So, seems like the last couple of weeks I have been spouting off ideas for how to work with the design in your home to anyone who will listen. I've got friends who just closed on their first "grownup" condo and people who are moving from a studio into a full apartment and a little sister and little sister's friends who are all starting on the exciting adventure of furnishing their first place that doesn't involve dorm bunk beds and those terrible desks that I used to cover with contact paper.
Anyway, point of this story is I thought maybe I would list my "4 Rules for Making a Crappy Two Room (or Studio or Loft or whatever) Apartment a Home." I am by no means an expert on this; I just really like playing with it and to be honest, I like that challenge of having no money and big ideas in terms of style. So whatever your reason for reading, this is just for fun. Well, for fun and for my little sister. So here goes.
1. Color makes everything better. Try to convince your landlord to let you paint the walls, if that won't fly, use the big expanses of fabric, like the sofa, window treatments and even the bedspread (especially in a studio or super small place) to add color and pattern. However, if the place is small, pick the color palette and stick with it throughout. Consistency will keep it from being too much. If you CAN paint think about your choices carefully and don't forget about the old accent wall trick. Not only is it faster to paint, it requires less paint and thus will be cheaper. AND when you are only talking about one wall you can be brave and do something a little bolder than you might want to live with in an entire room! Win. Win. Win.
2. Scourge thrift stores, stalk craigslist, be a repeat offender at your local flea markets and don't be ashamed to pull stuff out of the trash. Always be on the lookout for pieces that can function in more than one way. Table that works as a desk? Awesome. Ability to pull it out from the wall and throw some chairs around it and actually sit down with your new friend from the apartment down the hall for dinner? Even awesomer. And don't forget to refer back to Rule #1. Spray paint can be your best friend when it comes to hiding some of the evils of wear. And just because you are being thrifty doesn't mean you should stop looking at that CB2 catalog where you lust after the items on every page. Just thing of it more as an idea guide than a place to buy things from. And using high-gloss spray paint with an extra coat of lacquer will really give you the look they have on a lot of their items.
3. Frame stuff, hang stuff, make stuff. Pictures, artwork, wallpaper samples, fun fabric, mirrors WHATEVER. Artwork can make or break a place. Sadly, it also tends to be expensive. So create it yourself! You don't have to be a studio artist to do it either. Again, keep it in mind when you are flipping through catalogs and magazines, sometimes scale and a good eye can make up for the lack of technical skills. Also, coming up with a consistent train of thought can help. Like old maps or vintage fashion illustrations? Pick them up for cheap at a flea market and frame them inexpensively in black frames. Grouped together they can become a striking art collection for not a lot of money. For that matter, even a collection of empty vintage frames, if they all have something in common (size, color, style) can make a cool statement.
4. Accessorize. One of the main ingredients to making a place feel homey is in the soft stuff: pillows, throws, rugs and, if you are anything like me, more pillows. Check the remnant bins at your local craft store for fabric you like, usually they are discounted up to 90% and are cut in bundles of anywhere from half a yard to six. Which makes it PERFECT for throw pillows. Not comfortable stitching some up yourself? Look at websites like www.etsy.com for homemade ones that are usually fairly cheap or try the tying trick (check back in a couple of days for video instruction.) Throws can be pricey, but as the owner of two dogs and a short attention span, I buy inexpensive and expect (and enjoy) replacing them every season or two. Gives you a chance to change your look without spending too much! Places like T.J. Max and Marshall's are great for that if you have the time to check them semi-regularly. Now rugs are a tough one because due to their size, they are almost always out of the budget. I have found craiglist to be a great place to look for that, especially if you are looking for something big and neutral. Some carpet distributors sell their remnants and will even bind them for you. I have a friend that found one of ebay and it seems to have been a great deal for her, but having not ever done that myself I can't really give any other advice on it. One of my favorite companies, for style, ideas and their dedication to green design, is FLOR. They sell carpet tiles (approximately 20"x20") and you can mix and match patterns and colors to create your own design. They aren't the cheapest thing out there, but what's cool about that company is that you could start off by purchasing what you can afford (maybe enough for a small rug) and then later buy a few more to make it a little bigger and then a few more till you have it your ideal size! And since they are held together with round sticker dots, if you want to reconfigure it to fit in a different room or a different apartment you can with no problems! Hooray! Check out their website (www.flor.com) for ideas and to play with the "design your own rug" option when you get a chance!
So, there they are. There are many, many more "rules" to use and I'll keep adding them as I think of them. I know they seem very simple, and well, they are. That's the best part! These are things that everyone, and anyone, can do. Even my little sister.
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