How To Make Your Rental Apartment Feel More Like A Home

“Decorate your home. It gives the illusion that your life is more interesting than it really is.”
                                                                            Charles M. Schulz


Apartment living can be a great option whether you are downsizing or moving out on your own after college, however,  they tend to lack "character" an essential part of any home decor scheme.  Character basically makes a home feel like a home -in essence,  it changes the overall vibe of your abode. 

If  you just moved into a rental apartment and it feels a little sterile, dark or cold and you desperately want it to feel more like a home follow these steps outlined below:

1. Hang a lightweight medallion on the ceiling (see photo) to make a boring light fixture seem more dramatic.  You can find these readily available at The Home Depot or other hardware stores.
2.  Replace kitchen and bathroom cabinet hardware with modern/vintage knobs.
3. Switch out those outdated plastic light switch covers with something unique and contemporary.
4. For dark areas of your apartment add electric wall scones or battery powered wall lamps.  Both are affordable and can be easily installed. 
5.  Upgrade your bathtub shower head with a Rain or LED showerhead to create a spa-like feeling within your bathroom.
     
6.  Removable wallpaper - hang wallpaper to a blank boring white wall to update it instantly.
7.  Remove those blinds (if you are allowed to) and update them with quality draperies.
8. Add houseplants.  They are cheap, good for the air and will make any space feel like home.  Make sure to place houseplants in a good quality/pretty planter so they don't look cheap.
   
   
   

                                 Houseplants create a zen-like atmosphere in this living room

A french-style ceiling medallion makes this space look opulent

A wall sconce the perfect lighting needed to create hominess

This global decor style light switch will give any wall character  

                                                                    Source:  Pinterest

                                Modern cabinet knobs and pulls a quick fix for any outdated fixture


These rental updates will transform any bland apartment into a palace. Hope they have inspired you.   Give them a try!

How To Organize And Modernize A Laundry Room

The laundry room is probably the last place to come to mind when updating or organizing our interior space. The laundry room is probably one of the most used rooms in the house, especially if you have an infant or toddlers whose clothes are changed frequently.

Next to the kitchen, the laundry area/room is the hub of the house and gets a lot of traffic. Keeping this area organized and updated is a task most of us would rather not think about. But, having a laundry space that is functional and attractive will make the mundane task of doing laundry more appealing.

Here are some tips to get you started on your way to a wonderful and modern laundry room.

• Paint or wallpaper a feature wall of the room
• Add draperies - if your laundry room is in your  basement adding draperies will soften the space and  make it feel brighter.
• Turn an old bookcase into a shelving unit for your  laundry supplies
• Add a folding station or counter top to fold clothes
• Install several coat hooks or a curtain rod to hang up  laundry from the dryer
• Keep laundry pre-sorted into hampers to make laundry  day easier
• Utilize baskets and colorful containers for organization
• Update ceiling lights and add a task light
• Add house plants and paintings to personalize your  space
• Place a sign on your laundry room door to give it  character

See photos  below:

           
                                               Source  :  HGTV

Houseplants - a great addition for a more healthy home

Houseplants are sometimes  overlooked  as a decor accessory but it is one of the easiest ways to update and uplift a space.  Not only are they beautiful but they help to improve the quality of your indoor air by removing harmful  toxins found  in  the  home such as benzene and formaldehyde.

The best indoor plants to improve air quality

are:

Aloe Vera
Gerbera Daisy
Snake Plant
Ficus
Golden Pothos

Take a look at these beautiful rooms found on Pinterest decorated with houseplants, they are doing double duty here.

Snake Plant

Ficus

Fig Tree

Hanging Golden Pothos

Tip:  Some houseplants are harmful to pets, so check with your vet or do some research beforehand.