And while the convenience and amenities of a hotel stay may be tempting, renting an Airbnb just off the beaten path is an even better way to experience the city like a local. The bustling capital encompasses a dynamic mix of cultural sights, impressive culinary experiences, and globally-renowned shopping landmarks-from the vibrant Harajuku district to the Edo-era Senso-ji Temple-that make it one of the most bucket-listed travel destinations in the world.
When Bailey first moved in, she admitted that the apartment's layout was a "quirk" that quickly became a design challenge. Instead of pushing all her furniture up against the walls, she wanted to create separate zones and use furniture to define them. What helped with that goal was purchasing a stylish and super-smart loveseat. Pottery Barn's Storage Sofa Really Benefitted This Small Apartment "The best part was that there's actually storage in the cushions," Bailey said at the time of the House Tour. "So I was able to store winter coats and things I don't use very often there."
When it comes to styling a smaller space, it's simply essential to be strategic about which areas you highlight (and which you don't). Although it may seem like larger spaces would more easily allow for experimentation with design, the truth is that small spaces force us to get creative - and that's where so many fun trends are born. My current favorite? I'm calling it "the micro-mantel."
For going on five-and-a-half years now, I have traveled this country full-time in a short bus that my wife and I converted into our tiny home on wheels. Over those years of gallivanting through wild country I have worked as a recipe developer and food writer, penning two cookbooks for fellow campers and nomads sold under the title " The Buslife Kitchen."
"Well, they could get separate beds. They could put a wall up. They could sleep on the convertible couch," Corcoran told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published on Monday.
Nothing worked. The room felt cluttered no matter what we did, and we were both exhausted from hauling that massive sectional around. "Maybe I need a smaller couch," she sighed, collapsing onto it dramatically. But as I looked around her place, something clicked. The problem wasn't just the size of her furniture-it was how high everything sat. Her couch, bed frame, coffee table, even her bookshelf, all towered at standard Western heights, making the space feel boxed in.
Weighing only 26.5 ounces, it's the lightest steam iron Panasonic has ever made. It's also cordless, comes with a handy carrying case, and heats up in 50 seconds on the accompanying power base (that plugs into a standard electrical outlet). The power base features a built-in cord compartment to make setup and storage easy. So already it solves some of my biggest gripes with traditional irons.
My spouse and I have lived in our house for five years, and in that time, we've basically played Jenga in nearly every room. It's almost like a design challenge to see how many spaces can serve dual functions: Can we make this room into a gym? What about a gym/office? What about a guest room/office? Right now, we are transforming our office/gym into an office/guest room (the Peloton now lives in the makeshift sunroom downstairs).
Living in a pre-war apartment comes with equal amounts of charm and challenges. Original moldings; thick, sound-proof walls; and hardwood floors? Charming! Outdated plumbing, a minuscule kitchen, and an even smaller bathroom? Pretty challenging, let me tell you. Although I'm reluctant to do major changes to the bathroom so I can preserve the original tile, I'm anxious to ditch the pedestal sink because of its extreme lack of storage.
One of my favorite parts of writing House Tours for Apartment Therapy is getting to explore beautiful, unique interiors around the world - and discovering all the deeply personal and wildly imaginative ways people make a space their own. And no one is quite as creative as a big family trying to make a small home work for everyone who shares the space.
But the most-clicked-on house tour in all of 2025 might surprise you. It wasn't the biggest home we toured this year, or the most lavish. At 750 square feet, it wasn't even the tiniest home we toured this year. But there was one chic New York City rental apartment we toured in June of this year that readers couldn't get enough of: Sarah and Peterson Almodovar's two-bedroom home they share with their three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
Before I moved in, I was living in Austin, Texas, and I had leased the apartment sight unseen. After a week of driving across the country, the moment I walked in, I knew the universe was taking care of me and that I'd found my NYC home and safe haven,
I am one of those people who makes the bed first thing every morning. And by "make," I mean hiding messy sheets underneath a slightly straightened comforter and leaving the corners untucked and hanging off the side of the bed. So when I saw a clever Apartment Therapy tip suggesting that a spatula could make the bed-making process easier, I knew I had to try it.
GENTLE READER: Unless the first thank-you letter ended with, And Jane says, Thanks for nothing where's my dress?' it is fine nay, charming to send a second letter without referencing the first. But if your mother is able to text your aunt, she has her contact information. Miss Manners is not suggesting you have to use it; she is just curious why, despite the dozens of relatives, you cannot seem to figure out how to find this aunt's number.
Most builders cram sleeping areas into cramped lofts, but Tiny Tect took a different approach. The Escapada features a Murphy bed that disappears into the wall, instantly transforming the main bedroom into whatever you need. Office space in the morning, yoga studio in the afternoon, guest room at night. The genius lies in the details, creating a space that adapts to you rather than forcing you to adapt to it.
"Finding an apartment in New York can feel like the Wild West. I had looked at so many places, and even lost a few. Walking into my apartment for the first time, I immediately felt its spirit," Breaker begins. Though he's not sure of the unit's exact square footage, the one-bedroom is clearly on the smaller side.
A well-designed dorm room is a gold medalist in small-space living: a tiny, often shared, space that has to support studying, relaxing, and socializing - plus score style points! It's a decor challenge that's actually pretty fun to solve.
