6 Tips for Decorating Small Spaces from Teen Vogue's Elaine Welteroth
Decorating and organizing a new apartment can seem like an overwhelming task, especially when you're limited on space, as is often the case in NYC (or your college dorm!). When Teen Vogue's beauty and health director, Elaine Welteroth, recently moved into her new pad, she downsized considerably. "I left my huge apartment in Harlem to live on my dream street in the West Village," she says of her decision to make the move.
Scaling down to a small studio isn't easy, so Elaine enlisted the aid of interior designer Nicole Gibbons to help her come up with creative solutions that would be both multi-functional and a reflection of her personal style.
1/6How to maximize your home's style with minimal space.
2/6Going bold with paint was the most dramatic—and also the scariest—part of transforming my apartment. While exploring paint colors (a daunting and overwhelming task if you don’t have a vision in mind), I immediately felt drawn to the rich blue-grey shade "Bottlenose Dolphin" by Valspar Paint from Lowe’s. But I feared it’d make the bedroom feel closed-in and cave-like. Thankfully, I took the risk and it paid off beautifully. It sets a calming mood for the entire space and I love how the white bedding pops against it.
While shopping for furniture, I was the choosiest about finding the right headboard. When your place is small, it sets the tone for the entire apartment. I wanted something feminine (but not too girly), something chic (but also comfy), and something neutral (but not boring) so that I could reuse it in my next place. I went with this tufted, dove grey moment from PB Teen that hit all the major points on my checklist.
3/6Be open to and prepared for "happy accidents". It’s still a little painful to admit that the original vision for the bathroom was tiny vertical black stripes like this inspo pic from my Pinterest board. Some friends came over and we tried painting pin-stripes using tape as a stencil...disaster! Let’s just say we realized several hours in that this kind of custom job should be left to the pros. As a work-around, Nicole advised us to paint the entire bathroom black. Again, SO scary. But in the end, it all worked out and I love the old-school charm that the black and white motif lends to the small space. The Kate Moss print ties it all up into a perfect 90s supers era bow.
Check out more from Elaine’s apartment transformation on So Haute Style.
4/6Whether you're living in a dorm or an alcove studio apartment like me, finding pretty storage solutions for heaps of beauty product can be tricky. A couple ideas: Re-use old Cire Trudon candles as makeup brush holders. It looks chic and gets the job done. Also, think of your favorite fragrance bottles as decor accessories. I sprinkle bottles all over my apartment to give each room it's own distinct feeling.
5/6I am obsessed with this antique-style pin board (another PBTeen find!). As a teenager, I was always making collages. Maybe it was foreshadowing of my future career in magazines? Even in the digital age, I still get so much satisfaction from tearing out images and affirmative phrases or even just a font that I love. As a hyper visual person, I find that keeping a centrally located "inspiration board" is practical (important invitations), nostalgic (yes, I hoard Broadway stubs), and, well, inspiring (outfit ideas!).
6/6Personalizing the space with art I love was really important to me. Every piece tells a story. I cut all my hair off a year ago, which took a ton of courage, and Grace Jones was basically my spirit animal. So, I wanted to channel her iconic beauty, strength, and general bad-assery in my space. Thanks to these Jean-Paul Goude portraits, what my apartment lacks in square feet, it makes up for with Grace Jones vibes.
I would tell myself to try as many different things as possible! College is an amazing time to experiment, indulge your interests, and find out what you’re truly passionate about. What fashion item seems to always be on your shopping list?
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