10 Living Room Decor Ideas Under $100
Living Room · 8 min read
About CozNestA blog for people who love
A blog for people who love
the homes they have.
CozNest is a slow, honest home-decor publication for the 25-to-45 crowd who rent, own, decorate on a budget, and refuse to pretend their apartment is a magazine.
A letter from the founder
"I started CozNest because I was tired of decor advice that assumed I owned my home."
In 2021 I was a renter in a small Brooklyn one-bedroom that did not allow paint, drilling, or anything that resembled a "real" change. I'd close one Pinterest tab and open another, drowning in $4,000 sectionals and "easy weekend projects" that needed a table saw and a garage.
CozNest started as a notebook of what actually worked — the thrift-store lamp I rewired for $9, the peel-and-stick tile that didn't peel off, the curtain rod I propped on Command hooks. Five years later, it's grown into a 27-post library used weekly by 12,000+ readers across the US.
The promise has stayed the same: real ideas, photographed in real homes, written for real people with real budgets. No sponsored fluff, no AI-generated trend posts, no clickbait. Just slow, honest writing about loving the home you have.
— Emma
27
Long-form guides
12K+
Newsletter readers
5 yrs
Independently run
100%
Original photography
What we stand for
Six principles we won't budge on
These aren't marketing bullet points. They're the actual filter every post passes through before publishing.
Honest
We only share what we've personally tested. If we wouldn't put it in our own home, it doesn't make the post.
Doable
Every project is achievable on a normal weekend, with normal supplies, on a normal budget. No 'just hire a contractor' shortcuts.
Warm
Cozy isn't a trend. It's a way of living. We design and write for the homes you actually use, not the homes you photograph once and abandon.
Sustainable
Thrifting, refinishing, and reusing always come before buying new. The greenest piece of furniture is the one you already own.
Original photography
Every image on the site is shot in a real home. No stock photos, no AI fakes — what you see is what you can actually build.
Editorial standards
Every post is fact-checked, edited twice, and reviewed against our internal style guide before publishing.
Our story
Five years, one apartment at a time
- 2021
The first post
Published from a 720 sq ft Brooklyn rental with popcorn ceilings and beige walls we couldn't paint.
- 2022
First 1,000 readers
A $100 living-room makeover post went viral on Pinterest and changed everything.
- 2023
Newsletter launched
A weekly Tuesday letter became the heart of the community. Today 12,000+ readers strong.
- 2024
27 long-form guides
Doubled down on slow, thorough writing. Every guide is 2,000–3,000 words, photographed in real homes.
- 2025
Now
Working toward Mediavine Journey approval so we can keep the lights on without surrendering to sponsored spam.
The tiny team
Three people, one shared apartment
CozNest is independent and self-funded. No investors, no PR firm, no ghost-writers.
Emma Hartley
Founder & Editor
Former marketing manager, decade-long thrift store regular. Writes most of what you read here, from her Brooklyn apartment.
Daniel Hartley
Photographer & DIY Lead
Carpenter by training, photographer by hobby. Builds and shoots every weekend project featured on the site.
Priya Joshi
Plant & Lifestyle Editor
Indoor jungle keeper of 47 plants. Writes everything we publish on plant care, seasonal decor, and slow-living rituals.
Mentioned & featured in
Better Homes & GardensApartment TherapyThe SpruceHouse BeautifulReal SimpleDomino
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