Recently a young woman came into the store looking for a
great amount of help with her new apartment. She has just recently graduated
from college and just moved into her first apartment outside of a college
setting. With an entry level job and a pile of student loans she was looking
for cheap solutions for her new pad. Here was my advice to her.
Mirrors:
The bigger the better, the more the merrier; if a space is
small, windows are most likely limited. It might seem silly, but natural light
creates the allusion of more space. Mirrors allow natural light to bounce
around the room, making it seem airier. This also helps with the stigma dealing
with color. Rumor has it that darker colors make rooms feel smaller, which just
simply isn't true. The more natural
light a room has, the darker one can go with color choice, if you so choose.
Spacing:
Corners and baseboard are key to keeping things light. By
covering every corner, and every inch of baseboard, rooms can seem cramp. By
limiting, or for some reducing the amount of furniture a room has, the more
open it will feel. One idea would be hanging furniture. While a desk is needed,
why not get come that gives an allusion of floating, this allows for clean
lines and keeps more baseboard visible.
Clutter:
Keeping
in mind with what was said above, it is important to use all available space to
you, seeing that it is indeed limited. When finding furniture for a given
space, make sure it doesn't dwarf the space. A sectional that seats seven might
not be an option for your first apartment. Find furniture that has double uses.
A couch that turns into a bed, a coffee table that has storage under it, or stack-able end tables might help eliminate clutter. You want your home to feel
cozy, this means different things for different
people. For apartments it is important to find a function for most things you
have, because you don’t have the space for much more.
Color:
Find colors that suit you as well as you space. If you love
a dark color for your bedroom but your light in that room is limited,
compromise. This is a great opportunity to have an accent wall with great
contrasting colors. Sharp colors are a great way to expand a room. Bright
colors vs. dull, muddied colors will help enhance a room’s clarity, and make
the space feel more open. If you do choose a more subdued color pallet, find
places to add a pop of color, like the back panel of a book shelf or piping.
The most important thing to remember is that your apartment
is a living thing. It is never done growing and it is never done changing. This
rule really applies to any place you live in your life. You taste will change,
and so will the times.
Blog Posted By:
Ari Koehnen
Communication Specialist
