My New Apartment Essentials

For those who don’t know, I am OBSESSED with interior design. I follow a ton of home accounts on Instagram, and I like to say it’s my way of making a vision board and manifesting for the future. It’s something I’ve honestly loved ever since I was little, playing the Sims and watching trading spaces (who remembers?!). During the stay-at-home order, I found myself looking at apartments. My lease wasn’t up until March, but since there wasn’t really a timeline or an idea of when we’d be able to travel, I found my favorite pastime to be lying in bed, searching on Zillow. I figured it would give me an incentive to put money aside and save for whatever my next move is, but it was truly just something I was doing for fun.

That’s when I remembered that my building offers you to transfer without a fee six months into your lease. I had just resigned in March before quarantine happened, and while I LOVED my studio, the extra time at home made me realize how great extra space could be. So, I looked at my building’s website and saw that prices were way more affordable than they have been, due to the current state of the market. After a month or so of back-and-forth and me deciding which unit I wanted, I found my new home. I had a gut reaction as soon as I walked in, just like I did when I saw my studio for the first time. The space was bright and open, and I experienced a feeling of “magic can happen here.” From that point on, there were so many signs telling me it was the right direction. Assuring me to have an abundance mindset. Watch my empty apartment tour HERE.

Now that I’m here, I couldn’t be happier. The true task once moving in, was to make this space feel like HOME. I have a lot of visions in mind for how I want to furnish and decorate, but I also have my friend, Kelly, helping me — she was my designer last year with the Havenly (highly recommend this service!). While my Pinterest board is ready and I want to furnish it right away, on a budget, that just isn’t possible. So I’m starting by decorating piece by piece. The good news is, I’m able to re-use everything from my last apartment, too! The main items I want(ed) to get are: an entryway console table with some pampas grass, a round mirror, and some baskets, a bar cabinet, a desk, and then I need lots of lighting and decorative pieces! Really into the boho, neutral, textured vibes lately. Here are the mock-ups Kelly created for the design we’re going for. This is SO FUN to me!

While that part isn’t complete yet, my first step upon moving in was to make sure I set myself up for success. I wanted to be organized from the get-go, something I really lacked last time if I’m being honest! I always kind of felt on edge knowing what mess was lurking behind my closets! There is definitely more storage in this apartment, which was the main incentive for me moving. So, I wanted to make sure I was intentional with my storage and organization (aka “morganization”) right away, I wanted everything to have its place. The Home Edit show on Netflix truly couldn’t have aired at a more perfect time!

The Container Store was my first stop, and I purchased a bunch of the Home Edit bins. My kitchen is my happy place, where the magic really happens, lol! I wanted to feel at peace with my pantry and be able to see everything. So, VIOLA! I separated everything into bins (linked all of those below). I also had a few bins previously and recommend searching Amazon for a bunch, too!

For my bedroom closet, I found some Montauk bins for my sports bras + belts, and then I found some other woven bins to go underneath my dresser for socks and PJ pants.

For the final, I guess you would call, linen closet, I used more home-edit bins and separated into categories. There’s a space for workout equipment, a tech bin, extra haircare, extra skincare, random home pieces, travel bags, etc.! This has been SO helpful to avoid making under my bathroom sink a mess!

Under the sink, I just used this pull out cart from the container store, this organizer fair tools, and this rotating make-up vanity.

Now onto my favorite home-goods!

I feel EXTREMELY grateful to partner with the brands I’ve listed below, as they are all products I’ve genuinely fallen in love with, and partnerships happened from there. I’m so excited to share them with you and offer the promo codes below!

Brooklinen– Sleep is something I’ve recently realized is truly worth the investment. While I was comfortable with my bedding before, I had no idea how life-changing sheets could be. Dramatic, but TRUE! I purchased the luxe core sheet set during quarantine and I cannot even begin to describe these. They’re super soft, feel worn in, but they’re also light and breathable. I don’t really get hot in the night or deal with them sticking to me if that makes sense.

Since getting the sheets, I’ve also gotten this robe, this plush towel set, the linen duvet, shower curtain, and i’m getting a throw blanket and some pillow shams as well. Brooklinen has taken over and I am OBSESSED!! Code BUN20 gets you $20 off any orders of $100! All of my favorites below.

Caraway home Cookware– As someone who loves to cook and loves her kitchen, good kitchen tools are important to me. I don’t have the largest kitchen space so I’ve had to make choices on which appliances to get, but cookware is a top priority for me. Truthfully, I haven’t had the best experience with pans and have found many to ruin rather quickly. Enter Caraway home. I’ve been eyeing these beauties for over a year, and when the opportunity (manifested) came to me, I was SO EXCITED! I chose to get the fry pan + sauce pan to start, both of which I have used multiple times a day, and I’m in love. They are so functional, chemical-free, beautiful, and genuinely just work better than anything I’ve experienced. Nothing sticks and it’s amazing! TRULY worth the hype. This link gets you $25 off the cookware set of 4, on-top of their current promo.

Modern Garden- Having life inside of my home is important, and over the last year, I’ve become a proud plant mama to three green babies! Modern garden is not only an amazing website to buy plants, but it’s a super accessible resource to anyone who’s nervous about killing plants (aka me); you can specifically search for low-light and low maintenance plants. I got a ZZ and a Marble queen pothos from Modern Garden. My snake plant is from a couple years ago, but modern garden sells that too! The pots they provide are beautiful as well, and it arrives completely set up and safely packaged at your door. It’s truly an awesome service! As someone that doesn’t have a car, the convenience won me over too. Shop here and use code MORGANRAPHAEL for 10% off.

FURNITURE

So far, all of my pieces came from my last apartment, but I wanted to share and link them here again as well! I’ll be adding to this list as I buy the other items. I also want to note how many items aren’t available on rewardstyle, but i’m happy to share links as requested!

Lastly, what really makes a home and fills the space with energy, are the humans and the moments that live in it. I am so excited for what this new chapter brings. I think the reason I felt anxious at first, is because I know how much change can happen in a single place. My last apartment truly brought so much change, growth, and goodness into my life. I know this space will do the exact same, even though I don’t know what that looks like yet. While it’s only two stories up from my last apartment, it feels like a big shift is happening, and I cannot wait to see it unfold. Thanks for being with me every step of the way and enjoying this process as much as I do!

Here’s some photos of my apartment in progress!