Archive for category Apartment

Decorating a Studio Apartment

Posted on December 2, 2011 | Apartment, Decorating.

When you live in a studio apartment, you’re probably not really thinking of the home decor. Fortunately, just because you live in a studio apartment, doesn’t mean you can’t have beautiful home accessories and decor. In fact, the internet is a vital resource of different decorating ideas, home accessories and other items that can make your studio apartment look and feel like a home, even if it’s just one room with a bed in it and a kitchen up against the wall.

De-clutter

The most important step in a well decorated space is to de-clutter. Get rid of everything you’re not using or don’t need. This is especially true of living in a tight space, because in a studio apartment, space is at an ultra-premium.

That being said, with studio home decor, less may be more. Opt only to keep pieces you really love, especially when it comes to furniture, wall decor and other home accessories.

Divide the Space

Divide up the space based on your daily activities. Depending on how large your studio apartment is, this may include creating a living area, a kitchen area and a sleeping area. Large studio apartments, particularly lofts, may even give you adequate space for having a dining area or an office space.

When dividing up the space, be sure to include plenty of storage space. Avoid open storage, as this creates a more cluttered look that is unsuited for small space home decor.

Multi-purpose Furniture

Multi-purpose furniture is a great option for tight urban spaces. A single piece of furniture that serves as a desk and as a night stand can be a great space saver. The same goes for furniture such as ottomans that double as a coffee table, additional seating and some even offer additional storage.

Use Dividers

A divider does not necessarily mean the actual furniture piece known as a divider screen. However, you can use different furniture items to divide the space up accordingly. For example, depending on how large your studio apartment is, you may want to arrange a sofa across the space so that it separates your sleeping area from your living area.

Lighting

Don’t skimp on the lighting! Just because you’ve got a smaller living space doesn’t mean you need less lighting. You need to divide up your lighting needs: task lighting, general lighting, even decorative or accent lighting.

You can use general lighting for your day to day activities, task lighting for tasks such as reading or writing and finally, decorative or accent lighting to highlight the space; such as a piece of wall art or an architectural element of the space.

Color

Finally, don’t be afraid of color! A small space doesn’t have to be limited to light colors, in fact, as long as you keep things minimal in terms of the amount, you can use any color you desire. Bold hues, dark shades, bright, vibrant colors-anything.

Keep in mind that “keep things minimal” doesn’t mean having only a single accent wall, but it can also be interpreted as having a monochromatic color scheme or a color palette that only uses three or less colors. Having more than three colors can quickly and easily overwhelm small space home decor.

A Guide to Saving Space in an Apartment

Posted on November 13, 2011 | Apartment.

People who are living in a small apartment will need to put some thought into their home decor. Small apartments tend to look and feel cramped if they are not decorated and organized properly. Thankfully there are a few simple ways that residents can go about saving space in an apartment.

Firstly it is important to make a design plan. This plan will make apartment dwellers aware of what items they need to buy. Residents should take a critical look at the space they have to work with. For example empty corners can be filled with storage options. Home decorators should also pick a theme for their decor. A modern look tends to work well in small spaces as it is sleek and uncluttered.

The next step of the process is getting rid of clutter. If the resident has not used an item in a year or so it is unlikely they will be using it again. These items are taking up valuable space in the home. Apartment residents can get rid of these items by throwing them out or donating them to charity. They can also be sold on auction websites.

Most stores now sell a number of space preserving products. Consumers will need to work out a budget and shopping list before they head to the store. One way to save space and remain stylish is to purchase lightweight rattan drawers. These can be used to store clothing, odds and ends, toiletries and a number of other items. Another storage solution buyers could try is lightweight shelves. These are great for small items such as photos and perfumes. Heavy shelves can be used as bookcases. Those who do want to install shelves into their apartment should check with their landlord first.

Lastly people can save space in their wardrobe by purchasing shoe racks and canvas drawers on rollers. The drawers can be rolled into the wardrobe. They can then be used to store clothing and other items. The shoe rack will allow residents to hide their shoes from plain view.

The key to saving space in an apartment is clearing clutter and organizing the room. People who take the time to do this will have a tidy, attractive apartment with room to move around in. Those who choose a decor theme will significantly improve the overall appearance of their living space. This will make living in the apartment a much more pleasant experience.