Moving to NYC as someone who loves space was, well, a choice (not my choice—it was my husband’s—but that’s not the point, and you’re here to shop, not hear my whole life story). While I’ve adjusted to city life and wouldn’t trade the restaurants, energy, and fashion for anything, moving from a 1920s Spanish-style home with a backyard into a square box in a new-build apartment complex was the hardest pill to swallow. But one thing about me? I’m an interior snob who refuses to sacrifice comfort or style—and I love a good challenge.
After sourcing finds from major home sites, the side of the road (shoutout to @stoopingnyc), vintage stores, and my neighbors’ move-out sales, I’ve turned my small apartment into a sanctuary I actually look forward to coming home to. I may still hear a siren or two outside, but my space allows me to take a breath and relax.
If you’re moving to the city soon, or if you’ve been here a while but need help creating a space you don’t want to scream in, I’ve got you. Feeling comfortable doesn’t require a fortune, but fair warning: I do love an investment piece. Some things you can save on, while others you absolutely should not. I’ll tell you which is which, and I’m keeping it short and sweet—just the essentials that make a difference.
Bedroom essentials
When it comes to surviving New York City, the most important thing to me has been getting a good night’s sleep. They say it’s the city that never sleeps, but if I don’t sleep, the chaos of this place will break me. Good rest starts with a great mattress (I recommend Casper to literally anyone who will listen), good sheets, and—the sneaky one people always forget—good lighting.
Have you ever had a mattress so bad that you wake up wondering if you got any sleep at all? Ever since I switched to a Casper mattress, those nights are a distant memory. They don’t call it the Cloud One for nothing. I’d say it’s like sleeping on a cloud, but that doesn’t even do it justice. My husband may have shed a tear when I showed up with a luggage cart hauling this thing through our building on a rainy Saturday—and the fact that it comes compressed in a box made the whole NYC hallway situation so much more manageable than it had any right to be. We had been stubbornly holding onto a very unfancy old mattress because I was determined to save money. Big mistake. You don’t understand the value of sleep until you’ve had a long stretch of bad sleep. No gummy, supplement, or eye mask hits the way a quality memory foam mattress does. The Cloud One uses patent-pending foam pillars in its core that basically cradle you while maintaining breathability. And it will last you year after year. This is a splurge, but the good news is that Casper has options at a few different price points, so you can find your ideal version.
Cozy Earth
Bamboo Jersey Sheet Set
Did you grow up believing everything Oprah says? Same. Cozy Earth sheets have been on her Favorite Things list for seven consecutive years—and if they’re good enough for Oprah, they’re good enough for me. She even has her own edit on the site. The bamboo sheets are the real star. They’re buttery-soft and somehow get better with every wash. I’ve had mine for nearly five years, and they just keep improving. Every guest who stays at my house buys them right after they leave.
Coway
Airmega AP-1512HH(W) True HEPA Purifier
You’ve probably seen approximately five million Instagram ads for air purifiers—and if you haven’t yet, I’m sorry, because you will now. But this one is worth it. The four-stage HEPA filtration captures up to 99.97% of airborne particles, a color-coded sensor tells you in real time how clean your air is, and it runs so quietly you’ll forget it’s there. It’s not cheap, but not insanely expensive, and given that poor air quality actually affects your health, it’s a good investment.
Yes, you could use your phone’s alarm clock, or you could use something that doesn’t spike your cortisol the second your day starts in an already anxiety-inducing city. The Hatch is technically an alarm clock, but calling it that feels like I’m not giving it the credit it deserves. It wakes you up gently by mimicking a sunrise, complete with sounds like birds chirping or ocean waves—whatever you’re into. You can set mood lighting on demand, schedule a wind-down routine, and watch the light slowly shift from sunset to red light that genuinely gets you ready to sleep. Why did I choose this one over those from competing brands? It’s the prettiest. And I’m just a girl!
Living Room Staples
I’m lucky enough to have a proper living room, but even studios have their own version of one (although it shares that space with everything else). It’s where the hosting happens, the reality shows get binged, the work gets done, and the arts and crafts come out.
Rugs Usa
Arrel Speckled Wool-Blend Rug
A rug makes a space fifty times cozier, and I don’t think I’m exaggerating. In a small apartment, it does something magical and intentional by defining the space. I’ve lost count of the compliments I’ve gotten on mine from Rugs USA. Everyone assumes it’s a designer rug, and it is far from it. It’s under $1,000 for a 9×12, which, in the interior world, is practically unheard of.
West Elm
Zigzag Floor Lamp
I’m not sure what it is about New York landlords and their commitment to zero overhead lighting, but it’s kind of a blessing in disguise. It forces you to get creative with chic lamps, candles, and intentional light sources, and the result is a space that actually feels warm and lived-in instead of like a medical office.
Castlery
Hamilton Sleeper Sofa
If you’re having guests and either don’t have a second bedroom or have one the size of a closet (*raises hand*), a sleeper sofa is nonnegotiable. And I say this as someone who has browsed through approximately 300 of them: The Castlery one is the chicest and most reasonably priced. And you’re not compromising on style or comfort; it’s genuinely a really good sofa.
Green Row
Verbena Cane Wide Dresser
I know what you’re thinking: Shouldn’t the dresser be in the bedroom section? Stay with me. I love a dresser in the living room as an alternative to a TV console because it gives you so much more storage. If you have tiny closets, you can just stuff your things in here. I have a deep hatred of clutter and would rather add drawer space than have clothing racks scattered around my apartment. This one is most definitely a splurge, but Green Row is a brand I’ve had my eye on for a while for really quality pieces. Otherwise, I’m a sucker for a good secondhand find on Facebook Marketplace. The worst thing you can do is buy a cheap one online that doesn’t hold up. Trust me, I’ve experienced it multiple times.
Bathroom Upgrades
When it comes to creating a zen space, the bathroom is often overlooked, and I don’t understand why. You know that immediate calm you feel walking into a spa? You can recreate that at home. Painting your bathroom is the first step if your landlord allows it, but after that, it’s about the details: splurging on nice soaps, finding a shower curtain that doesn’t actually look like a shower curtain, and adding pretty wall storage.
Anthropologie
Pippa Wood Wall Cabinet
There is nothing worse than moving into a new place and being met with complete absence of bathroom storage. The wall space is so overlooked and it’s prime real estate. A wall storage cabinet is my go-to NYC bathroom hack. You can find the cutest options secondhand (vintage spice cabinets work surprisingly well), or there are great picks online if you don’t want to go the hunting route.
Quince
European Linen Shower Curtain in Beige
Hang these as high as possible in your bathroom so they look like they’re coming down from the ceiling, and thank me later.
Zara Home
Beige Marble Soap Dispenser
It’s time to ditch your drugstore soap. Okay, fine, you don’t actually have to ditch it. I’m all for being practical, even if the Diptyque Fleur de Peau hand soap is something I’d bring as my one item to a deserted island. The hack is simple: put your affordable soap in a pretty bottle. Instant upgrade.
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