Small Apartment with Pastel Colors Photos

Name: Stephanie Centeno and my cat named Lemon
Location: Redlands, California
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 656 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I work as a Marketing Specialist for a healthcare management company in Redlands, California, and do freelance writing for lifestyle and entertainment publications. I share my home with my kitty named Lemon. Decorating my home was a milestone for me because prior to this I had never had a space beyond my bedroom to freely design as I pleased. When my former roommate moved out to live with her long-term boyfriend, I felt a sudden rush of panic and excitement when faced with the blank canvas that was now my apartment. All of the Pinterest boards now came to fruition.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Cheerful, cozy, practical

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is the living room. I spend a lot of time here binge-watching TV shows and movies, especially now due to stay at home orders. I spend a lot of evenings curled up reading a book and sipping tea or wine.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last thing I bought was a vintage Formica table that I use as a desk. The original intention was to teach myself how to sew given that I spend a lot of money on tailoring my clothes. My boyfriend and I relaminated it with a pink boomerang print that I fell in love with.

The project was finished a few weeks before quarantine, so it ended up working out nicely since I’m now working from home, because I previously did not have a desk. I’m now able to alternate throughout the work day from desk to dining table to couch to try and get somewhat of a change of scene throughout my small apartment.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Take your time creating your own personal and unique space. Having my own space was a first for me, so I quickly gathered essentials like a couch and dining table and chairs, but slowly approached the process of selecting more personal touches like artwork.

I had a tight budget, so it took a few months of scouring Craigslist, Offerup, and Goodwill to find items that resonated with me. The takeaway? Be patient when creating your home. I spent a portion of my check to pay for splurge-worthy items and had fun perusing thrift shops.

This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.