We're still in New York, but moving over to Brooklyn to visit the stunning YouTuber and creator Breanna Young :)
Breanna's earthy & eclectic apartment brings some serious interior design inspiration this week - read through for more!
Tell us about you! How did you get into interior design & TikTok?
I moved to New York from the DC area in February 2020, three weeks before the pandemic hit. When the pandemic began, I began watching a lot of interior design videos on YouTube and they inspired me to create my own channel! Although it was my first YouTube video (and it showed with my shaky camera), I posted an apartment tour in 2020 that went viral with thousands of views. I knew at that point that interior design could be a fun hobby to share with the world and to inspire others.
I eventually downloaded TikTok after getting engaged to look at wedding content, and stumbled upon how much I loved the platform and the home decor community on it! From there, I began sharing home content on TikTok too. The TikTok community is so engaged and I love how everyone is never afraid to leave a comment.
Tell us about your creative process. Where do you find inspiration?
I went to college for graphic design and I am currently a product designer for a media company during my 9-5, so I love all types of design. Currently I find a lot of inspiration on YouTube. Some of my favorite people to follow on YouTube have been LoneFox Home, Alexandra Gater, and other channels with apartment tours in the city. I also enjoy following some of my favorite home decor accounts of women in the city just like myself who love designing their apartment and sharing it with the world! I get inspired by seeing the day in the life of a space through a reel or instagram story and not just a pretty photo.
What’s one piece of advice you always go back to when it comes to your career?
There’s this unspoken proverb in my family that I’ve always returned to - and it’s Closed mouths don’t get fed. You never know what opportunities are out there until you ask! I struggle to put my content out there from time to time, but by being visible and speaking up I’ve learned how to advocate for myself and what I want in life— not just on social media, but in my career as a designer too.
What makes a space feel like home?
When function is balanced with beauty. Designing for a home is a fun challenge because we all have different needs for a home. For example, during the pandemic my husband and I shared a double desk office space, but now that he is heading back to work, our goal is to replace it with a dining area to sit and chat about each other’s day instead. Changes like these make interior design fun, because our needs are forever evolving.
As a creative, what’s your best tip for achieving a sense of balance in your home?
Try to maintain a sense of your personality in a home. I know it’s easy to get carried away with trends (I’m guilty of it too), but think about pieces that show off who you are as a person. For me, I try to do that with coffee table books on topics I enjoy, personal photos and artwork, and statement pieces that people will ask about from a local flea market or our travels.
What are some of your home essentials?
One of my home essentials is shelving. Whether it’s a bookshelf or a floating shelf on the wall, they allow me to get creative with decor and storage that I don’t have to commit to long-term. They allow play. Speaking of storage- I’m also a fan of a decorative box or basket to hide clutter and cords! My last home essential is large artwork. Something about a large print makes the space feel larger and more intentional- I love shopping for prints on Desenio and Paper Collective.
What are you looking forward to in 2023?
Now that I’m done with wedding planning, I have more time to focus on making our apartment a home more than ever. I am so excited to begin the dining room and office project I mentioned earlier and to make our apartment a more permanent (but rented) home. One of these walls will definitely get lime washed. I’m also excited to return to YouTube. I missed creating long-form content, and I plan to post a new apartment tour to YouTube soon!