Tag: Decorating

Decorating Your Rental on a Budget – Part Two

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So you found an apartment and now you want to make it feel more like a home without spending a fortune. We know that decorating can be a challenge when your options are limited by rental rules.

Apartment Curtains

Make your windows a work of art. There are numerous ways to creatively dress up your windows without it costing a fortune.

  • Before you begin, measure your windows (starting from where you will install the curtain rod). This will help you determine how much fabric you will need (consult with a local fabric store to help you determine how much fabric you will need for this project)
  • Look for a basic medium-weight fabric such as cotton or a cotton-linen blend so it is easy to work with. Bright colors or patterns will give a refreshing contrast to the monotone white walls in your apartment.
  • To make your ceilings seem taller, hang the curtains 6-10 inches above the window.
  • Consult with a DYI website to get easy sewing tips on simple curtains. If you don’t sew, you can always use an adhesive fabric tape.
  • Hang your homemade curtains with inexpensive clip rings which can be purchased at most hardware stores or any Target or Walmart.
  • If you want an even easier window treatment, you can of course purchase inexpensive pre-made curtains at most stores. Fabric shower-curtains are another option, and are easy to install. You can even make a window valance using a scarf or a tablecloth.

Decide on your color scheme and stick...Blending colors that contrast with white walls will make the space feel more open. Cool colors like green, turquoise, blue, and purple can make a room feel more spacious and elegant. Warm colors like orange, yellow, and red can make the space appear cozy and intimate.

 

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photo credit: June:22 via photopin (license)

Decorating Your Rental Property on a Budget (Part One)

Apartment Decorating

Ever wonder how you can personalize your apartment without spending a fortune or ruining your chances to get your deposit back?

Lots of our tenants have!  That’s why we have put together a list of simple decorating tips to help you make your apartment feel more like home.  Whether your taste is traditional, eclectic, minimalist or kitschy it is possible to create a desirable living space on without spending a fortune when you use a little bit of
creativity. Here are some ideas on how to decorate your rental property on a budget.

Bring in area rugs to add more color. If you are decorating on a budget, an area rug  is a big purchase. Look for bargains online and at discount stores like IKEA, thrift stores or resale sites like Ebay or CraigsList. Once you find the right rug that fits in with your color scheme, place the rug in the middle of the room to frame your space.

Brighten up standard walls and ceiling lights with DIY artwork ideas!

  • Add soft lighting throughout the apartment with inexpensive lamps with lamp shades rimmed with ribbon for a personalized designer look.
  • Tack a scarf or square of neat fabric to the ceiling over a drab boring light fixture. The fabric hangs far enough down that it won’t heat up or scorch, and the pretty colored light shines through below.
  • Staple fabric over a bulletin board. Hang on the wall and pin your favorite pictures on it.

Choose light and functional furniture (if possible). Chances are, you probably do not have a budget to buy all new furniture. For many of us apartment dwellers, our furniture chooses us when we inherit pieces from our family members. Despite popular belief, you don’t need as much furniture as you think.

  • Remember- what you move in, you will eventually need to move out. So go light and stick with the essential pieces- a few living room pieces for seating and storage, a dining room table, a bed and a dresser is really all you need to get started.
  • You can find great deals on used furniture at thrift stores or resale sites like CraigsList.
  • If you get a thrift store sofa, consider covering it with an inexpensive slip cover in a soft or muted color that blends with your accent colors.
  • Repurposing furniture from a thrift store is also great way to go green.
  • If you must buy new furniture, find some that you can assemble yourself (IKEA is a great place to find this). This will make moving in and moving out easier.
  • Make your own throw pillows in the same color scheme as your curtains to pull together the look in your living room and bedroom.
  • Go to the local discount store or dollar store for more basic items like kitchen utensils, trash cans and more.

4 Ways to make your Von Klein Property Feel like Home

Apartment Decorating

It’s a new season and you are all moved in into your new home! But something may be missing…..your personal touch.

It’s these personal touches that transforms a rental property to a home. How do you give your rental property look that is uniquely yours (without losing your security deposit)?  Read on for some tips:

1. Don’t like the carpet? Cover it with an area rug!
So you want to bring more color and warmth into your rental? Use an area rug that coordinates with your other décor.

It may surprise you how much it can change the look of a room! Depending on where you shop, area rugs are usually inexpensive, and can be used over neutral carpets. Great deals can be found in stores like Target, TJMaxx and Ikea (if you want to take a road trip to Portland!) or you can look online at sites like Overstock.com.

The best part is, you get to take your beautiful area rug with you whenever you move out!

2. Give your furniture a new hue!
Since you can’t paint the walls in your rental, why not add color to your furniture? Give your couch a new life with a slipcover and/or colorful decorative pillows! Slipcovers are usually inexpensive and can be found in stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, etc.

You can also transform your rental just by painting your furniture (make sure you use a dropcloth from the hardware store to prevent spills on the floor)! Adding a new paint job to a dining room table, or a bookshelf, or an end table, can be just as impactful as new color on the walls.

3. Mirror mirror on the wall….
It’s the oldest design trick in the book, because it works! Mirrors reflect light and make a space feel bigger. Hang a large mirror in your dining space, living room, or bedroom across from a window, so it is in a prime position to receive natural light and reflect it back into the room.

Eugene Apartments

4. Make your windows a work of art with bright colors or patterns.
Install a simple curtain rod 6-10 inches above your window using a damage-free wall hook (Commandâ„¢ Brand Products are great) to make the room feel larger. Hanging curtains with your your favorite patterns or colors will give a refreshing contrast to the neutral walls in your living space.

area rug photo credit: ooh_food via photopin cc

Decorating 101: How to get creative with storage

Rental properties typically do not have a lot of space for you to work with and storage is frequently a challenge.

  • The first step is doing a big inventory of your things before moving in. If you have an object or article of clothing that you have not used in over a year (and has no sentimental value attached to it) then donate it, give it away or sell it.
  • Consider using the kitchen counters walls for storage by hanging a line of hooks close to the ceiling to organize pots and pans. You can also mount a magnetic strip to store for knives.
  • Pay a visit to the Container Store or IKEA and make a small investment for attractive storage containers that can be displayed openly on shelving units.
  • Add asymmetrical shelving along one wall to provide ample storage for books and home accents (as an added bonus, it will also be a design piece in itself).
  • When choosing your furniture, try to find pieces that also have storage such as ottomans, side tables, coffee tables, trundle beds or benches.