Seoul Odyssey Diaries -> Seoul room toor 🎀

As mentioned earlier, in Seoul, I reside in a villa with two rooms—a smaller one and a larger one—as well as a kitchen-corridor space. I opted to designate the smaller room as my sleeping area and the larger room as a combined living and workspace. I’ve included pictures of the spaces as they were on the day I moved in. Despite the presence of a bed and makeup area already in place, haha…

As I am working from home my, I realized the importance of creating distinct areas for relaxation and productivity. The living space had to be cozy but on the same time I wanted to have a office-cafe like mood. Incorporating a dedicated TV area and a functional workspace within the same room was essential to aligning my lifestyle needs with my interior design goals as sadly, in Seoul and the rent coast the living space I could afford was not allowing me to dedicate a separate room as an office.

To navigate this challenge, I began my self-guided interior design journey using a free design program. This allowed me to avoid the costly and time-consuming mistakes of buying furniture that didn’t fit or cluttered the space. I experimented with several different layouts, balancing a functional workspace with a comfortable lounge area where I could relax after a long day.

After finalizing the layout, I began searching for furniture, prioritizing affordability without compromising on aesthetics. I browsed Korean drifting apps such as Dangunmaket for unique finds and utilized promotion codes and sales to secure the best possible prices for what I envisioned as ‘perfect’ pieces.

Dangunmaket (단군마켓) which translates to carrot market (lol) is a mobile app in South Korea where users can buy and sell second-hand items, similar to other drifting or resale platforms. It allows individuals to list items they no longer need or wish to sell, and buyers can browse through various categories such as furniture, electronics, clothing, and more. The app facilitates communication between buyers and sellers through messaging features, enabling negotiations, inspections, and transactions.

And eventually everything started coming together… By strategically placing furniture and incorporating subtle design elements such as rugs and lighting I tried making the room pretty to my eyes. This approach not only optimized the functionality of the space but also reflected my personal style, contributing to a well-balanced living environment. One standout piece is my three-dollar thrifted lamp, adding a touch of whimsy and character to the room.

I tried giving the living room a bit of a modern feeling. Recently, the trend of Mid-century modern has been gaining popularity, and I must admit that I’ve eagerly jumped on this train as it aligns so well with my current aesthetics.For the TV area, my focus was on creating a cozy atmosphere with comfortable seating and ambient lighting, transforming it into a retreat for unwinding after a long day. Simultaneously, the workspace was designed to maximize efficiency and foster concentration, featuring ergonomic furniture and ample storage solutions to keep everything neatly organized.Even being in the same room I tried to kind of part this room into separate working and living spaces and tried doing so with the help of a rug.

I aimed to create a cozy bedroom, incorporating as much pink as possible. Lately, I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with the color pink points.

The kitchen mainly serves as a cooking space; barely eating there, but sometimes it’s nice to have an additional area to feel not as stuffed. The kitchen serves more as a living area for Kuki, my blue tongue skink.