A calm 415 sq ft studio in Queens built around self-care

Jhenene grew up in San Francisco and has lived in New York for eight years. She spent her first two years in Brooklyn and now rents a 415 sq ft studio in Queens. After older buildings with dated kitchens, this is her first place with a renovated kitchen and bathroom.

She chose full-size furniture on purpose. In her view, small pieces make a small space look smaller. She bought her bed and sofa from Article as a pair. She skipped a Murphy bed because she likes making her bed and seeing it each day. A reading chair in the corner is where she meditates, reads her Bible and has her coffee.

Jhenene calls the bathroom her favourite spot. She does her affirmations and self-care there, under an Etsy print from a Black-owned shop. She added a clear shower curtain after seeing Josh's in our tour No. 008. A rechargeable light that she stuck on with adhesive saves her from the harsh overhead lights.

Scent matters to her. She starts each day with a diffuser and a candle, often from Black-owned brands. She bought a floor mirror on sale and painted it gold. A Waiting to Exhale poster hangs at the entrance to the main room.