Changing the space

Ben and I have lived in our apartment for a little under six months, and for the first time since moving in, we've really started to take a look at the space that we have and what we have made of it. Some of our furniture belongs to our landlord, some we've inherited from family members, some we've gotten within the last year, and others still seem to have followed us forever.

So in addition to this reassessment, we've taken stock of what we can do to make changes that work for us — what pieces we can get to transform a space and how we can rearrange what we already have to make this space we have feel the most "ours" it can possibly feel.

When we moved in, everything went in the first logical opening, based all around what furniture was left behind for us to use. With all the hustle and bustle that comes with moving day, we never stopped to ask ourselves if there were any other options for the space.

After taking the Christmas tree down last week, I got to thinking about how much we under-utilized the living room. We put the couch and coffee table at an angle, and somehow that alone made it feel like a whole new space. If that's all it took to feel a sense of newness, I can't wait to see how it feels when we finish with all our goals for redecorating.

It may sound trivial, but to me, feeling like the space you occupy is your own is crucial. This place can set the tone for my day — it's where I start my morning and where I return after a long day away. Of course I want it to feel just right. Good news, we're well on our way.