Expert Advice: 10 Tips for Living in 240 Square Feet - Remodelista
Photography by Erin Boyle from her blog Reading My Tea Leaves, where you can read more about living small. Two and a half years ago, when Gardenista editor Erin Boyle moved into the Brooklyn apartment she shares with her husband, James, they opened the door and burst into laughter. As Erin tells us, “We were coming from Providence, where our space was at least four times as big. We thought we had moved into a bathroom.” Here, she gives us some tips on how they have (happily) survived life in 240 square feet. Wine crates for storage under the sofa. Instead, we have storage under the bed in the sleeping loft. Zip-up bags for linen storage are kept under the bed. EB: I think of them as rules to live by anywhere, and the key point is to consider very carefully your purchases. A magnetic knife rack above the stove allows for more drawer space in the kitchen. I have a magnetic knife rack above the stove; it’s not the prettiest, but it means all the knives go up there. Jars for storing dry goods. We compost our scraps, so we don’t have a lot of garbage. Explain Erins: “The largest group we’ve ever had in our apartment was nine, including me and James and a four-month-old baby. We left quickly for a walk around the neighborhood!” When I photograph DIY projects, which I do about twice a week, I tear apart the apartment and move the table in front of the window. A hand towel serves as a bath mat. A regular bath mat is too big, so instead I use hand towels that fit the space and can be washed easily. A clear shower curtain keeps the space feeling open. EB: We take off our shoes because the thought of walking around New York City streets all day and then tracking the sidewalk dirt back into our apartment totally skeeves me out. The table prepped for guests. Writing about it, I have learned that there are many people doing this and it’s been nice to be part of a community of fellow tiny apartment dwellers.