Lana Hawkins Whether you are moving into a new apartment or have lived in your current place for a while, wanting to add some home design to elevate its appeal may be on your wish list. Wanting to decorate without spending a lot of money is likely right below that decorating wish.
And as a plus, if you can manage to save money on your house decoration, you can afford to treat yourself to these cool must-have gadgets. So, how do you kick your apartment up to the next level without breaking the bank? By following our tips below, that’s how!
1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
We were taught it in school, and we’re saying it again now; recycling beautiful trash is the way of the future. Not are you saving this stuff from going into the landfills, but you are also adding some personality to your place.
Hold onto items like used (and washed) wine bottles, broken picture frames (where maybe the glass broke or fell out), and pretty strings or ropes to decorate with. And you can even find a use for gift bags that were too pretty to throw away, old out-of-date calendars, and dried flowers from a special occasion.
Wine bottles can be used as they are, or the label may be taken off with warm, soapy water, and then decorated with ropes and other craft items. They make great vases, but also can be used as a way to store bracelets and jewelry around their body, or if they are clear you could fill them with sand and seashells.
Old picture frames can still be used as they are, without the glass, or add a few hooks to them and they will frame your necklaces rather nicely while they hang on the wall. Gift bags can be pinned open to the wall and can be used to store a few papers, flowers, pens, and placed around your desk.
Old calendar pictures can easily be separated from their month and pinned up around your walls; even mount them with some of those old picture frames. Dried flowers can be hung on the walls, put in those empty wine bottles, or anywhere else you see fit.
2. Change Up Your Hardware
Knobs on bathroom or kitchen cabinets can sometimes feel, well, ordinary. Take a trip to your hardware store, or even look up ideas online, Esty for example, and select a few door handles to shake up your space.
And don’t feel that you have to limit these to the doors of your cabinets, you can also add these touches to your wall and use them to hang your hats, scarves, and other accessories on. Nothing says home design more than by these small, personal touches.
3. Print Up Some Photos
In all likelihood you have thousands of photos stored on your phone which you share on every social media account you have, but then what? That’s it right? Try printing off some of those fabulous photos and put them up around your place.
A dollar store is a great, and obviously cheap, place to find picture frames, but don’t feel limited in how you display them. Buy some string, some laundry pegs or fancy paper clips and attach the photos to the clips and cover those blank walls of yours, pronto!
4. Change Up The Walls
Nothing says apartment decorating on a budget more than painting a wall. Yup, you’ve probably heard it before, but it really can make a difference; it will update your place and your mood, all with a few strokes of paint. If, however, you are still digging your current color, you can do an accent wall instead.
Find some wallpaper that you like and pick a sidewall that would really benefit from adding a bit of pizazz to it. You can also purchase some small wall decals, or one large one, like an inspirational quote to add some change and home design to your apartment.
5. Update Your Furniture
And while we’re on the idea of painting the walls, don’t forget that old furniture can also be painted. Noticeable chips that may have happened over the years won’t seem like such a big deal now that your kitchen table has been painted over to a beautiful blue.
You can even reupholster your cushions or seat covers with colors to match or accent your walls. Or buy a couch cover, a slip that seamlessly fits over your entire couch to make it seem as though it’s new, even though it isn’t. These small changes really help to give your apartment a much-needed update.
6. Think Outside The Ordinary
Do you have collectibles but then don’t know what to do with them? Finding a way to display your passions can also be a great way to add some unique style to your place. Some people create a picture display of coasters they have picked up from restaurants where they have eaten, others display corks from wine bottles in a glass bowl or vase, or maybe you love to read and collect books, so why not display them proudly?
Shelving units, shadow boxes, or picture frames are relatively inexpensive and are a great way to display, much like art, some of your favorite pieces you have collected over the years. Some, you may even be able to hang from the ceiling, like lights. If you live with a roommate or partner and have some different tastes, designate one room for each passion.
7. Add Some Green
Adding some plant life to your apartment is one of the fastest ways to give your place that home-design look you may be craving. Not only can plants make a place look homier, lived in, and feel warmer, but they are also great at removing toxins from a room.
If you fear that you may not have a green thumb, there are a variety of plants to choose from that are easy to maintain and that can stand a little inattentiveness on your part. Plants can easily be placed on the floor, on a shelf, or in a hanging pot, so they can add a great dimensional look to your apartment.
8. Textiles And Accessories
Need some living room ideas? Take a visit to a flea market or even a store like Ikea and you’re sure to find some tablecloths, throw pillows, and more that can be used to decorate and add some comfort to your place. Fabrics have a great way of adding texture and style to a home.
While you’re out, keep your eyes open for anything else that catches your eye. Sometimes, without even planning it you can come home with a great find, something that sparks your imagination for your apartment.
Author’s Bio: Danielle thrives on researching and writing on all aspects of life. Further to writing for Zumper.com and personal finance, she is an advocate of self-improvement and living a life that is both financially responsible and knowledgeable. When she is not on her computer, she can be found spending time with her husband and two sons.
