You finally found the perfect apartment and are all set to move in. You have the list of must-haves that you compiled with your new roommate. Unfortunately, sometime the list of things you really want exceeds the things you can actually afford. Utilizing the following decorating tips, you will be able to decorate your apartment to fit your style, while remaining on budget.
The best apartment living advice you will receive is to create and live on a budget. Part of the budgeting process should include furnishing and decorating your home. Having a great apartment doesn’t mean spending all your summer earnings on the sofa and forgoing textbooks for great art on the walls. Instead, it takes some planning.
Decorating Tips
Before you move in
Talk to your roommate about what furniture you need and want, especially for the common areas of the apartment, like the living room and kitchen. Once you have a list, separate it into must haves, would like to have and dream big items.
Then, call your family, but not just your parents. Call grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and even friends of the family and let them know what you are looking for. You never know who might have an extra sofa in the garage or a bookcase in the basement.
As you’re offered various items, take a picture of the furnishing to send to your roommate and then check it off the list. Don’t be too intimidated by things that are horrible colors or a bit dirty. Upholstery cleaner or even a little paint are inexpensive ways to give new life to recycled furniture.
Discuss color and theme options
While you probably won’t be buying a new sofa and chairs for the living room, you might be dressing them up with throw pillows and blankets. Talk to your roommate about the colors that you would like to use in the living room and the ones you would absolutely hate. If she loves lime green and hot pink and you hate them, be sure to discuss options that will make you both happy.
One good option is to choose neutral colors like browns and grays for the larger swaths of color, like the blanket covering grandma’s old couch, and then add personal touches that reflect each of you individually. Several colors of throw pillows can be an inexpensive way to add some personality to your living room.
Wash and repair
If possible, plan to get together a week before you move in to clean your new-to-you furniture and make any needed repairs. Borrow your parents’ garage and carefully inspect your furniture for damage. Get wood glue to repair book cases and broken chair legs.
Learning how to make simple repairs on your furniture will not only help you have a nicer place, it will save you money when friends are too rough on the coffee table and break the leg.
Decorations
While no college student expects their first apartment to be perfectly decorated, most wish it was. Once you and your roommate agree on a decor style, consider off-beat and creative ways to decorate. Many craft and hobby shops will have inexpensive framed artwork or your local resale shop may have the perfect clear glass vase to fill with colored marbles.
Whatever your decorating style, don’t be afraid to do something a little different. This is another time when family and friends can be helpful, especially since wall decor is something people frequently change.
Choose one item to splurge
Even if splurging means $10, choose one item for your shared living s
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