An interior designer critiqued my one-bedroom rental in NYC. Her tips showed me easy ways to liven up the eclectic space.

Emma KershawSep 11, 2023, 21:32 IST

The interior designer would change a few things about the living room.Emma Kershaw

I had an interior designer critique my New York City sublet, and she'd make mostly minor tweaks.
The neutral color palette in the bedroom could be broken by some bright hues and decor.

Since moving to New York City from England, I've been subletting apartments in various neighborhoods while I find a place I want to settle in permanently. I most recently rented a one-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side.

After seeing some photos and viewing the sublet via FaceTime, I fell in love with its eclectic artwork, soft furnishings, and huge bookshelves. However, I was intrigued to see how the decor fares in an interior designer's eyes, so I sought the advice of Bronxville-based interior designer Stafford Meyer of Stafford Meyer Interiors and Porte + Hall.

Her clean, easy-breezy style spoke to me straight away, and I was excited to see what she liked and which things she would change about the apartment.

Since I already liked the style of this apartment so much, I hoped her tips would help give me extra ideas as I headed to my next rental.

Meyer said the eat-in kitchen would benefit from some soft furnishings.

The dark kitchen table and chairs looked a little drab.Emma Kershaw

White or gray could help liven up the kitchen.

Ideally, the cabinets could be painted white to lighten the area.Emma Kershaw

Rearranging the bookshelves could hide the vertical rails.

The vertical rails of the bookshelf may be a bit of an eyesore for some.Emma Kershaw

The positioning of the TV and shelves could also be played with.

The placement of the TV and shelves could be maximized.Emma Kershaw

She advised switching out the long curtains for some shorter ones.

The curtains pool on the floor.Emma Kershaw

A larger mirror would open up the foyer area.

The mirror in the foyer right now is a little too small.Emma Kershaw

Meyer loved the monochromatic bathroom.

The black-and-white bathroom looked chic.Emma Kershaw

The items in the bathroom could use some minor tweaks.

All-white towels and a basket for toilet paper could elevate the shelves.Emma Kershaw

The neutral color palette let the bedroom down.

The bedroom could use more pops of color.Emma Kershaw

Overall, Meyer's suggestions were easy tweaks that can elevate the space.

The apartment already has character but it can still be improved.Emma Kershaw

A 'ferry house' made famous by Charles Dickens was converted into a 4-bedroom home with a private mooring. Now it's on the market for $2.8 million.

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