Natural Light & Scandi Charm

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To me, a home is more than just temporary accommodation. It's a place where you spend most of your time, and I want mine to make me happy just by looking at it. Hey there! I'm a young man in my 20s working as a professional designer and currently residing in San Francisco. I've been living in dorms since middle school, that’s over 10 years! Recently, I got a job and moved into my first home alone a few months ago. Decorating my place has been a learning process with lots of trial and error, but I'm enjoying the journey of making it my own, one step at a time. I couldn't believe it when I found out that the apartment I had been eyeing out every day on my way to work suddenly became available for rent. It was just a few steps away from my old place, and I knew I had to jump on the opportunity. After seeing the listing, which hadn't been on the market for a long while, I rushed to check it out and ended up signing the lease on the spot. A bit hectic, but I'm so happy I grabbed the opportunity!

As soon as you walk through the front door, you'll get a glimpse of my apartment's biggest advantage: the large window. It provides plenty of natural light and a great view. To your left, you'll find the kitchen.

A major advantage is that heating and cooling is unnecessary despite the windows facing east, as San Francisco's seasons are quite mild. The interior design incorporates beige and wood tones and lots of Scandinavian charm, reminiscent of my one-month stay in Copenhagen.

My standing desk is where I spend the most time at home. It's versatile, allowing me to sit or stand depending on my mood, and I enjoy looking out the window while I work. Although I originally purchased the monitor for design work, I often find myself using it to watch TV shows instead.

Despite the high cost, I viewed the purchase as an investment in my health and have been using it ever since. I highly recommend it to anyone who spends long hours working in front of a computer.

The mood changes completely in the evening.

Beside the desk, there's a bed and a small home office. Since I'm an early bird, I placed the bed near the window to take advantage of the morning light. I initially used a low platform wooden bed frame to match the apartment's aesthetic, but it couldn't support my mattress and would creak loudly every time I turned over. After switching to a sturdy, plain iron frame, my sleep quality has greatly improved.

Behind the desk, I have a full-length mirror and a clothing rack. The rack holds my most frequently worn clothes, while the shelf holds various knick-knacks, including a hidden internet router. Although the clothing rack doesn't quite fit with the apartment's aesthetic, it serves its purpose well. I'm considering replacing it with a wooden one to better match the overall decor.

I went for a cooling linen fabric for the bedding. I like a natural color scheme, so I chose beige!

I came across an elegant, curved floor lamp that doesn't take up much space but provides pleasantly soft lighting. It has three levels of brightness, making it suitable for use during both day and night.

I wanted to make my home more cozy and lively, so I opted for affordable fabric artwork and a circular rattan rug.

I've actually been using the fabric poster to cover up the clothing rack, as I've grown tired of looking at the clothes. Instead, I'm planning to hang a large painting on the wall where the fabric artwork was used to be.

Whenever my friends come over, I simply pull out this foldable table from the storage space beneath the bed. It proved to be very useful during the housewarming party.

Here's the view from the kitchen. One of the best things about having a kitchen island is its versatility. During the housewarming party, my friends and I gathered around the island to assemble our own Vietnamese spring rolls using the ingredients I had prepared.

I like to enjoy my morning coffee at the kitchen island bar.

To add warmth to the space, I included dried flower arrangements, a lamp with white and wood-tone elements, and a Scandinavian-style fabric decoration.

As a coffee enthusiast, my go-to kitchen item is the black Gooseneck Electric Kettle in the center, which is temperature adjustable. It allows me to make my morning drip coffee just the way I like it and get my day started.

I've organized my shoes on a bamboo shelf in the narrow hallway that connects to the entryway. To the right of the hallway is the bathroom.

There’s a small built-in storage next to the bathroom where I store towels, a few baskets filled with my underwear, T-shirts, and other clothing, as well as my favorite perfumes.

Although not particularly spacious, the bathroom is the perfect size for just me. A recent discovery that has been a real gem is the diatomaceous earth bath mat, which dries out water.

I had to install a shower hose myself.

I place used towels in the black basket, and I wash them all together on the weekend.

Living in a place that I can decorate and call my own for the first time after residing in a dormitory feels extra special. Despite the steep rent in San Francisco, I'm content with living alone as I want my home to be my own space and sanctuary. Although my pickiness and easily tired personality led me to repeatedly fail at buying the right furniture and decorations, it helped me find my preferences and develop my style. Completing my cozy home has made me appreciate small things like serving food on nicer plates and regularly cleaning. Some of my engineering friends might question my interest in decorating my home, but to me, a 'home' is more than just temporary accommodation. It's a place where you spend most of your time, and I want mine to make me happy just by looking at it. I hope you also find joy in creating a cozy home. Now, I'm off to go shopping for more home decor.