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The key is striking the right balance between enough decoration and too much clutter! Enjoy the benefits of a larger space with less upkeep and cost by following our handy tips to make your apartment homier. We’ll help you avoid a cluttered look while making the most of the room you have.

Tip #1: Avoid blank walls

Bare, neutral walls in an apartment can make a small space feel stale. Instead, consider your walls as an opportunity to add some personal touches, creating a warm and relaxed environment.

Use small, finishing nails or double-sided tape to hang tapestries and light artwork. Opt for larger pieces, or create a stylishly dishevelled gallery wall. Let your creativity flourish as you make your apartment your own! If you really want to change the vibe of your place, you can also try some wallpaper.

Tip #2: Opt for quality furniture

The rule of “less is more” certainly applies to apartments. Quality over quantity is a great way to make your apartment feel like home, especially when it comes to furniture. It would help if you also considered furniture that serves more than one purpose. For example, a pull-out couch creates a bed for guests, or a headboard with storage creates more space.

Tip #3: Divide and conquer

Using open shelving as a room divider offers more storage and breaks up the space to make it seem bigger. Ceiling-to-floor furniture can split the room while making use of taller areas of your apartment that would otherwise remain unused. Plus, as both sides of the shelving are open, they are accessible from two directions! 

Sometimes, you simply have too much to organize for a clean look – holiday decorations, skis, family heirlooms, off-road bikes, winter coats, or the boxes of inventory you need for your side hustle. That’s when you need to move the not-necessary-every-day stuff into a storage unit that you can visit once a month. The convenience and affordability of so much extra space can make your apartment life go from “blah” to “brilliant!” Here’s a handy guide to how much storage you’ll need. 

Tip #4: Be sure to fill the corners

If you have a lot of open edges in your apartment, the room can look harsh. Adding corner shelves, artwork, or a standing lamp can be a simple way to rectify this. Try this, and you’ll quickly see how much it changes the feel of the room!

Tip #5: Alter the lighting

Bright lights, while helpful, don’t make for a comfortable feel in the home. So instead, we recommend that you switch to mood lighting in areas that do not need to be particularly well-lit (basically, anywhere except for the kitchen and bathroom). White bulbs create harsh light. Switching to soft, yellow incandescent bulbs or eco-friendly “warm white” LEDs, under-the-cabinet lighting, or floor lamps can be a homey alternative. You can also install dimmer lights for when it is time to relax and unwind.

Speaking of dimmers, before you attempt to install anything requiring wiring (or transform an offbeat object into an arty floor lamp), make sure you’re familiar with the new wiring colours in the UK. When in doubt, call a qualified electrician. 

Tip #6: Think about your apartment’s scent

The presence of a familiar and enjoyable scent creates a relaxing effect. Your olfactory senses are calmed by certain fragrances that you can spread throughout your apartment with air diffusers, candles, and plug-ins.

Tip #7: Fill your space with plants

Arguably, the biggest downside of an apartment is the lack of outdoor areas. Some may have a balcony or small courtyard, but many have nothing. You can offset that by bringing the outside in with plants! As a bonus,  plants improve apartment air quality and have been shown to reduce stress, making them ideal “roommates.” . 

It is important to choose your houseplants wisely and maybe get creative with your placements depending on your available space and how much light the particular plant type requires. 

If you own your apartment…

The myth is that many of us will graduate from apartments to houses, but the reality is that many apartment dwellers eventually buy an apartment instead. In that case, these design tips still apply. However, since owning your apartment home means you’re the landlord, these home maintenance tips may also come in handy.

Always make your apartment your own

The tips above will help to make your apartment a more homey space, but above all, the more of your personality you bring into your space, the better. Displaying your favourite things helps your apartment tell the story of who you are (just be wary of going overboard with too many dust collectors). 

Photo: Via Pinterest

All you need to do is make the right adjustments by being creative and knowing what you want to achieve. The following steps will give you an idea of where to look for the change you need. And if you are looking for a brand new apartment, be sure to check out Dallas Apartment Locators.

Change the Color

Most people choose a safe and a clean option by painting their walls a neutral color. This year, for a change, you could choose one of the bolder colors. Paint your bedroom lavender and your living room orange. You may think that is too much color and you want something more sophisticated. You can do that by painting an accent wall and use neutral colors for the rest of the walls.

The colors to consider this year are earthy hues. A dark green accent wall could give your living room a sense of mysterious serenity. Alternatively, you could choose one of the luxurious accents such as black, deep purple or indigo. If your furniture is of one color, adding playful wallpaper on a wall could help stir up the excitement in the room.

Adding crown molding instantly makes rooms look classier and adds texture to walls.

Move your Furniture Around

As simple as that, shifting furniture around a room could change its overall look. Create a new perspective by opening up space. Instead of replacing all of it, you can add visual value to the room by adding certain smaller pieces of furniture and accents. Add throws, cushiness, lamps, a side table, or a chair which could be a centerpiece on its own.

Photo: Brio Interior Design

Replace the Floors

Tear up your old carpets and add wooden floorboards. This may be the biggest investment on the list but it is worth it. The warmth and the look that the wood gives to your apartment cannot be otherwise achieved. Also, as a natural material, it is very fashionable. Throw in a rug for warmth and texture. The rug can be yet another accent feature in the apartment, do not be afraid to match it with as little as cushions, or let it make a statement of its own.

Change the Light

You can change the amount and the type of light each room gets. Whatever you do, make sure it is practical as your overall mood and productivity depend on it. Add new, bright and thin window treatments which will let the sun in and adjust it by the means of their color. Floral draperies are a perfect refreshment for the spring season. Orange curtains give any room the summer-afternoon look with its beautiful warm light. Change lampshades and replace your old light fixtures with mother ones. Pendant lights are currently very popular.

Photo: Via Instagram

Declutter

Open up space by freeing it up. Declutter your home by removing any furniture you find redundant. While you are at it, try minimalism. Since this is a lifestyle and not just décor, it may require a more fundamental change. Give it a go by renting some self storage units to keep your belongings safe while you are trialing the style. You can also use the storage for seasonal things and reduce clutter in your closet.

Decor

Purchase old vintage pieces, or use some of your own. Refinish them and make them a centerpiece. An old wooden chest can easily become a trendy coffee table. Collect pebbles, wash them, and put them in a bowl. Dry flowers and add them to the picture. There are plenty of decorative items and designs you can create on your own. Using chic details such as metal and glass pieces will add the sense of style. These pieces go beautifully as wall art on luxurious accent walls mentioned above. Do not be afraid to mix styles and add color.

With the spring at our doorsteps, the timing is perfect for revamping your apartment. You do not need to do a total remodel or replace all of your furniture in order to get a new look. Work with what you have and add some finishing touches. This will give you a new beginning for the new season.