Decorating an Apartment
To Look Like you "Own the Place"
The key to decorating an apartment is to view the space as your home and not just as a place that you rent.
If you know you are going to be there for a while, don’t be afraid to check with your landlord on what you can do to the place.
Most landlords are fine with changes (small changes that is) as long as you return the apartment back to its original state when you move out.
Style
Decorating an apartment should be fun with your design choices only limited by your imagination.
Sticking to the same basic decorating theme or style will create a flow throughout the apartment making the space appear more spacious.
Be careful of having too much and using a lot of “smaller” furniture for fear that large furniture will make the space too small. One or two major pieces of furniture that make a statement is actually better at making the space appear larger.
Photo courtesy of Backgarage
Flexibility
Stay flexible with your furnishings and find multi functional pieces of furniture that can do double duty by serving more than one purpose, like a futon, (a sofa by day and guest bed at night.)
Items that have storage like drawers in tables and removable tops on ottomans and cubes can double as a coffee table or footstools.
Store out of season things in vintage suitcases, then stack one on top of another for an end table.
Choose a gate leg table for dining or one with leaves, that way it is functional now without taking too much space and you can still use it when you move into a larger space.
And if your dining area is going to serve as a home office, be sure the table is comfortable for use as a desk.
Where you can, place your furniture on angles to visually "open up" your living space.
Bookcases and shelves are great to store your books and utilize vertical space. Turn a bookcase into the focal point of your apartment by displaying decorative accents as well as your books or use an open shelving unit as a room divider.
Maximize what little
closet space
there might be by adding more shelves. Folded clothing that is stacked on shelves will take up less space than hanging your clothes on hangars.
Color
Decorating an apartment with color makes an immediate impact and
affects our moods.
If you decide you want to paint your apartment, first check with your landlord to make sure it is okay then limit your color palette for continuity and a visual flow.
For smaller spaces keep the overall color palette light.
There is nothing wrong with white with so many variations from off-white, beige, egg shell, and serves as a foundation to any style of furnishings.
If you do decide to paint but you don't want to do all of the walls, painting one wall in a strong color will make that wall the focal point and give the room depth.
If your landlord doesn’t allow painting, paint large canvases with bold pops of color to hang or even lean on the floor. Use them above the bed for a headboard. They can even be covered in wallpaper for instant art.
Finishing Touches
Decorating an apartment with area rugs, window treatments, pillows and throws are other ways of adding color.
Oversize pillows offer textural and visual interest and can double as seating when space is limited.
Decide what you want to do for the windows after you had a chance to live in the apartment for a while. If you need to block out traffic noise or if you work the night shift, your needs will be different from those who need the natural light pouring in to give a small and dark apartment an open airy feel.
Almost any fabric can work as drapery but especially satin, velvet, silk, (needs to be lined though) and will draw attention to the windows.
Inexpensive cheese cloth makes an excellent sheer drapery for letting in the natural light.
Add whimsy to the wall with decals. They won’t damage the surface and hang what you can with adhesive hooks to leave the walls intact, but don’t be afraid to hammer a nail into the wall to hang stuff. It is easy to patch holes when it comes time to move.
Mirrors reflect light and the use of large mirrors will make your apartment appear significantly more spacious than it really is.
Accessories definitely make an apartment more of a home, by reflecting your personality into the space. Showcase your collections, family heirlooms or newly purchased decorative accents.
It is best to keep it simple with a few well-chosen pieces and adopt the “less is more” attitude when it comes to decorating an apartment.
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