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.
Natural, organic touches like neutral walls and palm trees characterize tropical decor.
Not to be confused with coastal décor, which is inspired by the coastlines of northern California and the Eastern Seaboard, and Mediterranean décor, which emphasizes style found in Spain, southern France, Greece and Italy, tropical décor style conjures up images of warm trade winds, sand, sea and sun of the warmer climates near the equator, from the Caribbean to the South Pacific. So no matter what season it is, you can recreate this breezy, warm style at home in your apartment by following a few simple tips.
Neutrals and Sun-Drenched Colors
Regarding color schemes, there are a few ways you can go. Consider building a foundation with neutral tones for your walls like ivory, beige, camel, tan, deep brown, soft gold and pale yellow to make brighter colors really stand out and seem vibrant. Traditional tropical colors are often bold and beautiful, channeling the elements of the natural world. Deep turquoise blues and sea greens recall the ocean and sky, while bright pinks, corals, purples, yellows and oranges are inspired by native flowers, birds and tropical sunsets. Use these colors sparingly to create contrasting focal points.
Comfort and Style
Tropical décor style is all about casual comfort and relaxation, so your furniture should reflect that sentiment. Large, overstuffed sofas and chairs are a must, with decorative pillows, slipcovers and cushions that recall tropical scenes like sky and sea. If you choose to upholster, do so in soft, lush fabrics like cotton, linen or silk, or incorporate these fabrics into window treatments to enhance the breezy, comfortable atmosphere.
Textural Elements
Texture and wood play a big part in tropical décor style, and they’re easy to incorporate into the design of your apartment. Choose bamboo wood blinds or teak elements to amp up the tropical vibe. Use area rugs made from natural materials like sea grass or sisal to add a tropical touch. If you can’t wallpaper your entire apartment, purchase a small piece of grass cloth wallpaper, cut it down to the size of a picture frame and hang it on your wall for a textural contrast.
Natural Touches
Adding the right accessories is the key to making your apartment feel like a warm tropical paradise. The tropics are filled with lush plants like palms, banana plants and rubber trees, so choose one (planted in a terracotta, wicker or bamboo pot) to place on a side table or give a little life to an otherwise dark corner. The same goes for colorful, tropical flowers like orchids or hibiscus. Hang framed photographs or paintings of tropical scenes, or create a tablescape with seashells and sea glass.
The main thing to remember when decorating in this style is to incorporate tropical elements in a natural way rather than completely replicating the tropics. A little goes a long way, so use a light touch and let your creativity shine through.
Photo credit: iStockphoto/DougBennett
Picking a room color can say a lot about your personality. But if you’re not sure where to start when decorating your space, use this infographic as a guide to help you find the best color combination in different rooms to match your personality and design style. Remember, if you’re not ready to paint your walls, there are lots of different options to add color to your space.
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Giving your apartment an updated look doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive.
Living in a rental – whether it is an apartment or a rental home – comes with a lot of regulations. Your landlord may not approve of painting over the boring renters’ beige color on your wall, and replacing hardware or updating the kitchen will come out of your pocket. However, you can cheaply and easily renovate and add your personal touch to your rental to make it look like a brand new place. Remember to check with the landlord and read the lease carefully before starting any project.
Painting
Check with your landlord and the lease to see what the terms are for painting. Even if your landlord approves, be sure to ask questions. For example, will he or she withhold your deposit, or will you have to pay a per wall fee if you move out without painting over it? If you receive the OK to paint, choose a color that suits you, but also be sure to choose a color that can be easily painted over when your lease is up (i.e. don’t paint the walls black, dark red, etc.).
Wall Décor
Wallpaper will take a lot of convincing, and it’s a lot of work to put up/take down. A few easy solutions include:
Area Rugs
Ripping up the carpet and replacing it with wooden floors will probably be frowned upon by your landlord. An easy “renovation” for this is to add area rugs. Not only are they great for adding your personal style to a room, but they can conveniently cover up stains. Additionally, area rugs absorb sound, which is beneficial in an apartment with thin walls. The best part of having area rugs is that you can take these rugs with you to your next place.
Kitchen Counter Space
Lots of kitchens come with little counter space, which is inconvenient. Adding a solid table into the space can create more space and act as a kitchen island. Get one that on wheels or lightweight so you can get it out of the way when not in use. Similarly to the items mentioned above, this can be taken with you when you move.
Furniture
Sometimes just moving furniture around will make your space feel like new. Changing the layout can also add space to the room. Take a few room measurements and furniture measurements to accurately place the furniture where you envision it going.
Hardware
Other items you can take with you to your next place are hardware pieces. You can replace your kitchen hardware quite easily. All you need is a screwdriver and replacement hardware. Keep the current ones in a box so you can put them back when you move out. You can find interesting knobs and pulls from craft stores and stores like Anthropologie or Urban Outfitters.
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/TommL
Paint your bedroom a soft color like green to feel more relaxed.
Color is one of the most important elements in life, and has a big effect on an individual’s mood and frame of mind. Decorating your apartment with color can be the best way to customize and create a space that’s all your own. But have you ever wondered what your choice of color means about you? Read on to find more about what your go-to decorative shade reveals about your apartment color personality.
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Bold colors
Red is the strongest of all colors, and is indicative of excitement, warmth, vibrancy and high energy. Red is a very bold, in-your-face color that says a lot about an individual who chooses to decorate an apartment with it: confidence, no-nonsense and strong willed. Powerful and stimulating, decorating an apartment with red can really make it stand apart.
Yellow expresses happiness and optimism, and you might be a glass half full type of person if you choose to decorate with this bright, cheery color.
Decorating with orange can be risky, but those who incorporate elements of this tangerine shade in apartment decorating can generally be confident, social and adventurous.
Cool colors
Blue is one of the most popular decorating colors, and those who gravitate towards blue tend to be patient and understanding, as well as sensitive, wise and gracious.
Green is a color that denotes harmony and balance, and those drawn to green are often creative and mature types.
Fans of purple are often introverted yet open minded. If you are drawn to purple, chances are there’s a lot going on underneath the surface that you’re not letting onto. There’s more than meets the eye with purple types.
Neutral colors
People who favor black tend to enjoy the finer things in life, as this color is elegant, refined and sophisticated. A color that never goes out of style, lovers of black are often timeless and way beyond their years.
The use of white in decorating an apartment can be a bold move, as white is a color that is characterized by stark emptiness. Implying a sense of cleanliness and purity, those who gravitate towards white prefer simplicity and minimalism.
Brown conveys solidness and steadfastness. A subtle and masculine color, those who choose to incorporate brown into decorating are often responsible and dependable.
Gray is a very serene and composed color, and those who favor gray tend to be calm and reserved.
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/DanielBendjy
From pink to blue and every color in between, discover what your wall color says about you.
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/Vasko
You’ve heard about cool colors and warm colors, complimenting tones and conflicting ones and what your favorite color might mean, but what about the color of your bedroom? You spend more time in your bedroom than any other room in the house, so the color of the walls can be an important decision. Read on to find out what your bedroom wall color says about you.
Fire Engine Red
You are warm, passionate and ready to take on the world. You are very active and embrace surprises and change, although you may have a short temper. You desire an eventful life full of adventure and attention. For you, your bedroom is so much more than a sleeping chamber. It acts as your office, your play room and your inspiration. You are creative and ambitious and the intensity of your room pushes you to embrace those attributes even more.
Mint Green
In your busy life, you strive to find peace and calmness. You find happiness through stability, harmony and balance, and you encourage sustainable living and business practices. You understand the importance of staying in shape physically, mentally and emotionally, and you actively try to maintain tranquility within your home and life. You don’t just sleep in your room, but you prefer to use it for calm activities, such as reading and meditating.
Navy
Your bedroom is almost sacred to you, providing a place of tranquility and relaxation. You have sophisticated taste and like order and direction in your life. Entering your bedroom is like entering your sanctuary, and the dark, comforting color helps you unwind from your day and focus solely on recharging your body and nurturing your mind through sleep.
Hot Pink
You could give Barbie tips on how to be girly. You are playful, romantic and joyful and have no desire to grow up just yet. You are constantly going — whether to spin class, real class or parties. You are charming and tender, but you don’t like to be serious and are distracted easily. You are attracted to the brights and shinys of the world and are open to anything new and adventurous.
Peach
You are an optimist – a morning person who rarely lets the pitfalls of the world break your sunshine-colored glasses. You love large groups and social outings, and you’re usually the first person people turn to when they need a friend. You radiate energy and cheer and take it as your personal mission to brighten someone’s sad day. You also put a high priority on health and fitness, taking full advantage of the happy power of endorphins.
White, with Posters, Paintings and Pictures
Instead of choosing just one color to define you, you would rather have your bedroom focus on all of the things you love. You like clean lines, order and precision, and you think pictures are worth much more than 1,000 words. You find change freeing and necessary, and you like to switch things up in your room often. You also display the most important things in your life in your room, and just about every piece hanging on your wall is a conversation starter.
Lavender
As the grown-up pink, the purple on your bedroom walls reflects your femininity and your elegance, allowing you to remember your girlhood while embracing the grace you’ve acquired through growing up. You’re a spiritual person who enjoys the mysteries of life, and you radiate a delicate sophistication. You can still be playful, but you also know when to be serious and you can demand respect when necessary.
Beige
Like your room, you tend to be accommodating and neutral. You are a natural giver, who tends to deflect to others’ needs before your own. You can be a bit of a homebody, but you love inviting people over and hosting them in your warm and comforting house. You enjoy the traditions and classics of life, and you often find change intimidating. You’re a hard worker, who never promises something you can’t fulfill and almost always over-delivers.