I rent a 550-square-foot space in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. From repainting it all to swapping my kitchen sink, here's how I made it cozier and homier.
Brigette Muller
After over a decade of switching apartments almost every year, I finally moved into my dream space over the summer.
It's a super charming railroad-style apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, with high ceilings, beautiful natural light, crown moldings, a decorative fireplace mantel, and — much to my delight — a chill landlord who pretty much lets me make any changes I want.
As soon as the lease was signed, I got to work on making this gorgeous place feel like a home.
Some say it's silly to spend so much time and money on a rental where I might only stay a couple of years, but I call it an act of self-care. Here are some of the things I've done so far:
Brigette Muller
I love an all-white apartment. Even the wood floors came painted white, which was a selling point for me.
But the look of the original paint, a cool-toned white with a very matte finish, felt all wrong.
People questioned my choice to spend weeks repainting every room with a warmer shade — Swiss Coffee by Behr— in varying less-matte finishes, but it made all the difference.
It was worth lugging gallons of paint up multiple flights of stairs.
Brigette Muller
Curtains are one of those details that sometimes get overlooked, but make a huge difference.
Living in a railroad-style apartment means each room leads directly into the next, so in addition to hanging curtains over my windows, I also used them to separate the spaces.
Handmade curtains in naturally-textured fabrics, like linen, help create a space that feels cozy and lived-in.
Brigette Muller
Installing new light fixtures might feel like a hassle if you're renting, but it's definitely worth it.
My living room initially came with a scary-looking (albeit useful) ceiling fan that felt industrial and cold. So I replaced it with a vintage, French chandelier, which instantly elevated the space.
Since electrical work is not my forte, I hired a professional on TaskRabbit. When the time comes to move out, I'll also find someone to remove it and I'll take it with me to my next space.
Brigette Muller
Upgrading the electrical plating is something that not many people may think to do, but it is truly the simplest change to make.
I swapped out all of the plastic light-switch plates with vintage or vintage-looking brass ones for a more enchanting feel that would match the apartment's natural charm.
My heart lights up whenever I catch a glimpse of them. Sometimes the tiniest details make all the difference.
Brigette Muller
I don't expect most other people to also make this change, but I hired someone to install a brand new kitchen sink.
My bathroom doesn't have an actual sink — other than a toilet-tank sink, but that's a story for a different day — so I use the one in my kitchen for everything.
The original was a super-shallow and unattractive old, metal sink, so I replaced it with a white cast-iron one and added gorgeous brass fixtures. I'm obsessed with this beauty — and now I actually enjoy doing the dishes.
Swapping it back when I move out may not be worth the cost of labor, so the next tenant can consider this a gift.
Brigette Muller
"Adding layers" is a concept you'll often hear from interior designers, and it's unmatched when it comes to creating a space that feels like a home.
I incorporated decorative elements like pillows, blankets, rugs, books, plants, candles, and ceramics into every room.
The beautiful thing about layering is that it's often shaped by your experiences — an estate sale here, a makers' market there — so the collection takes time to create and is ever-changing. I can't wait to see how mine evolves over time.
