NYC Railroad Apartment Tour in Midtown Manhattan
Last Updated on February 17, 2022 by Dana Berez
Railroad Apartment
Table of Contents
If you live in NYC, you know that moving apartments every few years is normal. It’s been 10 years of living in NYC, and I’ve just moved for the fourth time. So, therefore, I had to update you on my NEW apartment tour.
P.S. check out my old NYC apartment tour when I was living in the East Village of Manhattan.
My new apartment is *technically* a studio because there’s a lack of doors. And if you want to really get technical, it’s actually an NYC railroad apartment.
What is a railroad apartment?
Railroad apartments have rooms that are connected without a hallway. That means you walk into each room without the separation of doors- just like walking through a train car. This type of apartment is very common in New York City.
For my apartment, this configuration allows for 6 real spaces: a foyer, eat-in kitchen, living room, office, bedroom, and bathroom. It’s narrow and super long.
For the decor, I went with more neutral hues. This is my grown-up apartment style with a modern/ boho design. So let’s get into my railroad apartment style!
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Favorite places for Home Decor:
- Pottery Barn: a classic
- Crate & Barrel: loving their new line of modern design
- Etsy: great for unique finds! Like my favorite pampas grass!
- Target: Threshold Studio McGee line is stylish & affordable
- Amazon: Check out my Amazon Home Decor favorites.
Entryway & Foyer
One thing I loved about this apartment when I first saw it was the spacious entryway.
There are two distinct areas that I decorated. As you first walk in I added in a Studio McGee rattan bench, rattan wall hooks for hanging my bags, accessories, etc, and a medium-sized vintage area rug that really brings in color and style.
Shop entryway:
Then I added in a console table with an antique vase (similar), pampas grass, coffee table books, and accessories to bring even more style to the space. A round mirror here helps reflect light and make the space look even larger.
Plus, I love adding in a reed diffuser to introduce a warm welcoming scent as soon as I walk in the door. This Moroccan Amber scent from Nest Fragrances is my absolute obsession!
Shop foyer:
I love adding coffee table books throughout my space to add color & style.
Favorite apartment coffee table books:
Tip: A great way to see if you like a coffee table book is to rent it from your local library. That way, before buying, you can see how you can style it in your space.
Eat-in Kitchen
I had so much fun decorating this eat-in kitchen. I even documented the whole process from start to finish in this youtube video. Trust me, what it looked like before will blow you away!
Paint: First, I had to add some interest to this small space. I started with painting an accent wall this gorgeous dark blue hue from Behr paint. This really added depth to the space and made this room feel super cozy. Finally, a place I’d like to relax in.
Furniture: I then furnished the space with a Threshold Studio Mcgee black dining table, and Hearth & Hand chairs & bench. For decor elements, I added in some floor-to-ceiling striped curtains, a boho light fixture, and my favorite faux olive tree.
Shop the Eat-in Kitchen
Watch: Eat-in Kitchen Makeover
Kitchen
For my actual kitchen, I didn’t change much. But a quick easy fix to make any apartment look more updated is changing out the hardware on your kitchen cabinets. I chose metal brass handles from Amazon that had modern clean lines.
I also updated the kitchen sink. Before it was a metal sink that looked like it could be used in a commercial washroom. Now I have a functioning tall matte black sink with an adjustable hose. I did hire someone to change it out for me, but it completely changed the space.
For the countertop, I like to leave out stylish cutting boards, and a decorative utensil holder for my knives and spoons. Plus, my go-to Always Pan is always ready for cooking on the stove.
Living Room
I was working with a tight space for the living room and knew a sectional sofa would be the best bet for the space. I had to find a medium-sized sectional, that was comfortable & stylish and Castelery’s Adam Sofa fit in like a glove.
Then I added in a neutral wool area rug from Loloi, a CB2 cement white coffee table, a West Elm Leather side chair, and modern decor elements throughout.
Each season I change my throw and pillow covers to add in new colors and patterns to keep the space looking fresh. Plus, I added in Ikea floor-to-ceiling Rtiva curtains that make the space feel cozy.
Because this room is on the smaller side, and there was no room for a media unit, I had to mount the TV & Sound Bar.
Watch: Living Room Tour on Youtube
Shop the Living Room:
Sofa: Castelry Adams Sectional. Similar styles: Interior Define
Side Chair: West Elm. Love the warm tone of the leather which adds some contrast to the space. Also, I liked how this style wasn’t too bulky. To make your small space appear larger, look for accent chairs with legs.
Coffee Table: CB2 Concrete Coffee Table
Tech: Samsung TV, Wall Mount, Sound Bar Sound System
Rug: My neutral Loloi Wool Rug adds the perfect amount of texture and color. Plus, I found this style over half off on Amazon!
Pillows: I use the HM feather inserts with removable HM pillow covers. You’ll find new covers throughout the year which makes changing up your style every season super easy & affordable.
Lighting: Brass pharmacy floor lamp & Brass Rectangle Lamp
Accessories: To accessorize my coffee table, I added the stylish black Tom Ford Coffee Table Book, Circular Vases (similar), faux Eucalyptus branches, and my go-to Nest Fragrances candle!
Home Office
Welcome to my office! Low key, I’ve been wanting to change my WiFi name to “Miranda Presley’s Office” But haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Desk & Chair: Anyway, this apartment allowed for an office space- which was a game-changer. I added in my desk from the target, and the most comfortable office chair (seriously).
This space was looking really boring, so to add style- on a budget, I added in two decorative shelves and placed them next to each other. Then I added frames from Target (I personally like the ones with lots of white matting) and placed photos I took from my travels.
Now, this room has style, and I am reminded of the beautiful places I’ve been to. Plus, changing out the 8×10 photos or the 5×7 photos are less than $5 a print! I used Walgreens.com and chose the “matte” finish on the photos.
Tip: I hide my wifi router and cords in a stylish woven decorative basket!
Shop Office:
Bedroom
My oasis room is the bedroom. This room gives me all the calm vibes, and it’s really a retreat I come to after a long day. The reason why I love the bedroom so much is this is the space that gets the most natural light in the apartment.
For this space, I was loving the idea of a wooden bed frame and had to have this bed frame from West Elm. Then I brought back some light colors with these white West Elm nightstands and stunning white table lamps from Target.
I’m obsessed with the wool rug from Loloi. The texture and different pile height really add interest & it’s fun to walk on. P.S. if you never owned a wool rug, it does shed- but honestly I don’t mind the extra steps, it’s gorgeous.
To finish off the space, I added in the floor-to-ceiling curtains from Ikea, a dresser for storage, real birds of paradise plant, and decor elements throughout.
Shop Bedroom:
Bed Frame: West Elm Emmerson Bed frame no longer sold in stores, the Anton is a similar style!
Mattress: If you’re looking for the most comfortable mattress that’s affordable, look no further than Nectar Mattresses!
Bedding: I’m all about 100% cotton sheets & bedding. Plus, this coverlet from H&M adds color, as well as this green pillow.
Nightstands: West Elm Nightstands add some brightness to the space. /
Rug: My favorite Loloi rug. Adds texture and a chic boho feel.
Lamps: Stunning white lamps from Target, they look & feel expensive!
Dresser: Simple dresser from Wayfair(Similiar) Love the color tone and modern look.
Decor: White tissue box from Amazon dresses up your branded tissues!
Amazon Home Finds
There are some things from Amazon that really helped the function, and style of my railroad apartment! If you’re looking for space-saving, and stylish accents from amazon here are my favorites:
- Under Cabinet LED plugin Light Strip: a renter-friendly way to add under cabinet lighting.
- Cord Covers: hide ugly cords for tv in this stickable cover!
- Utility Holder: organizes all your tall brooms, mops, etc!
- Removable Privacy Screen: because I am on a low floor I use this screen on my windows for privacy. Plus, it’s renter-friendly.
Watch on Youtube:
Want to look at more home inspiration? Check out my other blog posts & youtube videos!
Related:
NYC Apartment Decor Inspiration: Decorating Small Spaces
Watch:
Eat-in Kitchen Makeover on Youtube
Hope you found some new inspiration for decorating your space. What room was your favorite?
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Ro // A Cup of Kims
I love how you decorated your space! It’s very cozy and inviting and I love the use of neutrals in places like your bedroom! Absolutely stunning!