Hi guys! My long awaited apartment tour is finally here! For those of you who follow me on instagram, you guys have seen glimpses into my apartment but never a full tour. I moved into a 1 bedroom apartment in Echo Park about two years ago and have never felt like my place was "ready" enough to show anyone. I still don't think it is, but I realized that "ready" is not really a thing I will ever be. My taste is always changing and I am constantly improving each room with things I collect over time. So here are shots of my apartment in the current state that it is in, the good, the bad, the ugly. It's all here! My favorite room in the apartment is my living room. It's where I spend most of my time. It's where I create, relax, eat, and entertain friends. It is the most colorful and inviting room. My least favorite and the room that needs the most work is my kitchen. The floor tiling is not pretty and the appliances could use a serious upgrade.

I am no expert in interior design, but I am proud of the place I created for myself. My home is not just a place where I sleep, it is a place I truly love to be at. Here are some of my tips and things I wish someone told me when I first moved out.

1. Take your time! I feel like this is the most important advice I can give. When you are in a rush and especially when you are on a budget and in a rush, you tend to impulsively purchase pieces that are just "good enough," not pieces that you will love forever. If you give yourself time to feel it out I promise you will find pieces that you will fall in love with. Those are the pieces that you will want to keep for a very long time.

2. Don't go for the cheaper option just because it is cheaper. I get that we are all on a budget, but I have made so many bad purchases based solely on the fact that the item was cheaper than the item I truly wanted and I have regretted it every single time. I end up replacing it and spending twice as much, when I could have saved up and invested in the one I really wanted in the first place.

3. Always compare prices. This correlates to the statement above. For an item I want, especially electronics and appliances I always compare pricing of the same item at different stores. I use sites like wikibuy to help me find the lowest price of the exact item I am looking for.

4. Purchase big items one at a time. This is especially helpful if you are on a budget. What I did for big ticket items like my couch and velvet swivel chair is I used affirm which is basically like credit and you pay items in affordable installments. I paid my couch off in small payments over 6 months and when I was done with that I bought my swivel chair. This makes your dream items much more attainable. The best part about affirm is that they are very transparent and you will know how much you are paying in total including interest up front.

5. Flea markets, Thrift stores, and Craigslist are your best friends. I found a lot of my favorite mid century pieces at flea markets and for a fraction of the cost than they would have been in antique stores! My favorite flea markets in So Cal are the Pasadena Rose Bowl and the Long Beach Antique Market. For example, I bought the 80" mid century dresser in my bedroom for about $400! I have seen similar ones at antique stores for over $1500! Also, at flea markets you can always bargain with the vendor too, especially if you are paying cash! For decorative trinkets and glassware I always find cute quirky items at Goodwill! They also have a pretty decent coffee table books selection. PS buying vintage/thrift is good for the environment! It is a form a recycling =)

6. Pintrest is a great source of inspiration. I might be stating the obvious here but I did rely heavily on pintrest for inspiration when I was decorating my place. The key is to not copy the exact style of something but borrow a few ideas here and there and put your spin on it. This photo of The Wing, DC is what inspired my living room color scheme. I loved the idea of green velvet + pink velvet and added my own personality to it. I also really love Apartment Therapy as a source of inspiration. Their home tours are really great! They feature so many different styles and break it up by style (my favorite is the 'eclectic collector' category).

7. Mix a few different styles in your place. I know that my style is more on the eclectic side so this works really well for me. But in general I think it is a good idea to add splashes of different styles in one space, no matter what your taste is. It's sort of like an outfit. Mixing high and low, vintage and designer is what always gives the best outcome. As you can see my style is more on the artsy vintage side, but I still throw a few cali bohemian pieces (like the swing chair and gold bull head) in the mix because it creates an interesting and unexpected contrast.

8. Art and plants really liven up the place! Contrary to belief, you do not have to spend a ton of money on art or in nurseries on plants to decorate your place. You can find really affordable prints on Etsy. And if you don't want to spend money on prints you can DIY your own art! For example, the 4 frames I have above my desk with words on different colored backgrounds is something I made on Photoshop years ago. I just googled a few words I liked and typed out their definitions. I took the files to the nearest Staples, printed it, and got frames from an art supply store for dirt cheap. Framing items like feathers or leaves is also a really cool and affordable idea for artwork. As for plants, I get a lot of them at Home Depot! I find that they are super affordable compared to nurseries and as long as you take care of them, they will live for a long time!

That's it for my favorite tips on home decor. If you made it this far, I hope you found them helpful. And if you have any tips you want to share with me please let me know! I'm still learning and exchanging ideas would make me super happy!
Hi guys! My long awaited apartment tour is finally here! For those of you who follow me on instagram, you guys have seen glimpses into my apartment but never a full tour. I moved into a 1 bedroom apartment in Echo Park about two years ago and have never felt like my place was "ready" enough to show anyone. I still don't think it is, but I realized that "ready" is not really a thing I will ever be. My taste is always changing and I am constantly improving each room with things I collect over time. So here are shots of my apartment in the current state that it is in, the good, the bad, the ugly. It's all here! My favorite room in the apartment is my living room. It's where I spend most of my time. It's where I create, relax, eat, and entertain friends. It is the most colorful and inviting room. My least favorite and the room that needs the most work is my kitchen. The floor tiling is not pretty and the appliances could use a serious upgrade.

I am no expert in interior design, but I am proud of the place I created for myself. My home is not just a place where I sleep, it is a place I truly love to be at. Here are some of my tips and things I wish someone told me when I first moved out.

1. Take your time! I feel like this is the most important advice I can give. When you are in a rush and especially when you are on a budget and in a rush, you tend to impulsively purchase pieces that are just "good enough," not pieces that you will love forever. If you give yourself time to feel it out I promise you will find pieces that you will fall in love with. Those are the pieces that you will want to keep for a very long time.

2. Don't go for the cheaper option just because it is cheaper. I get that we are all on a budget, but I have made so many bad purchases based solely on the fact that the item was cheaper than the item I truly wanted and I have regretted it every single time. I end up replacing it and spending twice as much, when I could have saved up and invested in the one I really wanted in the first place.

3. Always compare prices. This correlates to the statement above. For an item I want, especially electronics and appliances I always compare pricing of the same item at different stores. I use sites like wikibuy to help me find the lowest price of the exact item I am looking for.

4. Purchase big items one at a time. This is especially helpful if you are on a budget. What I did for big ticket items like my couch and velvet swivel chair is I used affirm which is basically like credit and you pay items in affordable installments. I paid my couch off in small payments over 6 months and when I was done with that I bought my swivel chair. This makes your dream items much more attainable. The best part about affirm is that they are very transparent and you will know how much you are paying in total including interest up front.

5. Flea markets, Thrift stores, and Craigslist are your best friends. I found a lot of my favorite mid century pieces at flea markets and for a fraction of the cost than they would have been in antique stores! My favorite flea markets in So Cal are the Pasadena Rose Bowl and the Long Beach Antique Market. For example, I bought the 80" mid century dresser in my bedroom for about $400! I have seen similar ones at antique stores for over $1500! Also, at flea markets you can always bargain with the vendor too, especially if you are paying cash! For decorative trinkets and glassware I always find cute quirky items at Goodwill! They also have a pretty decent coffee table books selection. PS buying vintage/thrift is good for the environment! It is a form a recycling =)

6. Pintrest is a great source of inspiration. I might be stating the obvious here but I did rely heavily on pintrest for inspiration when I was decorating my place. The key is to not copy the exact style of something but borrow a few ideas here and there and put your spin on it. This photo of The Wing, DC is what inspired my living room color scheme. I loved the idea of green velvet + pink velvet and added my own personality to it. I also really love Apartment Therapy as a source of inspiration. Their home tours are really great! They feature so many different styles and break it up by style (my favorite is the 'eclectic collector' category).

7. Mix a few different styles in your place. I know that my style is more on the eclectic side so this works really well for me. But in general I think it is a good idea to add splashes of different styles in one space, no matter what your taste is. It's sort of like an outfit. Mixing high and low, vintage and designer is what always gives the best outcome. As you can see my style is more on the artsy vintage side, but I still throw a few cali bohemian pieces (like the swing chair and gold bull head) in the mix because it creates an interesting and unexpected contrast.

8. Art and plants really liven up the place! Contrary to belief, you do not have to spend a ton of money on art or in nurseries on plants to decorate your place. You can find really affordable prints on Etsy. And if you don't want to spend money on prints you can DIY your own art! For example, the 4 frames I have above my desk with words on different colored backgrounds is something I made on Photoshop years ago. I just googled a few words I liked and typed out their definitions. I took the files to the nearest Staples, printed it, and got frames from an art supply store for dirt cheap. Framing items like feathers or leaves is also a really cool and affordable idea for artwork. As for plants, I get a lot of them at Home Depot! I find that they are super affordable compared to nurseries and as long as you take care of them, they will live for a long time!

That's it for my favorite tips on home decor. If you made it this far, I hope you found them helpful. And if you have any tips you want to share with me please let me know! I'm still learning and exchanging ideas would make me super happy!

23 comments

  1. Interestingly, thank you for sharing, your apartment is perfect. Everything is arranged and decorated beautifully. i love your photos

    https://pinmytees.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks so cozy and nice! I love your desk area and the mini cocktail bar.

    www.fashionradi.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. babe..wow, you apartment is gorgeous!! This in pin worthy material and so you, I love it!! :) xx

    www.fashionjazz.co.za

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Loved the decor of your apartment. These are great tips, and I agree, Pinterest is a great Inspiration source.

    Nina's Style Blog

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such a great place you have babe!! Love the mix of different styles and the fun and quirky details. Your sofa looks so comfy and the colors for the living room are great - so harmonizing!! Also love that it sort of reflects your fashion style, it's so chic! Xx

    www.thefashionfolks.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. These are really great tips, I'd definitely book mark this post for future reference.

    Alisha
    Alisha Samson

    ReplyDelete
  8. Fantastic space you have created here babe Love your style nothing like a home that you feel good and proud about It definitely has to have all things you love because it is a space you relax, enjoy and share with friends and family. Lovely tips here. All the best in your new home xoxo Cris
    https://photosbycris.blogspot.com/p/lingerie-and-intimates.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your place is so freaking cool! I like all of the artwork here and the way you store/display certain things like those retro magazines or your jewelry. If you have a good bottle of rum, then I'm moving in lol xx

    Naya
    www.partyparrotblog.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your apartment is perfect and SO you! I love it!

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

    ReplyDelete
  11. Amazing apartment! I really like how you combine all of those details! Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!

    http://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love the California vibe coming from room apartment! The swing set in living room has to be my fave and I find your work table absolutely cute! You have put so much thought and efforts into each little detail of the decor, I am amazed!
    Hope you're having an amazing week!
    Ankita | Real Girl Talks
    http://realgirltalks.com/
    Instagram

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love love your apartment. Super cozy and instagrammable...
    Bookmarking this post for interior inspiration..
    xx
    https://theonethattravels.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your place gives off some real pinterest vibes and I mean that in a really good way! It looks really good, so congrats! That swivel chair is hella cute too!
      -PerlaGiselle
      iamperlita.com | Instagram – Let’s follow each other

      Delete
  15. Your apartment is so beautiful! I saw these photos on your instagram and my jaw dropped because it looks like it came straight out of an interior decor mag! LOVE IT!
    xo Samantha
    www.samanthamariko.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I loved everything just did not like the patterned rug!

    Hugs from Brazil

    ReplyDelete
  17. OMG Yuka, I love your space? Can I come over now? lol The pink and green combo in the living room is amazing. Ahh, I love Pinterest for interior decor. It's addictive lol I haven't decorated yet because we've moved around and are expecgted to move again next year for work so I didn't want to invest in anything so temporary. I love thrifting and vintage too but haven't found any amazing ones in Florida near me. I wish I shopped more in LA when I lived there :)

    Have a great week beautiful!

    Xo,
    Miki
    http://mikialamode.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Yes decorating an apartment can be daunting all at once. i love the vibe of your place the hippy retro peaceful feeling. And the vintage Playboy got to love that ; )

    Allie of
    www.allienyc.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lovely space you have here dear! So artsy, warm, and truly inviting!


    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I LOVE YOUR APARTMENT and what you've done with it! It gives off such home-y and creative vibes. Kudos girl! I just moved into my first apartment with my boyfriend and it has come together but we still need to work on some of the decorating... like prints and whatnot. I can't seem to decide and I've come to terms that I don't want to rush to finish it just for the sake of "finishing." You've given me such inspiration with this post! Thanks for sharing!

    p.s. LIVING for that bar cart though! Lol!

    xx, Des | https://www.itsbetterinheels.com/

    ReplyDelete
  21. Awesome! Its pleasure to visit here,This blog is good to sharing the information which is useful for many of them.
    Click here if you are looking to print calendar online.

    ReplyDelete

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