Should I Let My Mum Decorate My House?
I Let My Mum Decorate My Apartment — This Is What Happened
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
Unless we are literally looking at each other in the face, my mother and I do not see eye to eye on most things. Our differences include where we live (she is in Florida, I reside in New York), the ways we travel, and our stances on gluten and sugar, respectfully (bring on the pizza and ice cream). Needless to say, I am a millennial, and she is not. Spoiler alert: our feelings about clothing style and home decor are similar to the sensation of drinking orange juice after using mint toothpaste. They just don't vibe.
This is me, eating ice cream in New York City. Like my decor preferences, my style is approachable and functional (and sweet).
I've lived in Manhattan for eight years, and I hate moving. It's one of those things that give me an intense amount of anxiety. It inspires sleepless nights, cold sweats and mild panic attacks months before my lease ends . . . but I digress. In early March, I found a new apartment, and my mum offered to help me pack and unpack my belongings — and decorate.
My empty living space, before undergoing my mother's makeover.
At first, I was overwhelmed with joy — what an amazing and kind offering! And then, the realisation of our dissimilarities set in. My style is very functional, approachable, and minimalist; my mum's is a bit more, um, classic. I told myself this could be a terrible idea, and then thought: maybe this could be fun, or at least funny. And so it began: my mother started browsing the internet for couches, rugs, consoles, and decor. I said the living room was hers for the taking. My bedroom, however, I was keeping for myself.
In the beginning, I received daily images and links to items that were not a fit — both in aesthetic style and actual measurements (after all, I do live in a small space). After my text messaged vetoes were acknowledged, my mother thankfully recruited my best friend, Melissa, to help with my new place. The duo mostly ordered things online, from Walmart.com's home section, which made things supereasy (instead of schlepping items through Manhattan), and it, to be honest, turned out pretty cool: trendy and functional, and most importantly, on-brand for yours truly.
Read on to see how my mum styled my space (for the first time since middle school) and the final result.
Landon Media Console in White
My mom and best friend know that one of the biggest issues with having a small space is where to store everything. This Landon Media Console in White ($333-$355, originally $381) has four compartments where I pack in all sorts of items including books, a printer, and even a foam roller. Underneath (please excuse the mess — this is real life, after all), I've stored my vacuum cleaner and my WiFi router, too.
South Shore Live-It Cozy Sofa
I didn't need a huge couch (although I love my parent's giant sofa at their home in South Florida. I fall asleep on it often). My mom and best friend realized there is limited space in my current living room, so this South Shore Live-It Cozy Sofa in Grey Fog ($563) was the perfect fit. The white throw is a souvenir I took home from a trip to Canada last year.
Surya Felicity FCT8000 Indoor Area Rug
Never mind my forever-old Ikea table (that's being replaced), my "designers" picked out this serene Surya Felicity FCT8000 Indoor Area Rug ($162) to cover my floors. It's soft and ties together the colors from my console and couch.
PTM Images Sparkle Silver Wall Art
Above my sofa, two identical pieces of PTM Images Sparkle Silver Wall Art ($171 each) were hung.
Wildon Home Dakayla Pillow Covers
Two Wildon Home Dakayla Pillow Covers ($21-$26) sit on my sofa. They add a pop of color that's also featured in my rug!
Buffy Comforter, Allswell Sheets, and Nectar Mattress
Historically speaking, I'm not the best sleeper (getting five hours of shut-eye a night). To combat this unfortunate quality, I decided to makeover everything dealing with my bed. This undertaking included an eco-friendly, cruelty-free Buffy comforter ($150), cool-to-the-touch Allswell Percale Sheet Set ($160), and a supercomfy memory foam Nectar Mattress ($675).
