Recent Posts
Need a much-needed change in your apartment decor but don’t have much change in your pocket to decorate? Whether you’re fresh out of college or saving up your hard-earned salary for something special, we get the struggle of wanting an apartment makeover without sufficient funds.
Here’s how to make-over your apartment with nine helpful hints from Apartment Therapy‘s House Tours.
Spruce up your place with some fun do-it-yourself ventures. From dreamcatchers to shelves, dig your crafty hands into a project no matter where your experience level. If you’re willing to put in the time, you can add some much-needed accessorizing for a fraction of the cost. Plus everyone will be in awe – cue the gushing from your friends at the next party.
Old school is in. And it could be anything – maybe it’s grandma’s college suitcase or an inherited secretary desk. Mixing your family heirlooms with cheaper IKEA buys instantly skyrockets the class value of your space. It’s also a physical reminder of those who you hold dear to your heart, no matter how many miles separate you away from your hometown.
READ MORE: Handmade vs. Factory Made Products: Is Handmade Really Better?
Visit a flea market, garage sale or vintage resale shop for an effortless upgrade. And don’t be afraid of Craigslist; most sellers are not scammers and actually have some great deals. When you shop secondhand, you can score quality pieces for cheaper prices than most stores offer. Most of the time you can fix a nick her and a stain there – or learn to love the imperfections.
If you can, paint your walls – a new shade could make all the difference. If you’re renting (or very undecided), try out an edgy alternative by pinning paint-swatches onto a white wall. Any amount of color can brighten up a plain or drab spot, even if it’s just in the accessories.
Got some art you’d like to showcase? Whether it’s a friend’s sketch, a painting from that college art class or a few family photographs – frame ‘em, friend. Turn a wall into a head to toe gallery, lean some against a dresser or scatter the pieces around the room. The walls will thank you for the attention and visitors will glimpse your artistic side.
Got music in your veins? Hang up your guitar or favorite CDs. Love to read? Get some invisible bookshelves. Passion for fashion? Skip the wardrobe and grab a rack to showoff your finds. Use your interests or talents to decorate your space – you already have all the right equipment.
READ MORE: How to Simplify Your Home’s Color Scheme Beyond Black and White
If you’re tired of a piece, reevaluate before tossing it in the dumpster or listing it online. Maybe that desk could use new coat of paint; maybe the chair could be reupholstered with a better pattern. A quick assessment of your current situation will help you see what you can repurpose and save you big. Drop the “need new now” mentality; if something is broken, try to fix it.
Enthusiasm inspires every great adventure but it’s followed through with careful planning. Don’t expect to do it all in one night; you’ll get burnt out without the results you want. Instead, use the time to do your research: Watch HGTV, browse stores, surf the web and study up on MSRPs. With time (and money!) your place will come together, so be okay with living in an imperfectly quirky work-in-progress.
Have a specific design in mind for your makeover? Rad! Now let it go. It’s important to have a vision to create a cohesive look but don’t let your original goals stand in the way if your taste or circumstances shift. Instead of fighting them, let your space reflect those changes. Feeling really ballsy? Blow your budget. Seriously – if you invest in one to-die-for piece, you’ll likely end up redecorating the rest of your room around it, helping establish your own unique style.
READ MORE: 7 Things You Can Put on Your Bookcase Other Than Books
