Apartments With Attitude: How To Have One On A Shoestring Budget

August 27th, 2010 Posted in Interior Design and Decorating

If anything, it might console modern apartment dwellers that the problem of how to hold increasing populations within inflexible boundaries has been with us for millennium. The ancient Romans solved it by allowing individual houses only to the very rich, and making everyone else stay in four-, six-, or even eight-storey apartment buildings. But apartment dwelling need never be a drag. From the exterior, apartments can be about as exciting as dry toast. Inside, they can be totally disarming. It’s totally up to you, the new tenant, to transform the blank canvas as it were into an apartment unit in the modern style oozing with attitude.

Tip 1 – Realize that there are things that you can’t change.
These include the direction of the light, floor to ceiling heights, overall layout, and the size and direction of the windows. You can work with them or around them, but you can’t do away with them.

Tip 2 – Realize that contemporary style has certain hallmarks.
These include strongly unified sets of spaces, a decided restraint, dividers instead of walls, no blinds, no curtains, mirrors to give depth, absence of cramped spaces, and a completely uncluttered look. You will never discover it in modern style crown moldings, casings, baseboards, or other types of trim work. On the other hand, you’ll find concealed lighting and simple metal handrails.
Up to this point, you’ll have an apartment that is decorated in modern style that is so en vogue now. But we are not stopping here? The goal is for nothing short of an apartment that is exciting and electrifying. So here it is.

Tip 3 – Fur and metallic are two safe choices for 2010, according to experts, so we will work around these two options.
Consider making as focal point in the living room, architectural pieces or even a metal tree art in burnished copper. This should provide an attention-grabbing counterpoint to the abundance neutral color scheme. Nor should this pieces or tropical wall art cost you an arm and a leg. Once considered a luxury, metal artwork are now available in a myriad of finishes to suit most anyone’s decorating budget.

We’re not done yet with the living room. Consider next a richly-upholstered minimalist lounging chair with a purple faux fur carelessly hung over its back. The color purple is hot this year, retaining the color’s association with royalty and wealth that dates back as far as ancient Roman times. The word “comfort” has turned into a buzz word for 2010. The electrifying colors should add chutzpah to the pervading neutral colors.

Tip 4 – Continue the magic into the bedroom.
For the bedroom, use recessed lighting to make the bed appear to be floating. You can add contrast by positioning a Greek stool at the end of the bed. You might want to complete the robust cultural mix by having Japanese sandals and Japanese woven rush pillows displayed around. You should work to attain the glow of intimacy with a nightlight.

If you liked this article, you’ll love the one about 10 bedroom design tips.