10 Tips For Decorating An Apartment

Learn about 10 tips for decorating an apartment to give new life to your digs. Whether you are just moving into your first apartment or your fifth or if you just need to update the look of your apartment, some tips for decorating are always welcome. There is no need to spend a lot of money if you don't want to when decorating. With some smart shopping and re-purposing of other items around the house, you can decorate for less and make an impact. Be sure to ask your landlord if you can make improvements that are semi-permanent or permanent so you'll get your security deposit back.

1. De-clutter. The easiest, most inexpensive way to decorate an apartment or house is to de-clutter. Box up extra stuff for storage or gather what you don't need or want and donate it to a worthy charity. A clean coffee table with a small sculpture or bowl that was chosen to be displayed looks more impressive any day than a cluttered mess.
2. Change the throw pillows. Instead of putting out all the throw pillows on the sofa or bed, bag up some and only display a few at a time. Change out the selections during different times of year according to color and texture. Use lighter-weight and lighter-colored pillows in spring and summer. Use heavier pillows with fabrics like flannel and corduroy in deep, rich colors in the fall and winter.
3. Group collections. You probably collect something. Many people collect lots of things. Find some of your collections from around the apartment. Take all of one collection and group it together for maximum impact. Display baseball memorabilia for instance on one wall. Frame a poster or some special baseball cards, set signed baseballs and trophies and anything else related to the sport on a shelf next to the poster.
4. Set the mood. Place a few candles on a side table with a nice arrangement of flowers or a bowl of interesting objects. Keep matches or a lighter handy for when you have guests to instantly refresh the room with a light scent and ambience from the lighted candles.
5. Refresh the bath. When decorating an apartment, buy a new shower curtain and rugs or hang a queen- or king-sized sheet as a shower curtain. A fresh, clean rug that complements the shower curtain and towels brings the bath together. Soft textures like these also keep rooms from echoing and have a hollow and sterile feeling. Leave a lightly scented candle on the sink counter to add a breath of fresh air to this small room.
6. Hang empty frames. An easy way to decorate and make a wall a focal point is to gather frames, paint them, and hang them as a grouping. There's no need to add anything to the frames. The frames are the art. Paint them all the same color or paint each frame a different color.
7. Add a back splash to the kitchen. An inexpensive back splash added to the walls under the cabinets makes a big impact. Use mirrored tiles, ceramic tiles, decorative tin or distressed wood for a unique look.
8. Add a cover to an old couch or sofa. It's okay to use that old sofa from your parents' basement until you can afford a new one. When decorating an apartment, dress up the old sofa with a new sofa cover to give the plaid or bad color the boot. Choose a neutral color for the couch cover and it will look good as new!
9. Use baskets to store stuff. If storage is limited, do some decorating and provide more storage for yourself. Buy some wicker baskets that look good sitting out. Stack them if possible or set them in corners to store papers, DVDs, CDs, or whatever you have that doesn't look great stacked on the floor.
   
10. Separate spaces with a hanging curtain. If your apartment is one large open space, place plant hooks in the ceiling. Make or buy drapes and use clips that clip on to the drapes and have a round ring at the top. Hang the rings from the hooks on the ceiling to create a room divider.