5 Things I’m Doing to Make My Apartment Feel Like Home
How I’m Decorating My New Apartment, Adding Personal Touches, & Creating A Space That Feels Like Home In This New Season Of Life
Why does the moving process feel never ending?
Honestly, moving from Atlanta to Detroit was more emotional than physical. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like the moving process, but as someone who enjoys traveling, packing isn’t the worst part for me. Starting over isn’t always a bad thing. It’s an opportunity for fresh starts, redecorating, and clean slates. You don’t have to wait until you move to redecorate your space, but it certainly is a convenient time to do it.
One thing I was excited about with this move was going from a high rise to another high rise. I’ve always wanted a corner unit with floor to ceiling windows, and it wasn’t something I had grown tired of, so I knew I wanted the same thing in my new apartment. The layout and size are completely different, but I still have that high rise feel I love.
When I realized the move was actually happening, my initial thought was to purge my entire apartment. I wanted to sell all my furniture and get everything new. The problem? My pockets didn’t agree with that plan, and my furniture was relatively new.
I’m blessed because I was fortunate enough to have quality furniture in my first apartment. My family invested in some of my furniture, and they went all out. So, although I initially wanted to sell everything and start fresh, most of my pieces were still in great shape, and it made sense to keep them. I was grateful to already have furniture I loved and could bring into this new season with me.
Walking into this new season, I knew I wanted to make my space feel like me.
Your home, apartment, dorm, or bedroom is your sanctuary. I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time in my space. It’s where I create, feel all the emotions, dance, let my hair down, and simply exist.
Even though this wasn’t a season I wholeheartedly agreed with, I knew I wanted to make my space a home. Just because I wasn’t happy with my circumstances didn’t mean I wanted to settle for just anything. I didn’t want to throw my furniture into a new space without putting any thought or care into making it my own.
So, here are five things I’m doing to make my apartment feel like home.
1. Evolving My Decor to Reflect Who I Am Now
Although I’m the same person, my style has evolved, and I wanted my new space to reflect that.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some pieces I love and decor I wasn’t ready to let go of, but there were also things I wanted to change. I knew I wanted to decorate my space to reflect where I am now.
I’m still the girl who loves pink, but I’m also loving florals, neutrals, and incorporating more depth into my decor. I wanted to evolve from just gray and pink and introduce more colors and textures into the mix.
Now that it’s fall, I’ve added some brown tones, and it’s honestly one of my favorite changes. The browns complement the pink while adding warmth and making the space feel a little more layered.
Being someone who switches out decor with the seasons is something I used to talk about as a little girl when I would go to HomeGoods, but I never really acted on it. Now, I’m finding ways to do just that, whether big or small, instead of keeping everything the same year round.
I want my space to evolve with me, and switching up my decor is one way I’m doing that.
2. Adding Custom Details to Make the Space My Own
Aside from decor, one thing that helped me fall in love with my Atlanta apartment was how I made it my own.
My office was painted pink to remind me of the pink room I had at my mom’s house. It was a little piece of my childhood that I was able to bring into my adult space.
Even though I didn’t want another pink wall this time around, I knew I wanted to incorporate some custom details. Because I’m in an apartment, I didn’t want to do too much, but I wanted something more than wallpaper.
Adding black slats to the living room was one of the ways I decided to make the space unique. I’m blessed to have friends who are very hands on and were willing to help bring my vision to life.
The black slats, paired with the LED lights behind the TV, added character and made the living room feel more homey. They also helped create a focal point in a space where I have limited wall space. Because I live in a high rise with floor to ceiling windows, I can’t just hang pictures wherever I want. I have to be more intentional about how I decorate, so finding ways to add character without relying on wall art has been important.
Sometimes, making a space your own means getting creative with what you have and finding ways to bring your vision to life, even when your options are limited.
3. Getting Creative With Storage
Since I downsized from a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment to a one bedroom, one bathroom, I had to get creative when it came to space.
I used to have an entire office where I could store my books, camera equipment, and other things. Now that I don’t have that extra room, I’ve had to find new places for everything.
One thing I did was add shelves to my bedroom for my books. Not only does this give me somewhere to store them, but the shelves also double as decor. Once I finish decorating my room, I can add candles, bookends, and other little touches to make them look even better.
At first, I thought downsizing meant my books would have to go into a closet somewhere, but this experience has taught me to get creative instead of automatically assuming I don’t have enough space.
I did the same thing with my perfume. I used to get ready in my office, where I kept my wigs, makeup, and fragrances. Now, I’ve found shelves for my bathroom where I can display my perfumes. They add to the decor while giving me a practical place to store things I use regularly. As my collection grows, I may have to find another solution, but for now, it works.
I’ve even used ChatGPT to help me think through different ways to use little pockets of space I might otherwise overlook.
Downsizing has reminded me that sometimes you don’t need more space; you just need to use the space you have differently. I’m learning to look at my apartment with a little more imagination and find ways to make things both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
4. Keeping Fresh Flowers in My Space
Fresh flowers are my jam! I’ve always kept fresh flowers in my apartments because they add something special to a space. I used to stick to pink roses, then I started incorporating white roses, and now I love getting an assortment of flowers to create a bouquet that feels a little more special.
During the summer, I was incorporating yellows and greens. Now that it’s fall, I’ve been adding burnt oranges and browns, and it’s been the best. The colors tie into my decor and help bring the entire space together.
I’ve also enjoyed getting flowers from different places. Trader Joe’s is my go to, but some weeks I’ll stop by Eastern Market, and other times I’ll have a special bouquet delivered.
Fresh flowers aren’t an option for me; they’re a must! Even when money is tight, I’ll invest in at least a $10 bouquet from the grocery store. I don’t need an elaborate arrangement every week, but I love having something fresh in my space.
It’s one of those small things that makes a difference in how my apartment feels. Flowers add color, bring life into the room, and give me something beautiful to look at.
Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a space feel special. For me, fresh flowers are one of them.
5. Resetting My Living Room Every Night
One thing I’ve started doing consistently is resetting my living room every night.
I clean my entire apartment on Saturdays or Sundays, but every night, I have a little routine I call “shutting down the house.”
While I’m drinking my tea and getting ready to do my skincare, I turn on some jazz or a cozy YouTube mix, close my blinds, wash any dishes, put things away in the kitchen, and make sure everything is at least relatively tidy.
There’s something about waking up to a messy living room that throws off my entire day. I don’t like starting my morning feeling like I already have something to catch up on, so resetting my space at night has become a simple way to set myself up for a better morning.
The best part is that it typically only takes five to ten minutes, but it makes such a difference.
On the days when I’m exhausted and have to force myself to do it, I’m always grateful the next morning. Don’t get me wrong, there are still nights when I don’t feel like doing it, but I’ve never regretted it afterward.
I also love that this routine helps me wind down. Between the tea, music, and straightening up, it gives me a little transition between the busyness of the day and getting ready for bed.
It’s a small act of care that makes my space feel good to come home to and helps me start the next day with a clean slate.
Learning to Enjoy My Space Before It’s Perfect
These are just five things I’m doing to make my apartment feel like home, but they’ve made a difference in how I feel about my space.
Your home is your sanctuary. for me, being single with no kids means I get to decorate and tailor my space to my liking without having to consider anyone else’s opinions. I can experiment with my style, incorporate the things I love, and create an environment that feels like me.
When I’m away, I actually miss my space because it’s tailored to me. There’s something special about coming back to a home that reflects your personality, your routines, and the little things that make you happy.
Don’t get me wrong, I still have more decorating to do and things I want to buy. My apartment isn’t finished, and there are still spaces I’m figuring out. I’m happy with how it’s coming together, and I’m learning to enjoy the process instead of focusing on everything that isn’t done yet.
At first, I didn’t even want company over because my apartment wasn’t perfect or complete. I wanted everything to be in its place before I could fully enjoy it or invite people into my space.
But why am I waiting?
I’m learning that I don’t have to wait until my apartment looks exactly how I envisioned it to enjoy the life I’m living in it right now.
Honestly, that lesson extends beyond decorating.
Sometimes, we get so caught up in what we’re still working toward that we forget to appreciate what we already have. We tell ourselves we’ll be happier when we reach the next milestone, when the next season begins, or when everything finally falls into place. Life is happening in the middle of all of that, too.
I may still have boxes to unpack, decor to buy, and things I want to change, but I can still enjoy my home in the meantime. I can invite people over, light my candles, arrange my flowers, make my tea, and enjoy the space I’ve already created.
Home isn’t just about how a space looks when it’s finished. It’s about how you feel while you’re living in it.
As I continue to settle into this new season in Detroit, I want to be intentional about creating a space I love while also learning to enjoy the life I’m building inside of it.
I don’t want to spend so much time preparing for the life I want that I forget to enjoy the one I have.
So, if you’re in a season of starting over, redecorating, or simply trying to make your current space feel a little more like you, start with what you have. Make the small changes. Add the flowers. Create the routines. And give yourself permission to enjoy your space before it’s perfect.
You deserve to feel at home right where you are.
