A 380-Square-Foot Brooklyn Studio Went from “Bland” to Colorful and Kitschy

Books on wood shelves above dog laying on ottoman matching gold sofa with throw pillows.
Small square wood bar table with stools against wall with framed art across from floor mirror leaning against green wall with jewelry and scarves on hooks.
Books on wood shelves above dog laying on ottoman matching gold sofa with throw pillows.
Wine glasses hung under wood shelf above liquor and bar accessories.
Books stacked on wood shelf.
Monstera plant growing above framed art on green wall next to books on wood shelves.
Pots and pans hanging above light counter in narrow kitchen with mugs on hooks on gray walls.
Mugs on hooks hanging on blue gray wall above wood kitchen cart with toaster and bowl with red onions.
Round mirror hanging on exposed brick wall above wood dresser next to lamp.
Framed black and white photographs on wall above stool and wood side table with lamp next to bed against exposed brick wall.
Gallery wall of framed art above white subway tile in narrow light pink bathroom with wood above-toilet storage.
Floor plan of small Brooklyn studio apartment.

ABOUT THIS TOUR

HOME TYPE: Studio Apartment

LOCATION: Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York

STYLE: Modern

BEDROOMS: 0

SQUARE FEET: 380

Writer Kim Narby, whose day job is at a tech startup, says this 380-square-foot studio apartment in Crown Heights was “functional and bland” before she moved in almost five years ago. “A couple lived in the apartment before I moved in, and there wasn’t much thought put into interior design. The priority seemed to be more economical than visual,” she begins.

Books on wood shelves above dog laying on ottoman matching gold sofa with throw pillows.

Kim says this is her first time living alone, and admits that while the rent was “slightly outside” of her budget “at the time I signed the lease,” she says “it seemed worth the stretch. I’m especially grateful for that choice now because the building is rent-stabilized, so my rent has only gone up about $100 since that first year.”

Books stacked on wood shelf.

To turn this studio into the “[b]right, colorful, organized, and kitschy” home it is today, Kim “painted, put up hooks on the walls, hung paintings, and put vinyl countertop paper in my kitchen.” She says the small home is actually the perfect amount of space for herself and her dog, Georgia. There is even a “dedicated work area, [a] table to eat at, and room for a full-sized couch and queen bed. Georgia arrived about six months after I moved in, and the apartment also allows her to have two different bed areas (we love options). She is also a big fan of having a snooze on the ottoman while I’m working.”

Round mirror hanging on exposed brick wall above wood dresser next to lamp.

Although Kim says she doesn’t really describe her style as maximalism, she does “appreciate collecting art and items from my travels. I spend a lot of time in my home, especially since the pandemic. I certainly have a lot of art that is queer in my apartment (not to mention books), but I think my space mostly reflects my identity as a New Yorker. Making a small space work efficiently, and not being afraid of color, is definitely a result of my having embraced New York culture, which allows for any type of style experimentation.”

Framed black and white photographs on wall above stool and wood side table with lamp next to bed against exposed brick wall.

RESOURCES

  • “Most of my furniture has come from IKEA, Target, or Wayfair. You can dress up anything.”

  • Yellow sofa — West Elm

  • Wall shelves — DIY

  • Bed frame — IKEA. “[S]till the first bed frame I ever bought at 24 years old; the cheapest one IKEA offers. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to make things look nice!”

  • Red dresser — IKEA HEMNES

  • Red nightstand — IKEA

Thanks, Kim!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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Further Reading

We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space

We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need

We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On, and Here’s What They Said