There’s nothing quite like having your own apartment to make you feel as though you’ve finally completed your transition into adulthood. Now you have something that’s yours, and you’re in charge of every aspect of it. One thing about having your own place, however, is that you’re also footing a few bills—rent and amenities, generally. When it comes to furnishing and decorating your apartment, you may find yourself with a limited budget. No matter how small your budget, though, you can create a home that truly reflects who you are. To help you get a head start on this, we’ve created a guide to apartment decorating on a budget.
Start with Functionality
Before anything else, you’ll want to invest in the items you need to navigate your everyday life. Many apartments come equipped with amenities such as microwaves, but you’ll want to have a few other things in your home. These items include:
- A first aid kit
- A tea kettle (if you don’t want to invest in a coffee maker yet, you can use this for tea and instant coffee)
- Any type of seating
- Storage solutions
Rework Used Furniture
A thrift store will never fail you. Economically priced furniture can sell for as little as it does because it generally isn’t well-built. We recommend perusing secondhand shops and online marketplaces for great deals. If the base materials are of high quality, you can always spruce up the piece yourself. Wood furniture is easy to bring back to life, and it will work well in any room.
Attend Estate Sales
Another great way to get your furnishings is through an estate sale. You can often purchase furniture and artwork that’s in great shape for almost nothing. Keep an eye out for sales in your area and see if you can stock up.
Display Functional Items
If you’re looking to add a bit of personality to your home, consider using functional items as decoration. Install a mug rack in your kitchen and hang up some of your favorite drinkware. You can also set out some books on your coffee table and hang your hat collection on your bedroom wall.
Purchase Multi-Use Furniture
The best pieces of furniture are the ones that have more than one use. This includes beds with drawers beneath them, futons, and coffee tables with pullout sections. These are space-efficient, and they give you two pieces of furniture for the price of one.
DIY
The best way to infuse your home with your personality is by displaying items you created yourself. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be particularly crafty, you can do simpler crafts, such as creating diamond art and painting a frame to display it in. Look up some easy tasks online for inspiration.
