Creative director’s 275-sq-ft apartment uses pops of purple to pull design elements together

Keeping things simple is typically the recommended route when it comes to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/index.php?s=micro+apartment">small spaces</a>, but that doesn't have to mean boring. Case in point: Lower East Sider <a href="https://twitter.com/dustinoneal">Dustin O'Neal</a>'s <a href="http://www.6sqft.com/my-275sqft-inside-a-creative-directors-chic-lower-east-side-micro-apartment/">275-square-foot apartment</a> riffs on the neighborhood's artsy appeal with pleasant pops of purple and even a few strategically placed instances of neon. O'Neal, co-founder and creative director of consulting and PR firm <a href="http://www.whatisyourdna.com/">DNA</a>, recently gave <a href="http://www.6sqft.com/my-275sqft-inside-a-creative-directors-chic-lower-east-side-micro-apartment/">6sqft</a> a tour of his colorful and well-curated home.

“Living in a small space is all about editing,” the 26-year-old <a href="http://www.6sqft.com/my-275sqft-inside-a-creative-directors-chic-lower-east-side-micro-apartment/">told 6sqft</a>. “You have to remove to grow.”

And we'd say Dustin is growing into his home quite nicely judging from its <a href="http://www.6sqft.com/my-275sqft-inside-a-creative-directors-chic-lower-east-side-micro-apartment/">chic and unique decor</a>, which includes a geometric wallpapered ceiling in shades of lilac and lavender, a distinctive neon "Hunter" sign, and eclectic artwork gifted by friends and family.

O'Neal, who is originally from Texas, moved to NYC four years ago and knew he wanted to live in downtown Manhattan. But transitioning from the roomy residences of Austin to a much more modest dwelling in the Big Apple took some getting used to and some serious paring down.

However, Dustin does keep it real when it comes to the struggles of micro dwelling: "The challenges of living in a small space actually change as I get older," he said. "The struggle of keeping a tiny apartment clean and organized is very real, but once I got that under control I now just feel like I need more space to think, period. My work is incredibly high stress and, coming from Texas, I’m used to throwing myself on a huge leather couch and wrestling my dogs on the rug when I need a break. But in my apartment the only comfortable place to sit, or eat, or watch Netflix, is on my bed. Guess it’s not a problem when a boyfriend’s around, but a friendly dinner party starts to feel like a sleepover when your dining table is an Ikea duvet."

For more photos of Dustin's space and to learn more about his design philosophy, <a href="http://www.6sqft.com/my-275sqft-inside-a-creative-directors-chic-lower-east-side-micro-apartment/">head on over to 6sqft</a>.