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There are many wonderful advantages to owning your own home—security and independence are two that come to mind. But I’ve also always loved the idea of starting fresh with a blank canvas and truly making a space my own. And since I just bought an apartment in New York, I couldn’t wait to turn it into the tiny home of my dreams. After all, owning in the city is a huge accomplishment, so when it comes to decorating, I’m opting for high-quality items that’ll make each area feel elevated and stylish, all while on a budget.
To create a cozy sanctuary, I’m shopping for items I’d consider life-long investments; once they enter my apartment, they’re staying. That requires me to be extremely strategic about what I’m buying while keeping cost in mind. And after months of searching, I’ve found a great list of products that can help me maximize my storage and beautify my studio, all for $70 and under and right on Amazon.
Can you ever have too many throw blankets? If you ask me, the answer is definitely not. I bought this adorable fleece throw that’s so comfy to cuddle up with. It has pom pom details on the edges that look elegant on my sofa. Although it looks cream on-screen, it actually has a pink tint that I welcome, adding a little color to my otherwise neutral palette. I ended up buying a second one, too—just in case.
And when I’m not using said blanket, I put it in this extra deep rope woven basket. The large basket can hold multiple blankets at once without toppling over. I also use it to hold the decorative throw pillows I have on my bed come nighttime, and the soft basket lives up to the task.
Another essential that doubles as a statement piece is this gold plug-in wall sconce. My condominium is in a relatively old building, and while it has its charm, it does not have ceiling light. In lieu of hiring an electrician (and spending thousands), I opted for these mid-century modern sconces that look so stylish on both sides of my bed. They plug right into the wall socket behind my mattress, and unlike other plug-in lights, these have a metal covering that conceals most of the wiring, giving them an even more elevated appearance.
Considering my living room also doubles as my dining area and at-home office, I needed something that could provide ample lighting from 9 to 5 while also delivering the relaxing ambiance I want during my personal time. It’s why I’m so glad I purchased these Philips Hue smart LED light bulbs. They easily screw into my standing light fixture and sync with an app on my phone that allows me to adjust the brightness and color (it ranges from cool white to warm yellow) from anywhere in my home.
And anyone who lives in the city knows you have to get creative when it comes to storing your stuff. I was able to turn a closet into a makeshift pantry since my kitchen could not handle all of my cooking essentials, and these banana leaf baskets are on my radar. The warm color definitely draws the eye, and I like that the baskets come in three sizes and have handles for easy retrieval.
To hold all my cute knick knacks like candles, plants, and pictures, I went with these floating shelves. They allow me to decorate and utilize dead wall space, and they have tons of personality thanks to their gold brackets.