October 1999 - 4 of 5
Apartment Decorating
Many of you have asked questions
about decorating an apartment or temporary home. Your
overwhelmed at all the white walls, no holes allowed and carpet and
cabinet colors that leave a little to be desired.
First, you must realize that you
can create a beautiful room and home even though you have the above
mentioned elements to deal with. It’s all about your furnishings,
art, accessories, greenery, lighting etc.
Having all 8 steps to each room
(see the Eight Steps to a Beautiful Home)
will accomplish a fabulous décor regardless of the size of the room.
The walls and flooring are done for you, so concentrate on the remaining 6
steps.
There are many wallpaper borders
on the market today which are removable. They work great for
apartment bathrooms, kitchens and bedrooms. Don’t use them
everywhere, but choose a special spot and roll them on.
Area rugs found at discount stores
and home improvement centers can be used over undesirable carpet in
seating arrangements or dining spaces. This will draw the eye away
from the carpet and define your space.
The tricks I mentioned above in
the “ Moving Too Often” subject will apply for apartment decorating as
well. In case you didn’t read the above, I’ll repeat a couple.
Invest your decorating dollar in
your furnishings, area rugs, artwork, lamps, accessories, and greenery.
These items will blend into any décor or space at a later date.
Consider drapery styles that will
work with many different window styles and sizes. Such as: scarfs,
tab tops, shirred panels and valances. These styles are easy
for the do-it-yourselfer, and will easily convert to a new apartment or
home.
Use your accessories and greenery
to the max!!! Add lots of life with greenery and florals, using
up-lights where needed for light ambiance and shadows. Try a colored
light bulb.
If you can’t have holes in the
walls--- use Velcro, peel & stick and other products available at most
discount or home improvement stores designed especially for this
situation.
Another great trick for homeowners
and apartment dwellers is to invest a small amount of money in decorative
knobs/handles for the kitchen or bathroom. You can add color, metal,
ceramic designs etc. and totally change the personality of the room.
When you leave, just unscrew them and take them with you, replacing them
with the original knobs provided.
Just because you have an apartment does not mean that you can’t use larger, important furniture pieces. Entertainment armoires, foyer tables, large artwork, comfortable overstuffed furniture will all work fine. Using a room full of small, under scaled items will make the apartment seem smaller than it really is. Get courageous with your decorating. Don’t be intimidated by the white walls and ugly rugs. By the time you have addressed the remaining 6 decorating elements and have used some of the above tricks, you will have an apartment to be envied. Guaranteed!!!!
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