6 POPSUGAR Staffers Reveal Their New Apartment Essentials

"On a visit home from college, I spotted a floral watercolor painting by my mom in an antique frame that I'd always loved. It had been displaced due to some renovations, and my mom offered it to me. Fifteen years and four apartments later, it's maybe my favorite thing I own and has somehow managed to work with my eclectic college style just as well as the more sophisticated decor I favor today. Best of all, it makes me feel so happy and connected to my mom every time I look at it." — Joanna Douglas, senior Native editorial director

"Scent is very important to me, and there's nothing better than walking into an apartment with a wonderful scent. The Air Wick® Essential Mist™ Diffuser in Fresh Water Breeze ($9.97) blends airy and sparkling bergamot with crystal clean aromas of water fruits, spring flowers, and sheer musks. It adds a radiant and fresh vitality to my home!" — Tyler Atwood, associate editor, Native Living

"My kilim rug from Ankara, Turkey, has been with me for 12 years and three apartments and makes everywhere feel instantly like home. Not only is it beautiful, but it goes with everything and elevates everything else in my dining room where it currently resides. It has been through a lot but shows no signs of wear and tear, even though my dog's favorite play move is to jump on it and 'surf' across the wooden floor!" — Lynne Lavelle, senior editor, Native Living

"As weird as it may sound, the items that have made my recent apartments feel truly homey are mirrors. I personally like to thrift antique versions with ornate frames or unique shapes, and that really makes all the difference. On top of being seriously functional (hey, a girl's gotta check her outfit on the way out the door) and an easy way to make a room feel bigger, vintage ones add so much character, history, and life to a space. When I hang one on the wall, the apartment really feels like home." — Carrie Carrollo, assistant editor, Native Style

"My grandmother was always dressed to the nines, decked out in her jewelry and an array of silk scarfs. Many years ago, she framed a beautiful scarf and hung it on a wall in her hallway. I always passed by it and loved it. It was 'so her,' not to mention just a beautiful piece of art. When she passed away, I asked for the frame and hung it in our living room. Not only does it remind me of her, but I love that everyone always comments on it when they enter the room for the first time." – Rebecca Gruber, vice president, Editorial Partnerships

"My boyfriend and I both agree: it's all about the sofa! Our apartment didn't feel like our space until we found the perfect sofa to anchor our living room about four months after we had moved in. Since we spend most of our evenings as couch potatoes, we wanted a functional piece that was still stylish enough to serve as the room's centerpiece. I've spent so much time cozied up on its cushions that now, when I think of home, I think of my sofa." – Stephanie Nguyen, editor, POPSUGAR Shop