Customizing Your Apartment for a Unique Look
Have you ever wanted a new look for your outdated apartment? Are you done with the style that was trendy at the turn of the century but now just isn’t welcoming? Your home is your sanctuary, it’s time to liven things up and create a space that represents who you are.
It doesn’t take a degree in interior decorating to make your living space custom and unique, sometimes just a few changes or additions can make a big difference. If you’re ready to get going on your makeover, these ideas for customizing your apartment for a unique look are a great place to get started.
Start With a Plan
This might sound like a no-brainer, but having a plan is vital to the success of your customizing project. Sometimes the prospect of changing things up in our homes lands us at the home decor store spending tons of money on items you like, only to find out they don’t really compliment each other, or your style for that matter. Having a solid plan will inevitably save you valuable time and money.
Having a plan doesn’t mean you have to go all out and hire a decorator or start measuring the dimensions of every room and piece of furniture in your home; but having a good idea of colors, textures, and styles you want to include is a solid start. Also, it’s a good idea to consider the budget you have to work with as well as the estimated costs of supplies and furnishings you would like to purchase.
Clear the Clutter
The first thing you need to do after you have a solid plan is clear the clutter. Many apartment dwellers keep their home pretty clutter-free, others will jam in enough furniture and appliances to furnish a mansion. By taking some time to evaluate what you have in your home, and then making a decision on whether or not to include it, will open some space for new items that are more reflective of your unique style.
When deciding on whether or not to keep, recycle, upcycle or donate an item, there are some steps you can take to help with this process. Since you already have a plan and idea of what your final outcome will be, evaluate each item to see if it fits into your plan. For instance, if you're thinking of customizing your apartment for a unique country-style look, you probably won’t need to keep the retro dining set. Sometimes just adding some paint or upcycling an existing item will work with your theme or style.
Paint! Paint! Paint!
One of the easiest ways to customize your apartment for a unique look is to add some paint. Even a fresh coat of white paint over the current white (which is probably off-white by now) can enhance your apartment by starting with fresh walls. Don’t be afraid to go all out and choose colors that reflect your unique style, just make sure it complements the furniture and decorative pieces you plan on using.
Paint doesn’t have to be for walls only, consider upcycling current pieces by adding a coat of paint to match your theme or style. For example, if you’re going for a new shabby-chic look, sanding and painting your brown wooden chairs with a coat of white or yellow paint can make the perfect accompaniment to your dining room. Even painting wooden picture frames to match a style can make a big difference.
Add Textiles to Enhance Your Look
If you’re one of those people who want to customize your apartment for a unique look but are on a limited budget, using textiles to enhance your look is a great way to create big change for a relatively small amount of money. Textiles can include rugs, pillows, curtains, and things like tapestries and throw blankets.
Consider the look you’re going for and find textural items to complement the style. A few frilly cushions on your couch can elevate a Victorian-style whereas a soft plaid throw blanket on that same couch will match a cozy cabin feel. Replacing outdated prints on your living room walls with a well-made tapestry can add a lot to a boho or Eastern-style room.
Adding an Electric Wall-Mounted Fireplace
Adding a wall-mounted electric fireplace is the perfect way to make your apartment feel more unique and customized. Since most apartments these days don’t have a traditional fireplace, adding the electric counterpart makes it very easy to add warmth and style to your living room or even bedroom for that matter.
There are so many varieties of electric fireplace inserts to choose from, finding one to match the look you’re going for should be pretty easy. Think of using sleeker-designed electric fireplaces for spaces with a more modern feel, or something more ornate for a fancier style. There are even electric fireplaces that replicate small wood stoves from back in the day that are perfect for a cabin or cozy style space.
Use Mirrors to Enhance Your Decor
It’s a well-known fact that mirrors can make small spaces look bigger—if placed strategically though. That being said, placing a large mirror in a small cluttered apartment bedroom for instance, is only going to reflect the clutter that’s already suffocating the space. On the other hand, placing a mirror sized to scale adjacent to a window or reflecting a more minimalist design can certainly create a more open and airy effect.
When using mirrors to create the illusion of space, it’s good to consider what’s being reflected. If you’re going for a look that complements your unique style, think about the areas or items in the room you’d like to showcase. For instance, if your style involves an equestrian, farm, cowboy, or even country theme, having the mirror reflecting the vintage custom saddle on a stand next to an indoor plant will most certainly be reflective of your style.
Final Thoughts
It’s never too late to start customizing your apartment for a unique look. If you're planning on making drastic changes to an existing space, your plan can include weekly projects that move you in the direction of your desired final outcome; you don’t have to do it all in a day or weekend. Starting from scratch in a new home allows you to execute your plan starting from a clean slate.
Whether your goal is to slowly change the master bedroom from outdated decor to a tropical paradise or revamp your entire apartment retro-style in a weekend, these ideas for customizing your apartment for a unique look will help you make a dent in the process.
