The Key

Check Out This Renter-Friendly Fall Decor Transformation

Claire Nicholas

Oct 22, 2024

Interior design enthusiast and NYC nurse Emily Auffrey takes us through her fall apartment transformation, complete with easy and budget-friendly DIY projects galore.

Apartment Tour: How This Actress Turned Her Tiny Upper East Side Apartment into a Maximalist Oasis

Claire Nicholas

Aug 20, 2024

Actress Jillian Marie Sayegh was sketched out by her current Upper East Side apartment listing, but the price was too good to pass up — and a psychic had told her that her dream apartment was coming to her way. Sayegh toured the place, decided it had good bones and lots of potential — and has completely transformed the space since then. Here's her apartment transformation tour.

Apartment Tour: A Nurse and Content Creator’s Dream Apartment Transformation in Long Island City

Claire Nicholas

Jul 25, 2024

Emily Auffrey won the NYC housing lottery with her Long Island City apartment. Literally. Here's how she transformed her affordable housing unit in LIC, with its floor to ceiling windows, tons of natural light, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms.

Apartment Tour: This NYC Renter Decorated her Oversized Washington Heights Bedroom on a Budget

Claire Nicholas

May 14, 2024

NYC renter Madison Adore shares how she decorated her oversized bedroom in her Washington Heights apartment on a budget and walks us through her apartment tour photos.

Apartment Tour: This Renter Completely Transformed Her 450-Square Foot Back Bay Studio

Claire Nicholas

Mar 07, 2024

When 28-year-old Claire O'Brien moved into her Back Bay studio, it needed a little love. The 450 square foot apartment had old finishes and was filled with the previous tenant's left behind belongings. However, she saw potential. In this apartment tour, she talks us through how she transformed her space.

From Random Roommates to Romantic Partners: 4 Couples

Cassandra Cloutier

Feb 14, 2024

Romance probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of random roommates. At best, it might be friendship, and, at worst, dirty dishes. But for these four couples, finding a roommate also meant finding love — even if the romantic relationship didn’t last forever.

Apartment Tour: How This Lifelong Renter Transformed Her Queens Apartment

Kaitlin Stevens

Feb 06, 2024

Stacy M. is an art director and lifelong renter in Queens, New York with a unique home situation: She lives in the same NYC apartment she grew up in, except now she’s the sole renter. Find out how she renovated her parents' old apartment to turn it into her new home.

From Random Roommates to Best Friends: 4 Stories

Cassandra Cloutier

Dec 06, 2023

Seeking inspiration as you begin your roommate search? Here's four stories of New York City roommates who went from strangers to best friends in just a few weeks.

How My Daughter Ended Up With Over 100 Houseplants in Her Apartment

Julia Williamson

Nov 14, 2023

My daughter has over 100 indoor houseplants in her one-bedroom apartment. Here's the story behind her apartment jungle.

Why This Teacher Created a Cool Down Corner in Her Apartment

Brianna Robles

Aug 30, 2023

As a teacher, I created a calm down area in my classroom where students could take a time-out if they became overwhelmed in their learning environment. My therapist suggested I do the same thing — in my apartment. So, I created a “cool down” corner — based on the spaces that I have curated in my classrooms.

Why This Homeowner Chooses to Rent

Rachel Craft

Aug 08, 2023

When Lexi Hameister bought her first house at age 28, she never imagined she’d be moving out just two years later — and choosing to rent an apartment instead.

Why We’re Still Happy Renters in Our 70s and 80s

Louisa Rogers

Jul 25, 2023

At 80 and 71, my husband Barry and I are not exactly the typical renter demographic. But we love our neighborhood, and the funky apartment we've rented for 22 years.

How I Found an Apartment As a Freelancer

Megan Hennessey

Jun 19, 2023

When I tried renting an apartment on my own for the first time, I had an added complication to the already stressful process: I was self-employed. Landlords and brokers alike were wary of the word freelancer, and it took me the better part of a year to figure out my living situation. Here's how I did it.

What I Learned Renting in Boston for a Decade

Anni Irish

Jun 09, 2023

I’ve lived all over — from a studio apartment near Symphony Hall to a two-bedroom apartment with a rooftop garden in the North End. Here are the four most important things I learned while navigating the Boston rental market over the last decade.

Imani Keal Would Rather Rent

Lilly Milman

Jun 07, 2023

Imani Keal, better known as Imani At Home, talks about reaching viral success for her rental transformation videos, being a long-term renter, and starting her design journey over in a new apartment.

How I Managed an 8-Week Apartment Search

S. Elizabeth Sigler

May 30, 2023

With my previous lease having ended before I found a new apartment in Cleveland, I felt a bit like Goldilocks. The stress of not having a permanent home compounded my boyfriend and I's need to find an apartment in a tough market. Here's how we split responsibilities to make it work.

What No One Tells a New Grad Moving to Boston

Trinity Alicia

May 24, 2023

Last June, I relocated to Boston a month after graduating from college. Like many new grads, I had no friends or family in my new city and I had never visited before moving there. I could have been better prepared for this era in my life — here's what I learned.

Our 3 Favorite Renter-Friendly Apartment Transformations

Lilly Milman

May 22, 2023

As a renter, you may feel stuck with your rental apartment’s overall look and feel. We spoke to three renters who couldn’t disagree more. They share all their hacks for transforming their rentals — from peel-and-stick removable wallpaper to changing light fixtures — while keeping their security deposits intact.

Common Roommate Conflicts, Solved by a Former RA

Cassandra Cloutier

May 16, 2023

Former college dorm RA Cassandra Cloutier went to social media with the question: “If you and your adult roommates still had an RA, what common roommate conflicts would you ask them about?”

What Landlords Look for in a Tenant

Ree Winter

Apr 26, 2023

Soon after I became a property owner, I realized that not every renter would be a perfect fit for my place. That’s when I started devising my own list of what to look for in a tenant that goes further than the rental application.

How I Managed to Move to New York City While Unemployed

Ali Hickerson

Apr 04, 2023

In 2019, I moved to New York with only two bags, a few months of savings, and no job. Here’s how I made it work.