If you grew up with a hoarder parent, then you know how challenging it can be to decorate your own home. It’s common in our community, as many of our parents grew up with very little. When they finally had the opportunity to buy things, they often operated from a mindset of scarcity and it was/is very hard for them to let go of things, even when they’re meaningless or no longer functioning. While that’s completely understandable—and something they can work through—we don’t have to live that way. **hair toss**

For many of us, seeing clutter can be triggering, and after having our stint with minimalism, millenials I’m looking at you, we’ve realized that what we truly want is a home that’s cozy, uniquely us, and clutter-free. Because, let’s be honest—no one has time to dust off todos esos tiliches. In this economy? ¡No Gracias! You have the power to create a space that reflects your values and lifestyle, without being weighed down by the past.

Now let’s talk about my apartment…

Move-in day is always filled with hope and promise—a blank canvas ready to become your dream home... y luego llega todo el cochinero. Suddenly, panic sets in. Having already downsized quite a bit after moving from a house in the Sacramento suburbs to an apartment in Chelsea, New York, I thought I was prepared. But our second apartment in the city was even smaller, which meant another round of downsizing. With smaller space and lower ceilings, the real question hit me: How am I going to store everything I actually need without feeling cluttered, while still making it stylish? ¿Cómo chingados se hace eso? Pues no sé, but this is how I did it.

Once we had all the moving boxes situated, the living area already felt completely full. Then the dresser arrived, and suddenly it felt like it took up half the room. Y luego llegó el sofá—and wow, pure panic. Did we just make a huge mistake? The space was shrinking before my eyes, and I started wondering if we’d completely misjudged how to make this apartment work. I desperately wanted a dining room but at this rate, there was no way.

I thought to myself, "Oh, I know how to fix this—me compro papel tapiz." That little piece of wallpaper had to fix my entire life. So, I used it to carve out a dining area, and there she was—with a little more pizzazz. You’ve probably seen her a lot on my IG because, honestly, me encanta. She’s my favorite.

Then I had a little too much confidence and thought, I can totally improve the art on the walls. I wanted something more minimal, so I took it down and got to work, pero nombre, salio mas feo que tu ex.

I decided to ditch the painting entirely and moved the dresser behind the couch—there was absolutely no room in the bedroom, and we still needed space for some of our cochinero. Then, I used frog tape to tape out what I thought was a circle. I had a vision of a large round mirror for that spot, so I used AR to test it out and finally nailed it.

I found this stunning mirror on CB2 and mira qué bonito—it was the perfect touch!

Now that the couch with storage was in place and the dresser (also with storage, of course) was settled, the vibe was coming together. But I still needed something under the TV to complete the look. Using AR again, I tested out options.

I found this beautiful console from CB2. No pos wow, qué belleza.

Since this console didn’t have any storage, I knew I had to figure out a multi-purpose solution to go underneath—something that offered both storage and functionality. I settled on these ottomans and I think they look great! I use them to store my leg recovery boots and other random things that don’t have a clear home. They also provide additional seating for the living room AND the dining area. Win-win.

The last big piece was finding a stylish armoire that could double as a second closet. With just one closet in our 1-bedroom apartment that my husband and I have to share—pues, así no se puede! I found a stunning armoire from Homary, and it was the perfect finishing touch. It made the room feel put together and elevated while providing enough space to hide our cochinero without making the room feel cluttered. Once again, the theme here is multi-functional pieces that are also stylish. No AR this time, but I did measure OVER AND OVER to make sure it wouldn’t overpower the room or cut into the walkway. Measure twice, order once. ;)

Then came the light fixture for the dining nook—but figuring that one out fue todo un show with that, mejor lo dejamos para otro dia.

Pero ahora mi depa sí se siente más acogedor, organizado, y me da tanta paz saber que todo está acomodado en su lugar. It’s amazing how the right multi-functional pieces can make such a difference—not only in style but also in creating a space that feels peaceful and clutter-free. Start with the big pieces that fit your lifestyle and needs, and then decorate around them. These foundational pieces will set the tone for your space, making it easier to add the finishing touches that reflect your personal style.

As a reminder, you don’t need to buy new to achieve the vibe you want. FB Marketplace, Kaiyo, and AptDeco are my best friends, and I highly recommend checking there first when you're searching for that perfect piece. Decorating a small space, downsizing, and being intentional with what you bring into your home because you want to avoid clutter and resist the urge to hoard isn’t easy. Throughout this process, I was constantly reminded that every inch counts, multi-functional pieces are key, and overcrowding with fleeting trends is never the way to go. It takes a lot of patience to make your space feel like home, pero no te desesperes, it’s worth it.