Categories for Apartment Decor
April 6, 2016 8:58 am
When looking for a new space to call home, sometimes you can feel like Goldilocks trying to find the “just right” size. How can you get the right apartment for you? A little basic space planning…
First up: How many bedrooms do you need? The rule of thumb is one bedroom per occupant, but obviously couples and children can share a room. College students tend to try to save money by doubling up in a bedroom, but we’ve found that generally that it makes for an unhappy living situation with not enough space.
Next: How many bathrooms do you really need? Yes, it is nice to have a guest bathroom, but is that practical in your budget. However, you also want to consider the “two-person” rule in bathrooms – you need one bath per every two occupants.
Lastly: Is the living space big enough? You don’t need to have tons of extra space, but do you have large items that need to be accommodated? A pool table? A piano? Don’t be afraid to bring your measuring tape to your showings to get accurate room dimensions
Of course, there are the intangibles…great kitchens, loft space, cozy living rooms – but if you do basic space planning before you move in chances are that you’ll be much happier in your new home!
March 12, 2016 4:13 pm
If you are looking for an easy and inexpensive way to spice up your cooking, look no further than the closest windowsill. With a bit of planning and preparation, you can transform any windowsill in your home into a thriving herb garden. Growing your own fresh herbs can cut your food budget substantially, while providing your family with more flavorful and nutritious meals.
The cost difference between store bought herbs and fresh grown ones can be enormous. Those store bought herbs, which are often dried out and tasteless, can cost up to 10 times as much as their fresh grown counterparts. In addition to the cheaper price, those fresh grown herbs often taste better, and they often pack a more powerful nutritional punch as well.
Starting your own fresh herb garden is not as difficult as you might think. There are a number of ways to get started, but one of the simplest is to purchase an herb garden kit. These kits are available at most garden centers, and often at discount retailers as well. These kits include everything you need to get started, from the seeds you need to grow those herbs to the soil you need to grow them in. You can start with a ready made kit for convenience, then add new herbs to the selection as you go.
You can also build your own herb growing kit from scratch, using a few simple materials and supplies. All you need to grow fresh herbs are a few small pots, some quality soil and an assortment of seeds. Once you have all those materials, all you need to do is follow the planting instructions, place the pots in a sunny location and wait for the plants to grow.
It can take a few weeks for your newly planted herb garden to start growing, but once it does you may be surprised at just how well those plants do in your kitchen. You do not have to have a lot of space to grow a great herb garden. If you have one or two sunny windowsills, you have all the space you need to get started. And once you have tasted those fresh herbs from your own garden, you will never want to go back to the store bought varieties again.
February 24, 2016 2:59 pm
Spring is almost here and it may be time to give your apartment a little refresh. Here are some easy tips that have immediate impact!
Kitchen
Make an appointment to go through your refrigerator regularly — at least once a week — and throw out expired or rotten. Foods, like mayonnaise, should be tossed two months after opening. Others, like boxed chicken broth and almond milk, should be tossed within a week of opening. Give leftovers the three-day rule. All food is best fresh.
Bathroom
More than two to three towels per person can be overwhelming. Avoid unnecessary storage by donating the older ones to a local animal shelter.
Bedroom
The only items you need on your table are a lamp and a glass of water at night. The drawer should be tidy, too, having only the necessities such as hand lotion and an eye mask. You want to keep this area as clean and neat as possible. It’s important to go to sleep in that fashion and not wake up in a clutter.
Living Room
Using furniture that serves double duty definitely keeps a room looking better organized. Ottomans with a lid that can provide storage inside or can be turned over to act as a tray table, or a coffee table that will transition into a dining table are key.
February 17, 2016 2:03 pm
Often the best way to deal with space-planning challenges is to divide and conquer. Room dividers can make all the difference when it comes to providing privacy, concealing a cluttered work space, or separating living and sleeping areas. Room dividers can make two spaces out of one, such as when used to set off an entryway or dining nook from the living room.
To carry out these looks, you need a way to visually separate the spaces. Instead of resorting to the old standby of plants stacked on top of a bookcase, why not make something that’s personalized and tailored to your space. There’s a wealth of ways to make your own room divider, and some of them are even portable. Here are several creative ideas:
Hang and Drape
Curtains offer light and airy visual screening, and as room dividers they can be sized up or down to meet your needs. For example, you can make an easy, portable divider for privacy in a dorm room or studio apartment by hanging a curtain panel on a wheeled garment rack. Larger curtain panels can be hung from the ceiling with hooks spaced at intervals along the curtain’s top edge; make loops from ribbon, twill tape, or bead chain to suspend the panel at the desired height. Another option is to run the curtain on a wire strung across the space to be divided. You can purchase one of the kits that are commercially available, or do it yourself with picture wire, turnbuckles, and eyelet screws. Make sure the ends of the wire are firmly attached to the wall studs or anchors suitable for the wall surface. Bedsheets and drop cloths are thrifty fabric sources for any of these options, and you can decorate the plain curtains using fabric paint with stencils or rubber stamps.
Assemble and Connect
Slices of PVC pipe, turned on their sides and adhered together; old vinyl phonograph albums, joined through holes drilled into their edges; or the flower-shaped bases of plastic soda bottles might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to room dividers. But when decorated and assembled into a panel, as many inventive DIY’ers have done, these assorted materials divide the space stylishly. Other examples of this nearly limitless concept include room dividers assembled from crocheted doilies, hearts or other shapes cut from colorful cardstock, curtains made from lengths of ribbon, or ropes tied in plain or fancy knots. Most of these assemblage dividers will need to be suspended from the ceiling, so include the installation of sturdy ceiling hooks in your divider plans.
Salvage and Repurpose
A folding screen is a time-honored way to divide a room, so why not make your own screen by hinging together salvaged materials such as old doors, garden gates, or pallets? You can add storage options with shelves and hanging hooks, or hinge together bookshelves for your screen panels. Other salvaged materials can be permanently installed. For example, consider a floor-mounted screen made from peeled and cleaned tree branches, or a ceiling-hung garage door. You can even mount a repurposed barn or garage door with appropriate hardware to slide it out of the way or roll it up or down as needed. To successfully pull off a salvaged room divider, you need a source of materials as well as reasonably adequate know-how with refinishing and installation techniques.
Room dividers don’t have to be expensive to be unique and exciting. With basic DIY knowledge and an eye for inviting combinations of materials, you can divide and conquer your space in a creative way that enhances the room while expressing your personal style.
February 11, 2016 8:57 pm
One item seems to have so many uses that it boggles the imagination – a simple IKEA spice rack.
Apartment Therapy has some amazing tips on how you can put it to good use!
January 28, 2016 9:40 pm
Not everything that saves space has been produced in the last few decades. There are plenty of vintage finds that add character to your apartment home and can can save space.
Learn more about how vintage can save space here!
October 28, 2015 5:16 am
With the weather feeling more wintry by the day, we found this great video from KSTP on how to keep warm this Halloween!
October 26, 2015 5:04 am
Halloween is a great time to be a kid! We all have great memories of dressing up and running around with other kids in the neighborhood. However, it is important to make sure your children are also safe while they collect their candy and treats.
Our friends at Safe Kids have some great tips on how to make the holiday both fun and safe!
![landscape-1468354269-halloween-costumes-for-kids[1]](https://www.selainvestments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/landscape-1468354269-halloween-costumes-for-kids1-1024x512.jpg)
Their top tips are:
- Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Since masks can sometimes obstruct a child’s vision, try non-toxic face paint and makeup whenever possible.
- Have kids use glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
- Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, remind them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
- Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
- When selecting a costume make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
Click here to download a comprehensive list for your family!
September 14, 2015 6:49 pm
We are always looking for fun decorating ideas to brighten up our spaces. Today our tip comes from Apartment Therapy and it is a good one…Hang Curtains!
I know that it seems like a pain to go through the trouble, but it can make an incredible difference in warming up your space.
For more apartment decoration tips, visit Apartment Therapy!
August 10, 2015 4:21 pm
If you’ve just moved into your first apartment, you’re probably on a tight budget with little free money to spend on lavish furnishings and apartment décor. By being resourceful and creative, you’ll discover you don’t need a lot of money to create a tasteful apartment dwelling. Here are some ideas for inexpensive apartment decorating:
Buy smart
If you’re decorating your apartment on a budget, forget heading to high priced furniture and art stores. Instead, discover the amazing world of estate sales, garage sales, and thrift stores. Pick up a copy of the Friday paper and make a listing of estate, garage, and yard sales in your area. Visit these sales as early as possible on Saturday morning for the best selection. You’ll be amazed at what’s offered and how inexpensively it’s priced. If you see an item you’d like but can’t afford, check back towards the end of the sale. If it’s still there, the owners will most likely be ready to do a significant mark down. Check local thrift stores in your area for bargains on dishes, glassware, and kitchen supplies. You can usually find gently used items in beautiful condition at an excellent price.
Find new uses for common items
Think creatively a bit about how you can use common, inexpensive items to create functional art. Buy a set of inexpensive wine glasses and some tiny glass pebbles at your craft store. Fill the wine glasses half way with glass pebbles and use them to anchor a votive candle. You can also use sand or small beads to fill the wine glass. Need a cheap table? Place a clear, round piece of glass on top of a large, sturdy ceramic vase. Create a completely new piece of functional art by gluing interesting bowls to plates or gluing the bottoms of two bowl together to serve as the base for a centerpiece. The possibilities for transforming common objects into cheap art are endless.
Frame it
It’s easy to find quality picture frames cheap at yard sales and estate sales. Buy as many as you need to decorate your apartment. Find creative ways to fill those frames. Get out your camera and take your own nature photos or photos of local landmarks in your area. Buy old vintage books at the same estate sales and frame some of the more unusual prints. Enclose some beautiful fabric or handmade paper in a frame. Create your own artwork with paint and a little elbow grease. Budget artwork can instantly transform an apartment and make it look homey.
As you can see lack of money doesn’t have to compromise your sense of style and good taste. Creative apartment decorating can liberate your creativity and your bank account.
March 18, 2015 7:02 am
It is all too easy for closet clutter to take over your life. What starts off as a small amount of clutter can quickly escalate as you buy new outfits and create new looks. Before you realize it, you cannot even get into your closet, and finding your favorite outfit seems like an insurmountable tasks.
If you want to clear out the clutter and take back your closet space, you can use these tips to get started.
Organize Your Clothes by Type
Many ready-made closet organization systems employ this method, but you do not have to spend all that money to keep your closet neat and clean. Keeping your skirts in one part of the closet, your jackets in another and dresses in a third makes it easy to find something to wear. This method also makes is easier to create different looks instead of relying on the same old pairings.
Or By Color
If organizing clothes by type is not your thing, consider sorting them by color instead. Arranging your dresses, suits and blazers by color can make choosing the perfect outfit easier and spark your creativity.
Clean Out Your Closet with the Hanger Trick
You probably have lots of clothes you never wear, but determining which outfits to ditch can be difficult. One of the best ways to reduce the clutter and focus on your favorite clothes is the hanger trick. At the beginning of every season, turn all of your hangers around. Turn the hanger around the other way when you pull off a garment. By the end of the season you will be able to see at a glance what you can remove from your wardrobe.
Use Tax Season as Your Inspiration
You can help those in need and help yourself to a tax deduction by donating the unwanted parts of your wardrobe to charity. If you need extra inspiration to clear away the clutter, let tax time be your inspiration. Be sure to get a receipt for your donation so that the amount you report to the IRS is correct.
January 6, 2015 4:42 pm
If you don’t have the money to buy that original Picasso, there are still ways you can low cost art to adorn the walls of your home and apartment. It’s just a question of using a little creativity and elbow grease. Cheap original artwork can be had for a fraction of the cost of what you’d buy at an antique store or art gallery. Here are some ideas for creating your own low cost art:
Decorate your walls with vintage LPs
You can buy old LPs from estate sales, garage sales, and thrift stores for pennies on the dollar. Nail old LPs to your wall to give a room a touch of musical nostalgia. You can also attach favorite album covers to your walls from such artists as Elvis Presley or the Beatles.
Create a nature collage.
Go outside on a crisp fall day and collect some of the handiwork of Mother Nature. Select the best examples of fall leaves, pine cones, and seeds to take home for your collage. Once you return home, arrange your nature finds on a matt board background. Once you’re pleased with the arrangement, use a hot glue gun to permanently attach your pieces to the board. Mount it to the walls and your have a one of a kind piece of low cost art. You can also explore other nature themes such as a beach collage using seashells collected on your seashore explorations.
Hang a series of flags.
Hang flags from your favorite countries on the wall in a pleasing fashion. Do you have interesting travel photos from these countries? If so why not intersperse them among the flags? You can also frame vintage maps from around the world to complete the travel theme.
Hang book dust jackets.
Are you an avid reader? What way to have cheap original artwork is to frame the dust jackets of your favorite books and display them on your walls. If you have a separate room that houses your personal library, framed dust jackets would be perfect.
Use your camera.
If you any skill with using a camera, you have instant low cost art for your walls. Simply grab your camera and photograph scenes that interest and intrigue you. How about photographing some of the local architecture in your city or animals at the zoo? Nature is always a good target for the camera’s eye. Once you have your photos, take them to a print shop and have them printed out professionally. Pick up some frames at a local thrift store or garage sale and you have cheap, original artwork for almost nothing. Who knows? You may discover that you love photography.
Frame vintage postcards.
Interesting vintage postcards can be found quite inexpensively at local antique shops. Choose some interesting ones and frame them for your walls. You’ll be surprised at how much interest and beauty this can add to your walls.
There are so many more wonderful things you can frame to use as low cost art. Old restaurant menus, botanical prints, fabrics, lace, old concert tickets, letters, magazine covers, and much more can serve as cheap, original artwork. Use your imagination and you’ll have beautiful walls without spending a fortune.
March 26, 2014 6:46 pm
This is one of the coolest DIY projects that we have seen in awhile. All you need is old puzzles (hello, Goodwill) and a canvas to create an amazing colorful artwork for your child’s (or your) room!
Get all the details at Apartment Therapy!
March 25, 2013 7:28 am
Okay, we not be the handiest of people, but when we saw this project on Apartment Therapy it made us want to break out the toolbox.
For relatively little money, you can create an outdoor wine bar and have a great entertainment space right on your patio! Check out the instructions here!
![landscape-1468354269-halloween-costumes-for-kids[1]](https://www.selainvestments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/landscape-1468354269-halloween-costumes-for-kids1.jpg)
