Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

One Editor’s Must-See Apartment Makeover

One Editor’s Must-See Apartment Makeover

Here’s how one ELLE Decor editor totally revamped her rental during quarantine.

When Manhattan began its citywide shutdown in March, for me, the collective contagion-fueled anxiety felt trivial in comparison to my own acute claustrophobia. Confined indefinitely to my small East Side apartment within the vast concrete jungle, my stress soared from “normal Type-A New Yorker” levels to full-on panic mode. The thought of seeing the same white walls and unfinished projects all day, every day, was more than I could handle, and if I was going to ride out the pandemic in the city, I needed my rental to feel like home. (Styling my bed and coffee table helped matters, but only so much.) And so began the renovations.

I’m not going to lie-it took more than a little elbow grease, but it made my weekends at home fly by, and the end result was a cozy space where I was happy to stay put while waiting for life in Manhattan to return to normal. So whether you share my stress over your own rental or you’re just looking for some design inspiration, read on to see the before-and-after shots and to shop each look. Happy renovating!

Before


            

After


            

Dress Up Plain Closet Doors


Finding ample storage space in New York is like finding the Holy Grail. But, despite their utility, these floor-to-ceiling white closet doors did nothing else for me. Since full-on wallpaper seemed too daunting a task (not to mention the fact that it would have to be temporary), I decided to paint them navy and craft some panels that could be easily removed upon moving out. Another easy update was swapping out the hardware for prettier handles in a brass finish.

Before


            

After


            

Never Underestimate the Power of Panel Molding


Unless you’re in a prewar apartment, chances are that your walls will be perfectly plain; if you’re lucky they might be painted a suitable, non-yellow-tinged white. I was lucky. But the lack of architectural detailing was actually the very first fix on my to-do list. Luckily, Home Depot had zero shipping delays, and I was able to (with the help of a few YouTube tutorials) install chair rail and (pre-cut) panel molding throughout the entire entry, living, and dining room areas. Afterward I used finishing nails, caulked to fill in those spots, and added a coat of semigloss white paint. It was a total game-changer-and now a showstopper.

Before


            

After


            

Conceal Storage


While hanging a coat rack right inside the door seemed perfectly logical upon moving in, cut to a few months later and those hooks-and the bench-became an unorganized dumping ground for every jacket, purse, and package on my way in the door. Plus, my puppy learned to love chewing the wicker baskets that I’d designated for shoe storage. So I ordered a new bench with covered storage, bought a statement piece of art, and moved the jacket hooks to the hallway so I’d be more mindful of what I hung on the rack.

Before


            

After


            

Upgrade to Investment Pieces


When you’re hunkered down at home 24/7, those temporary decor fixes really begin to trigger you. The dining table and chairs were at the top of that list for me. The CB2 table I wanted most was on back order, but I bought it anyway because I knew I’d love it forever. (It ended up arriving before the anticipated delivery date after all.) The chairs were also particularly important because they would serve as a “desk” chair while I’m working from home. These Safavieh cane-back chairs are not only gorgeous but also extremely comfortable, and I couldn’t be happier with the finished look.

Before


            

After


            

Lighting Is Key


I live on the second floor of my building, and I look out on a lot of trees. So while the greenery is beautiful, the natural light is limited. The building handyman installed sconces when I moved in last summer, but they were a bargain find and were not the most attractive. Luckily these Ralph Lauren Home sconces were an easy swap that made a world of difference. Plus, I added an extra floor lamp and a more substantial side-table light. Now, even with dark walls, the room feels brighter and more airy; I also added a few more new pieces to really complete the look.

Before


            

After

            

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
Intel Reports Revenue Beats but Sees 81% Rise in Losses
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2: A New Open-Source AI Model
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
×