There comes a time in almost every person's life when you're ready to live on your own. If you happen to live in a city like New York or L.A. where having a roommate is like a rite of passage, getting to the stage of living alone is a major milestone. After years of spending her 20s living with a collection of people, my friend recently signed the lease for a quaint one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. Of course, my natural instinct was to immediately send a laundry list of design inspo and home décor ideas.
It can be freeing to now be solely responsible for everything that goes into your space, yet at the same time, it can be difficult to figure out where to start. And with space at a premium pretty much everywhere, you'll want to keep storage and functionality top of mind. While it's tempting to splurge on everything new from top to bottom, it's way more beneficial to prioritize a few quality pieces and go from there. By no means is the list below an exhaustive one, but rather, it's a helpful place to start on the journey of solo living. I've also broken each of my recommendations down by room, so it's easier to go through the entire list without missing a thing. Keep scrolling to check out the full list.
As much as I love a white couch, it requires constant attention to keep clean. A deeper shade of velvet is equally elegant and isn't so high-maintenance.
Urban Outfitters
Dover Faux Sheepskin Swivel Chair
So cozy.
Urban Outfitters
Huron Low Storage Shelf
Strategizing your storage in a new apartment is critical—this shelf is gorgeous and big enough to fit trinkets, books, and more.
CB2
Polar Floor Lamp
A floor lamp like this will set the tone for your entire space.
Even for a tiny apartment, a dining table is key in creating the illusion of separate spaces. This one is big enough to function as a work-from-home area or as the center point for all of your friends and family to convene.
Urban Outfitters
Imari Dining Chair
It may feel like a lot to splurge on stylish dining chairs for a solo apartment, but trust me—you won't regret it.
CB2
Mirage Chainmail Black Pendant Light
Lighting makes a huge difference, and when it comes to any dining area, a beautiful light fixture should be at the top of the list.
Georg Jensen
Silver Cobra Salt
Pepper Shakers
Not a requirement, but these are so good.
Sheyn
Zayl Vase
Throw in some beautiful flowers and your space will look like it was designed by a professional.
Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter where she started working atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing
, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her work atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing
, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times.