Decorating Your Apartment for the Holidays

Many apartment residents might not feel they have the space or means to decorate for the holidays. However, even just a few decorations can make a place feel festive, and there are plenty of budget-friendly ways to decorate for just about any holiday.

Halloween Decorations 

Image by Sarah_Ackerman via Flickr

For example, a string of lights can add festive cheer to any space, and can usually be purchased for under $10. Lights can be found in just about any shape and color, adding additional ambiance.

If there just isn’t the space for a holiday tree, pine or gingerbread scented candles can offer a pleasant aroma and give the illusion of a tree. Placing evergreen branches on a table or mantle will provide the scent and fresh green color without having to shell out big bucks for a tree. Many tree farms offer free branches to customers.

Halloween can be a fun holiday to decorate for as well, since a small pumpkin and candle are inexpensive but can add a festive feel to any room, balcony, or porch.

Setting out decorations can also be a great way to reflect an individual’s personal style and beliefs, and make the apartment feel more like home to those living within its walls.

Many holiday decorations are “do it yourself” so it can be a fun way to spend time with friends or family members, creating something special that could be used to decorate for years to come. A studio apartment found on Forrent.com could offer plenty of space to decorate and feel festive and cheerful.

 

Great DIY tips to upgrade your living room

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20:  A child looks into a ...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

If you’re looking to update a room in your home but don’t have a huge budget here are five great tips that won’t break the bank but will transform your room and inject colour style and a sense of a fresh new makeover

  1. Change your rug.  If you have a neutral coloured room then by purchasing a rug in a strong, vibrant color and adding a couple of cushions of the same material can really make a difference to the look and feel of your room.  Go retro with a burnt orange shag pile rug or a contemporary rug with funky geometric shapes to give your room instant style!
  2. Buy a statement print or large mirror.  A mirror will give a sense of extra space to a small room and a statement print or piece of art can become a real focus and talking point for visitors.
  3. For the bedroom a simple change such as a new Manchester set and a new set of curtains and blinds can give you a brand new peaceful sanctuary to unwind in for very little expense
  4. Recover your couch and armchairs to breathe new life into your comfy couch.  A good couch is like an old friend, if you look after it and keep it re-upholstered to give you many years of comfort.
  5. Lighting can instantly change the mood of a room. Changing your light bulbs to a softer lighting or buying a pair of chic looking lamps will make an instance difference to the atmosphere of a room.

Keeping your home up to date and refreshing your look doesn’t have to cost the earth and sometimes less is more!

Furnishing your home on a budget

With rising interest rates and bills the average working family is finding it slightly tougher each month to make their salaries stretch to the “extras”.  Furniture for the home may seem like an unreachable luxury right now but here are 3 tips to finding a bargain without losing the style.

  • Change your style. A change is a good as a rest! Choosing an eclectic style such

    as a shabby chic or country style theme to your home can be an opportunity to bring together different types of furniture tastefully.  Mismatched chairs around a solid oak table can look stunning  and you wont need to spend thousands on a set of chairs! Brightly scattered cushions in different materials can look contemporary.

  • Look online.  Websites such as Ebay and Craigslist have hundreds of items of furniture for sale often in your local area.  Look hard enough and get in quick to find yourself a real bargain.
  • Check out the sales areas or warehouses of furniture stores where there is often a treasure trove of end of line rugs, and slight second drawers and wardrobes.  If you’re a handy man how can blend a scratch or fix a broken handle and you will have yourself a great piece of furniture.

It may take some patience and maybe a little web surfing but by hunting out some great bargains you can transform your home into a stylish, bright and welcoming home.  You can also save dollars by having friends around for drinks and games and save on those expensive nights out!

 

Decorating With A Budget

Highly decorated carved-back chairs in Mexico

Image Via Wikipedia sourced.

Springs arrival means spring cleaning for many, but sometimes, more than cleaning is needed. Changing an entire room’s look may be out of the question with those trying to watch their pennies, but there are ways that you can decorate/redecorate on a budget! Here are a few tips/Ideas on how to save money while giving your room a new look!

garage sale. Spring cleaning

Image via Wikipedia sourced.

Find a chair!For Ideas check out 5 Clever & Small Painted DIY Details (apartmenttherapy.com) Chairs can even be good conversation pieces. Find an old beat up chair at a garage sale or bargain store, and paint it. Re-fabric/stuff the seat and set it up in your room. sometimes, even re-doing your kitchen chairs can make your kitchen look new and inviting.

Use Scraps of old dried flowers, friezes or rosettes and old scrapbooking paper.See Changing the Look of A Picture with Custom Frames (brighthub.com).  paste the focal piece in the middle of the scrapbook paper, then put the paper in a picture frame(you can paint and decorate that too!) without the glass(sometimes even a shadow box works) and put up on your wall! New art always draws the eye to changes in the room.

Use an old drawer that can’t be functional anymore as a piece of art. add magnetic board to the inside and paste over with drawer liner that’s pretty and decorative. then add magnetic art and magnets to the inside of the drawer and hang on your wall..

Maintaining Your Home’s Décor on a Budget

In the tough economy around the world, more and more people are finding ways to save money. Budgets are being cut and belts are being tightened in families everywhere. However, being on a budget does not mean your sense of fashion and style has to suffer. There are many ways to stay in style on a budget. In fact, many places cater to people just like you, providing affordable clothes and items to fit your needs and your budget.

One place that tends to suffer when funds are running low is the home. Basic upkeep takes priority over non-essential items, like décor. The décor of your home is a part of who you are and with a little creative thinking, you can decorate your home on a budget. You just have to learn how to do it yourself. Instead of hiring an expensive interior designer, find ways to make the changes on your own. You can paint and do simple remodeling without the assistance of a professional.

Painting is easy enough and just takes a little time. Remodeling is more complex and you should limit your remodels to simple tasks that you are capable of completing. For example, you can make your bathroom look brand new by installing a new vanity. This task does require some simple plumbing for the sink, but if you do not know how to do it, call on your friends and family. People are usually willing to help when the project is not complicated.

You can also give your bathroom a new look by changing the shower curtain and the window coverings. Add some new throw rugs that match the color scheme and you practically have a new bathroom. The best part is that you can buy shower curtains, window coverings and rugs at any discount store. For less than a hundred dollars, you can decorate your bathroom in only one day!

Home Styling Ideas Based on Floor Plan

Decorating your abode can go one of two ways-it can be easy and fun, or it can be a horrendous disaster. Consider the layout of your home and then consult some of the home styling ideas below.
*Boxy Home: Rooms are average size with ceilings of 8′-10′ heights. There are not many intricate angles or oddly shaped openings. Floor plan is partially open, but doorways separate rooms.
-Use shades of jewel or candy-tones to paint the interior walls but stick to a complementary palette. Leave ceilings white to add dimension. The home will seem more cohesive as you walk room to room when the same shades appear throughout.
-Place paintings at eye level–anything higher will visually shorten the room.
-Pull furniture toward the center of the room instead of placing it at the perimeter. This creates a cozy look.
*Extraordinary, Large or Angular Homes: There may be a lot of custom features in this type of home. Think specialized soffits, coffered ceilings, rounded entryways and lofty spaces. Rooms are usually situated in an open floor plan.
-Dark and dramatic colors help minimize a space. If you want impact without minimization, paint most walls a neutral shade, but use a bright, rich color to accent one wall in each room. Change the accent color room-to-room if you wish, but try to stay in the same tone (i.e., you wouldn’t want to accent one room with a pale orange and another room with a deep green).
-Tall ceilings look excellent covered in maple or walnut. If that task seems a bit daunting, consider painting the ceiling a dark shade and using recessed lighting.
- Hang paintings so the focal point hits just above eye level. This helps to draw the eye up and around the room.
-Furnish rooms with pieces that are proportionate to the size of the room. A lowest loveseat would not do an impressive great-room any justice.

Primitive Decor Dominating Many Homes

Primitive décor is totally hot right now. Beyond looking completely chic, primitive decorating can be done without spending a lot of money! Primitive décor differs slightly from the country look that was so popular a few years back-more earth tones are used and unfinished surfaces are encouraged.
*Woods are stained in natural tones.
*Dents and gouges in floors and furnishings are actually a good thing.
*Many decorative pieces are available in tin, copper and aluminum.
*Tattered quilts work well as wall hangings or table covers.
*Old windows and shutters act as artwork.
*Walls painted to look as if old paint is showing through in spots are well-liked.
*Decorative table pieces might include bowls made of wood, tall pillar candles, cardboard hat boxes, pedestal pin cushions and dried fruits or vegetables laid out on a battered plate.
*Threadbare and frayed, some rugs look as if they have been in use for centuries. Other rugs take on a needle pointed look.
*Similar to the country look, animals certainly have a place in primitive décor. Swans, sheep, rabbits and crows take on a folkish feel and often look as if they were designed by a child.
*Dining table and chairs should not match. Different styles along with various shades of wood stain, peeling paint or even unfinished pieces should mark the chairs as individuals.
*Rocking chairs in 1800′s form take their place in the family room.
*Lighting will be utilitarian, made of metal in most cases.
*Punch needle artwork can be displayed on mantles, side tables and walls.
*Wooden and chicken wire birdcages along with dried florals and disassembled screen doors are all decorating options as well.
As you can see, many looks work with primitive décor, although the older looking, the better. Items can be found at specialty stores, flea markets, garage sales and thrift shops. You can also strip and hammer current furnishings to give them a primitive look.

Do It Yourself–Painting and Reupholstering

paint roller beside paint brush at paint reservoir
Image via Wikipedia

Creating a savings account for yourself can help you through times of hardship. In order to put money aside, there are areas in which you need to cut back. There are probably many projects you hire out that you could do on your own. The following do it yourself projects will take a little of your time, but save you a lot of money!
*Painting your house. Painting can be a messy job, but with the rates that painters get these days it makes sense to do it on your own. Use a quality paint for best results. Buy a roll of painter’s tape (it’s often blue) and mask off any areas that you don’t want to get paint on. Use a paint brush to cut in all areas that you can’t get to with a roller-the wall area that meets trim work and ceilings, around all electrical outlets and light fixtures, down by the base boards. Then use a roller to evenly apply paint to walls using a “W” pattern until the walls are coated. Make sure the roller doesn’t run out of paint. If this happens, you will inadvertently pick up paint off the wall, leaving a streaky look.
*Recover your dining room chairs. Pick up upholstery material from the fabric store. Flip yours chairs over and remove the screws holding the cushions in place. Using pliers, pull out the staples that are holding fabric to the chair seats. Using the old upholstery as a guide, cut the new fabric to size. Lay the seat upside down on the fabric and staple the back edge of the fabric to the bottom of the seat. Now work on stapling the front edge, pulling the fabric taut as you go. Once this is done, you will move on to the sides and, finally, the corners. Voila, a whole new look!