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You’ve just landed the perfect apartment, in the best location, with affordable rent. Now the hard part; decorating your new space! Below are various resources first time apartment renters can use to help them decorate their new space like a pro!
Let TV be your Guide
Are you still binge watching Ray Donovan? If so, stop it-you’ve got an apartment to decorate! What you want to do is tune in to HGTV or the DIY network, and after just a couple of episodes you’ll be overflowing with ideas and motivation! Go ahead, steal some of the unique decorating concepts you see and work these designs into your apartment’s décor. Lastly if you just can’t ween yourself off streaming services (or you recently cut the cord), you can still watch some of the best home improvement shows out there. Some notable design shows on Netflix include; “Design on a Dime,” “Small Space, Big Style” and “Dear Genevieve” just to name a few.
Reddit, if you don’t know, is a social news and web content aggregator. Users on Reddit submit content such as links, text posts and images which are then voted up-or-down by members of a particular community. The idea here is to join a Reddit Apartment community or decorating community for inspiration. Use your imagination when searching for communities to join – there are tons of them out there! Once you find the community that works for you, ask users for help designing or decorating your new space. Try posting a picture of your empty apartment (or semi-decorated space) and ask community members to help you design it better, decorate more efficiently or just ask for advice. This is a wonderful place on the web for anything apartment related, and the best part…it’s free!
Room Design Tools
Are you at a loss as to where to place your sofa in your new apartment? What about on which wall your bed should be placed for the best night’s sleep? Save time (and your back) by designing and moving your furniture around – before you move in! Here are just a few design tools you can use to get started; “Sweet Home 3D Online,” “The IKEA Home Planner” and “floorplanner.com.” NOTE: Make sure you sign up for the “free” version of “floorplanner.com” as not to incur any additional costs to your decorating efforts.
Inspiration is Social
Encouragement for design and decorating can be found in multiple places across the web, so to create a “definitive list” would be a huge challenge. Here are just some of the best places to get ideas for decorating your new apartment. “HOUZZ,” “Pinterest,” “DwellingGawker,” “HomeTalk,” “TheSpruce” as well as (multiple interior design experts) on “Instagram” these are all great places to start!
YouTube Stars Know…
Don’t lie, when you have questions about a car repair or you’re in need of an awesome life-hack where do you go? YouTube of course! And the same should go for decorating your apartment. Whether you’re decorating on a budget or just trolling around for new designs, tune in to these popular YouTube channels for answers and encouragement; “SPACEStv,” “Inspirational Interior Design Ideas” or “Decorating Small Spaces.” All of these channels have hours-and-hours of video content that can help motivate you to decorate and design your space like an expert.
Can’t Stop the App
Lastly, inspiration and design support can always be found in the palm of your hand with these fantastic home decorating apps. “Homestyler” is a must-have decorating app which can make the task of decorating your apartment a breeze. “BrightNest,” “ZillowDigs” “Havenly” and “TryOnWall” are also very helpful. Be sure to start with the free apps and after you find the one that works for you, you can upgrade to the paid version if need be.