If you’re reading this now, it’s probably safe to assume you (like us!) are a bit of an interior design junkie. You collaborated at an early age with your parents to redesign your bedroom, and you most definitely coordinated the matching comforters in your dorm room. Now, you’ve got a space all your own to decorate as you please. You have discerning tastes; your space will be glorious! But it’s likely a small one, and its size likely resembles your budget. So to help you make sure your space is in check, we’ve collected a few things that every twenty-something should have under their roof apartment ceiling.
1. Accent Pillows
IKEA couches may come and go and you may grow tired of your duvet cover, but truly lovely accent pillows will always be in style, and you can always find a new and exciting place to put them. Anthropologie pillows have a timeless feel, and Z Gallerie’s striking accent pillows hardly change from season to season.
2. Barware
The sleeve of solo cups and frozen bottle of Kentucky Deluxe isn’t going to cut it anymore. Some of the greatest moments of your twenties will involve wine nights and happy hours with friends, and since your apartment is so great, you’ll probably want to hold them at your place. Get a great bar cart (like this one!) and some proper stemware like these wine glasses from Target or champagne flutes from Crate & Barrel.
3. Tool Box
Ugh, we know, how boring. But this might very well be one of the most important items on the list. Plus, there’s no better feeling than calling dad to tell him you fixed that leaky pipe, or more realistically, that you hung up a painting and it didn’t fall down. To ease the boring blow, look for a fun pink set like this one from Lowes.
4. Coffee Table Books
What’s a coffee table without a coffee table book? What is Klyde Warren Park without food trucks? What is Kim without Kanye? Let that sink in for a bit, then go pick up one of those big, glossy, picture-filled bad boys. Blue Print is an excellent source.
5. Speaker
One of the best parts about having a small space is that you don’t need surround sound to fill it. Sure, soaking your space in noise is cool, but you know what’s cooler? An aesthetically pleasing speaker system to rock out to while you get ready for work or a night out. Preferably a portable one. Stop by Riffraff to pick up some aesthetically please techie pieces, including this giant gem speaker by Ban.do.
6. Cheese Plate
We’ve covered the importance of wine night, and we know you’re no rube. You wouldn’t host a gathering without proper sustenance. And since cheese and crackers is basically wine’s soul mate (along with being cheap and super easy), you’re going to need a solid surface with which to serve it, like this Crate & Barrel white marble cheese board.
7. Decorative Additional Seating
It can feel a bit silly to have a million surfaces to sit on when it’s just little old you living there. But unless you pull a Howard Hughes, you’ll eventually have people over and you’d probably rather not have those people sit Indian-style. Keep a couple of poufs on hand (like this bohemian option from West Elm) for extra seating. When the guests are gone, poufs look equally as adorable flanking your couch or resting in the corner.
8. Storage Containers
It’s possible that you don’t have an enormous walk-in closet. It’s also possible that you don’t even have a spare closet. It’s probably not as possible that you don’t have a closet at all, but either way, it’s safe to assume your closet space is limited. Store seasonal clothes and accessories under your bed in storage boxes from The Container Store, or, if you must have them out in the open, in some pretty woven baskets from World Market.
