small-space living: inside a brooklyn apartment filled with color and light!

Light-filled, cozy, and vibrant pops of color are just a few of the details that comprise the laid-back aesthetic of

Alyssa Coscarelli

’s Williamsburg apartment. As the fashion market writer for Refinery29, it comes as no surprise that Coscarelli’s home would be outfitted with a killer sense of style. One glance at her Instagram feed, and it’s apparent that her unique eye seamlessly translates well into nearly every aspect of her life. We caught up with Coscarelli in her railroad apartment, which she shares with a roommate (plus a little bunny who goes by Bean!) to talk style, splurges, and decorating a small-space with form and function in mind. Take a look!

WHERE DO YOU FEEL THE MOST INSPIRED? A lot of my inspiration comes from Instagram. I’m constantly screenshotting images and filing them in my camera roll. I also find inspiration from Refinery29, as well as the people I work with.

I was recently over our Editor-in-Chief’s home, and felt so inspired to decorate my own space, after seeing hers.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR AESTHETIC AND STYLE? It’s difficult to put a strict title on my personal style because it tends to fluctuate. I’m minimal and classic yet I love to keep up with what is trending. I love a good quirky sandal and layered jewelry, as well as a good personalized touch, here and there. My style is constantly changing, it can be very girly one day and vintage another, it depends on the mood I’m in, though I always strive to make it my own.

HOW DOES YOUR PERSONAL STYLE TRANSLATE INTO YOUR HOME SPACE? While it’s not as simple to change up an interior as often as one’s personal style, in certain aspects the two can be relatively similar. In our apartment, the decor is minimal with personalized elements. We kept the walls white and brought in a few key details to elevate the decor such as; the sofa, a vintage stool, and an oversized mirror to expand the space.

WHEN IT COMES TO DECORATING A HOME, WHAT DO YOU SPLURGE ON? Even though our sofa was from IKEA, it was still one of the more expensive pieces of furniture we brought into the apartment. It took us a little while to chase down the exact model and color we wanted, but the persistence paid off! The sofa has now become the focal point of our living room, and its quirky mustard tone instills a unique element to our space. It was surely worth the splurge.

SCRIMP? I don’t necessarily like to scrimp on anything but, I do think it’s great to hit up a flea market with any leftover money and find a unique item that will complete your space!

ART & STOOL Flea Market Finds

SIDE TABLE Target target.com STOOL Target target.com

Polaroids from a housewarming party serve as decor!

WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION? While my wardrobe obviously means a lot to me, I don’t tend to spend a lot of money on my clothing. Instead, I’m slowly accumulating an art collection, starting with the piece my boyfriend gave me. I love the personalized aspect of it, along with the simple fact that I’m the only one who has it. It put the perfect finishing touch to my room, making it homey and comfortable despite the room’s tiny size!

BED IKEA ikea.com CLOTHING RACK IKEA ikea.com RUG Cold Picnic coldpicnic.com ARTTimothy Goodman tgoodman.com

ART Shantell Martin shantellmartin.com SHELVES IKEA ikea.com

PILLOWS Urban Outfitters urbanoutfitters.com

IF YOU HAD TO WEAR ONE OUTFIT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? My favorite pair of vintage Levi jeans, a white t-shirt (Re/Done x Hanes), black booties, and gold jewelry.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? My aunt told me, “you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time”.

NAME THREE THINGS YOU NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT.

1. I always have my phone with me, since I’m constantly snapping photos of hangouts, food, and things I find that inspire what I do.
2. Minty gum.
3. A small version of my makeup bag, filled with the necessities.