mirror was also purchased from Ikea.
Paint your furniture
Photo: Beatriz Bajuelos.
As a renter, Taber is limited in what she can and can't do to change the apartment. So, she decided to give her bedroom furniture an upgrade using an inexpensive paint and primer combo. She painted the drawers of her Target dresser with a light sage color.
"I feel just adding a little pop of color, or even just to add a darker piece of furniture a lighter shade that really changed the space and kind of brighten it and make it feel larger," she says.
Hunt for 'dupes'
Taber says she likes to look for inspiration from upscale interior designers>Light it up
Photo: Beatriz Bajuelos.
Taber's living room area>Take advantage of any space
"When it comes to storage in a small space, you just really have to utilize every nook and cranny," Taber says. "Storing things really strategically under your bed, on top of your dresser or really using every little corner of your closet."
For instance, Taber uses a hanging produce basket from Etsy in her kitchen to reduce counter space. She and her roommates also store their books above the kitchen cabinets. And instead of having a TV in the living room, they use a projector to watch things on the white wall in their living area.
