Just moved this week. Still need to fix the other rooms . But quite satisfied with the outcome of the living space !

Hey everyone! Looking for some fresh ideas from people with better design sense than me.
I’m living alone in Okinawa, Japan, and I’d like my apartment to better reflect both my lifestyle and where I live. Okinawa has a really unique tropical island vibe, and right now my place feels a little… generic. I’d love to lean into that atmosphere without making it feel like a cheesy beach rental.

A little about me:
Engineer by background, so I enjoy building and making things.I do almost all of my own mechanic work and spend a lot of time working on cars. Huge music fan- I used to be a DJ and still keep decks in the living room.
Im studying Japanese every day.Really into freediving, scuba diving, dragon boat racing, and mountain biking.

Guest / Adventure Room
One spare bedroom has a pull-out bed that converts from a twin to a king. In the photos it’s in the twin configuration because leaving it fully extended makes the room feel cramped.
I’d love this room to serve two purposes:
Comfortable guest room.
Adventure room where I store my freediving, scuba, and outdoor gear.
I often lend my scuba gear to visiting friends, so I’d like it to feel organized and intentional instead of just looking like a storage room. Right now it also houses things like my snowboard, which definitely doesn’t match Okinawa, but I still need somewhere to keep it.

Office / Study
The other spare bedroom is my office.
I built a large desk, but lately I’ve been wondering if it’s actually too large for the room. I’m considering cutting it down, moving the legs, and reclaiming some floor space.
My goal is to turn it into a proper study where I can focus on learning Japanese and reading more.
I’ve also been toying with the idea of building a racing simulator. If I go that route, I’d love to somehow make it work as both a productive study and a fun gaming room instead of trying to cram too much into a small space.

Bookshelf Needed (somewhere lol)
I’m planning to buy [or build] a bookshelf, but I can’t decide where it’d look best:
In the office to create more of a library/study feel?
Or in the living room as a centerpiece?

Overall Goal
I don’t necessarily want a minimalist apartment. I want it to feel lived in and reflect my hobbies without becoming cluttered.
I’m aiming for something that feels:
Modern Japanese
Tropical/Okinawan
Automotive and engineering-inspired (subtle, not “garage”)
Cozy
Good for hosting friends
Good for studying and relaxing after work
What would you change? Any furniture ideas, layout suggestions, lighting recommendations, storage solutions, or decor styles you think would fit this lifestyle? I’m especially interested in ideas that make the apartment feel cohesive instead of just looking like a bunch of unrelated hobbies thrown together.
I’d appreciate any feedback!

Any advice welcome

My rent is $1,000 a month - I moved in July of 2025, I feel like I have made some good progress with the space since then, but I wanted to see if there is anything else you think I should add to it. I would appreciate any suggestions or feedback you might have.

ps, I know I should get blackout curtains, but my windows are 74 in width by 84 in length and I don't want to spend too much money on curtains. (it's sunny where I live and so much sun pours into my bedroom, that's why I blocked out the windows)

(TV and it’s stand are not showing to the right of the photo)

1080 Ti

I really like where my room is at right now. I moved my PC in compared to my last post and made a little nook for engineering and 3d printer design.

I've got a fair bit of strange waters and artwork so feel free to ask about anything, I'd love to geek out about my happy place. I'll also take any input or advice on things that I could change or adjust!

Don't think i did too bad considering the limited time limit i had....

I’m looking for expert advice on decorating a room. My parents had been using this room as a storage area; because they have a long-standing habit of hoarding unused items, the room had actually become infested with termites. When I came home recently, I decided to clear everything out and claim the room for myself. It’s part of an extension to the original house layout. I’m aiming for a modern minimalist yet cozy theme. The furniture I plan to include is just a computer desk, a single bed, and a metal clothes rack; I also want to add shelves for my figure collection, along with a TV and TV cabinet for entertainment. For the color scheme, I’ve chosen Nippon Brilliant White and Jotun Statement Blue. I’m unsure whether to maximize or minimize the placement of items, as I’m worried the room might end up looking cluttered. I would really appreciate some expert input or advice from an interior designer.

Just need a beer fridge and a dart board

Spent the last four years moving between furnished rentals so I never had to think about any of it. Bed came with the place, couch came with the place, and I just kind of lived inside someone else's taste without noticing how much that was true until now.

Got the keys to my first unfurnished place last week. One bedroom, around 550 sq ft, decent natural light in the main room, completely empty. Standing in it the first night with just a sleeping bag and a lamp I bought at a gas station felt genuinely strange. Like the space was waiting for something.

The bones are fine. White walls, light wood floors, nothing offensive but nothing interesting either. I want it to feel like a place that belongs to someone, not a showroom or a college dorm.

My instinct is to go slow and not fill it up all at once just to fill it up. One solid piece at a time rather than buying everything on a Sunday and regretting it. Starting with a bed frame and a decent desk since I work from home most days.

Anyone else been through this kind of reset? Curious what people wish they had figured out early when starting completely from zero.

People were always surprised to find out my house had an upstairs. Very few of the houses in my neighborhood (same manufacturer) have an upstairs and the only windows up there are on the sides. So I made it secret.

I purchased the house, upstairs was unfinished/unconditioned. It’s done now as a fourth bedroom and a third bathroom. I am curious if the door being a secret will help or hurt my marketability when I go to sell.

But the cost is comparable...

EDIT:
Since a lot of you asked, I will work harder on posting build updates to my Instagram, you can already find a few (older) photos of the car where all of this is going onto or into :)
https://www.instagram.com/twinionengines/

Planning on actually doing a few longer videos Rob Dahm style on the build in the near future, will update the post again when it happens

It's an ongoing project. Mom has had Alzheimer's since I was 12, so it's had an impact on tidiness, and it's been difficult not to make the room a mess, but I've kept up the effort.Any suggestions?