한국 생활 2년차 미국인의 5평짜리 K-원룸 적응기😎

안녕하세요, 네이트라고 합니다. 한국에서 2년째 살고 있는 미국인이에요. 한국 오기 전에는 3년 정도 시카고 다운타운에 있는 작은 스튜디오에서 살았어요. 그러니까 자취 6년 차네요!(시카고에 살기 전에는 대학 근처에서 친구 5명과 공유 아파트에 살았어요) 지금 살고 있는 집은 한국에서 세 번째 집인데요, 16.5제곱 미터(=5평!)짜리 작은 집이에요.

미국이랑 비교해서 한국 원룸들은 크기가 작아서 처음엔 적응하는 데 시간이 걸렸는데, 지금은 제 원룸에서 행복하고 편하게 잘 지내고 있어요 :) 한국에서 저만을 위한 공간을 꾸미기 위해 오늘의집과 인스타그램에서 많은 도움을 받았는데요, 오늘은 제  집이야기를 공유해 보고 싶습니다. 

Hello, I’m Nate! An American living in Korea for two years now. I lived in a small studio in Chicago for three years before moving to Korea. Before that, I lived in a shared apartment with five roommates. This is my third apartment in Korea, and it’s also my smallest because it is 16.5 square meters (5-pyeong)! It took some time to adjust to living in smaller living options that are common in Seoul but now I am living happily, comfortably, and cozy in my one-room. I’ve been inspired by a lot of posts on Today’s House and Instagram so I wanted to share my own today. 

제 원룸의 대략적인 레이아웃이에요. 색칠한 부분은 러그를 깔아둔 곳입니다. 상당히 심플한 구조지만 물건 보관할 수납이 많은 편이에요. 

Here is a quick drawing layout of my one-room. The colored blocks are the rugs that I have in my space. Although the room's build is quite simple, there is actually a lot of storage space for all my things. 

제 취향은 심플한 물건들로 Cozy한 분위기를 만드는 거예요. 인테리어를 할 때 제가 한국에 오기 전, 그리고 한국에서 모은 소품들을 주로 사용했어요. 외국으로 이사하는 거라 많은 짐을 가져올 수는 없었지만, 감성적인 포스터와 사진들을 가져왔거든요. 그렇게 가져온 인테리어 소품을 사용하니 가끔 미국 집이 그리운 마음을 달랠 수 있어요. 

My personal taste is to have simple and cozy things. A lot of my decor is knick knacks that I’ve obtained over the years before and after coming to Korea. When you move abroad, or just away to a place further away from family/friends, you cannot bring a lot of things so it is the best to take a few sentimental small items like posters or photos to help decorate your room and remind you of home. 

침대 옆에 아기였을 때 아빠와 찍은 폴라로이드 사진을 붙여뒀어요. 소머리 프린트 엽서는 파리 현대미술관에 갔을 때 산 거네요. 제주도 여행에서 산 테이프로 붙여뒀어요. 

Next to my bed is a Polaroid of me and my dad. The postcard is from when I visited the Paris Museum of Modern Art. It is taped with a sticker I took from a cafe in Jeju. 

침실에서 나오면 이런 모습입니다. 저희 집은 이렇게 생활 공간과 주방/화장실 공간이 중문으로 분리된 형태에요.

 My space is divided by a sliding door that separates the bathroom/kitchen and the room. ^^

분리형 원룸이긴 하지만, 주방 공간이 좁아서 냉장고랑 전자레인지는 방 안에 있어요. 좁은 공간을 효율적으로 사용하려면 어쩔 수 없는 것 같습니다.

Even though my space is divided, my fridge and microwave are still in my room because of the lack of space in the kitchen area.. I guess it is the best way to make use of the space! 

냉장고 옆으로 빌트인 책상이 있는데요, 큰 여행용 가방을 책상 아래에 보관하고 있어요. 앞에 의자로 지저분한 것이 안 보이게 숨겨두었답니다ㅎㅎ 심심한 의자에 따뜻한 느낌을 주려고 인모 러그를 활용해 봤어요. 

책상 위 서랍 전체를 커튼이나 천으로 가릴 생각도 해봤는데, 제 취향에 맞는 걸 못 찾았고, 일상의 물건들이 살짝 어지럽게 보이는 것도 보기에 나쁘지 않은 것 같아서 그냥 두었어요. 

Next to my fridge is my desk. I hid my big luggage under the desk and have a chair here. I put a wool rug over the simple chair to make it a little more warm. I thought about putting something to hide everything at the top, but I couldn’t find anything my taste and I kind of like the look of having some of my things displayed messily. 

책상을 포함해 방 곳곳에 미국에서 가져온 가족사진이랑 여행에서 찍은 사진들을 비치해뒀어요. 

There are photos of my family and photos that I have taken and printed of my travels throughout my room. 

남서향 집이라, 퇴근 후 집에 오면 노을과 방안으로 비치는 빛을 볼 수 있어 기분이 좋아져요. 

My window faces south-west so when I come from work instead of making another plan, it makes my mood better to be able to have the sun set and shine above the desk. 

저희 집에서 보이는 뷰입니다. 여름 저녁노을!! <3<3

My summer evening sunset view!

램프, 양초, 화분이 제가 한국에 와서 처음 산 물건이에요. 비싼 물건은 아니지만 저희 집이 제 공간처럼 편안하게 느껴지게 해줬어요. 어디서 사야 할지 잘 모르겠고, 은행 계좌를 만들기 전에는 온라인 쇼핑도 어려웠어요. 다행히 친구의 도움으로 주문할 수 있었습니다.. ^^

The first three things I bought for my home in Korea were this lamp, a candle, and a plant. They were not expensive things, but they helped my space feel like it was my own and cozy. Many people can relate when they move to a foreign country with the feeling of not knowing where to buy simple things. I also couldn’t order anything online during my first few weeks until after I set up my bank account. But luckily, I had a friend who helped me order those things right away~

생활공간 한쪽 코너에 라운드 테이블을 두었어요. 60cm 크기로 콤팩트한 사이즈라, 제 공간에 딱 맞는 크기에요. 움직이기도 편해서 손님이 오거나 필요할 때 방 가운데로 옮겨 사용하고 있습니다. 

I keep my round table in the corner of my room and can move it around whenever I have a guest or want to use it. It’s the perfect size for my room.

미국에서 항상 스피커로 노래를 틀어놓고 지냈기 때문에, 한국에 오자마자 새 스피커를 샀습니다. 이어폰이나 폰으로 음악을 듣는 것과는 비교가 안되게, 스피커로 음악을 들으면 확실히 기분이 좋아지는 것 같아요.

I got so used to having a speaker to listen to music when I was home that when I moved to Korea, it was one of my first purchases. Although I didn't buy the best quality one, it is satisfying enough and really makes a difference in the mood when you listen to music through a speaker rather than your phone’s speaker or earphones. 

선반에는 실제 쓰는 것들과 장식(=예쁜 쓰레기)이 공존해요. 소형 공기청정기를 두었는데, 작은 공간에서 공기 질을 유지하기에 충분하더라고요. 개인적으로 적당한 백색소음이 잘 때도 도움이 되네요. 다 읽은 책들도 소품으로 사용했어요. 가운데 칸에 보이는 태극기 엽서는 한국 온 지 1주년 기념으로 친구에게 선물 받았어요!

My shelf consists of both useful things and pretty things. I use my mini air purifier to both clean and the air and I like the sound at night. There are some books I finished reading located throughout my room. My friend bought me the 태극기 post card after my first year in Korea.

여유로운 주말 아침 최고 최고!

On the weekends, it’s the best to enjoy breakfast slowly. 

혼자도 좋지만 친구가 있어도 좋죠. 이날은 한국 친구에게 미국 브런치를 만들어줬어요. 미국 브런치는 미국인이 만들어야 제맛ㅎㅎ (+미모사는 필수)

Or with a friend! My Korean friend wanted to try American brunch. The best way to have American brunch is to have an American make it for you. It has to includes mimosas!~ 

미국에 살 때는 항상 집에 친구들을 초대해 놀았어요. 처음 한국에 와서는 친구 사귀는 게 조금 어려웠는데, 시간이 지나면서 좋은 친구들을 많이 만났어요. 집이 좁아도 친구 둘이랑 저녁 해먹기에 충분하답니다. 

I always loved to have friends over at my place back in the USA. It took awhile to make friendships in a foreign country but my friendships developed over time. There’s enough space in my room to have one or two friends over for a simple dinner. 

밤에는 조명으로 램프와 전구, 캔들 워머를 사용해요. 창밖으로 다른 집들은 새하얀 LED 천장 등을 사용하는 것이 보이는데, 미국에서는 그렇게 밝은 조명이 일반적이지 않아서 저에게는 신기한 일이에요. 저는 눈이 부셔서 조도가 낮은 조명이 더 나은 것 같아요.

When the sun goes down, I prefer to have yellow lighting from a few different sources in my room. I can’t stand the bright LED overhead lighting at night. Sometimes I look out my window and see others using their bright ceiling light and wonder how do they do it at night time.

향초를 태우는 것도 좋지만 캔들 워머도 좋아요. 미국보다 한국에서 캔들 워머가 훨씬 대중적이고 트렌디한 것 같아요. 저는 두 개 있는데, 하나는 제가 샀고 다른 하나는 선물로 받았어요. 

I love to have candles burning, but I also like to use candle warmers. Candle warmers are a lot more trendy in Korea than the USA. I have two here. One that I bought, and one that I received as a gift~

저녁엔 디저트 필수…

Dinner always has to include dessert… 

친구들 돌아가고 나서 샴페인 한 잔 더 ㄱㄱ!

After my friends leave, I can have one more glass of champagne~ ^^ 

주방은 아담한 크기인데, 항상 깨끗하게 유지하려고 해요. 냉장고는 방 안에 있고 세탁기는 주방에 있는 구조.ㅎㅎ 미국에서는 반대인 경우가 더 많아요.

My kitchen is simple and clean.. and small~ Like I mentioned, my fridge is in my room but my washing machine is in my kitchen. In the USA, it would be the opposite (fridge = kitchen, washing machine = not next to the sink hehe)! 

주방에서 제일 소중한 물건 두 개. 매일 사용하는 커피 머신과 필터 정수기입니다.

The two most important things in my kitchen. Used daily: Coffee maker and water filter.

싱크대 앞쪽에도 주방용품과 상온에 보관하는 식품, 소품들을 두었어요. 

On the other side of my kitchen there are a few supplies and the entrance to my bathroom.

현관문을 열면 이런 모습이 보여요. 옥탑층이라 옥상에 집주인 할머니가 기르시는 채소와 과일들이 있어요. 집주인 분들과 마주치면 항상 원하는 만큼 따가서 먹으라고 하셔요. “작은 고추가 안 매우니까 작은 걸로 가져가서 먹어요” 

When I open my front door, I see this! I live on the top floor of my villa and the landlord grows some veggies here. Any time I run into him, he tells me to take as much as I want.. He says “Take the small peppers because they’re less spicy” ^^

저희 집은 참 심플하지만, 저를 편하고 행복하게 해주는 공간입니다. 외국에서 혼자 살 때 가장 필요한 것이 이런 공간인 것 같아요. 

My home is simple but I feel comfortable and happy when I’m there. That’s very important to feel when you are living abroad and on your own. 

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저희 집에는 정형화된 스타일이 있지 않아요. 지난 몇 년 동안 세계 여기저기서 모은 추억이 담긴 물건들도 있고, 미국에서부터 이사할 때마다 항상 버리지 않고 챙긴 물건들도 있고, 일부는 한국에 살면서 유행에 따라 새로 구입한 물건들도 있어요. 

There’s no specific style to my home. Some of the postings on the wall, I have moved from one apartment to another apartment over the years. There are many things that I have collected along the way in my 20’s, including my last two years in Seoul. Some of the things in my house just follow the trend and I was inspired to include in my space too. 

결과적으로 너무 지저분하거나 정신없지 않아야 한다는 생각으로 꾸몄어요. 편하고 Cozy한 느낌이 들지 않으면 집에서 휴식을 취한다는 느낌을 받을 수 없으니까요.

In the end, I just wanted my space to feel clean and not too cluttered. I have some small decor items and accessories that don't have any purpose other than providing me a relaxing and cozy home. Although I don't want my home to be cluttered, on the other hand I also want my home to feel like it is full of my things. I can’t feel relaxed until my space reflects a relaxing and cozy mood.

영어, 한국어로 포스트 쓰면서 재밌었습니다. 미래의 저에게 이 글은 이 공간에 살던 추억으로 남을 것 같아요! 

It was fun to make this post in English and Korean (of course with the help of a friend... I am still studying hard)~ I will keep this essay as a memory of my space for my future self. ^^