First time living on your own
and want to make it YOURS? When it comes to home decoration, it is often true that you are most likely to get it wrong the first time, e.g; the couch is too big, the decor doesn't match, the colors are off, etc.
Here are some design pro tips to help you get started!
Crammed for space in your studio apt?
Fear not! Turn your headboard to your advantage. Rather than placing your bed's headboard against a wall, "float" the bed instead, with the foot facing the window and leaving at least 2 ft of circulation at the bottom. A medium-height headboard acts as a divider without depriving the rest of the studio of natural light. You can use your headboard to create a livable division in a studio apartment as shown here. Clever, eh?
Beware
and stay clear of hand-me-down furniture from friends and family. Even if it's free and they mean well, a mix of too many styles can feel chaotic and not represent your taste. Do not feel obligated to accept every piece that comes your way.
Remember the oh-so-true adage: less is more!
Image courtesy of @PleaseHateTheseThings
Bedroom feeling a little dull?
Hang some art. Invest in some spackle at the end of your lease - even if you only have your apartment temporarily, it is always worth hanging some art and decorating it to make it yours. Having art professionally framed is a worthwhile investment, something you can always take with you and have forever. For example, an ornate vintage frame can instantly elevate a poster from your last museum visit into an art-worthy Instagrammable pic hanging on your living room wall!
Image from Valerie Galloway Arts
Spend some time
and invest in searching for high-quality resale pieces to mix with your budget-friendly items. Mix it up! The best decor doesn't have to be all expensive or everything cheap. Look for items everywhere from Craigslist to Ikea, Nextdoor, or even try dropping by to an artist and flea market! Don't fixate on how a particular piece looks in the context of a catalog photo. Try to shop in person to really get a feel of the item and how you will use it. For example, if I sit on a couch, I want to feel hugged and nurtured... If I step on a rug, I want to love it barefoot and feel its texture.
Another great resource is Freecycle, whose goal is keeping unwanted items out of landfills. (We never said free was bad, we said beware hand-me-downs not of your taste!) So, if you did take on a perfectly functional hand-me-down but it’s just not your cuppa, post it on Freecycle where someone is likely to put it to good use. In fact! We’ve found some very cool, useful items that others have paid forward. (Hello brand new DYSON VACUUM!) You can create posts for Wanted items, or Offer up something no longer needed. Win-win!
Rethink your lighting game
If you don't have any overhead lights, think about buying a lamp to add color as it will help elevate the entire room. Warm, yellow-toned lightbulbs create a homey feeling. Swap out those ceiling bulbs for now and store them in a safe place so you can replace them when you move out.
