Apartment Decorating…Keep It Simple
Many people choose apartment living over a purchased home. It is a choice that does not need to limit ones interior design sense. In fact, there are many apartments that rival homes with regard to decor, paint style, flooring and design sense

You have chosen a perfect place to land and start your life here in Arizona. At least, until you can find your way clear to purchase a home or decide exactly what part of our beautiful valley you want to live in. Perhaps you have decided to simplify your lifestyle and moved into a smaller, more easily maintained space.

Whatever has brought you to apartment living is secondary. You don’t have to give up elegance or style because your living area is smaller and more compact than it might be in a house.

Minimize

The most important thing to remember when purchasing items for your apartment is to keep furniture to a minimum. You will have smaller rooms to work with and keeping your living room items to a three seat sofa and a small love seat, or one chair is plenty to start. Two end tables with a coffee table will serve your conversation area well and adding your television or entertainment center on the opposite wall will complete your large items.

Proportion

Proportion is the most important thing to remember here. Never purchase small items to fit into a large space, or large items to fill a small space. Your case goods (items without upholstery) must follow your proportions in order to add cohesiveness to your room. Your entertainment center should not overwhelm the rest of the room. Don’t purchase a massive, Spanish piece when a smaller, more delicate one with Moorish lines will do well and compliment the mood you are trying to create. Whatever your individual style and taste, there are smaller, lighter more a[apartment friendly pieces to choose from.

Space

Remember, the more space you do not fill, the larger your room will look. Avoid the compulsion to fill every linier foot of wall with piece of furniture or plant. Use mirrors on walls opposite interesting art to create the illusion of more space. Even smaller, decorative pieces like wicker baskets, if they are in excess, can create a cluttered look before you know it.

Plants

Since you are not going to have a yard to care for, why not incorporate some plants into your life. There are several house plant varieties that people assure me are indestructible and they are certainly worth a try. Two or three strategically placed pots with greenery can give your room a feeling of calm and are generally aesthetically pleasing to everyone. If you are like me and have proven those well meaning people wrong, silk plants are a great alternative and have become so reasonably priced that they are easily replaceable when they begin to appear worn or faded.

Don’t forget flowers. Fresh flowers in a vase are a refreshing touch to any environment. Keep your arrangement simple and clean. Again, space.. open space is what we are trying to create.

Art

Again, keep your art objects to a minimum. Less is better in smaller spaces. Avoid the need to hang something on EVERY empty wall. Start with one or two framed pieces and live with just that for a short time. Add other objects slowly and don’t over do. You’ll find that you might settle comfortably into your apartment in no time, surrounded with your style and preferences and still have space to spare.

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