Decorating Small Apartments

Dorm décor doesn't have to be boring

Moving into a dorm or an off-campus apartment can bring a feeling of independence unlike any other.</p><p>Until, that is, you open the door and take in your new home: blandly colored, empty and lacking decorative freedom. </p><p>No painting, no candles, no nails in the wall, you&#x92;re told. </p><p>Plenty of creative collegiates overcome residential rules with a lot of photos and magazine clippings, but there&#x92;s more to modern dorm decorating than just posters and double-sided tape.</p><p>Holly Becker, interior design consultant and author of &#x93;Decorate: 1,000 Design Ideas for Every Room in Your Home,&#x94; thinks that limited options force you to be more creative. </p><p>She recommends revamping tired spaces with flea market finds. </p><p> &#x93;You can buy a bunch of frames and paint them bright colors,&#x94; she said. &#x93;Or even take old doors or shutters and lean them against a wall or behind a bed to make a vintage headboard.&#x94;</p><p>To maximize small spaces, Becker suggests placing a mirror across from a window and avoiding dark colors. You can also add warmth to a room by using different tints of the same color or by layering different fabrics.</p><p>The less creative need not fear. Plenty of stores, including Target, Function Junction, CB2 and Bed, Bath & Beyond, offer trendy dorm pieces during the back-to-school shopping season, and many will guide you with lists of dorm essentials and preplanned color schemes.</p><p>Before you shop, remember that your space should be conducive to studying, but it should fit you, too. For example, if you&#x92;re into geography, a big map is an easy way to make your space your own.</p><p>University of Missouri-Kansas City resident assistant Maggie Light works with medical students and often sees decorating schemes that match students&#x92; personalities. </p><p> &#x93;There&#x92;s always one person with a full-on skeleton.&#x94;</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">MAGNETIC FRAMES </span></strong><br /> Keep your family, friends and beloved pets close by in a 3-inch-by-2-inch frame you don&#x92;t have to hang. </p><p>&#x95;Mini magnetic frame in lime and orange, $1.95 each, CB2</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">EATING IN </span></strong><br /> Attempt a home-cooked meal with an attachable colander, or cozy up to your ramen noodles with this soup mug. </p><p>&#x95;Pot drainer, $5.97, Function Junction; soup bowls, $1.99 for a pack of two, Target</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">A HELPING HAMPER </span></strong><br /> This hamper with removable laundry bag keeps your dirty laundry from being everyone else&#x92;s business. </p><p>&#x95;Chrome laundry bag stand, $19.99, and mesh laundry bag in nova blue, $5.99, The Container Store</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">&#9632; MOVING LIGHTS </span></strong><br /> UMKC residential life coordinator Katie Garey calls modern lighting trends &#x93;less gaudy.&#x94; &#x93;We&#x92;re not seeing Christmas lights too much anymore, which used to be really big.&#x94; Instead, dorm lighting has become chic and practical and can easily be moved from desk to bed. </p><p>&#x95;Architect lamp with adjustable clamp, $32.95, CB2</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">LEAVE A NOTE </span></strong><br /> Dorm Co sells a variety of wall decals, including these dry-erase calendar clings. &#x93;It&#x92;s an easy way to communicate with your roommate by leaving quick messages or to sync schedules,&#x94; says Jeff Gawronski, the head of product development. </p><p>&#x95;WallPops dry-erase set, $19.99 for a four-pack, Dorm Co</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">SOFT SEATING </span></strong><br /> Floor pillows soften a space and are easy to move around, whereas chairs and futons limit rearrangement possibilities. </p><p>&#x95;Round pintuck floor pillow, $49, Urban Outfitters</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">SPORTING A CADDY </span></strong><br /> A shower caddy is a must for students who use a community bathroom. </p><p>&#x95;Shower caddy in green, $3.99, Target</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">FAKE A HEADBOARD </span></strong><br /> Get the feeling of sleeping with your headboard from home. This decal is available exclusively online in twin and queen sizes. </p><p>&#x95;Olivia headboard wall decal, $55, Urban Outfitters</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">RESOURCES </span></strong><br /> <strong>CB2: </strong><a href="http://www.cb2.com">www.cb2.com</a></p><p><strong>The Container Store:</strong><a href="http://www.containerstore.com">www.containerstore.com</a></p><p><strong>Dorm Co: </strong><a href="http://www.dormco.com">www.dormco.com</a></p><p><strong>Function Junction:</strong> 2450 Grand Blvd., 816-283-3033, <a href="http://www.functionjunction.com">www.functionjunction.com</a></p><p><strong>River Market Antique Mall:</strong> 115 W. Fifth St., 816-221-0220, <a href="http://www.rivermarketantiquemall.com">www.rivermarketantiquemall.com</a></p><p><strong>Urban Outfitters:</strong> 530 Nichols Road, 816-753-8500, <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com">www.urbanoutfitters.

The Art of Decorating Small Apartments| Blog Earning Secrets Articles

Small apartments are not exactly the most captivating things when it concerns overall space, but they can still provide you with a roof over your head. Despite their small size, these kinds of apartments can actually look pretty cool once you do a little decorating on them. All you need are an artistic mindset and the right amount of furniture to get the job done. If you think that your skills are not up to par with the other interior designers out there then don’t feel bad about it because you can still make your apartment look awesome by your lonesome.

One very important ingredient that you should always bring with you whenever you want to design your small apartment is called creativity. This is something that can’t be found in stores since it is developed, not bought. You have to be artistic and try to approach things with a rather unorthodox style if you want to have a good decoration scheme for your apartment. For example, when decorating your bedroom do not settle for the usual colors and furniture arrangement. Try to be a little unique by using a color that is seldom used and by positioning your furniture in places where others normally don’t put them. It’s your apartment after all, so do not be afraid to go crazy on it.

You might also want to bring along some adult loft beds with you since they are one of the best beds when it comes to sheer comfort. This is something that every person should have in their apartment because without comfort your stay there would be nothing more than a sheer bore fest. So remember to always have your artistic side with you whenever you plan on doing a little interior decorating on your small apartment.

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