The right color accent wall can transform the look of your apartment space.
Creating a color accent wall in your apartment can be a shortcut to transforming the look of your entire space — but misguided choices could undermine your beautification efforts.
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Read on for the do’s and don’ts to design an amazing, artful accent wall in your apartment home.
Choose the best lighting for your decor and taste. Let your style shine!
‘Throwing light on the subject’ does more than just reveal the truth of something.
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When it comes to your apartment, the right light can illuminate your good taste and create the mood of the space you want to live in.
Read on for ways to banish shadowy recesses and squinty spaces with the best lighting choices for your apartment home.
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But what happens if you combine the two? You have a mix of old and new, with sleek furniture and neutral colors representing modern decor, and rustic lights and wood pallet art representing vintage decor.
Click on the infographic above to learn how to pair items and create the perfect combination of modern and vintage in your apartment.
Emerald is the 2013 Pantone Color of the Year.
Say goodbye to 2012’s Tangerine Tango: Emerald has been named the Pantone Color of the Year for 2013. Will it make an appearance in your apartment or wardrobe?
Start planning now to integrate this versatile shade into your everyday life.
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Bring the outdoors in
Echo the freshness of the great outdoors and the coming of spring by painting several of your walls (with your landlord’s okay) or even a single accent wall in your apartment. You can also try emerald accents with new or vintage framed prints, a decal border, or with painted door and window trim.
Those old road maps can be a surprising source of decor if you frame them.
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Calendars and Maps. Sure, maps are kind of old hat now that you’ve got that spiffy new GPS with turn-by-turn directions, but there’s no need to throw them out. Cut out an interesting stretch of land from your travels, frame it, and you’ve got instant art. The same thing goes for last year’s art calendar. Those iconic images you admired for just one-twelfth of the year can now be enjoyed year-round.
More about Decor:
Unexpected Places to Find Decor Inspiration
Repurposing Old Items to Decorate Your Apartment
T-shirts and Sweaters. With a little stuffing and some thread, those old items of clothing can become attractive and cozy throw pillows.
Doors. Old doors salvaged from demolished houses or barns can find new life throughout your home as decorative yet functional pieces and accents. Turn a barn door into a dining room table. Turn an old door into a headboard for your bed. Hinge three doors together, give them a splashy coat of paint and use them as a privacy screen. The sky’s the limit!
Older Fixtures. Even fixtures from an older house—or your old house—can find new life in your new abode, and many can be found cheaply. Turn decorative ceiling tiles from an old building into a kitchen backsplash. Replace your dingy plastic tub with an old claw foot model. Replace handles, hinges and drawer pulls with their older, more rustic counterparts.
Containers. You never know when an old vase, flower pot or umbrella stand might come in handy as an indoor planter or other conversation piece. Sometimes all it needs is a good scrubbing and a little spray paint to become something brand new.
These are just a few ideas for turning old items into beautiful new decorations for your home. With a little time and imagination, you can turn almost anything into a vibrant conversation piece for your place.
Photo credit: iStockphoto/DNY59
Bring your favorite cities into your apartment when you represent the best of these places in your apartment decor.
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The parts of your city’s personality which you choose to bring indoors can give your apartment a look unlike any other. Find aspects of your new city or a favorite city to inspire your décor, whether it involves culture, history, climate or geography. Pulling together the details that stand out to you will make you feel closer to the places you cherish and pay homage to.
Identify local high points
Consider for a moment: what is the essence of where you live? Is your town defined by its location near the ocean, mountains or desert? Or maybe your city has an urban personality all its own, something like San Francisco’s bohemianism, Los Angeles’ luxury, Miami’s modernism or Charleston’s history.
Perhaps your district defines how you feel about living in your apartment. From Chinatown to the French Quarter, most cities offer a number of different atmospheres, depending on the part of town you’re in. To immerse yourself in those vibes, pick out what you feel are the most essential aspects of your hometown.
Your apartment as a stage
Now for the fun! Once you’ve chosen your city inspiration, it’s time to begin collecting your décor items. Here’s where your personal style and imagination can shine as you set the scene. Consider:
• Framed maps of favorite cities or neighborhoods
• Wall art that captures an iconic scene from the city
• Wall maps of the entire city
• Personal souvenirs, like metro tickets, menus, museum brochures or photographs
• Small statues, travel posters or whatever brings the city vibe into your apartment
You can be as original as your creativity allows. Collect fishing nets for your Maine apartment or theater posters for your Broadway bailiwick. The little details can go a long way to create your ideal city atmosphere.
Color your city
One dramatic way to underscore your city vibe is with color. Blue and white create the nautical atmosphere of Capri as easily as Catalina. Vivid reds and yellows can recall a European bistro, and black and white on chrome help create your ‘any city’ — a powerful backdrop to whatever town you’d like to emphasize with your unique décor items.
Pieces of your place
Gathering key furniture pieces that share city inspiration can give substance to your décor plan. Whether you find some Adirondack chairs for your Catskills-style retreat, remnants from an old textile mill for your Burlington apartment, or a sleek drafting table for your Silicon Valley digs, look for furniture items that represent your city’s past or present.
Embrace the exotic
Maybe your favorite city isn’t the one you live in, but, rather, a place you’ve lived before or that simply inspires you. Do you yearn for Budapest, Boston or Barcelona? Bring a piece of those places home. By collecting materials that harken to your favorite spot, you can create the atmosphere you love, though you may be thousands of miles away.
Apartment decorating with city inspiration can create a chic and appealing atmosphere. Conjuring a sense of specific place in your apartment adds to the sense that, when you are there, you are truly home.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock / Mikhail Zahranichny
Encourage your child to imagine and explore with an organized, creative playroom in your apartment.
Ideally, you’ll leave electronics, such as tablets, televisions and DVD players, out of this room so children can use their imagination, but you may opt to make the room a place where they can also watch movies, especially if you have an extra room to use as a playroom.
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If you have just a corner of a room to spare, make sure it’s in a room that’s quieter than, say, where you watch television with your spouse, or his bedroom, where he’s encouraged to rest. Otherwise, your child might feel he doesn’t have the creative space to act out characters, make noises or draw the best picture ever. Set the corner apart by putting down a kid-minded rug and flank it with organizational pieces, such as shelves or toy boxes. Fill those with books, toys, board games and personal items your child has made, and set a play kitchen, workbench or giant chalkboard or marker board on an easel in the corner.
For those who have a whole room to spare, create a playroom with four basic elements, and provide your kid a place to sit and read, a table to work or draw, organizational pieces to teach how to tidy up and room to play.
Clutter control
Let’s face it, the real purpose of a playroom is to have a place to put all of your child’s stuff. Organize homework, clothes or hobbies with a day-of-the-week hanging organizer ($4.99), utilize overhead space for stuffed animals, bath toys or sports balls with a toy hammock net organizer ($7.99) and keep small pieces together with a few vintage organizer trays ($8.95 each). This Holly & Martin Paige organizer doubles as a craft desk ($199), and a wood bookcase and toy organizer ($149) matches any décor and grows with your child (go from storing toys to storing scarves, shoes, socks and books). Add a few inexpensive wall shelves, and your child will be putting his toys away in no time.
Kid-friendly flooring
In an apartment, you probably can’t replace the floor in any room. But you can spruce it up with primary colored carpet squares, animal and alphabet squares or rugs showcasing math, shapes, the alphabet, nature, maps or music. If the playroom has different stations, such as an area to read and an area to play, set them off with different colored rugs.
Tables and work spaces
Every kid needs a child-sized hard surface to draw on, measure things out or put crafts together on. For the budget-conscious, select an unfinished table and chairs and set aside a day for your child to paint them however he wants. This IKEA children’s table ($19) doubles as a seat and storage for toys, or you could go traditional with a sturdy wood table and two to four chairs, such as this Sauder Beginnings Kids Table and Stool Set from Wal-Mart ($49), which features open cubby storage on both ends for flat items such as puzzles and notepads, or a Tot Tutors Wood Table and Chair Set ($99.88), also from Wal-Mart.
Shy away from character-themed furniture, as you’ll want this furniture to grow with your child.
Seat options
Playrooms don’t mean children go non-stop in them. Give him a place to sit down and read a book with a space-themed printed chair ($44.98, from Target), or provide her with a spot to daydream with a pink polka-dotted rocker ($53, from Luxury Lamb). For gender-neutral seating, try a plush green or neutral chair ($99) from The Land of Nod, which has the option to be personalized with your child’s name. Don’t forget to include a throw pillow. Purchase a few bean bags or large pillows so your child’s playroom guests will feel comfy, too.
Fun additional ideas
If you have the space, create a true playroom by adding an indoor slide, funky curtains, decals, a tent, canopies, a kid-sized basketball hoop or even a giant umbrella to make the room seem truly unique. Frame different maps from atlases, colorful vintage record covers and artsy wall calendar cut-outs, and the room will be as visually interesting as it is imaginative.
Is your jewelry jumbled in a pile? Use our ideas to properly display (and show off) your jewelry.
Long necklaces, long earrings, studs, rings, bracelets and bangles…oh my! How do you organize your jewelry? Do you dump it all in a drawer or hang your necklaces around a door handle? Do you often lose one earring in a pair? We have a few suggestions for not only organizing your jewelry but also putting it on display. Below are a few unique do-it-yourself and repurposing projects to properly display (and show off) your beautiful jewelry.
Cheese Grater
Sounds strange, doesn’t it? This one is rather simple, but it’s an easy and unique way to display your earrings. You can make it your own by spray painting the grater with a color that goes well with your décor. First, spray paint the grater with a primer. Once it is completely dry, cover the grater with a color of spray paint that you like. Let that coat dry, and if needed, add an additional coat of spray paint. Use the holes to display your earrings.
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Branch
This one is simple, and you can use supplies you may already have around your apartment. First, head outdoors and search for a small branch. Next, hammer smaller nails into the branch on the same side. To attach to your wall, hammer two larger, stronger nails into the wall, and prop the branch on the nails. Next, hang your necklaces from the nails on the branch.
Rake
To continue the theme of repurposing old items, enter the garden rake. Living in an apartment means not having to worry about raking leaves in the fall. So repurpose that old rake and turn it into a jewelry holder. Take a head of an old rake and clean it off. If you’re feeling spontaneous, prime and spray paint the rake to match your décor. Next, tie jute twine around the top part of the rake for extra earring storage. Mount the rake head with a screw onto the door of your closet or on the wall. Use this to hang your necklaces.
Knobs
Craft stores, antique markets and stores like Anthropologie all have collections of old door knobs, drawer knobs and drawer pulls. Install small knobs on the wall to hang your necklaces and bracelets. Select three or five different knobs that go with your décor to display your jewelry. Drawer pulls are perfect for rings and earrings.
Picture Frames
You have several options to display your jewelry using picture frames. One way to display your earrings is to attach picture wire to the back of a frame. Use an old frame, if possible, and repaint it with acrylic or spray paint. Attach picture hanging wire to the back of the frame with a staple gun. If you don’t have a staple gun, use small thumb tacks. Repeat this step several times until your frame is filled up. Space the rows about 2.25 inches apart. Place this on top of a dresser, chest of drawers or your bathroom counter.
Another option is to attach a peg board to the frame. Prime and spray the picture frame to match your décor. Next, attach a peg board to the inside of the frame with Gorilla glue, and apply some weight. If you want the peg board to be a different color, paint it before attaching it to the frame. Then, attach small accessories to the peg board, such as baskets and hangers. The baskets are useful for rings, bracelets and stud earrings. Use the hangers to display your necklaces.
Photo credit: iStockphoto/Hofmeester
Pantone’s color of the year is Emerald. Incorporate this in your decor in 2013.
Take a look around your apartment. Is it ready for a décor revamp? Spring is right around the corner, and this is the perfect opportunity to freshen up your space and give it an updated look.
This year, new trends are popping up, including incorporating Pantone’s bold color of the year, as well as an emphasis on art. If you’re looking to step outside of the box and be daring in your décor, 2013’s your year. Read on to learn how to incorporate 2013’s décor trends into your apartment.
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Add Pops of Color
Painting isn’t always an option for apartment dwellers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add pops of color throughout your space. Pantone, an industry leader who sets the tone for home décor, announced its color of the year for 2013: Emerald. According to Pantone’s website, “emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world.” To add color to your walls without painting, frame emerald-inspired paintings in a set of three or cover a large canvas with an emerald-colored fabric. You can also incorporate the color with accent pieces, such as throw pillows, blankets, vases or picture frames. Or, if you’re feeling extra daring, consider painting a piece of furniture, such as a dresser, TV stand or side tables.
Shine Brightly
Energy-efficient LED lighting products are still a hit in 2013. This includes cove, tray ceiling, toe kick, and under- and above- cabinet lighting. Finishes for lighting include chrome and polished nickel, which appeal to Generation “Y” and baby boomers.
Incorporate Patterns
One way to spruce up your décor is by adding patterns, though the key is to not overdo it. One of the trends present during Spring/Summer 2013 Fashion Week was stripes. Stripes bring movement into a room, and designers will likely to incorporate this trend in their decorating this season. Mix and match different sized stripes for a rug or accent pillows. If your big furniture is neutral, consider adding in a bold accent piece, such as a striped accent chair, which will add a spark to your space.
Another trend in patterns for 2013 is incorporating botanical prints. This includes floral prints and plants. Avoid going overboard, as adding a select few prints will go a long way. To make it subtle, make black and white prints of illustrations and attach them to colorful card stock. You can also line the back of a bookcase with botanical images.
Use Metallic Finishes
Metallics are making a comeback this year. Brass is back, and it is easy to incorporate into your space – not to mention it is affordable. Change out your plain lamp base for one with a brass finish, and consider changing your knobs and cabinet pulls to brass. Golds are also in style this year and can be added to your décor through a starburst mirror, accent pieces or a mirror. And don’t forget about chrome and silver – they’re around to stay.
Repurpose Wood
Though this isn’t a new trend, adding repurposed or reclaimed wood to your space will be big this year. Combining wood with metal is a popular trend. This could include a desk with an iron base and a wood top. Wooden trays, cutting boards and coasters should be showcased in your apartment.
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/murboy
With a little hard work and creativity, you can create an art or music studio in your apartment.
Music or Recording Studio
Soundproof your space. Soundproofing is very important. Fasten egg crate foam to the walls, ceiling and windows using staples or drywall screws. This will help control echoes and keep sounds from coming in or getting out. Your goals are to both cut out street noise and not irritate your neighbors.
Noise Cancellation. Quiet your new studio by placing computers and other equipment in a closet or the next room if possible. This cuts out background noise from PC fans.
Mount speakers and other such equipment on the walls, and wrap the metal legs on chairs, tables or other equipment in Bubble Wrap to remove audio echoes.
If possible, build a separate booth for recording equipment or where you will do your actual instrumental or vocal recording. This will allow for additional soundproofing and noise control.
Leverage Technology. These days, you don’t necessarily need big, expensive mixing boards and other complex equipment. You can achieve all the same effects digitally on a PC, laptop or tablet using often free software and a $100 microphone.
Art Studio
Check Zoning Laws. Your state may require you to purchase a building permit in order to build an art studio, especially if you intend to sell your work out of your home.
Check Your Floor Surface. You’ll want a floor that’s easy to clean and can preferably take a beating. Carpet gets gobs of paint and collects paint or pottery dust, so that’s out. If the space you want to use as an art studio has inadequate flooring, consider ripping it up and redoing it.
Lighting. Strong, natural light is the best to work under, especially if you’re a painter. Make sure your chosen room has a north-facing window. If not, install some lighting that can simulate natural light.
Ventilation. Painting, drawing and pottery can throw up a lot of fumes and dust. You’ll need a safe way to filter this out of your workspace. Install a ventilation fan in the ceiling or place a box fan in an open window.
With just a few modifications, you can turn a spare bedroom into an awesome music or art studio so you can explore your passion from the comfort of your own apartment.
Photo credit: iStockphoto/dantok