6 Tips for Decorating your First Apartment

Moving into your first apartment is an exciting adventure, but it can also be quite daunting, especially if you’re moving into an unfurnished place. Furnishing an apartment is more than just adding a few pieces of décor and buying first apartment essentials – it’s also about making it comfortable, homey, functional, and personalized.

A first apartment is like a clean slate – it is a space that only holds potential and can be molded and shaped to work for you, look like you, and feel like home for you… so your main priority should definitely be filling it with furniture that you love, and that you won’t come to regret a few months after moving in. Plus, if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll have to make conscious decisions on what to purchase right away and what not to invest in at the beginning.

Here are a few tips to serve as guidelines for decorating your first apartment.

1. Multifunctional Furniture

A first apartment is usually small in size, which means you must consider space and scale in all your apartment purchases. Furniture items that offer different usages help you save space and money - plus, they’re such a quirky addition to your home!

Popular options include ottomans and benches that are also storage spaces, pull-out sofas that turn into beds for those nights when your friends stay over, cabinets with mirror fronts, and dining tables that double as work-desks.

2. Storage Solutions

Everything in your home should have a place to be stored and tucked away. If you’re deciding between a cute piece of furniture and one that maximizes storage, always go for the latter. Opt for the bed with storage space underneath, the bookcase with the most shelves, and organizational boxes and baskets.

Having enough storage space will prevent cluttering and help you keep track of the items you own with minimal hassle.

3. Consider Usage

Always think about how you’ll use furniture before you buy it – even if it’s cheap or free. If you work from home, it’s more important to invest in a proper work station rather than take up space to display an antique baravan that your aunt originally wanted to throw away. If you’re someone who enjoys hosting dinner parties and gatherings, a functional living room with multiple seating options and a large dining table should be your go-to purchase items.

It can be difficult to resist the appeal of “freebies” when you’re still starting the decorating process. Your friends have a couch they want to get rid of and are offering it for free? You found on ad on Craigslist giving away a bed frame? It’s tough to say no when you’re on the budget, but you should always be picky (particularly when it comes to hand-me-downs!). Is this free item a true reflection of you? Will you be actually using it, or are you just enthusiastic about the idea of acquiring something without having to pay for it?

4. Go Green

Plants really do transform a household. An assortment of greenery, even if not real, can bring life into your first apartment. It is a budget-friendly way to design any space. Think big plants for empty corners, and smaller on shelves and bars. You can even choose to hang a few on the walls or from the ceiling. The greener your place, the warmer.

Studies have shown that owning indoor house plants can actually improve air quality in your home, reduce stress levels and fatigue, and perk up your mood!

5. Check your Lighting

Updating your light fixtures may seem unnecessary if they work fine, but the correct lighting truly changes the vibe of any place. Rather than harsh and direct white, go for warm light that does not come from one sole source in any room. Lamps, whether desk or floor, are a great way to add extra lighting anywhere, and introduce a warmer ambiance. You can mix and match different types of lighting, such as task, overhead and lamp, for the full effect.

6. Take your Time

Though a one-drop shop attitude towards decorating can seem more convenient, rushing into furniture choices can leave you feeling regretful in a few months. Rather than have your home looking like the home section of a furniture store, take your time to curate your space to your needs and your personal style. A holistic and intentional attitude towards decorating will ensure that you end up with a home that’s uniquely yours.

All in all, your first apartment is a milestone that deserves to be experienced fully. Decorating may seem intimidating at first, but if you follow your intuition, and tailor your purchase decisions to your needs and your apartment’s spacing, you’ll be able to transform a space into a home.

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