Decorating

What are some things to consider before I begin decorating an apartment?

Once you have finished the long apartment search, moved all your belongings out of the truck and unpacked everything, it's time to make the place your own. Apartment decorating brings with it some special considerations which you will want to keep in mind when deciding what you want to do in terms of styling your new home. You'll want to keep the following things in mind before you get things underway:

• Any regulations in terms of the lease. Make sure that there are no stipulations that will prevent you from implementing any ideas that you have come up with. 
• Be realistic. Major changes such as taking down walls or adding a patio may not be possible for the duration of your time as a tenant in an apartment building.
• Your neighbors. If you are decorating and it will involve pounding nails into walls or if friends are coming over to help paint, let the people around you know ahead of time.
• The length of your stay there. If the lease is short term or month-to-month, you'll want to take it easy on decorating. If you know you may be in the place for a few years it can affect how much effort you are willing to put in.
• Safety. Make sure you don't block exits, use the correct wattage in light bulbs and avoid overloading electrical sockets. It doesn't matter if it looks good if it is hazardous.

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How can I decorate effectively in a small apartment?

How to go about decorating your apartment depends a good deal on the space itself, and smaller apartments or studios often require a special approach. Here are some things that might make the task a bit easier:

• Mirrors can make the place look significantly larger.
• Opting for smaller furniture can help make more space.
• Consider putting some items in storage to make the apartment more livable.
• Take advantage of empty space for storage, such as under the bed.
• Utilize some organizing pieces, such as a bookcase or shelving unit to maximize vertical space.
• Add rods, shelves and cubes to your closet space to free up the living area for decorating and keep it from looking cluttered.
• If you are painting, add a darker color to one wall (often called a focal wall) to give the room more depth and style.
• Keep the overall color of small apartments light to make them look bigger.
• Use angles when placing furniture. It can help prevent areas from feeling closed off and give a more open, airy impression in your space.
• Buy "double duty" pieces of furniture that have storage built in. Look for things such as footstools that have a removable top and coffee tables with drawers in them.

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What are some fun party decoration ideas?

Decorating your apartment for a party can be a lot of fun. There are so many ideas and themes to explore, but keeping things simple can help make the preparation easier. Here are some thoughts to explore:

• Chances are you won't want to store a lot of items, so make sure the things you choose are inexpensive, reusable or recyclable.
• Consider natural items, such as pine branches or flowers as materials.
• Costume parties put most of the "decoration" on your guests. A few simple additions such as party ribbon or streamers are usually enough to dress up the room.
• Gather your Christmas or holiday cards and make a mobile out of them.
• Fill clear vases with bright, holiday-themed candy and give away as party favors at the end of the night.
• Tablecloths can dress up a room quickly and a few decorative place mats can customize the theme.
• Send out invitations and print some extra to use as decorations.

Remember to have a camera on-hand to capture all of the fun. You might also want to invite your neighbors to the party -- or at least let them know you'll be throwing one so they are prepared for a little bit of extra noise.

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