Help! I’m Moving Into My Own Place!

Congratulations! I completely get your concerns, I still live at home with my mother due to finances (or lack of), however I had concerns to face when my boyfriend moved in with us at the beginning of the pandemic. My main concern is similar to yours surrounding the concept of space and staying indoors for large amounts of time, I was concerned that he would interrupt on my independence and having to spend time indoors due to the pandemic would negatively impact our relationship. I found though, ensuring he had his own space (room) helped us feel not so pressured to be with each other all the time, this and our busy schedules with school and work. I do agree though that plants do help a space feel like home and introduces a routine to tend for the plant, I also find having a few pictures of loved ones help to keep me grounded.

Moving is always a hassle ;) But it is definitely worth the effort. Recently, I helped to move my friend to a suburb of New York City from downtown. He had his own checklist to make sure he didn’t forget anything, as well as many different tokens that helped a lot :) My friend was madly happy to move, because the proximity of nature and the lack of noise made his life better and calmer. Did anybody have the same experience of a successful move?

Moving is always a challenge :) But definitely worth the effort. Recently, I helped to move my friend to a suburb of New York City from downtown. My friend was madly happy to move, because the proximity of nature and the lack of noise made his life better and more peaceful. Did anybody have such experience?

Congratulations!

My first time living without roommates was into a studio apartment as well! It’s still my current dwelling and it’s been a year now. I LOVE IT. It’s less than 400 square feet but I managed to make the space not feel like one big room and so very cozy.

The key is lighting, lighting, lighting! The place has a light switch at the entrance that lights up the entire apartment with tacky ceiling lights which I actually hate because it made it feel like one big room. Instead I put table lamps and wall lamps in each designated spot to give it it’s own space. Example; a hanging ceiling lamp that hangs right on top of my small dining table, a wall lamp beside my bed, and twinkle string lights on the wall that my couch sits against for a cozy living room area. String lights (from Ikea) help light up the dark corner especially since I live in the Pacific North West where most days are dark and cloudy.

I also didn’t want my bed feeling like a multipurpose space. For this you would have to make your bed every morning. It might be a task but it seriously is needed to keep you from going in. Also, if you can, try to create more seating opportunities. I managed to find a tiny couch, I have floor pillows, and dining chairs to sit on in my apartment rather than resorting to my bed.

Also sheer curtains. There is no door from my kitchen to the rest of the area. I put up a sheer curtains between the two that I pull and tie back during the day time and pull out when it’s time for bed. It helps keep the smell of the things I cook from floating into my “bedroom” but it also keeps a nice divide from the kitchen and my bed when it’s time to sleep. It’s small thing but it truly feel like I left my kitchen and walked to my bedroom. (Especially helpful when I didn’t get to my dishes but also want to go to bed without thinking about it)

I’m excited for you!

When I had a studio I had one long room too and I used this bookshelf:: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/kallax-shelf-unit-white-70301537/ as a room separator to create a “bedroom.” It was great storage and didn’t block light or make the space feel closed off but did give the feeling of separate rooms.

I love Modsy.com. Give them photos of the room and they will give you two ideas. For $60 I think it’s worth it and then you can find the furniture second hand ;) Good luck. I LOVED living by myself. I remember making bacon naked and thinking HA, I can do this. I’m by myself. No one cares!

Congratulations on your new home, Kim! I hope you share a tour with us once you settle in, would love to see some before and after photos! I’ve lived in my studio apartment for 14 years and mostly love it, although sometimes I wish I had a more comfortable space to offer for overnight guests. This is more relevant for non-pandemic times, but for several years, I didn’t host gatherings because I felt like my space was somewhat inadequate, and because I’m introverted and hosting was intimidating to me. I eventually did take the plunge, and it felt surprisingly great! All that love and sense of togetherness lights up the space and lingers long after. Thanks to all the wonderful suggestions offered in the comments about studio spaces! I was motivated by the many comments about rug zoning to purchase a 3×5 rug for my bedroom area and it has made such a difference, so much happiness from such a small thing!

For nyc, tall furniture always, instead of wide furniture! Buy an ikea bed frame that’s metal instead of wood, to prevent bed bugs! Find ways to get clothes out of sight.

Congratulations! I have never lived alone in my entire life and as an introvert, I always wished I had that experience. That’s so exciting!

I recommend getting a pretty armoire to hide clothes (I always love the look of a small clothing rack with more curated clothing and hiding the mess in a pretty piece of furniture). It can also help separate the space a little bit. I’ve been hunting for some on Craigslist. (Also – if you need a man with van recommendation for any craigslist finds – email me! I worked with an amazing guy in Brooklyn for years).

Lastly – you might know this site already but I just came upon it while on Remodelista – https://bemz.com/ikea-series Bemz is a company that makes high end washable slipcovers for Ikea sofas. My mind exploded when I saw how gorgeous these were and wished I didn’t drop 2k on a couch last year…

Good luck!! xx

If you can do so, I–a certified pack-rat–think it’s MUCH easier to decide what to purge/donate after you have moved in. I just moved from a shared three-bedroom (with lots of storage) to a studio, and I had the luxury of a cross-town move and 3.5 week lease overlap, so I wasn’t worried about fitting everything into a moving van in one go. Once I got even half of my stuff into my studio, it was way more apparent what needed to go.

I also saw a recent studio tour on Apartment Therapy where the renter used color to create zones in an open-plan space. Her bedding was white, and the things in the living space were muted jewel tones. If all of my stuff wasn’t already jewel toned, I might have followed suit!

I moved into my own place for the first time a year ago and I recommend making clear invisible lines in your head between what’s bedroom/living room etc. Also recommend just never getting into bed except when you’re gonna sleep/nap. I’ve always had low beds and my bed in my new place is (unintentionally) much taller since it’s an old one with a box spring from Craigslist. I think the no-ideal height for sitting subconsciously helped me not to view it as just one big lounging area…?

Create spaces/nooks for each ‘area’ of the studio so it feels like you have a dedicated part for your daily routines. Utilize vertical space! If you can’t drill, command strips/hooks are a lifesaver! Multifunctional furniture is a must and take time to personalize. Good luck!

Congratulations, Kim! So exciting! I’m here to say what many others have said – plants and cozy lights. I have a bunch of candles, votives and string lights scattered around my apartment and it’s a nice ritual to light them up in the evenings and on gray mornings. Enjoy your new space <3

Congratulations! So happy for you. I have never regretted buying the best quality I could afford. Sometimes it meant I would do without something else or that I had to wait a little longer in order to save the money to buy it, but the items I invested in I appreciate the most and have kept many throughout the years. Wishing you much happiness.

I just moved in with my boyfriend after living alone for the last 5 years and while I’m excited about this next step with him, it was hard to bid farewell to those sweet years of solitude in my own space. My favorite thing about living alone was knowing that I would always return home to my place in the exact same state as I left it – whether that was neat and tidy or with clothes all over the bed and dirty dishes in the sink. Enjoy every moment!

Hey Kim! I just moved into my first studio a couple of months ago and I’d just say: take your time. The initial rush is to get it feeling cozy ASAP, but that can be achieved with the few things you mentioned (photos of loved ones, doing what you want when you want). It’s a big deal to have your own space and you’ll want to make sure each item or idea you include has purpose and value. Also, make your bed everyday, ha. Makes a big difference in a small space.

Congrats Kim, I’m so excited for you! My partner and I moved into our own 550 ft2 studio in SF last year after living with housemates for many many years. And while it’s not quite the same as living alone, just being able to come home after a long day and not have to make awkward conversation or jostle for kitchen space is so nice.

Some of the things that I’ve found helpful for making the studio seem cozy and nice to spend _all_ of my time (now that we’re stuck indoors during shelter-in-place) in has been:
1) Swapping out the ceiling light fixtures. We got two cool modern (Sputnik-esque) light fixtures, one to go over the “bedroom” space, and the other over the couch area. In addition to just being nice to look at during the day, we also put in two different colored light bulbs – where the one over the couch is more white and daytime-y, and the bulbs in the “bedroom” fixture is more yellow and warm. We only use the yellow-colored light fixture at night when we’re getting ready for bed, so it’s nice to help set the mood.
2) Storage and organization – since our living space is so small, keeping everything cleanly and in its place has been super helpful to not feel overwhelmed by clutter. We installed extra shelves in our closet when we first moved in, and I also purchased a lot of bins and baskets to store everything.
3) Save up and invest in nice home goods – I really like cooking and spend a lot of time in the kitchen. So when we moved (and no longer had to share kitchenware with roommates), I splurged on a set of nice dishes and bowls from Heath in the most fun of colors (yuzu yellow, emerald green, moonshine blue)! We use these dishes for all of our meals, and they make me so happy to look at each and every time!

I live in a 1br in Queens so my set up is a bit different (washer and dryer in the basement is still amazing). But I always see ways to delineate the space is to divide it with rugs for different “rooms” if possible, like an eating area, sleeping area, living area. you can separate the space with a kitchen island for counter space or use a sofa for the separation. If you don’t have the space for all of that than a sleeping area and living/eating area. You can get a coffee table that extends up (I think West Elm has them). I prefer having a table in the corner as a little nook. I got a nice marble square one from Article but still find myself sitting on the floor to eat at the coffee table 99% of the time.

As ways to personalize; I painted the door trims inside my apartment and that little bit of a color made an impact without committing to a full wall. Other than that just hang your photos, affordable prints from sites like Society6, hang shadow boxes with sentimental things, etc. The wall in my bedroom next to the door I have a group of little things (movie stubs, a dried flower, concert tickets, instax pictures, some prints I made, a pretty business card from a place I like) that I just hung with washi tape. It’s maybe 2’x2′ and I add to it whenever I feel with no particular plan. I like that it’s not as daunting as figuring out a whole gallery wall.

Good luck! It’s expensive on your own and it adds up quick, so don’t rush and just do what feels right!

Before moving in with my husband, I’ve only ever lived alone in studios as an adult. My last studio was bright and airy, with a main room that doubled as bedroom and dining room. My bed faced the dining table, and I put my dresser and TV at the foot of the bed as a makeshift room divider. If I had more time in the apartment, I would have bought a loveseat or two small chairs and a mini table to create a living room. In the kitchen, I had a breakfast nook, and to add more counter space, I got a rolling cabinet/countertop combo from Target.

I think you need to carve out dining/office spaces in your studio, however small, so that your bed can remain a bed. That will the apartment feel bigger, too. And buy furniture that can double as storage!

I look back on my years of living alone so fondly, and it’s one of the best gifts I gave myself. I’m so excited for you as you start this new chapter!

I loved my time living alone. It rewarded me with drama-free, expectation-free life. Definitely don’t feel like it needs to be all set up when you move in. Start with the basics, and then add things in based on how you live. Having a 2-person dining table is so helpful, for me it was extra counter space (I had no counter space in my studio), work table and a place to eat. It also defined the space between sleeping and kitchen. I choose not to have carpets, as frankly cleaning was MUCH easier without having to deal with a small carpet at one end, and hardwoods or tile everywhere else. I was tempted to paint the wall, but the thought of having to paint it white before I moved out put me off. I did ‘almost’ get peel-able wall paper, so definitely recommend that. To make it ‘home and adult’ add paintings or pictures that bring you joy on the wall, and plants on the window sill. Have real plates, mugs and things that are adult like and not from the college section. Small things but they make a big difference. I also really enjoyed reorganizing my furniture often (something that my husband does not really like or support now) so it’s easy to move things around and do what YOU want when you are alone. If you do end up using the bed to lay in and watch Netflix re-runs over the weekend, along with a bottle of wine open and questionable food choices, know that no one is watching and you are having the best time of your life :)

Aww congrats, Kim! A studio with in-unit washer and dryer is like finding a unicorn in NYC, so def congrats on the new place! I would definitely echo what a lot of people have said already which is take it one step at a time, don’t be in a rush to furnish your space and candles and photos (whether hung up or displayed) will certainly make it more cozy. Looking forward to an apt tour soon!

Lamps! Neighbors came into a former apt years ago and commented on how cozy it felt – I realized it was judicious mix of floor and table lamps. I have one in each corner of my current 400sqft studio, a small one on the dresser in one corner, floor lamp next to the chair where i read, etc, and I know the lighting mix is what makes my current home feel just like….home!

I’ve lived in studio apartments for over ten years and have absolutely loved it. They key is being deliberate about separating spaces (using rugs) so you have somewhat different sleeping and living areas. Plants, lots of light, and having a consistent color palette all make a huge difference as well.

You’ll love it! One thing I’ve done to divide up a room is use this metal and glass shelf from IKEA and put plants and picture frames, etc. on it. It looks good from both sides and does give the room some division without being blocky.

Is it a stock photo? I swear it looks so much like Glasgow in Scotland. Exciting though if Kim IS moving to Glasgow – such a fun city!