Apartment design is an art form unto itself. At its core, it’s about creative space management and transforming less square footage into more charm and comfort. Here are a few ideas for apartment home decorating to give your space a fresh new look for 2019.
Set Your Budget
Now that you’ve taken the plunge and right-sized into the perfect active adult community, let the interior design process begin. All it takes is dollars and sense to create a space that reflects your taste and personality but does not break the bank. If you are realistic about your finances and take the time to do a little research and leg work, apartment decorating on a budget will be both fun and successful.
Before You Buy, Rearrange
Arrangement and spacing are every bit as important as picking out the perfect furnishings. Consider rearranging your existing pieces before replacing with new furniture. You would be amazed at how a new design layout can make a bigger impact than a new couch or piece of artwork.
Area Rugs
In an apartment setting, area rugs serve two vital functions. They anchor your furniture but also create room boundaries in big open spaces like an apartment living/dining room. Before buying a new rug, try swapping existing rugs and see if that improves the ambiance. If that doesn’t work, it will be fun to shop for a new solid or colorful rug that will completely recreate the mood. To change a room’s perspective, try shifting the area rug 90 degrees and angling the furniture.
Less is More
Clutter is never your friend, but in an apartment, it is the mortal enemy. With limited space, clutter can make rooms feel crowded and messy. No doubt you jettisoned much of your extraneous stuff before rightsizing, but now that you are living in your apartment, you may realize more knick-knacks and furniture must go. Once you’ve narrowed the space down to the essentials, it will be easier to find an arrangement that does not overwhelm. When it comes to apartment decorating tips, getting rid of the clutter is at the top of the list.
Refresh Your Bedding
As a major color field, duvets and bed linens define the décor of the bedroom. The easiest way to update a bedroom is to introduce new linens. Pick a new color, pattern, or style and you’re adding a whole new design element into the bedroom.
Go Green
Plants and flowers are an apartment’s best friend. They are inexpensive, they don’t take up a lot of space and they will add color, scent, and texture to a room. Green plants can provide permanent support to any décor and flowers can be changed as often as the mood dictates.
Accent Pillows Add Flair
Accent pillows are the quintessential portable décor. Instead of replacing a couch that feels dated, change the accent pillows. It’s a simple step that can alter the color scheme and overall look of the room. Switch from florals to a cleaner more modern look, or move into a different color family altogether. More than one person will be sure to ask if you got a new couch!
Change Up a Lampshade
Lampshades are highly versatile and can be mixed and matched quite easily with different bases. Getting rid of a tired old lampshade and replacing it with a boldly colored or patterned shade can be the difference between blah and beautiful.
Check Out Your Local Thrift Store
They say one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Nowhere does that ring more true like it does at the thrift store, a wonderland of light fixtures, furniture, and accessories. Thrift store apartment decorating will give you great bang for your buck, while adding charm and warmth to your space.
Maximize Small Spaces
The object of apartment home decorating ideas is to make the best possible use of the available space. Choosing the right size and amount of furniture and devising a floor plan that leaves open floor space is the first step. There are also tricks for creating the illusion of extra space. White walls reflect light, vertical decorating, useful wall art, and furniture that multi-tasks as storage are all helpful tools to make your apartment feel uncluttered and spacious.
Your former home was all about your family. This time around it’s your turn. Apartment home living for seniors is about surroundings that make you happy and comfortable and enhance the active adult experience. When it comes to both the function and aesthetics of your space, small changes can make a big difference.