Facing the bare walls and empty space of your first apartment can be intimidating. Especially the night before you invite your best friends over and you realize they will have nothing to look at. Or sit on. Well, it’s time to furnish your first apartment.
With so many decorating options in front of you, it may seem like cultivating a warm and intimate home environment is a slow process that may not end until your lease is up. Here’s how to make your new space feel like a home and get a jumpstart on furnishing and decorating your first apartment.
8 Tips on How to Furnish Your First Apartment
1. Sturdy Staples
The first must-have items you should invest in are a sturdy bed, table and chairs. The best bang for your buck is a hand-me-down or a Craigslist purchase which you can easily freshen up with a coat of primer and black or white paint in a semi- or high-gloss finish.
2. Wall Tapestries
One of the fastest and easiest ways to add artistic flair to your apartment is to hang wall tapestries. Mandala tapestries are remarkably therapeutic, making your living space feel open, while tapestries with a geometric or color block design can infuse your space with instant sophistication.
3. Unique Posters
For pops of color without the fine art price tag, look to vintage posters or art prints by independent artists. You can find great deals at AllPosters.com or Society6. Pick a theme or artist you like and buy at least four posters in similar sizes to hang in a collage. If you’re not afraid of losing your deposit, or if your apartment allows small holes in the walls, get affordable Ikea frames to hang.
4. Removable Wallpaper
To create a statement wall in a small space and still keep your security deposit, try removable self-adhesive wallpaper. With many pattern and color options on the market, you can quickly transform a blank wall into a space loaded with personality.
5. Bold Accents
Choose one to three bold accent colors for a few cozy throws, cushions and area rugs. Layer these on a neutral palette for a fresh, pulled-together look. Browse great, wallet-friendly options online at Zara Home or H&M Home.
6. Photos
Don’t delay in displaying photos of your friends, family and happy moments in your new apartment. In fact, research about therapeutic environments suggests that pictures remind you of who you are and make you feel more grounded. So put up a photo collage, clip photos on wires strung across a long wall, or create a DIY photo chandelier to hang from the ceiling in an empty corner.
7. Organization
Deciding on a system of organization will be the toughest part, but the comfort of an orderly home? Priceless. In fact, psychologists believe that organization helps you feel more in control of your life and gives you more mental energy. Then shelves or cube storage work great for organizing books, shoes, pantry items, entryway accessories or even clothes. Head to your nearest Container Store for inspiration.
8. Great Lighting
Nothing makes a space feel cozy quite like good accent lighting. In fact, experts agree that lighting can mean the difference between a pleasant, relaxed room and an unpleasant, tense room. So make sure you have at least one bedside lamp, and one or two lamps for accent or task lighting in your living space. A ceramic lamp base in an interesting color or shape can also double as a sculpture. There you have it, so check out Target or Lamps Plus for fun, affordable options.
(Originally published at http://identitymagazine.net/2017/02/12/furnish-your-first-apartment/)
Brittany Wren 