A 400-Square-Foot NYC Studio Is Dreamy Thanks to Chic Rental-Friendly Updates

Adrienne Breaux
·5 min read
Sofa with throw pillows, accent table, room divider, and wood coffee table reflected in wall mirror surrounded by wood.
Green and white striped curtains at window behind sofa with throw pillows and wood accent and coffee tables.
Chair in front of television, art, books, and decor on shelves up to ceiling in living room area with wood flooring, doors, molding, and coffee table.
TV and decor on shelves above chair and table lamp next to window.
Candle sconce and art on walls above desk with table lamp and basket, and wood chair and stool.
Kitchen accessories on top of and hanging from wood shelf above skirted table with fruit bowl, mason jars, and lamp in kitchen with stainless steel fridge.
Wood cabinetry and stainless steel appliances in kitchen with checkerboard floor.
Cat sitting on bed with pink and white quilt and upholstered headboard, separated from living area by fabric room divider.
Small framed artwork and wall sconces above bed with upholstered headboard and pink and white quilt.
Cat sitting on bed with pink and white quilt, separated from living area by fabric room divider.
Bed with pink and white quilt facing arched, wood French doors.
Cat sitting on bed covered with pink and white quilt.
Portrait and wall sconce hanging above bedside dresser with table lamp, books and candle next to bed.
Decor and books on mint green shelving unit alongside wood bathroom door next to wood mirror on wall and bed.
Green and white floral shower curtain in bathroom with pedestal sink and wood storage.
Towel and basket on hooks under framed painting on wall above toilet with fragrances, candles, and lamp in tray.

ABOUT THIS TOUR

HOME TYPE: Studio Apartment

LOCATION: Brooklyn, New York

STYLE: Cottage, Traditional, Vintage

BEDROOMS: 0

SQUARE FEET: 400

Freelance writer and content creator Claudia Williams had been living with a roommate and was ready to start living alone, but her last lease was up in September 2023, a “tricky time” to move, she explains.

Dweller and cat on small sofa in studio apartment.

“I decided to put my stuff in storage for a few months and traveled to England. I spent some time in London, The Cotswolds, and Dorset,” Claudia writes. “While I was there, I had a broker touring apartments for me and helping apply to places back in Brooklyn. I got denied from 10 or more. Landlords don’t love freelancers, and I kept getting beat out by couples with two incomes. I decided to come back to New York and start looking in person because I knew the only way I’d get accepted somewhere was to win over the landlord. Which is exactly what happened.”

Cat sitting on bed covered with pink and white quilt.

“After two-plus months of looking on Streeteasy every day, I finally found this apartment,” Claudia says of this 400-square-foot Brooklyn space. “The listing photos were tragic, but I spotted the massive windows with original shutters and, of course, the pier mirror. The home was built in 1900 and was originally owned by a doctor and his family. I toured it the next morning, became BFFs with the broker of the building, and got accepted soon after.”

Candles and wick trimmer atop books on wood coffee table.

“I moved in on November 4, 2023, and got to work making updates almost immediately. I had the walls painted a fresh creamy white color, installed floor-to-ceiling shelves, and made some renter-friendly updates to the kitchen. I love how tall the ceilings are and all of the original dark moldings. I feel like the months of getting denied by other apartments was all so I could find this place. We were made for each other!” Claudia explains.

Resources

Taper candle in yellow and white candlestick holder next to open book on wood accent table.

PAINT & COLORS

  • All Paint — Benjamin Moore “Mannequin Cream”

Sofa with throw pillows, accent table, room divider, and wood coffee table reflected in wall mirror surrounded by wood.

LIVING ROOM

  • Chandelier — Pooky

  • Sofa — IKEA

  • Green Stool — GreenRow

Candle sconce and art on walls above desk with table lamp and basket, and wood chair and stool.

OFFICE

  • Throw Pillow — H&M Home

  • Lamp — Pooky

Cat sitting on bed with pink and white quilt and upholstered headboard, separated from living area by fabric room divider.

BEDROOM

  • Headboard — Lulu and Georgia

  • Bedding — Piglet In Bed

  • Rug — Lulu and Georgia

Green and white floral shower curtain in bathroom with pedestal sink and wood storage.

BATHROOM

  • Wood Hooks — H&M Home

Thanks, Claudia!

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 Asked 5 Contractors Which Kitchen Reno Trend Homeowners Regret Most, and They Basically All Agreed

See How a Stager Used Paint to Transform a 1950s Living Room

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