skip to main content
SEATING SALE
0
Your shopping cart is empty.
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
GET IDEAS
PHOTOS
Kitchen & DiningKitchenDining RoomPantryGreat RoomBreakfast Nook
Bed & BathBathroomPowder RoomBedroomStorage & ClosetBaby & Kids
LivingLiving RoomFamily RoomSunroom
OutdoorLandscapePatioDeckPoolBackyardPorchExteriorOutdoor KitchenFront YardDrivewayPoolhouse
WalkwaysStaircaseEntryHall
Bar & WineHome BarWine Cellar
UtilityLaundryGarageMudroom
More RoomsGame RoomHome OfficeBasementCraftLibraryGym
Popular Design IdeasKitchen BacksplashFirepit
FireplaceDeck RailingPergolaPrivacy FenceSmall Closet
MAGAZINE
Stories and GuidesPopular StoriesRenovation Cost Guides
DISCUSSIONS
Get AdviceDesign DilemmasBefore & After
HOUZZ TV
HOUZZ RESEARCH
FIND PROFESSIONALS
PROFESSIONALS
DesignArchitects & Building DesignersKitchen & Bathroom DesignersInterior Designers & DecoratorsDesign-Build FirmsLighting Designers & Suppliers
RemodelingKitchen & Bathroom RemodelersGeneral ContractorsHome BuildersTile & Countertop ContractorsMasonry & Concrete ContractorsExterior & Siding ContractorsStair & Railing ContractorsFireplace Contractors
RenovationCarpentersCabinetry & Cabinet MakersFlooring ContractorsWindow ContractorsDoor ContractorsGlass & Shower Door ContractorsCarpet Contractors
OutdoorLandscape Architects & DesignersLandscape ContractorsDeck & Patio BuildersFence ContractorsDriveway & Paving ContractorsSwimming Pool BuildersHot Tub & Spa Dealers
ServicesPaintersRoofing & Gutter ContractorsOrganizers & Closet DesignersHome StagersGarage Door ServicesWindow Treatment ServicesPaint & Wall Covering Dealers
Appliances & SystemsAppliance Sales & ServicesHVAC ContractorsHome Theater & AutomationOutdoor Lighting & AV SpecialistsSolar Energy Contractors
All ProfessionalsAll ServicesFor Professionals
SHOP BY DEPARTMENT
KITCHEN & DINING
Kitchen & Dining FurnitureSinks & FaucetsKitchen AppliancesTabletopCabinets & StorageKnobs & PullsKitchen LightingTileCookware & BakewareTools & GadgetsView All
FURNITURE
Living RoomKitchen & DiningHome OfficeOutdoorBedroomStorageBathroomView All
BATH
Bathroom VanitiesShowersBathtubsBathroom LightingFaucetsBathroom SinksTileBath AccessoriesBath LinensMedicine CabinetsView All
DECOR
RugsMirrorsWall DecorDecorative AccentsArtworkPillows & ThrowsHoliday DecorView All
BEDROOM
Beds & HeadboardsBeddingDressersNightstandsBenchesBedroom DecorLampsCloset StorageFutonsChaisesView All
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HardwareTileBathroom FixturesKitchen FixturesHeating & CoolingBuilding MaterialsTools & EquipmentView All
LIVING
Coffee & Accent TablesRugsSofas & SectionalsArmchairs & Accent ChairsTV Stand & Media StorageHome DecorLampsArtworkBookcasesFireplaces & AccessoriesView All
OUTDOOR
Patio FurnitureOutdoor DecorOutdoor LightingPool & SpaLawn & GardenOutdoor StructuresOutdoor CookingView All
LIGHTING
ChandeliersPendant LightsFlush-MountsBathroom & VanityWall SconcesCeiling FansTable LampsFloor LampsKitchen & CabinetOutdoor LightingView All
MORE
Storage & OrganizationHome OfficeBaby & KidsHome BarCleaning & LaundryPet SuppliesHoliday DecorView All
Looking for the perfect gift? Send a Houzz Gift Card!
SALE
ON SALE - UP TO 75% OFF
Bathroom VanitiesChandeliersBar StoolsPendant LightsRugsLiving Room ChairsDining Room FurnitureWall LightingCoffee TablesSide & End TablesHome Office FurnitureSofasBedroom FurnitureLampsMirrors
SEATING SALE
Free Shipping
Counter Stools by Style 
Up to 50% Off
Bestselling Living Room Seating 
Up to 65% Off
Bar Stools With Free Shipping 
Up to 55% Off
Bestselling Dining Chairs 
Small Spaces
Small Spaces
5 Ways to Fake a Bedroom in a Studio Apartment
Top Ideabooks
5 Ways to Fake a Bedroom in a Studio ApartmentWatch a Houzz Editor Discuss 4 Small-Bathroom Design IdeasNew This Week: 6 Small-Bathroom Design IdeasWander Into a ‘She Shed’ Inspired by Wedgwood Pottery
Appears in
Decorating Guides
Apartment Life
Apartment Life
8 Things to Consider Before Moving Into a New Apartment
Top Ideabooks
8 Things to Consider Before Moving Into a New Apartment10 Lightweight, Versatile Furniture Pieces for Frequent MoversSecurity and Safety Precautions for Apartment DwellersPersonal Style: Cheers to These 17 Creative Home Bars
Appears in
Your First House

Apartment Life: 7 Tips for Creating a Curated Look

An interior decorator layers plants, art and special finds in her 600-square-foot New Orleans rental

Kayla Stark
Kayla StarkMay 30, 2017
Houzz Contributor. I'm a photographer, graphic designer, and artist currently living in New Orleans, LA. My favorite thing about being a photographer is that it allows me to get out into the world and see beauty everyday. It motivates me to explore and to be adventurous. I love that all of my days are different and that I never know who I'll meet or what I might be able to capture.
More
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
“The best part about living in a small apartment is that you don’t need a whole lot of furnishings to fill it up and decorate,” says interior decorator Whitney Jones. “But it’s really easy to make a small space feel closed in and cluttered.” Below are seven ways Jones met the challenge of designing an eclectic and efficient living space in her 600-square-foot rental apartment in New Orleans.
Kayla Stark
1. Dedicate a space to artwork. One of the easiest ways to add personality to a space is by incorporating art that speaks to you personally. But finding a place to hang your artwork can be difficult if you live in a small space.

If you have more than a few pieces, make the most of the whole height of a wall, as Jones did here behind her sofa. Using similar frames, acquiring pieces based on a theme or hanging the work according to a grid are just a few ways you can make a gallery wall feel unified and organized.


Budget Decorator: A Most Affordable Gallery Wall
Kayla Stark
“In art, I like to let my collection build organically by buying only pieces that I love. All the art has been purchased over the years, and are usually impulse purchases that I loved and needed to have,” Jones says.

Consequently, the living room is her favorite space in her home because she’s surrounded by art pieces that make her happy.
Kayla Stark
2. Let the light in. Embracing the natural light can make a space feel more open and roomy. Large windows give the illusion that the space is a continuation of the outdoors beyond the window.

Indoor houseplants also thrive with an abundance of natural light. “I love bringing the outdoors in with plants and trees. They clean the air and bring natural color in a room,” Jones says. The plants in her living room include a fiddleleaf fig, a ponytail palm and an air plant. A small patio with additional seating just outside is filled with more plants.
Kayla Stark
3. Choose multipurpose furniture. The upholstered ottoman in the living room functions as a coffee table and as extra seating when Jones hosts parties. Putting decorations on a tray that can be easily removed when guests arrive lets her quickly switch between coffee table and seating.
Kayla Stark
4. Embrace color and texture.
“When I first moved in, it was a blank slate of beige carpet and beige walls. Since being here, I’ve added color and personality through art, reupholstered furniture and custom pillows,” Jones says. The red, blue and neutral pillows in a mix of fabrics are a DIY project that helps tie the sofa into the artwork above it. Repeating a color or colors throughout a space can also make a room feel more cohesive.

The bold geometric pattern in the rug not only adds texture and visual interest, but its repeating pattern also gives the illusion that the floor is bigger than it is.
Kayla Stark
“Since mixing fabrics is one of my favorite parts of a design project, I usually start there. Then I’ll use those fabrics to develop a color scheme and inspiration board,” Jones says.

This small nook is an example of her approach. The reupholstered chair, which provides extra seating in the living room, was re-covered with
a luxe cut velvet, and the frame was painted black to give it more life. The playful ponytail palm and beaded sconce introduce additional texture to the space, while the bold blue credenza brings in the navy from the other accessories in the room.

The credenza is an old piece that Jones’ mother purchased from a yard sale. “It’s been painted every color under the sun and is one of my favorite pieces,” she says. Jones also added the leather pulls.
Kayla Stark
5. Use mirrors. Mirrors reflect the light to make a space appear bigger and airier. Jones incorporated a hanging mirror and a mirrored side table to make her living room feel more expansive. The thick wood frame of the hanging piece also fits in nicely with the eclectic aesthetic.
Kayla Stark
Another large mirror hangs on one wall of the dining space, which is open to the living room. The round glass table also contributes to the light feel of the room.
Kayla Stark
6. Bring in a bar cart. Bar carts not only provide extra storage in the dining room, but they also are a fun place to display tableware and other decor.
Kayla Stark
Jones’ bar cart holds midcentury-inspired glassware along with other playful pieces. “I search every inch of flea markets and thrift stores for cool pieces that are conversation starters. I can’t resist a miniature animal figurine,” she says.
Kayla Stark
7. Utilize flat surfaces for displays. It can be hard to find a space to display and enjoy the small treasures collected over the years, but using the flat surfaces on top of dressers, ottomans, wardrobes or shelves can be one solution. The large white feather piece is an African headdress called a juju hat. It’s a symbol of prosperity that is said to possess qualities of birds and is traditionally worn during tribal ceremonies. Jones combined it with candlesticks, stones and a bust of a woman.
Kayla Stark
The top of the ottoman is home to a DIY air plant terrarium and some favorite design books.

Bowl Over Guests With a DIY Air Plant Terrarium
Kayla Stark
“I love fun, unique pieces. Oversized and miniature accessories are some of my favorite pieces to find,” Jones says.
Kayla Stark
Jones, pictured here with her Maltipoo Poca, is the oldest of eight children, and she credits her mother as an inspiration for her creativeness in design. “My mom had to be extremely creative when it came to maximizing space in a small three-bedroom apartment,” she says. “I picked up a lot of tips from her. We moved furniture around every time my mom got the urge. I knew I loved to make a room pretty and more functional, but it took a long time for that to translate into a career for me.”

More
10 Furniture Essentials for Small Spaces
Small Living 101: Smart Space Savers for Your Kitchen Walls
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Comments (25)
See 22 more comments
  • therealnester
    3 years ago

    Lovely!

  • Inza Singh
    3 years ago

    thanks, I now realise how to organize myself and my apartment, because since I got it, I just changed the wall color

  • PRO
    LampsUSA
    2 years ago

    The glass bowls are a nice touch. The black candles give a mysterious feel.

  • Read Related Stories
    5 Ways to Fake a Bedroom in a Studio Apartment
    Bedrooms5 Ways to Fake a Bedroom in a Studio Apartment
    By Nicole Jacobs
    If you don’t want your bed to dominate your studio apartment, try one of these options to set your sleeping zone apart
    Full Story5
    Watch a Houzz Editor Discuss 4 Small-Bathroom Design Ideas
    Houzz TV LiveWatch a Houzz Editor Discuss 4 Small-Bathroom Design Ideas
    By Mitchell Parker
    See design tricks that pros use to make a small bathroom look and feel larger than it is
    Full Story7
    New This Week: 6 Small-Bathroom Design Ideas
    Bathroom DesignNew This Week: 6 Small-Bathroom Design Ideas
    By Mitchell Parker
    Pros share design tips for saving space and creating style in a compact bathroom
    Full Story78
    Wander Into a ‘She Shed’ Inspired by Wedgwood Pottery
    OutbuildingsWander Into a ‘She Shed’ Inspired by Wedgwood Pottery
    By Becky Harris
    Tucked above a creek in the woods in Ohio, this tiny cottage is a gardener’s favorite spot to host friends for tea
    Full Story60
    See 9 Inspired Backyard Cottages, ADUs  and Studios
    OutbuildingsSee 9 Inspired Backyard Cottages, ADUs and Studios
    By Janet Paik
    Houzz readers shared their converted garages and backyard units used for exercise, guest quarters and more
    Full Story14
    19 Design Tricks to Maximize a Small Kitchen
    Small Kitchens19 Design Tricks to Maximize a Small Kitchen
    By Yanic Simard
    Expand your visual and physical space with these tips for increasing storage and openness
    Full Story83
    What to Bring to a Temporary Living Space and How to Organize It
    OrganizingWhat to Bring to a Temporary Living Space and How to Organize It
    By Patricia Lee
    Moving out for a remodel or a short-term situation? Here are tips for what to bring and what to leave behind
    Full Story10
    Show Us Your In-Law Unit, Backyard Cottage or Guesthouse
    Houzz CallShow Us Your In-Law Unit, Backyard Cottage or Guesthouse
    By Janet Paik
    Do you have an ADU, or accessory dwelling unit, on your property or have you recently installed one? We want to see!
    Full Story138
    New This Week: 4 Small Bathrooms With a Shower-Tub Combo
    Bathroom DesignNew This Week: 4 Small Bathrooms With a Shower-Tub Combo
    By Mitchell Parker
    See how designers enhance the classic space-saving feature with tile color, vanity style and other design details
    Full Story59
    10 Small Bathrooms, 10 Different Looks
    Most Popular10 Small Bathrooms, 10 Different Looks
    By Bryan Anthony
    See how you can personalize a standard-size bathroom with a vanity, toilet and shower-tub combo
    Full Story207
    New This Week: 5 Ways to Make a 5-by-8-Foot Bathroom Look Bigger
    Bathroom DesignNew This Week: 5 Ways to Make a 5-by-8-Foot Bathroom Look Bigger
    By Mitchell Parker
    See how designers use tile and other elements to make a tight layout feel more spacious and stylish
    Full Story36
    12 Designer Tips to Make a Small Bathroom Better
    Bathroom Design12 Designer Tips to Make a Small Bathroom Better
    By Charmean Neithart
    Ensure your small bathroom is comfortable, not cramped, by using every inch wisely
    Full Story240
    5 Solutions to Small-Bathroom Problems
    Bathroom Design5 Solutions to Small-Bathroom Problems
    By Louise O'Bryan
    Whether your room lacks a separate shower, adequate storage or a sense of spaciousness, there are remedies at hand
    Full Story150
    New This Week: 11 Perfect Powder Rooms
    Bathroom DesignNew This Week: 11 Perfect Powder Rooms
    By Mitchell Parker
    Bright wallpaper, stylish vanities and pattern-happy tile add up to big design in these small bathrooms
    Full Story29
    Bathroom of the Week: Dark Cabinets, Shimmery Tile and Seating
    Bathroom DesignBathroom of the Week: Dark Cabinets, Shimmery Tile and Seating
    By Mitchell Parker
    A Seattle-area homeowner works with her designer to expand the footprint, function and style of her master bathroom
    Full Story39
    Sponsored
    Fisher's Backyard Structures
    Virginia's Experienced Providers of Outdoor Living Structures
    People who liked this story also liked
    5 Ways to Fake a Bedroom in a Studio Apartment
    5 Ways to Fake a Bedroom in a Studio ApartmentFull Story
    Watch a Houzz Editor Discuss 4 Small-Bathroom Design Ideas
    Watch a Houzz Editor Discuss 4 Small-Bathroom Design IdeasFull Story
    New This Week: 6 Small-Bathroom Design Ideas
    New This Week: 6 Small-Bathroom Design IdeasFull Story
    Wander Into a ‘She Shed’ Inspired by Wedgwood Pottery
    Wander Into a ‘She Shed’ Inspired by Wedgwood PotteryFull Story
    See 9 Inspired Backyard Cottages, ADUs  and Studios
    See 9 Inspired Backyard Cottages, ADUs and StudiosFull Story
    19 Design Tricks to Maximize a Small Kitchen
    19 Design Tricks to Maximize a Small KitchenFull Story
    What to Bring to a Temporary Living Space and How to Organize It
    What to Bring to a Temporary Living Space and How to Organize ItFull Story
    Show Us Your In-Law Unit, Backyard Cottage or Guesthouse
    Show Us Your In-Law Unit, Backyard Cottage or GuesthouseFull Story
    New This Week: 4 Small Bathrooms With a Shower-Tub Combo
    New This Week: 4 Small Bathrooms With a Shower-Tub ComboFull Story
    10 Small Bathrooms, 10 Different Looks
    10 Small Bathrooms, 10 Different LooksFull Story
    Sponsored
    Cumberland Custom Homes
    5 Reviews
    Northern Virginia's Green Residential Builder & Renovator
    • United States
    • ABOUT
    • CAREERS
    • MOBILE APPS
    • PROFESSIONALS
    • BUTTONS
    • FOR BRANDS
    • SELL
    • Privacy & Notice
    • Terms
    • © 2021 Houzz Inc.