Apartment decorating for a 1st timer?

Question

Don't know if this will help- I am a 24yo mom to a 4yo boy...

This is my apt...

Enter...
At the end of the hallway is the entry to the living room
at the right of the hallway is the kitchen entry
The kitchen has two entries...one of which leads to the living room as well.

All my walls in the entire apartment are white (so dull)
My entire floor is hardwood (except for the kitchen and bathroom..which are tiled)

I have a couch, pc and tv in the living room
A table of 4 in the kitchen as well as other kitchen appliances.

I am not into decorating or fashion like that. I need some simple, not too expensive, yet elegant ideas.
This is my 1st apartment and I am completely lost in how to set it up. Sometimes I feel I have too much space, so it's looks empty to me.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Answer 1

Yeah! First apartment!
1] Do you share a bedroom with your son? If so, you have different options. Say your favorite color is blue, and his is red, and he loves racecars. You could buy him a blue quilt with red cars on it, yourself a red quilt, and paint he walls blue.
2] If you don't share a room, use his two favorite colors - one for walls, and another for bedding/drapes. Then buy him some storage units in 'his' color for the bedroom and the living room [for toys, books, games, stuffed animals, art supplies.] All his 'stuff' besides clothes and schoolwork should go in these, starting now. [ you will be amazed how fast that apartment will fill up! ] You can store some in the closets.
3] Pick YOUR three favorite colors, and use different combos of them in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, bath. That will provide a 'flow' to the apt. without making it boring.
ex: colors - blue, green,. lavender.
combo a] blue with green
b] green with lavender
c] lavender with green
Add a favorite metal [ all siver, brass, or bronze ] or a favorite wood tone [ oak, maple, cherry ] for candlesticks, picture frames, etc.
Be sure to add some greenery to the living area.
This system will make your apt look and feel beautiful; and you won't need all new things when you move again!

Answer 2

Get rid of white paint. Keep most of the living areas more neutral and then use bolder colors in the bedrooms. But get rid of white it gives a home an empty feeling and void of personality.
As far a placing furniture for the best situation use Feng Shui.
It can work wonders in any home. Many books are sold cheap on Ebay and Half.com.
Dont use mirrors or it will look even larger. Use your personality. The best inexpensive picture for walls is this:

Buy a large canvas and two small ones at a Art Store (may be cheaper at Michaels or craft shops). Take regular home paint and a roller. Get colors you like. And paint different geometric shapes on the canvas. If you over-lap colors let the paint dry between. You can make cheap fabulous looking ART. Hang the large one and the smaller ones together on a large wall. Remember all you need is house paint, roller, and canvas (you dont even have to frame your work). It looks great.
I go this idea from the FAB five gay guys on tv (ya know the designers). They gave me great ideas for homes. They turn the straight guy into a cool all-together guy.

Add lots of personality with pillows (you can make easy) and frames with family photos. Go to thrift shops to look for neat washable wall art like the in thing (metal wall art). Dress up the walls and you will liven up the space.

Good Luck

Answer 3

I would first start by going through design and decorating magazines, so you come up with an idea of what you like. Go to your local library and color xerox pictures from magazines and books. Next, browse around thrift stores, good will, and garage sales. Although you'll find a lot of junk, you can find some real gems too. Look for art work, picture frames, vases, lamps, tables, conversational pieces that suite your style. Since you buy them for a bargain price, you won't feel bad about replacing some of the things in the future with higher quality items. Check out your local craft/art store and look for posters. You can temporarily hang up cheap posters to take up space on your blank walls until you find ideal artwork.

Answer 4

Fake plants - tall ones - will help with the white walls. You may find unique artwork at a discount store (Dollar Store, Walmart, Goodwill).

I would put a low table like a coffee table - in the livingroom. This will give your son a surface to color & play with toys on. Again - Goodwill would be ideal - who cares of he writes with crayons on it? I would also suggest a plastic storage bin for toys - that way you will not go crazy trying to keep all his toys in his room. A bookcase can store his books & also hold a couple of items of interest that you like, books or other. Goodwill also.

In the kitchen - a plastic or terra cotta pot can hold utensils - spatulas, large spoons, etc.

Wander around Salvation Army & Goodwill with an open mind - you may be surprised!

Answer 5

If you buy the paint from Home Depot or Lowes they can show you all kinds of ideas. A library near you may have a set of "Sweet's Catalog,"
a multi volume set that contractors use.
http://www.homeandfamilynetwork.com/decorating/

Answer 6

all the best CHeap but HIGH quality ideas are at www.DiscountHomeGardenDecor.com/