cheap apartment decoration ideas?

[prettyrose]

Hi Ladies!

I'm looking for cheap decoration ideas for apartment. Do you have any ideas to make a "not so nice looking" apartment look nice on the inside? I'd appreciate any good ideas!

I was just asking cuz I suck at decorating. Do you have any lds picture ideas as well?

Anything cute that looks nice?

Thanks for all suggestions!

[Dravin]

Here are some 'standard' LDS pictures: Music, Media, and Art - LDS Online Store

I don't know if the "fine art" is a good deal but the pictures are cheap, you could buy some of those and get some frames at Walmart or something without breaking the bank. Also thrift stores like Deseret Industries or Goodwill are a good place to look for stuff for decorating, the selection is very hit or miss but sometimes you luck out and the cost is reasonable.

Edited March 26, 2011 by Dravin

[Guest mormonmusic]

Artificial trees and plants can make open space look OK. Also, paint it all one color -- it will make it look bigger if it's a small apartment. Reduce clutter and add space by making sure everything has at least two purposes -- the couch is also a bed for company, a cube for sitting on is also a storage place, the coffee table is also a storage chest, the end-tables also store DVD's....etcetera.

[classylady]

As the weather gets warmer, start checking out the yard sales. Sometimes I can find some great stuff for almost nothing.

[bytebear]

Go to IKEA

[mightynancy]

Arranging your furniture well goes a long way. An area rug is a nice investment if your apartment's carpet isn't pretty.

One large print looks better than a whole mess of little pictures. Nice lamps are also a can't-go-wrong purchase. So many apartments have harsh overhead lighting.

Secondhand is a great way to go - you can get higher quality items for less than junky new ones.

Apartment decor resources:

Apartment Therapy

Small-Space Apartment Makeover

Ten Tips For Decorating a Small Studio Apartment

[mightynancy]

And we weren't kidding about IKEA - if you can get into a showroom they have apartments set up from very tiny to quite generously-sized. Great ideas for use of space.

[Backroads]

Paint. It's cheap, easy to paint over if you mess it up, and you can easily get creative. Also raid thrift stores for stuff like little blocks and picture frames. You can paint those to match.

Also... raffia. When a little is modestly used, it's great. Back in college, we used it to give our apartment a slightly Hawian vibe that got many compliments and yet wasn't ridiculous.

[Guest]

Some apartments won't let you paint the walls... you might need to check with the management first.

The trick to small spaces is creative storage and the proper furniture. For example, if you're looking for a couch, look for one without arms or small arms... don't pick one with bulky arms that is visually heavy and takes too much dead space (not many people like to sit on the arms).

I really like this teeny-tiny condo decor:

HGTV Urban Oasis - Win a New York City Apartment in HGTV Giveaway Sweepstakes : Home & Garden Television

(Most of that page is commercials - what I wanted to show you are the videos on the right column - there are 7 of them - just look at the ones that say "tour" like "Kitchen tour" and "Living Tour" and such)...

[slamjet]

1) Have children.

2) Leave crayons laying around.

3) Instant mural.

[Iggy]

When shopping the thrift stores, check the prices. Deseret will always be cheaper than purchasing new.

I have found that the Salvation Army in the town only 20 miles north of me has okay prices on some things, but household items: glasses, cups, dishes, cook ware, picture &/or frames, lamps, lamp shades, etc. are priced only a wee bit lower than new. The lamps, and electrical appliances (toaster, waffle irons, etc.) are not tested. You are buying a Pig in a Poke & if it doesn't work, they will not refund you your money.

Now, St Vincent De Paul's on the other hand only over price their furniture. The one in the town 50 miles south of me, had DI furniture- yep, made by Deseret Industries - priced higher than DI sells it. But their books are the best! Best condition, best price and LOTS of them. My living room is 14'x26' and that is about the size of the room that they have their books in. They also have two chairs per aisle, plus two to three ottomans for you to sit and read. Last time I was there, 8 years ago, hard backs were $2.00, paper backs were $0.25-$0.50. There is a section with 1st editions, rare books, etc. Those are priced higher.

Their decorating items: imitation plants, flowers, pictures &/or frames were really cheap. I bought a trash bag full of plastic/silk flowers and greens for $2.00. Got woven baskets for $0.10 to $1.00 each. Turned them into arrangements for the sisters I was VT. Plus I collect baskets. Use them for everything. Holding hot rolls, fruit, fresh cut mints and herbs as an edible table decoration at meals. I have NO space I will allot in the cupboards or closets for my baskets, instead I hang them from decorative chains from the ceiling in my dining room and living room. Use those cheap, simple metal shower hooks to hang them with. Got that from a local hardware store I worked at.

I also got light weight quilts at St. Vinny's for $2.00 each. They were twin size, and I used them as wall hangings. My walls were not insulated much, and these quilts stopped the drafts.

Now in AZ I preferred Saver's. They had the best selection of books, whose prices were nearly the same as St Vinny's- BUT if you bought 5 books the 5th one was free. They didn't have much in the line of furniture, or pictures/frames, but they did have a LOT of dishes and baskets. Got most of my casserole dishes there. At $1.99 to $3.99 each, what a bargain.

Know your prices. If you are looking for lamps, price them at retail stores, and write it down. Then go to the thrift stores and see what they have to offer.

I always ended up purchasing my lamps at retail price. I preferred to pay $2.00 more for brand new w/ new lamp shade.

IF you absolutely can not afford to pay new price for a mattress, then get it at the thrift store, BUT spend the money for a mattress cover. The kind that covers the entire mattress and zips shut, and is guaranteed to keep bed bugs inside the cover! Bed bugs are near epidemic Nation wide now. When I purchased our new mattress, the literature that came from the manufacturer was to never vacuum it, and to cover it with a quality mattress cover. I felt that the $50.00 I paid for the mattress cover was cheap insurance for my $2,250.00 King mattress and box spring.

Know your prices. If at retail artificial flowers and foliage are $1.99 each, then at thrift stores they should be a third that or less. I will soon be looking for foliage- to put around the top of my kitchen cupboards, I won't pay more than 1.99 for a bunch of 5 or more at the thrift store.

I also let the sisters in RS know that I am looking for foliage, flowers, real & artificial, pictures, and baskets. In my move 6 years ago from the Oregon coast to AZ I had to leave all that behind. Now I am back in Oregon, in a house that is twice the size of my AZ home- have lots of spacious walls that need adornment.

I also belong to FreeCycle. I have received two book shelves via FC- and given away all of my empty moving cardboard boxes. I will soon post that I am looking for a rocking chair, plants, foliage, and china hutch, small table, straight chairs. Over half of the sisters belong to the same FreeCycle!

When I first moved away from home, I didn't have much - so when I invited people over for dinners, I asked that they bring their own plates and silverware. Did the same when I got married - we had next to nothing. Our guests brought their own plates, silverware and folding chairs. We borrowed two sawhorses from a neighbor and husband took the closet door off the hinge, removed the door knob and I used a folded sheet as a tablecloth. That is what we ate off of when we had guests.

Oh, in response to MightyNancy regarding lots of little pictures. I once had a place that one wall in the large living room was wall papered with sea grass. My cat would sharpen her claws on it. After running through the gamut of "cures", I ended up putting little framed pictures all along the lower two feet of the wall. It stopped her from clawing the wall. I really didn't care what it looked like, there was no way I would ever be able to afford re-wall papering. Every one who came to visit, loved the wall. They looked all over to see if I had done it in any other room. Didn't have to, the rest of the house had tongue in groove wood paneling! I bought all of the small framed pictures in thrift stores. Had a blast doing it too.

[mightynancy]

Awww, I hurt to think of shredded sea grass wall covering! I love that stuff.

A lot of little pictures can look good if they're hung correctly. I have a photo of one in my inspiration binder. Most of the time, though, it ends up looking cluttery.

I do love the clever solution for the kitty!

My dd has some little posters on her wall about a foot off the floor - for her American Girls' viewing pleasure.

[jayanna]

If you can paint, I second that motion. Nothing changes a room more drastically than a coat of paint. A friend of mine left everything neutral except for 1 red wall. A couple of Lamps, with low watt bulbs to save electricty will change things a lot, too.

Cheap furniture is awesome. Vaccuum it really well, if you have a vacuum (I didn't have one at first). Also you can get covers for it if it doesn't match, or cover it with thin blankets or sheets and tuck it in. Find a few cheap throw pillows (or make them out of old t-shirts) and use those to decorate a bit. Make some end tables, or find some at a garage sale or Salvation Army...if they are ugly or don't match, get some matching fabric and put it over the tables, draping it to the floor. Throw in a smelly candle from the local dollar store, and voila a whole new apartment.

Okay, so I'm baised towards libraries...go to the local library and see what resources they have to offer. They will probably have some decorating books and magazines. Some magazines, some cd's, little things like that can lighten you up a little, and make your home a bit more relaxing.

Edited March 30, 2011 by jayanna

[Guest]

Prettyrose!

I just realized, you're the same girl in the "embarassed" thread.

Okay, I know money is tight so the greatest thing is to ask in RS if anybody has anything they need to get rid of.

True story:

In our ward, one elderly couple (in their early 70's) don't have a vehicle and they both wanted to get part-time jobs to keep them active. So, they would walk 5 miles to the TJ Maxx where they found employment. Their VT figured she'd try to see what the RS can do to help... and guess what... somebody in the ward just bought a new car and they didn't want to trade in their old one so they took a charity deduction on it instead and gave it to the elderly couple! An old but well-functioning, well-maintained, reliable car!

Okay, so here's my living room - it is decorated COMPLETELY using hand-me-downs and stuff I got from birthday presents and stuff. Including the antique piano that I got from some lady who had it out in her driveway waiting for the city trash pick-up. And yes, that's patio furniture in my living room. This is just an example of what you can do with ZERO money.

[Iggy]

Okay, so here's my living room - it is decorated COMPLETELY using hand-me-downs and stuff I got from birthday presents and stuff. Including the antique piano that I got from some lady who had it out in her driveway waiting for the city trash pick-up. And yes, that's patio furniture in my living room. This is just an example of what you can do with ZERO money.

Looks great! I never got around to taking pics of my place when I was first on my own. But I did talk with the RS pres and my HT/VT couple. Not only did I get a love seat hide-a-bed and matching rocker -new, came out of a 5th Wheel- two area rugs, 2 quilts, huge basket filled with stuffed cats, shower curtain and liner, small entertainment unit- very small but perfect for my turntable, stereo & receiver, new DI book case, I also got cookware (cast iron), Oster Kitchen Center, stainless mixing bowls & utensils, knives, etc. All I said was that I need house hold things. The Branch members would ask if I needed a book case, or an area rug, etc.

I was even offered a brand new flotation mattress KING size bed. I measured the bedroom (too small) and the living room (also too small) to see if it would fit. I really wanted it- the hide-a-bed was really uncomfortable, as was the 20 year old queen bed I took when I seperated from hubby #1.

Don't be embarrassed, afraid, or shy - ask. Tell your RS Pres and your HT & VT that you are in need.

[prettyrose]

Prettyrose!

I just realized, you're the same girl in the "embarassed" thread.

Okay, I know money is tight so the greatest thing is to ask in RS if anybody has anything they need to get rid of.

True story:

In our ward, one elderly couple (in their early 70's) don't have a vehicle and they both wanted to get part-time jobs to keep them active. So, they would walk 5 miles to the TJ Maxx where they found employment. Their VT figured she'd try to see what the RS can do to help... and guess what... somebody in the ward just bought a new car and they didn't want to trade in their old one so they took a charity deduction on it instead and gave it to the elderly couple! An old but well-functioning, well-maintained, reliable car!

Okay, so here's my living room - it is decorated COMPLETELY using hand-me-downs and stuff I got from birthday presents and stuff. Including the antique piano that I got from some lady who had it out in her driveway waiting for the city trash pick-up. And yes, that's patio furniture in my living room. This is just an example of what you can do with ZERO money.

that looks really nice!

[prettyrose]

Thank you everyone for you replies. I appreciate you taking a few minutes of your day to write back. You have allot of helpful tips and advice :)