apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

tip #1: get rid of the futon!!

don't feel bad about closeting or even donating decorative gifts or handmedowns if they don't fit your style.

Keep the nicest stuff you own (art, furniture) in the living room or other areas it's most visible, try to hide ugly stuff (computer and tv wires, dvds, exercise equipment, ugly paperbacks etc) but feel free to bring out pretty things (leather bound books dishes, trays, etc).

don't overdo the display of sentimental items (sports, photos)-just because you get a cool thing from your trip doesn't mean it has to go front and center.

it took me a while to figure this stuff out...I had every gift and photo anyone had ever given me on my coffee table.

Perfect Tips!

I sooo much agree

Eliminate clutter.... create decorative vignettes... quite the contradiction, no?

I tend to disagree about only buying things on sale. Many times, stock is limited or unavailable by the time a sale starts, leaving you no choice but less desirable options. If you love something, indulge. There are plenty of other ways in life to save money.

Common sense really. But no matter what you do if you have no taste it really won't matter.

Ooohh, great post!

Also - make sure everything has a purpose, don't buy just because it's cute and/or on trend.

http://www.donkeehouse.com

Expand your horizons to resources besides IKEA, CB2, Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc...

There are lots of great deals available for towels, bedding and kitchenware from places such as SmartBargains, Overstock.com and Amazon - plus you're less likely to overspend while shopping online since you're better able to compare prices and track your total spending then when you're in a retail store with a big empty shopping cart just begging to be filled.

Also - Amazon has a feature called "Wishlist". So rather than letting Mother/Aunt/Grandma send you another ugly reindeer sweater for Xmas, there's no shame in asking them to check out your wishlist.

Start with one room. I can't afford to perfectly furnish and decorate my entire house, but my living room is exactly the way I want it. We're focusing on the office next. It helps me to feel like we're making progress, directs our project list and shopping, and even though I hate my bedroom, I can always sit in my one perfect room and feel better. If everything was in a half-complete state that would feel more disheartening (to me at least).

all you need is one wonderful piece to really make a room... or at least inspire you to create an 'environment' as opposed to just some room. buying as piece of furniture that is a statement piece can be expensive... but it is much easier to do if you are considering it to be an 'investment'. Start with a piece you love even if it is expensive and then compromise with 'cheap decorating'. if it is done tastefully and somewhat coordinated, it will not look cheap at all.

PRIORITIZE...and think of big purchases as investments...oh yes, and learn to budget.

I have to agree... I had a futon way too long - I daren't tell how long! - and as soon as I dumped it and got a "real" couch, I felt like I had become a real adult. It coincided with my buying my house, which I knew was a more permanent and settled place than all my previous spaces had been.

If you like it, hit all the flea markets and yard sales and Craigslist posts you can. You'll get cool stuff that doesn't look like it all came from a catalog, at much better prices, too.

I agree with all of these points (and the first comment above about getting rid of the futon:)) and I LOVE the black paint with white trim in the picture above. I might use a dark navy though... lovely!

I'd add that every room doesn't have to be filled with furniture- I've seen new couples ruin a lovely space by cramming ugly, big-box living room "sets" in.

Also, I can't get on board with the paint the picture frames thing... maybe for photos, but I frame to compliment the art. I also plan ahead and slowly buy frames that will coordinate & play nice with others. It helps to only buy very simple frames. (and at least move that futon out of the living room!)

http://cozylittlecave.blogspot.com

Just because it's free, doesn't mean you have to take it. Aunt Betty may be getting rid of her overstuffed couch and complete blue bathroom rug set, but if it's in a wood tone or style that doesn't go with what you're aiming for, politely say no.

Nothing in my living room cost more than $30. It's all hand-me-downs, re-covered, or purchased for dirt cheap. It's not perfect and I'm in the process of changing that, but for the past few years, it's served as a grown-up enough space. I had to turn a LOT of crap down in the process.

I love everything about that photo of the white chair in the black room.

also agree with the not painting all the frames (or anything) the same color...it looks too designery to me.

As long as a room has a futon it will never be "grown up".

Challenge yourself to work with what you have first. The SO and I recently upgraded from a one-bedroom, 450-square foot duplex to a two-bedroom, 650-square foot house. I made a list of all the things we needed, and it was tempting to do it all at once, at IKEA. However, a colassal vet bill (damn exotics!) and a grad school tuition hike forced us to hold off on purchasing everything but what we really needed--bookshelves and dining chairs--right away. I've found I actually enjoy figuring out each of the rooms based on what we have. Taking it slow has also given me a better idea of what I want, and what will go with each room.

I love the white patterned armchair and pedestal table in the second photo.
I'm sorry for commenting off topic - but that chair and table was exactly what I had envisioned for my bedroom.
Does anyone know where its from? Its probably too expensive anyway..sigh..

Fire Wife Katie: EXCELLENT!

Love your artwork, love your living room. Most excellent.

Mary

i second the futon theory. along with that goes papasan chairs, blacklights, anything neon AND fuzzy, and door beads.

all great advice!

my tip for making an apartment feel "grown up" is to learn how to light your home. I cannot tell you how much better rooms will feel when they're properly lit! learn to use lamps with the right bulbs, discover the wonder of crown bulbs in overhead and bathroom lights, and if you can spring for it, have an electrician install rheostats in place of flip-switches (or do it yourself!)

and no, you can no longer use twinkle lights inside as a decorative light source!

http://www.mylittleapartment.blogspot.com

I disagree about the futon. I used to hate them but then found a line of very elegant designs that surprised me that they were actually futons. Like 'em or hate em, they are sometimes the most affordable way to sleep guests and with new options they don't scream college dorm like they used to

Kpaige13 - I wish I could get my husband to think like you! He wants to put his blacklight up in the living room or bedroom.

I fear I will never have a "grown-up" home although my husband and I well into our 30s. We have stuffed animals on the bed and couch, a desk lamp in the shape of Darth Vader's head, and a poster of Led Zeppelin in the bathroom.

Also, I wish young men would stop taking the black-leather-seating-and-chrome-and-glass-tables shortcut to decorating an apartment. It may look better than a sagging old futon and mismatched hand-me-downs, but it still says, "I have no idea what I'm doing" to me.

Hahaha, definitely get rid of the futon! I'm so appreciative of these tips, guys. Honestly. They are excellent and I am going to use them.

Emily

I am stuck with the standard issue beige walls that i can't paint... Any ideas for that? It would be nice to see a post with ideas for beige walls.

keep it tidy. treat your space like it is small, and ensure everything is orderly and has a place.
that way you can the look of *clutter-free* vignettes (oxymoron, yes!)

dolcib: I'm with you on being more forgiving of futons.

I understand futon-hatin', but it's working for me right now. I'm in a 1br apt, and it comes in handy for guests, insomnia episodes, and afternoon naps. I absolutely love the cream-colored natural cotton cover I got for it that can be washed when it starts to get dingy. That kind of quality fabric costs a lot for a real sofa. I got one of those metal "retro" style ones, rather than a clunky wood model, so it's not such an eyesore.

BUT... I do agree it is not the most grown-up look. I'm saving up for a sparkly new sofa when we eventually move into a 2br so I can put the futon in the guest room. Then it will be blisssss...

Buy some original art/photography to replace collegiate-level framed posters. It doesn't have to be expensive, particularly if you look for vintage finds or browse student shows at local universities.

You not only upgrade your look but also support a working artist.

I'm with you, Cholette. Some of us just don't have the luxury of painting the walls, as much as we'd really love to. It would be fantastic to see some ideas for dealing with this. Particularly in rentals!

Do not buy your plants at Ikea or Target!!!! They may be cheap, but AT should really be emphasizing the value of buying local. We are talking about filling our homes with goods and goods and goods, and its all from the same five or six stores that exist throughout the country. Personally, I do not find this a signifier of a grown-up home because it lacks personality and an attention to important issues at hand in our global, national and local communities. At the very least, buy your PLANTS at a local nursery. For goodness sakes!

TIDY.

No really.

Tidy up, don't leave clutter out. What makes a "grown-up" home, in my mind, is cleanliness and orderliness. At the very least, controlled chaos.

Consider where you're placing things. What strikes me about the first picture that I enjoy - and I'm sure that many people will agree - is item placement. The person has put thought into where things go, and making it look nice. The books are arranged. The photographs are visible and not hiding anything.

I agree with the person who said to learn how to light your room. One of the main barriers in my living room IS the lighting (no overhead lights, relying on lamps but have very few outlets).

Also, try to have at least a basic colour scheme. My living room is warm, deep tones (chocolate browns and dark purples) but with bits of green thrown in. (Oh god that sounds horrible but trust me, it does work!)

I'd also recommend that you learn how to fix up free/cheap items (like my coffee table - free, and it only took some wood glue, a few screws, and a good cleaning to make it pretty again).

If you "Make a list of Guidlines" as suggested by AT...NEVER buy anything with "a subtle nautical theme" unless you live on water. And even then--not so much.

Start collecting quality pieces you'll have for a long time. Even on a strict budget you can work this concept out second-hand. Thinking about quality means you're thinking about the future, a grown-up way of thinking.

A lot of great advice above. When I moved into my home, I didn't jump in too quickly with decorating. Live with it for a while, and you will see how you use the rooms and what best to do as far as function and decor. Whatever your taste is, it's always good to invest in good classic pieces that will transcent the trends and you can live with for a long time. With basic pieces, buy the best you can afford. The rest...mix it up a bit. Hit some flea markets, thift stores or Craigs List for unique items that will add your own personal touch. Have fun and take your time!

I definitely advocate the rules of "don't buy everything from one store" and "patience when shopping on craigslist." Your place may feel bare for a year, but at least you got what you wanted at the right price. My proudest moment: This table for $75. http://tinyurl.com/km6z6b

Supriya -- here are the sources for the white patterned armchair and everything else in that photo: http://www.housetohome.co.uk/galleries/home_office/Black_study_618.html

what's wrong with black leather sofas and glass coffee tables ? :[

Two things (that I've done in my living-by-myself-actual-"home"-and-not-and-college-apartment apartment this very week before my senior year of college starts next week):

1. Clean up, dang it.
-Put away your clothes, wash your dishes, and make your dang bed. Your mom told you to do it because she wanted a grown-up house despite the rapid expansion of the stuffed animal population in your kid-room. But she also wanted you to be able to have some skills when you moved out on your own. It will make you feel better to be able to find what you're looking for, and will make your things last longer if you take care of them.

2. Put some stuff up on the walls.
-That mirror your great aunt gave you that you've moved with six times but always leave on the floor because you aren't sure just where it should go? Just hang it up. That picture you bought your senior year of highschool on your trip to the real-live art museum? Hang it up. The quasi-dorky poster with a literary quote and a pretty picture of the Eiffel Tower? Hang it up. Sure, it's not a signed print, and sure it might not be perfect, but it will make you feel more like you are in a home to have things on the wals, and not just a place you're staying. And spackling is fun (and a great excuse to choose a new color for your walls)!

Most of the stuff in our house is second hand. Excellent condition stuff, but second hand nonetheless. If we do buy new, I research it and make sure I get the best for our budget and that's usually something on sale. Be patient if you can afford to be and you shall be rewarded. We didn't have any dining chairs for a year before the chairs I coverted finally dropped in price.

MeganAmber, you said exactly what I was going to. Plants from Target and Ikea? What?

Edit, edit, edit.

Buy grown-up furniture. I know this is a sticking point - because people feel the need to get everything all at once and it gets overwhelming. Take it slow. If you've got your eye on a sofa, save, wait for sales, and then buy. It REALLY makes a difference.

And don't try and do it all at once. Maybe this year you buy a grown up bed and a grown up couch. Maybe next year you get a nice set of dining chairs. Your life doesn't happen in one instant - it happens in layers. Let your decorating happen in the same way.

@plumeria: Because it seems to be a super-common way for young men to decorate their places. Leather, chrome and glass is functional, masculine and modern but (in my experience) shows lack of imagination. It's obvious that they didn't put any thought into whether they truly like the stuff or are buying it because it's easy and doesn't rock the heteronormative boat.

Before considering spray painting all frames the same color (it's a lovely thing to do for a particular area, if that's your thing) - just frame your art! NO MORE PUSH PINS.

If that tattered Animal House poster isn't worth framing, then it doesn't belong on your wall any more.

If you're on a budget, THRIFT! Spend some time at your local Salvation Army, Savers, Goodwill, antique shops, Craigslist, etc. I have a full set of silverware (yes, actual silver) that I use everyday and love- found on sale at an antique shop for $60. I had a dinner party this weekend and realized I didn't have enough salad-size plates for my 5-course meal- so I stopped at Savers before grocery shopping and picked up 12 clear salad plates for $3. If you save money on all the small items, you have much more left over for that piece of dream furniture that will just make your living room (or dining room, or bedroom...)

i love that room with the dark wall.
love the botanical prints, and the chair upholstery too.
Its style sort of reminds me of how Carries apartment from SatC changed in the movie too, the 'grew the room up'....

@ plumeria

I had a good laugh at that comment when it made me realize that all of the guys I know who are two-to-four years out of college have this exact setup at home.

I actually can't picture the coffee table without a stack of Maxims and a tangle of Xbox cords.

Thank you sassafrassy!

When you first start investing in wood furniture, don't buy matched sets of anything except dining-room chairs and twin beds!! Those "suites" are a dead giveaway. Similarly for the bachelors, a leather sofa is fine (so practical!) if you have a chair, or better, a pair of chairs that complement, rather than match.

Which brings up another point--with regard to accessories such as lamps or vases, matched pairs placed symmetrically add a very grown-up feeling of balance to a room.

In a white-wall rental, I had good success covering the walls with king-size sheets in a pattern that looked like wallpaper. Got them at Century 21. A staple gun is key. For a bigger room you just do an accent wall.

In terms of decoration: Don't be afraid to get the hand-me-down items. A little bit of TLC to these items, and some generous modifications, can help with absorbing these items into your "motif". Some people may be skeeved, but yard sales, salvation army, or goodwill are also fun places to get some interesting and CHEAP decorative trinkets. Also -- for frames -- dollar stores have decent selections! Also, use your own images to decorate. Hooray for photoeditting that can be done with a click of your mouse - turns photos into black/white, sepia, high contrast, etc. Be your own artist~

Furniture: Sales, sales, sales! Follow them! :) Sometimes end of season sales can help furnish a room piece by piece.

Decorating for a "grown up home" can be fun even when you're on a budget!

Lose all "vignettes" (the IN expression for tchotchkes), useful things are just as decorative. Thre are better things to do with your life than dusting useless junk.