Budget Decorating Ideas from a Barcelona Apartment

This vacation rental apartment from Barcelona is simple and spare, but we love the way it combines IKEA with Panton chairs, a neutral palette, and a few pops of color...

Neutral accent walls are used in every room, against a white backdrop. It's a subtle effect, but one that adds some definition to the furniture arrangements. (We also love the way the white IKEA Kulla lamp looks against that light coffee-colored wall.) Panton chairs are part of the room-to-room decor, around the dining table or used as a side chair in a bedroom. Furniture is relatively small in scale, leaving enough open space to create a good sense of "flow" around the floor plan.

In one of the bedrooms, a red console table carries through to red pillows on the bed—a basic and inexpensive idea for creating a coherent color scheme. The bathroom has another detail that we love: perfectly scaled to fit under the sink, an IKEA Molger bench looks like a more expensive piece than it is. By finding store-bought pieces that seem like they're made-to-measure, you can create a custom look in your home for much less.

See more photos and find more information about this apartment right here.

Photos: Habitat Apartments Barcelona

Hmmm, love it! Calm and serene. Great mix of high/low.

posted by david @ justveggingout.com on September 25th 2009 at 3:27pm
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This apartment looks like a hotel to me - very antiseptic. If I was renting it for a weekend getaway, I'd be very happy, but I wouldn't want to live there full-time.

posted by moxielady on September 25th 2009 at 3:36pm
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Oops disregard my last comment, it IS a vacation rental! I should probably actually take the time to read the post before commenting.

posted by moxielady on September 25th 2009 at 3:37pm
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They moved the lamp in the photos. First photo it's next to the couch, then the balcony shot, it's next to the radiator. Hmm. ;) But it is quite refreshing, and I would love to call it home!

Laura
http://www.justalittlebit.net

posted by grafxnerd on September 25th 2009 at 3:44pm
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I think my fave is the bathroom...I'd love to rent that place - no granny country!!!

posted by ModFruGal on September 25th 2009 at 5:25pm
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Love that coffee table - does it look familiar to anyone?

posted by sasefina on September 25th 2009 at 5:56pm
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Ugh, I hate those dining chairs so much.

posted by heatherdazy on September 25th 2009 at 6:22pm
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the coffee table is ikea, although it doesnt seem to be online anymore. there is also a rectangular version, or maybe thats a tv stand, and end tables. they look nice in person & i wanted them, but they just didnt work with my other things. i still saw them in store a month ago (dc area at least). hope this helps :)

posted by rstrtz on September 25th 2009 at 10:56pm
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Does anybody else think the dining chairs were the wrong choice for that table? Too crowded!

posted by terra maria on September 28th 2009 at 3:31pm
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The coffee table is most definitely ikea. I see it in the sofa section every time I visit. I believe there is also a round end table that matches.

posted by JulieLeanne on September 30th 2009 at 1:35pm
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