Monday, October 3, 2011

How To Revamp Your Apartment On A Budget

By Carl Drotsky


When you are renting, it's not always easy to make a place look your own. Because an apartment is usually seen as a temporary home, it often doesn't seem worth invested time and money to decorate. Limited space also poses a challenge to make a place unique and trendy without looking cluttered, however, you may be surprised at what you can do with a small amount of time, money and space. There are thousands of ideas you can get from magazines and the internet. After taking some time to see what you like, draw up some simple plans for decorating your apartment, room by room. Lists and simple diagrams of the furniture, artwork, colour schemes and objects you want to use will narrow your focus and save you time while decorating.

It's easy to be discouraged by a small budget, but your remodeling projects do not have to hinge solely on how much cash you have. Get as much inspiration as possible, so you have a large pool of ideas to choose from. Then think about what personal abilities you have that can help produce the style you're going for. Stitching curtains together or painting an abstract piece of art are just a couple ideas for how you can save money in decorating while adding personal touches to your home. In addition, remember that your skilled buddies and family members would probably be more than willing to assist you with your vision. Don't be too proud to ask them. By making use of your personal expertise and looking for support from those around you, you will experience the rewards of a new and improved apartment at a minimal cost.

Secondhand antique shops and yard sales often hold a lot of potential to coming across the various items in your remodeling plan. From antique rocking chairs and side tables to global pieces such as a Japanese fan or an African wood-carved elephant, the options of what you may uncover are never-ending. We've all heard that one man's rubbish can be another man's riches, however make sure you're not making purchases just because it's cheap. With each item, remember to be certain it will work with the style you've had in mind.

Adding shelves to your walls can produce a spacious feel. They not only create storage space, but shelves can also be a place to display the theme you're going for. For example, make a built-in bookshelf, and add tribal-type book ends for an African themed room. Be careful not to cram the shelf full; rather leave some blank spaces in between book sections to make the wall look bigger. Other space-savers which make great choices for apartments are various types of slender furnishings. These could be narrow side tables for your lounge or a more compact computer desk. It's important to be able to walk easily around the furniture in a room. Otherwise you and your guests will feel claustrophobic rather than relaxed.

Because of insufficient space, it's seems inevitable for your apartment kitchen to appear jam-packed and messy. One clever approach is to arrange some of your nicest pots, pans and cooking utensils on the wall, and try placing an eye-catching mural above them to reinforce your theme. This will make your kitchen cozier and more intimate. You'll actually enjoy spending time in your kitchen rather than avoiding it at all costs. Another space-creating idea is to move less frequently used appliances on top of kitchen cabinets; this will generate a greater workspace. Another smart trick is to make items double-functional. For example, take that ugly filing cabinet, and cover it with a beautiful tablecloth to create a side board in your dining room. You haven't lost your much-needed storage space for paperwork, but you've gained an extra surface from which you can serve your visitors. These ideas only scratch the surface of what apartment remodeling on a budget can do. Remember that practice makes perfect. The more experience you get revamping a room, the more you'll appreciate the results.




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