Making My House a Home— Part One: The Bed Area Setup of My Studio Apartment

Hey friend. Come on in and talk about where every home begins—where rest happens, where dreams form, where the day begins and ends. The bedroom. 

The Bed: A Low-Profile Foundation
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Now, when it comes to design, some folks love for their bed frame to be a feature—something with height, detail, or structure. And one day, when the time and the budget allow, I might go that route too. But for now, my approach is different. My preference? A low and slim bed frame that can be covered by oversized bedding. A foundation for the Eclectic Japandi vision I have for my home.

I went with the queen-size TARVA bed frame 🛏️ from IKEA. It was on sale (always a plus), and most importantly, it keeps the bed low to the ground, which aligns with the grounded, minimalist approach often found in Japanese interiors. But here’s the key—I’m not making the frame a focal point. Instead, I’m letting the bedding take center stage.
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I layered the frame with the king-size DVALA duvet cover 😴 that has an organic cotton texture. Oversized on purpose, so it drapes down almost to the floor, hiding the frame entirely. That one choice creates a soft, uninterrupted flow, eliminating visual clutter and reinforcing the feeling of calm I want in this space. Plus, the organic cotton has a subtle texture—just enough to add depth without overpowering the clean aesthetic

Balance Through Contrast

Now, if you’ve read Designing My Eclectic Japandi Apartment, you know my design approach:

• The bedroom and bathroom are cool-toned, minimal, and smooth—meant to feel serene and intimate.
• The living room will contrast with warmth, texture, and pattern—full of life and movement.

But contrast only works when there’s connection. That’s why I make sure to weave in small elements from one space to another. Here, that meant bringing in texture through the bedding. Since the bed takes up the most visual space in the room, that single textured element is enough to keep things balanced without overwhelming the simplicity of the design.

The Nightstand: Simple, Versatile, and Layered with Warmth
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A good bed needs a good nightstand—not just for function, but to ground the space. I went with the KYRRE stool 🪑 from IKEA. Now, this little piece? It’s versatile. It can be an accent table, a seat, or, in this case, a simple and modern nightstand. The light wood also serves a purpose—it brings in the warmth from my living room design, subtly tying the two spaces together.

On the nightstand, I kept things intentional:

• Magsafe Charging Station 🔋– A clean, modern way to keep my iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods charged. No messy cables, no clutter.
• SOLVINDEN LED Lamp 💡– This is one of my favorite choices. A gloss white, mushroom-shaped lamp that fits perfectly into the smooth, organic aesthetic of the bedroom. It’s touch-operated—just tap the top, and the light turns on. Simple. Functional. And a quiet nod to the mushroom poster I plan to hang in the living room, creating a small but meaningful connection between spaces.
• A Pop of Green – Now, Japandi is all about nature, and while I’m still learning to care for plants, I wanted to bring in some organic energy. I placed an artificial plant in a gray concrete pot—the greenery adds life, while the concrete brings in a subtle masculine edge and echoes the dark neutrals colors used throughout the bedroom.

The Floating Dresser & Mirror: Function Meets Design

In a small space, storage has to be smart. I needed a dresser, but I didn’t want anything bulky. My solution? Two EKET drawers 🗄️ from IKEA, repurposed into a floating dresser.

At just 12 inches deep, these drawers are compact but provide all the storage I need. And they came in a dark grey finish—smooth, modern, and the perfect fit for my design. Together, they span 55 inches, which aligns beautifully with the width of my queen-sized bed, reinforcing the balance of the space. I mounted them at 36 inches high, the standard counter height, making them functional as both storage and a surface for decor.

Above the dresser, I added my first circular element to the apartment: the 31.5-inch LINDBYN mirror 🪞with a black metal frame. The key to making this look just right? Proportions. The standard rule for art or mirrors above furniture is to make them about two-thirds the width of the piece below. In my case, the mirror is slightly over half the width of the dresser, but because the floating dresser takes up less visual weight, it still feels balanced.

To reinforce that balance, I hung the mirror 8.5 inches above the dresser, slightly higher than the typical 3 to 6 inches, making it feel more prominent while keeping it visually connected to the dresser below.

For lighting, I introduced a Govee floor lamp 💡, made from black metal. This floor lamp isn’t just about function—it’s a design statement. I can control it from an app, adjust the mood, and even sync it with Apple HomeKit for seamless automation.

Conclusion: The First Step in Making My House a Home
And just like that, the foundation of my apartment is setup. The basics are in place: a cozy, low-profile bed, a simple and versatile nightstand, a floating dresser for smart storage, and a mirror that ties it all together. Over time, I’ll layer in more details—art, decor, and personal touches—to build my Eclectic Japandi style.

Check back soon for my next blog Making My House a Home— Part 2: Creating a Defined Entryway in My Apartment