Scandinavian Boho Apartment Tour (2020)


       I recently moved into a 700 sq. ft. 1-bedroom apartment with my boyfriend and I had the full creative freedom to furnish the entire space. For just the two of us (and my cat), it's a sizeable apartment with still plenty of room to add some extra pieces — but for now, it's basically fully furnished. Keep scrolling as I delve into my home styling ideas and arrangements along with links to where I got most items!

Inspiration Board from Pinterest
     My theme for this apartment is largely Scandinavian-inspired with bohemian and mid-century modern elements. I've been trying to gear more towards minimalism, but I'm still widely attached to the unique, eclectic boho aesthetic exemplified by bold shapes, textures, and artistic "clutter." The Scandinavian/Nordic interior has become such a massive trend lately though, so that's where a bulk of my inspiration came from. Expect to see tons of warm neutrals, wooden textures, hints of terra cotta, and vibrant greenery!


       As you walk into the apartment, you're greeted by this wooden sign and these stunning creeping fig ficus plants on hanging shelves. I used to place this sign as a centerpiece for my old coffee table, but it wouldn't stay balanced on its own so I hung it in the middle of my shelves to fill the empty space. It's actually quite the perfect placement because it's one of the first things you see, bringing a welcoming atmosphere upon entry. 

Creeping Fig Ficus - The Green Place OC


       Cane and rattan are notable components of Scandinavian decor and some of the biggest trends in the interior design community. My eyes instantly gravitated towards this dainty light wood end-table with cane webbing from HomeGoods. I knew I had to get my hands on it especially since it was the only one left! I'm a sucker for airy beige wood. There's just something about it that easily brightens up a space. It was truly a lucky find considering I haven't spotted it ever since, and I've been to a lot of HomeGoods locations on multiple occasions. 

Striped Terra Cotta Vase - Hobby Lobby
Light Wood Cane End Table - TJ Maxx/HomeGoods


       I've had this gray couch since I was in my previous apartment but I added a subtle modification to give it a more mid-century modern look. I switched up the legs of the couch from plastic block material to wood and it made such a significant difference for such a simple change. I kept the same throw pillows from my old place to add some color and pattern to an otherwise monochromatic area.

Gray Sectional Sofa - Ashley Furniture
Burnt Orange Pillows - TJ Maxx/HomeGoods


     The faux fiddle leaf fig and plant stand came from my previous place as well. I'll most likely switch it out to a real plant someday although it looks quite realistic and is the perfect size for a corner area. For the large space approaching the hallway, I was contemplating getting a wooden armchair, but I opted for a more affordable alternative and got this two-toned pouf/ottoman. 

Boho Planter - Hobby Lobby
Natural/White Pouf & Ottoman - Amazon
        These woven bamboo blinds and rattan lamp are probably two of my favorite pieces in the living room. They add such unique textures and I love how they complement each other impeccably. The black pole on the lamp also brings a nice contrast to the whites and neutrals. 



     I wanted a smaller coffee table considering the narrow size of the living room, so I picked out these mid-century modern nesting tables. I wanted to keep it clean and simple with fairly minimal tabletop decor. With all the textures and pops of muted color going on, I just wanted a plain, neutral rug but it ended up being too small for the space, so I layered a white faux fur rug to complete the look.
4x6 Light Brown Area Rug (similar) - Walmart


       I've been on a long hunt for amber-tinted vases and while Target carried various sizes, they were always sold out. Once the smallest one came back in stock, I immediately placed an order. This piece gives off such a warm, vintage vibe which is exactly what I needed for my tabletop. I added some bunny tails and paired it with a calming fragrance. I actually hardly ever light this candle because the ceiling fan right above keeps putting out the flame, but it's definitely something I'd switch out every season. This one happens to be the superior fall scent in my opinion and I love how the design fits the aesthetic. The sage with the shell stand was gifted to me by Botanics and it contributes just the slightest coastal touch to this whole ensemble.

Amber Glass Vase - Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia
Dried Lagurus Bunch (Bunny Tails) - Michaels
Sage with Shell Stand - Botanics USA
Leaves 3-Wick Candle - Bath & Body Works


     I wanted to include a book in this area for a little pick-me-up so I went with Alison Rachel's Recipes for Self-Love. Not only does it have stunning graphics but it's also such a therapeutic and lighthearted read. I placed a faux plant next to it to finally complete the tabletop decor.

Recipes for Self-Love by Alison Rachel
Faux Potted Plant - TJ Maxx


    This is one of my personal favorite features of the place largely because of this DIY console cabinet that has gone through drastic changes over the past year. I'll make an entirely separate post that explains how I completely transformed this piece, but for now, let's just say it started as a dusty, old, black TV console with glass cabinets. The two portraits on the wall were a spontaneous purchase but I ended up liking them. I might switch up the artwork at some point though, perhaps seasonally. 

Cane Media Console - DIY/Upcycled
Wood Picture Frames/Artwork - TJ Maxx/HomeGoods

 
   These two plants essentially started my growing journey to plant parenthood. I love how low-maintenance they are yet they provide so much life to the apartment — making it feel more like a home. It all began with the pothos N'joy hanging above the TV. I checked out a new local plant shop and came home with this beauty, and I've wanted to adopt more plant babies ever since. Shortly after, I was on a hunt for a sizeable monstera to fill this corner and I found the perfect one at a local nursery. I'm still learning how to make them thrive in a moderately lit space, but there's enough brightness in other areas of the apartment to keep them alive. 

Monstera Deliciosa - Evergreen Nursery
Pothos N'Joy - The Green Place OC


       I kept the pampas, vase, and mirror from my old apartment because they matched my theme so well. Scandinavian home decor is all about the fluffy pampas and dried plants and this one happened to stay strong for over a year with very minimal shedding. I spotted this unique rattan-like "vase" a while ago which is actually supposed to be a lantern, but it was the ideal container for my pampas grass and clearly a perfect fit for my new space with its wooden exterior and rope detail. 

Wood Vase/Lantern - TJ Maxx/HomeGoods
Marble Full-Length Mirror - TJ Maxx


       This area's not utilized very often but it's another one of my home DIY projects. It's probably one of the easier transformations because I essentially just put these placemats and baskets together to make some sort of a wall art collage. It's an extremely affordable DIY as well so I highly recommend it if you're itching to vamp up a wall in your home. This wall was initially a dark cherry wood panel that just seemed so out of place compared to the surrounding area, so I installed some herringbone wallpaper to add a clean, rustic pattern. These bar stools are barely sat on and mostly exist to fill the empty space, but I love how they add a mid-century modern element along with the little light sconce on the wall. 


Placemats & Baskets - Aki-Home and Ross


   Regarding interior design, this is my absolute favorite nook in the entire apartment. It's the most refreshing and ethereal space because of the massive window that lets in tons of light. I love the way the rays hit the dining room, especially around golden hour! 

    I didn't want to be completely in charge of all the styling choices so I let my boyfriend choose the rug. I gave him about 8 or so options that I narrowed down and he went with this blush-toned marble design. It honestly wasn't even on my top 3 but I'll let him have this one since he paid for it. 


     I've been wanting to get a brand new dining table ever since we moved in, but my boyfriend stayed adamant about keeping his over-a-decade-old cherry wood table. We reached a compromise in which he let me refurbish it to my liking. So, I ended up sanding it down a bit just enough to get rid of the gunky wood residue, then painted the entire piece with this airy beige color. It's not a perfect renovation, but it's gradually growing on me. I opted for white dining chairs with wooden legs for yet another mid-century modern accent (I aspire to have wishbone chairs one day when I'm financially able to! *tears*). To top it off, I went with a rustic two-toned table runner with a centerpiece that I'll go into more detail shortly. Right in the corner is my cat's grand tower where she seldom hides out. She chooses to use our couch as her main scratch post instead...



     Here's a closer look at the centerpiece. You can probably tell I like two-toned details as I went with this partly speckled white/terra cotta vase. I'm not much of a flower person so I went for this birch branch to add a bit of a rustic yet contemporary touch. I might change out the decorative tray at some point but so far nothing has caught my eye. 

Two-Toned Speckled Terra Cotta Vase - TJ Maxx
Decorative Birch Branch - TJ Maxx/HomeGoods
Decorative Tray - Tuesday Morning


     Bare with me as we approach the final feature of my intentionally adorned home — the exquisite wall of wood art. This carved wood decor is my absolute favorite piece of artwork thus far. I always knew I wanted some kind of wood carving for this wall, but as I willfully searched for the perfect piece, all I could find were items upwards of a hundred for a single thing. This happened to come in a set of two, so I ordered an extra pair to fill up the entire wall. The original color of the pinewood was a bit too dark and farmhouse-like for my taste, so I grabbed some beige spray paint and DIY'd two of them for contrast. To take it up a notch, I finished off the project with stone-textured spray paint as you can see in more detail below. It's a subtle touch that makes a world of a difference!



     That concludes my extensive justification for why I blew my recent paychecks on home decor! In all honesty, even just having a small apartment to furnish is a huge privilege in itself and it's something I've always dreamed of doing on my own. I've lost touch with art in so many ways as I grew older and this is one form in which I get to express my creativity and individuality again. Every nook and cranny of this apartment is designed with the intention to make it feel like home. I'd say I succeeded because every time I come back from work, this space I manifested from what started as a vision makes me incredibly happy. It's more than just aesthetics or all the money spent on these thoughtfully selected pieces — it's about having a place to come home to that makes me feel safe and inspired to unwind and create.

     For more home updates and a quick video of this tour, head over to my Instagram page to support more of my creative ventures!

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