How to Decorate a Maximalist NYC Apartment That Feels Balanced

I've been in my new New York City apartment for two months now. The general rule is you're not really unpacked until three months in, and I'm hoping that's true, because I'm not there yet. But between traveling (Switzerland was life-changing), my 23rd birthday, and more trips coming up, I've found pockets of time to decorate.

I don't have an interior design degree. My qualification is that my childhood bedroom is still viral on Pinterest. That's it. I'm just having fun.

Let's walk through what I've done so far.

The living room has been my favorite space to work on. I'm a maximalist at heart, but I still want things to feel balanced — physically with the shelves, but also visually. I want tons of color, interesting shapes, and lots of texture, but not to the point where you feel overwhelmed.

I recently met a designer who doesn't believe in personal style or aesthetic. He wants to make things that make people want to look again. That stuck with me.

The Floating Shelves

The bottom shelf is all books — mostly fantasy, which is always my favorite genre. Since the top shelf has a lot going on, keeping the second shelf just books simplifies the whole display and grounds it.

On the right side, I have a plant waiting for the right planter. I'm traveling a lot for the next four months, so I'm not committing to plants that need serious care. I'd like to keep my plants alive, thanks.

Next to that, I have a mini living room display with Smiski figurines. Pro tip: use poster putty to keep figurines and knickknacks in place. It's malleable and works on pretty much anything.

I love this art print by Inner Peach — I have three of theirs in my living room. The color palette fits the book spines perfectly. My friend Jen got me a cat clock in dark blue navy that I've wanted forever. She gifted it to me for graduating college. Thanks, Jen.

The last book display is held up by a rack meant to be horizontal, but I saw someone turn it vertical online. It's cheap and versatile — if you stop using it for books, you can repurpose it for dishes.

The Couch

I woke up one day and thought, "Maybe it's time to grow up." I don't want plushies on my couch anymore. I want real throw pillows. My coworker told me life starts going downhill at 23, but something is definitely happening to my brain chemistry. Many people say you change a lot your first year out of postgrad. Exhibit A: my new throw pillows.

But I still have my jasmine rice pillow. The blue-green-red color scheme is perfect. I've been referencing the mood boards I made when I first moved in, and they've anchored a lot of my design choices.

The Reading Nook

There's a strange cutout in my living room. I had two options: a tall plant or a cat tree. My cat is 13 and acts like she has infinite energy, but she never uses things meant for her — scratchers, cat trees, nothing. I sprinkled catnip on it so she knows it's a place she can play, but she still prefers the couch. Why do I buy you things you won't use?

I call this my reading corner. There's a green banker's lamp I've wanted since I was a child — it's quintessential light academia aesthetic. In another life, I would've gotten a library science degree and become a librarian. I only put paperbacks on this shelf because I'm scared of it breaking.

The Coffee Table

I decided I wanted a coffee table. The wood is more yellow than I expected, but I'm rolling with it. I have no idea how to decorate the surface — I feel like I need a tray or more plants.

The Rug

I moved my decoy pond rug to the office and got this checkered rug from Revival. It's soft, the perfect size, and has a rug pad underneath so it doesn't slip. Very adult of me. My only complaint: you need to vacuum it because the tuft shifts direction when you step on it. But there's something homey about seeing footprints — it means people have been in your living room.

Does anyone remember Mr. Kate and her rug cuddles? This rug is so soft I could lie here forever.

The Gallery Wall

The main attraction: a giant gallery wall with a 55-inch TV. I only use it for Netflix and YouTube. The gallery wall took me a while. Sometimes I look at it and think it's perfect. Other times, something feels slightly off — like a puzzle piece that almost fits but doesn't snap into place.

I did this before leaving for Switzerland. I wanted something completed before I left the country, so some art pieces I want to trade in and out. I don't have the right frames for everything yet. I'll revisit this.

One thing I love: the Smiskis hidden throughout the wall. There's one at the TV corner, and some are standing and leaning on the frames.

It's messy because I've been working here and packing to leave again. I moved my floor lamp from the couch to here — it frames the nook nicely. The old tenants left hooks on the wall that I need to scrape off. I'm thinking about painting a mural — an arch or a curve — to create distinction between the living and dining space. I'm sitting on it in case I change my mind. Probably December or the new year.

I installed a light strip so it's brighter now. I added a poster on the fridge. Some things don't change — we're putting Juny on the fridge. This is what I mean when I say men need to spend more time in the kitchen.

I love both corners on either side of the stove. On the left: my coffee and tea station with a French press and matcha. On the right: cooking utensils, spices, oil, salt, and daily sauces.

New additions:

• A letterpress tray I hung up
• A giant blue cabinet acting as my pantry

I finally got a pantry cabinet with baskets. It's simple but versatile — if I move again and don't need it for the kitchen, I can use it for art supplies or clothes. The general theme is mid-century Danish teak wood, but overall my style is pretty eclectic. It clashes in a good way with the rest of the apartment.

My fridge isn't magnetic, so I'll decorate the cabinet instead.

Not much has changed, but I found a coat rack in my building's trash room for free. I believe it's a knockoff of the EM wallhanger — there's a colorway I love in red and blue. EM, if you're watching, I'll replace this knockoff if you send me the real one.

This is where the magic happens — by magic, I mean bed rotting and resting. I don't spend much time here, so it'll probably be the last room I decorate.

The built-in nightstands look great, but organizing is tough because my cat pushes stuff off. Right now it looks like I'm living out of suitcases and hoarding books. That's what happens when you move your entire book collection from your childhood home.

I'll probably do a second spring cleaning and donate more books to local libraries. I don't want a giant standing bookshelf, which is why I did more floating shelves in this apartment.

I don't know what to do above my headboard. The bed is low but the ceilings are high, so there's a lot of negative space. It's not unappealing, just empty. I improved the lighting with a spotlight lamp on the shelf, but the shelving unit looks the same.

My Studio Ghibli poster wall is up, but I'm not a fan of the white frames. There's a place in Williamsburg that sells cheap secondhand frames — I'll try to get wooden ones for all these posters.

I hung my diploma and YouTube play button, but I ended up taking the diploma down. The frame was expensive, but I didn't want to keep it in the tube. The play button is still up and proud.

I set up my desk with a new monitor — the old one got damaged during the move because I didn't pack it properly. Beyond repair.

It's coming together. Still messy. Month two of three. I'm relying on that three-month rule.

If you have any design tips, let me know. I love you, stay safe, and I'll see you in the next one.