“Why do all this to an Apartment”?
Why I continue to risk my security deposit in the name of having a stylish and functional home.
I received this comment all the way back in September, and it has taken until now to figure out how to answer it because sometimes I forget that the people who follow me online don’t actually know me IRL. Which sounds dumb, I know. But if you’ve found a way to wrap your head around 60,000+ real live humans all over the globe knowing your name and having access to your life, please tell me your secrets because honestly, the entire concept of social media has me sufficiently stumped.
This question was a biggie. It was so very biggie that now, after two entire months of side-eyeing it harshly, I am finally prepared to give it the response it deserves in the form of this newsletter because maybe, just maybe, you’ve been watching me “art project” my way through my lil’ New York rentals for years while secretly wondering the same thing.
So, why exactly am I doing all this to my rented Brooklyn apartment?
Because it’s fun
Confession: I really really really love interior decorating. If I hated shopping for furniture and thought painting was a chore, I imagine my home would look similar to Chandler and Joey’s apartment in Friends– beige walls, two deluxe La-Z-boy chairs facing a giant TV, a duck, a chicken… But to me, muraling my walls and going crazy for house plant placement is what cracking open a cold one and switching on the game is for twenty-something straight male roommates everywhere. Making my home look rad is my hobby, and my escape.
Because it’s a learning opportunity
Figuring out how to use a power drill, frame art, hang heavy objects on your walls, and assemble furniture is so much more gratifying when you get to reap the benefits afterward. I had no idea how to do any of these things a year ago. These are useful skills and I love looking around my apartment and being able to say I did that.
Because it inspires me
I’m a taurus moon. I have a non-negotiable need to exist exclusively in stylish spaces only. Given the choice, I think most people would choose to live in a home that spoke to their personal taste and style, as different as everybodies is. This is my style and being able to exist in a space that I am inspired by helps me to feel more calm, optimistic, and happy on a daily basis.
Because it inspires YOU
I love seeing other people’s interior design content and I know you all love seeing mine! It’s fun to share. I hope it inspires you to have more fun with your own personal space whether it’s just a small bedroom or an entire house.
Because I have no plans to own
I forget that many people set goals of eventually owning a home. This has never been something on my bucket list. I can see how owning property can be exciting, create a sense of permanence, and be a fantastic investment, but for me currently, it’s simply not on my radar. Will that notion change? Maybe! But even if it does, I refuse to wait until I’m holding a mortgage to customize my living space.
Because New York rental laws are chaotic good
The rental process in NYC is legendary because landlords here are both the worst and the best, and often the rules that apply in other cities and towns just don’t seem to translate here. This is all a really vague way of saying that I never painted my old pink apartment back after I moved out and I still got my security deposit back in full. Just roll with it.
Because life is short
You deserve to have the things that make you happy NOW and so do I. Sometimes we have to just go for what makes us happy as long as it isn't hurting anyone. Even if I did lose out on my rent deposit in the end, getting it back simply isn’t worth living with unpainted and art-free walls. Look, I don’t know what tomorrow is gonna bring and neither do you. Life’s too short friends– paint your home, hang a shelf, nail up your favorite painting. Speak your mind, ask someone to dance, wear a party dress on a tuesday. Smile, relax, and live your life. You earned it.
