Book to Know: 'Living in a Nutshell'

What inspired your decision to write this book?
I had been a serial small-space nester for over a decade, fine-tuning storage and style solutions along the way. But when my Brooklyn apartment had two offers and sold in less than an afternoon in the midst of one of the toughest real estate markets in history, it confirmed that I had a style and point of view that others respond to and like.

My apartment had green living room walls, a chocolate-striped bathroom and a floor-to-ceiling chalkboard wall in the kitchen. The exact same unit, still pristine in contractor-white paint, on another floor in the building had been on the market for six months without an offer. I had to find a rental quickly and figure out a way to design it with things that wouldn't hurt the walls or windows or floors. I wanted to document it and share the process, so the Living in a Nutshell blog was born.

DIY wall clamp coat hooks: Industrial C-clamps are a quick way to upgrade a simple wall shelf into a coat and purse rack. Choose some in fun colors (or spray paint them) for additional style. This is a great solution for renters, because it doesn't require any potentially damaging nails or glue.

Where do you go for inspiration?
Luckily, walking down the streets of New York City gives you inspiration around every corner. I walk everywhere and pop into stores of every ilk. I like looking at displays more than the merchandise itself, and hardware stores always challenge my imagination. I am always thinking of how I can repurpose an object or nail or hook in a stylish way.

There are many international magazine stores in the city, and the staff doesn't mind if you sit down with a huge stack. I love what they're doing in Australia and the U.K. I love their fearless use of color and their mixture of high and low, old and new.

DIY built-in wine rack: Take the clean and modern look of open shelves and give them a quirky twist by installing them in a zigzag pattern for wine storage. The result is a fresh and unique built-in storage piece that frees up cabinet and shelving space in the kitchen.

What do you think is the most important thing for a small-space owner or renter to keep in mind?
Don't take a size-ist attitude towards your space. You don't have to decorate with small junior-sized furniture and accessories. You can go bold with color and pattern. A small space comes with a list of flaws, but if you find a way to highlight them as quirky design features, then guests will be so dazzled, they'll forget you live in a box.

DIY secret: Perfectly painted stripes. How to get your stripes right, with no bleeding color:

1. Paint the lighter color as a base coat. Allow to dry completely, then use painter's tape to mark off the stripes for the darker color.

2. Before tackling the stripes, do one more layer of the lighter color along the seams of the tape. This fills the gaps so that the darker color won't bleed.

3. Wait for that layer to dry completely, then paint your stripes. Let dry again before pulling off the tape.

DIY secret: Hide that eyesore. No matter how perfect your apartment seems, there's always the inevitable unsightly feature — it's like a law of nature. Instead of awkwardly sidestepping guests around your refrigerator or sink, come up with a clever way to conceal it.

This apartment had a refrigerator in the foyer. A collection of cute magnets and a graphic curtain quickly transformed it into an eye-pleasing addition to the apartment.

Living in a Nutshell: Posh and Portable Decorating Ideas for Small Spaces, by Janet Lee. Photography by Aimée Herring. Harper Design, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers. Hardcover: $25.

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