If spending more time in your home this year inspired you to switch up your home decor, you’re not alone. Whether it was investing in functional furniture that made quarantining a little easier, or finding a fun piece of decor to make life at home more pleasurable, here at Apartment Therapy, we reinvented our homes in big and small ways . From fashionable storage solutions to a galaxy light projector, here are our editors’ favorite 2020 home purchases.
“Spending so much time in my studio apartment this year made me desperate to redecorate and make it look bigger, brighter, refreshed," says Managing Editor Terri Pous. "Thanks to my AT insider knowledge, I know a mirror is the best way to do this .” This vintage-style brass mirror from World Market fit the bill for her pre-war apartment, so Terri pounced on it the second it came back in stock. “It’s gorgeous, full of character, and gave the whole place an instant update.”
Real Estate & Finance Editor Madeline Bilis upgraded her bedside lighting situation this year with a mid-century inspired sconce lamp from Target. “It was easy to install, is lovely to look at, and has helped me read more this year!” If more books and fewer screens are on your list of New Year's resolutions , definitely consider adding this to your cart.
Color-changing LED light strips are all the rage among Gen-Zers on TikTok, and you might be wondering how to incorporate a similar effect into your adult home. News & Culture Editor Tara Bellucci invested in a galaxy projector from Amazon after seeing it in an Apartment Therapy article about comfort decorating, and, she says, “Every evening is like going to a planetarium show.” Pair it with blackout curtains like writer Elliot Ames did, and you’ve got a surefire recipe for relaxation.
The possibilities for this minimalist book tower are endless. Home Director Danielle Blundell uses hers for shoe storage , but you could also use it for plants, tchotchkes, or—shocker!—books. “I love it because it doesn't take up much floor space, but there are 11 shelves if you count the base, which means lots of room to store stuff,” she says. “It’s something people have loved when they’ve seen my space.”
If you’re up for a project in 2021, wallpaper is an excellent choice to refresh your space. House Tour Editor Adrienne Breaux and her boyfriend installed floral wallpaper from Rifle Paper Co. in their previously under-decorated hallway. “It was a small, boring space that’s been totally transformed with an energetic pattern that never fails to cheer us both up when we walk by,” she says.
Like many of us, Senior Associate News & Culture Editor Nicoletta Richardson waited a bit before finally upgrading her WFH situation. "I finally joined the many others in investing in a nice desk for myself," says Nicoletta, who opted for the HOMECHO writing desk . "I ordered this one because of the style, functionality (all of the little drawers!), and price combined, and it's been a productivity saver."
