There are currently 43,018,000 renter-occupied spaces located in the U.S., and you’ve just booked one! After you’ve found an apartment, signed the lease, and moved all your stuff in, the real fun begins: Deciding how to decorate the apartment.
As of 2014, nearly 35% of Americans rent their living space — most of which are college students or people who have just graduated. Renting an apartment allows you to be more flexible for relocations if you have a change in career path. Younger people are also more attracted to renting apartments due to the low level of responsibility in building maintenance and upkeep.
But right now there are more pressing concerns, such as what apartment decor to include in your new space. Apartment decor is everything: it can make a space feel more welcoming and personalized as well as more functional. You can easily turn a cheap apartment into a luxurious one with a few tips on what to include.
- Adding Curtains: If you’ve just moved into a place with blinds, hide those hideous things with some fun, patterned curtains that can brighten up a room.
- Removable Wallpaper: Removable wallpaper is a great way to decorate a drab place. You can easily make it match your apartment furniture and the best thing is it can be removed once you move on to your next apartment.
- Bookshelves: A bookshelf is a great way to add a focal point to a small apartment. No-backed bookshelves have often been used as a way to separate a larger room into two or three smaller rooms. Include not only books, but also colorful bowls or vases.
- Memo Board: For those still in school or who have a busy schedule, include a colorful memo board near the entrance to your apartment. These can be found at craft stores or places such as Target and Walmart. It will also help you stay organized.
- Window Boxes: Add some living apartment decor in the form of herbs and spice plants. Place window boxes around the kitchen and watch your garden come to live. Plants have also proven to increase productivity — so why not have some?
- Create More Storage: Everyone could use some more storage space, but not everyone knows how to create apartment decor out of it. Try including bar carts, a rolling kitchen island, or even a hollow ottoman in order to store extra stuff.
- Rugs Required: One of the easiest ways to decorate any space is to simply add a rug. Apartment floor plans often include rugs that separate rooms into different sections. Try this approach if you want your apartment to have different nooks.
Other ideas include painting furniture and simply rearranging the furniture to maximize space and efficiency. Have fun with the decorating process and be open to any ideas and opinions. For more about this, go here.
