Work What You’ve Got
These are some great images I grabbed from an artist’s blog “Inside A Black Apple” where she has posted great pictures of her apartment. Design has a lot to do with copying – emulating styles from your surroundings and applying them with your own twist. I love how the author has used her own book collection to be a work of art in her home. You can see more great ideas just by perceiving how she has applied design in her own home on her blog here.
More Wall Solutions
Foldbedding.com has a product called Wallter Tiles. These are wood-based cutouts that are primed and ready to be painted in a color of your choice. The back has a sticky surface so you can easily apply it to your wall. This is a fun way to add color and dimension to your room, and you can pick any color of your choice! I have used these before and was very pleased with the outcome.
Endless Possibilities – Fabric Wallpaper
I have heard about starched fabric used as wallpaper in apartments, and I think this is such a great solution! I haven’t tried this yet, but I will definitely post when I do. The fabric clings to the walls with water and starch and dries in place. When you are ready to move, you pick up a corner of the fabric and peel the fabric off. Since there is no adhesive in the mix, there is no damage to the walls. And, it’s a NO-SEW project! The edges of the fabric do not fray with the starch mixture!
Here are instructions I found on the ever-reliable HGTV.com:
Materials
fabric (Ponderosa) Jo-Ann, Etc.
liquid starch
roller and paint tray
scissors
long level
pencil
wallpaper brush
utility knife
flat blades
Steps Note:When selecting fabric for a starched wall treatment, make sure it is heavy enough to handle the pulling and stretching it will take yet light enough to hold onto the walls. Cotton decorator fabrics meant for draperies and light upholstery are perfect. 1. If necessary, paint the walls (latex satin is a good choice) and let dry.
2. To start, draw a vertical level line on the wall where you want the first panel to end, making sure the panel starts about one inch around the previous corner. Cut several panels of fabric in lengths about four to six inches longer than the height of the wall.
3. Fill a paint tray with starch and use a paint roller to fill in the area where the first panel will be located. Press the first panel in place on the wall, and then smooth it out with your hands. Once the panel is flat, roll over the fabric with a starch-filled roller to saturate it and help adhere it to the wall. Press the fabric in place with your hands or brush over it with a wallpaper brush to smooth out any wrinkles. Cut the excess off at the top and the bottom using a flat blade and a utility knife (have plenty of blades to change them after nearly every cut). Once the panel is trimmed, use a damp sponge to wipe off any excess starch. This will allow it to dry faster and without any residue.
4. For the second panel, measure the space that needs to be covered and cut the fabric accordingly, leaving excess around all edges to cut off. Roll the wall with starch, and then take the edge and turn it under. Place it over the edge of the first panel to create the look of a seam. Smooth out the fabric, cutting slits in the corners for the fabric to hug the edges of the trim. Smooth up to the ceiling and baseboards as well and trim as needed.
5. For a light switch, be sure to turn off the power at the breaker first. Feel where the edges of the box are located, and make a slit in the center of the fabric. Use scissors to work out to the edges of the box and cut off the excess. Wipe off the panel with a sponge and continue around the room in this fashion until you overlap the first corner and the project is complete.
Thinking About Painting Your Apartment?
Are you thinking about painting your apartment? Here are a few things to consider before beginning the task…
1. Are you allowed? Many apartment complexes or independently owned properties allow the tenant to paint the walls as long as they are repainted when vacated, or if it isn’t repainted, money will be withheld from the deposit. Check your rental agreement thoroughly or ask your property management company if this is okay.
2. If you get a green light, what is it worth? Are you going to live there for 6 months or 6 years? You may have to gauge if a short-term stay is worth the time and money to paint. If you have never painted before, don’t underestimate the effort and costs that go into painting a room. There are many other ways to add color to a rental.
3. Getting Help. It may sound expensive, but always consider all options. A professional will get the project done quickly and less messy. It may be worth it to hire out to get a quality look and save a little time.
More tips on painting your apartment are available at soyouwanna.com.
Get Tips From The Experts – home staging
Lin Hill from Realtor Magazine wrote an article about home staging to maximize your home’s appeal. Here are her main three points:
1. Depersonalizing the space by removing family photos, taking everything off the refrigerator, and stripping the kids’ rooms of posters and baseball trophies.
2. Clearing high-traffic areas of excess furnishings to maximize feelings of space and comfort.
3. Highlighting the key features in every room–such as fireplaces or French doors–by making sure they’re not obscured by plants or furnishings.
See the rest of her article here.
Do It Yourself!
A truly custom space involves putting your own fun twist on things. Why not make your own furniture and create a unique one-of-a-kind piece? www.instructables.com has great how-to videos that are posted by everyday people. In most cases, people had a need in their home: a desk, chair, bed… (or even lcd screens and lamps!) and they posted their success step-by-step. I love this Workbench/Storage Shelf posted by simplifiedbuilding. This would be a great industrial piece to use in a bathroom to stack towels, or as a kitchen island. Find the directions here.
Paint Sheens
I often get asked which paint sheen is best for certain projects. This is sometimes confusing because many companies have their own labels for their different paint sheens. Common naming conventions include semi-gloss, eggshell, and flat. Here is a quick guide to helping you select the best sheen:
Flat: This sheen has a matte finish that does not reflect light. Because of this, it is often good to distract from imperfections in the surface. However, it’s rough texture traps dirt and is not known for its washability. Washing scuffs off this surface often results in minor paint removal. This is my favorite sheen right now – especially on a flat-surfaced wall, because I think it looks modern.
Eggshell: Like the shell of an egg, it has a tiny bit of a sheen when you look at it at an angle. Because of this, is slightly more washable than flat.
Satin: This has a bit more shine than Eggshell. This can be a great finish for furniture so it has a little gloss and protection to it. It is the best of both worlds because it has a great surface and is scrubable.
Semi-Gloss: Somewhat less attractive, but great for cleaning. This type of paint is ideal for a rental because of its ability to be scrubbed clean. For the same reason, it is great for heavily used areas were fingerprints and scuffs are often found. This finish is more durable, making it better served in rooms with high-moisture like laundry rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.
Bob Vila’s website has great advice for choosing the right sheen here.
Storage Solutions Revised
No sooner than I posted the Pottery Barn Stratton Bed did I find this similar but do-it-yourself solution on Martha Stewart’s Blueprint website. The similar idea of under-bed storage was created using old drawers and a few casters. I think this is a great “to get you by” solution until you are ready to invest in a new bed. Think dresser from garage sale and casters from a hardware store creating your new shoe solution! See the directions on the blueprint website here.