life in a tiny apartment.

June 9, 2011

air plants

the apartment we moved into just more than a week ago, is under two hundred and fifty square feet. and that includes the loft where we keep our bed. i’ll give you just a moment to contemplate that level of coziness.
 
digested?
 
needless to say, squeezing ourselves into an apartment roughly five times smaller than the last one we lived in has presented some challenges, so i thought i’d start a little serialized survival guide. nothing extraordinary, just a few tips for keeping sane in a tiny space. i hope you’ll indulge me. 
 
here goes:
 

Tip #1: Tiny pots. 

 
every apartment needs a little something green to liven up the place. and when you live in under 250 square feet, there needs to be a definite emphasis on the little. no room for your grandmothers beautiful stoneware crock. on my day off, i made my way over to grdn on hoyt street and picked out three tiny air plants to fit inside my tiny mudpuppy pots. so far, the little beauties are getting along just fine and taking up decidedly little space. which is a good thing, because that’s all there is anyway.
 

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23 Comments

  • Reply Abby June 9, 2011 at 1:27 pm

    Smart! When I lived in Brooklyn, I had a lucky bamboo plant by the window to remind me that there is green out there (just not as much greenery as I was used to in Ohio).

    1
  • Reply Kristina June 9, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    Haha – love the small pots! And I am looking forward to read more about your survival tips!! 🙂

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  • Reply Taylor Yves June 9, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    We should swap tips! I love our small studio, which is around 300 sq. ft. We've been here for the past 1.5 years (our whole marriage.) And I think it's developing a great perspective on what's necessary 🙂 Enjoy!

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  • Reply Taylor Yves June 9, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    PS: For example, storage under and behind the couch is priceless! We use it to store posters and frames which have no place on the walls.

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  • Reply Denise | Chez Danisse June 9, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    They are so sweet! Just think of the city as your living room.

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  • Reply kenzie June 9, 2011 at 4:29 pm

    i can't imagine downsizing now, we have way too much stuff! I can't wait to see, it is nice to simplify.

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  • Reply caroline June 9, 2011 at 4:31 pm

    oh, you and James are brave! you need the greenery to keep the oxygen flowin'. can't wait to see more tips.

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  • Reply Jane Flanagan June 9, 2011 at 5:04 pm

    Wow – that's amazing. I sometimes fantasize about having a place that small… But I think I'm simultaneously imagining a separate work studio.

    I love the pots. I think you could make a beautiful home on any scale!

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  • Reply Bonbon Oiseau June 9, 2011 at 5:10 pm

    something tells me love, you're in Brooklyn? cheers tiny pots! stay cool on this hot hot afternoon!

    1
  • Reply Mo Pie, Please June 9, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    Genius. You definitely need some green in your tiny space adn what better way to do that than by adding air plants. Good luck adjusting!

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  • Reply Cindy June 9, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    small can be lovely!

    1
  • Reply Alli June 9, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    We live in a one bedroom, not quite as small as yours, but under the bed storage is a must.

    1
  • Reply Linda Zimmerman June 9, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    What a lovely window!!! And from the perspective shown, what a great view…..and very nice pots/air plants. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO jealous, I would love a cozy apt somewhere close by!!!!
    Please email me where you are!

    1
  • Reply Carissa June 9, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    so much loveliness out of something so little! love those teeny plants.

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  • Reply Marjorie Rose June 10, 2011 at 12:09 am

    You know how to make it work. I'm sure your home is lovely, all 250 of it's square feet.. can't wait to see more..

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  • Reply Deb June 10, 2011 at 3:27 am

    love the different textures in the pots! when we downsized from a 3,000 sq foot home to a 950 sq foot home I read a great book on Japanese homes…they do minimalism right! Look forward to reading the rest of your survival tips!

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  • Reply Coco June 10, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    how fun – this actually works!
    great tip, my study is tiny and could use something green!

    1
  • Reply Stacey June 11, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    wow that is tiny

    My space is about 900 sq feet, so I understand and look forward to your posts.

    You'll make it perfectly lovely so that the loss of square footage is really a gift in the end 🙂

    1
  • Reply Erin June 13, 2011 at 2:01 am

    thank you for all of your sweet notes, friends! so glad to be back to blogging again (slowly, but surely!) yes, we're here in brooklyn. cozy and happy.

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  • Reply Melisa Nicole July 12, 2012 at 8:11 pm

    Hi Erin,

    I love your blog! I just discovered it when I read that article about your apartment over on Yahoo and it couldn't have come at a better time.

    My boyfriend and I are making the move up to New York next month (we'll actually be living in Brooklyn Heights too) and I'm so excited to see all of the ways you make the most of your small space. Hopefully I can manage mine as well as you've managed yours.

    xoxo
    Your newest follower, Melisa
    http://mylittlesliceoflife.blogspot.com/

    1
    • Reply Erin July 12, 2012 at 8:14 pm

      awesome! almost welcome to the neighborhood and thanks so much for reading!

      1
  • Reply Sara Bell December 22, 2012 at 4:15 am

    I am so happy to have found this little series! A friend of mine shared the link on her blog and it fits me perfectly! I am a full-time traveler living in a travel trailer right now so I am all about maximizing space and making the most of what I've got! I am so excited to slowly catch up on these and add a few tricks to the ones I've already got up my sleeve!

    1
    • Reply Erin December 22, 2012 at 2:51 pm

      So glad you found it, Sara! Hope you enjoy the reading! (Though it sounds like you probably have this small space thing down pat)!

      1

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