DECORATING ME APARTMENT. Anyone have tips for decorating a nice apartment on a budget?

Question

I've had a roommate for quite sometime and next month I'm moving into my own place. I just realized that none of the wall treatments and/or decorative "stuff" in our apartment is mine. I already have to spend a ton on other stuff that I need, but I'm certainly going to have to get some stuff to decorate with as well. The apartment is really nice, so I don't want to just leave it with bare walls and no decorations, but I don't want to spend 1000 on that kind of stuff because I need a tv and and a whole bunch of other stuff that was my roommates at our last place. Anyone have suggestions, where to go, what to look for, creative ideas, trendy stuff???? I'm up for whatever. I'm currently thinking like pottery and vases though, stuff like that I guess.

Answer 1

Pier One is the place to go for trendy stuff. And before you go shopping anywhere, Google coupons for that specif store. You can get a really awesome mirror for the livingroom, or any room for that matter. Also, art.com you can get posters that you can frame pretty cheaply by buying large frames at a place like Michaels Craft Store. I bought a couple of Ventage looking African Travel posters, framed them and hung them in the bathroom. I used a bamboo roll up shade and a plant in the same room. Everytime someone goes in there they come out exclaiming how much they like it. Michaels craft store also has a lot of really nice vases, pretty inexpensive. Plus, look in the clearance section of department stores for lamps, artwork, whatever. You can get a Grandfather clock on line from Wesley's clocks for about $200.00. I bought one and believe it or not, it's really nice, and not loud either. Everyone thinks its an expensive clock, only I and now you know otherwise. Hope this helps. Enjoy your space.

Answer 2

What fun...the things that you start with will shape your life so first of all have fun and secondly choose carefully. If you buy a picnic table to use as a table it can be used in your yard later. They will be going on sale soon at places like Home Depot and Lowes. If you can find three or four soft arm chairs that may be easier to move than a sofa when you move the next time. You can just use them in a semi- circle or a number of other ways. Garage sales have wonderful pictures. A couple of lamps and a bed and a chest of drawers will be about the only other things you will need. Pick things that you enjoy and do with out the others until you can afford what you want. A good mattress is essential.
Have you thought about getting a twin one because the sheets, blankets and spreads are less expensive. Also in an apartment they take much less space. Later you could add a second one of the same brand and that would make a king sized bed or fill another room with a twin.

Answer 3

I LOVE to decorate, I watch those home remodeling shows ALL the time! lol The best way to spruce up any room is with paint. Painting can make any room warm and inviting. I would also suggest maybe going to Wal Mart for pictures and some decor for your house, because they really do carry some cute stuff and its at a bargain price. Vases and pottery are a huge hit right now. So going with that is a good choice. Candle wall sconces are really pretty and can "class" up any room.

Answer 4

Go to used furniture shops (not antique stores) and mix and match furniture pieces for each room. These stores often have framed pictures for walls and rugs for the floor. Old, used stuff comes cheap and you can buy just what you like. I always recommend that a person never - ever - no matter what - buy a room suite. No living room, dining room bedroom "suite" from a furniture store. This shows plain boring undecorated conglomeration of sh&it at it's worse.
Use your taste on deciding what you can afford and buy. If your place is by for and about who you are (your choices) it will match your personality and your friends will love it because it is your personality coming through. They know you and can see that this is your "comfort" place as it is who you are and was not chosen or "suite'ed" by anyone else for the masses.

I see a lot here recommending HGTV which is OK and the "Design on a Dime" which is not. As a guy who has seen a lot of these "Design" episodes. there is not one that I could recommend for a guy - absolutely not one.

Answer 5

Take a look at second-hand stores and close-out markets. I've found some great stuff there, including urns, vases and statues. Also, if you have any pictures, you should be able to find frames for them fairly inexpensively.

Another place I've found some wonderful decorations is at some little festivals that small towns like to have during the summer, where different crafters come out to display their things. For instance, a couple of years ago I found a beautiful snow globe of Saint Nick, with the base covered with a bas-relief of different winter scenes.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Thift stores for Salvation Army and Goodwill are a must to get an idea what is out there for how much. Also, go garage sale-ing on weekends. I assume you have some idea what he had before if he is good friend, so you use that knowledge to know what items to look for and what kind of colors he likes. Is he a person who keeps his place at least picked up? He is a neat freak? Does he have any sense of taste at all? Do you know of any hobbies? Does his hobbies take up a lot of room?

Answer 7

We usually buy good quality wooden desks and tables at either Thrift Stores or Yard Sales (depending on your available time). Another recommendation I have is to sign up for freecycle.org. Your area should be on the list and it turns into a Yahoo Group which makes it convenient. I received some beautiful kitchen chairs for free, just for asking! You will be surprised how many people are giving things away.

Answer 8

As for wall space, I went to a place like Half-Price Books and bought art books for cheap. I cut out the pictures I liked and framed them. At most, the book will cost between $5 and $20, depending on the size. Then, if you choose to frame, it's a little more expensive. You could also buy sticky tack and place them on the wall.

Answer 9

check out the website for the show Design on a Dime on HGTV- they have some good ideas on the show. also - most colleges have an end of the semester art show for pottery, wall art, sculpture etc, that generally has pieces for sale. That way, you can support a starving student, and maybe even get a piece of their early artwork before they become famous.

Answer 10

Use color. If you can paint the walls, go for it. If not, use accents.
Shop yard sales, thrift stores, auctions, etc. You will be able to do so much for so little. I use old books (hardback) and stack them up. I set items on them. Use throw pillows, bird cages, all kinds of old things.

Check out HGTV.com and go to Design on a Dime. You can get so many great ideas from the site.

Good luck and let your imagination go!!!!!