Basic Apartment Decorating 101

Moving into a first apartment is a lot of fun, and it’s not just because you’re finally free from your parents and dorm rooms. It’s also because you have carte blanche when it comes to apartment decorating! For some, knowing exactly how to decorate is an innate gift. However, for others, it can be hard to know where or how to start.

When I first moved into my college apartment, I didn’t even know the difference between a wrench and a hammer (OK, that might be a slight exaggeration– let’s just say I was inexperienced when it came to home improvement). The good news is, knowing how to do just a few simple decorating tasks can help you create a personalized and stylish space in no time.

Here’s a basic apartment decorating guide for absolute beginners:

Paint Like a Professional

Rental apartments typically have white, off-white or beige walls, but landlords will often let you paint them as long as you paint them back when you’re moving out (make sure you ask your landlord for written permission first). And when it comes to painting walls, there’s a right way and a not-as-right way. In other words, it’s hard to get it completely wrong.

The first step to painting is gathering the materials you’ll need. You should buy a drop cloth or cheap sheet to protect your floor, painters’ tape, paint, brushes, rollers, and a paint tray. First, clean your walls with a damp rag so the paint will adhere better. Cover the floor completely with the sheet, and tape off the edges of your ceiling and baseboards.

Then, use your paint brush to apply at least 3 inches of paint adjacent to the tape. Rollers are bulky, so using a brush first will ensure you don’t accidentally get paint on your ceiling or trim. After pouring paint into the tray, use a roller to apply paint to the rest of the wall. Try to keep the roller from being overly full of paint for best results.

To cover a large area evenly, paint in the shape of a W, then fill in the gaps. Let it dry, remove the tape and clean up!

Hang Curtains

Curtains instantly add style to any room, but there’s more that goes into hanging them than you might think. Before you even buy curtains, decide how you’ll want them to hang. You can attach them directly above your window frame, or install the curtain rod higher and wider to make the window seem larger.

Once you’ve decided, use a pencil to mark where you’ll want the curtain rod, then measure the area. Try to buy curtains that are long enough to just brush the floor and about double the width of your measurements to get the right draping.

To hang your curtain rod, you’ll need the brackets that come with it, along with a drill, a level, screws and, potentially, screw anchors. First, knock on the wall lightly to see if there are any studs near the window– a hollow-sounding knock means no studs. There should be some right along the window frame. If there are, mark them with a pencil, and use your level and the rod or a piece of string to make sure the pencil marks are at the exact same height.

Remember that you should use at least three brackets to hold up the curtain rod– one on either side and one or two in the middle. So, make at least one more mark in the middle of the first two. For areas over a stud, you can simply screw the brackets into place using a drill. For areas where there aren’t studs, use plastic hollow screw anchors to make sure the screws stay put– curtains are a heavy load, so anchors are necessary to avoid an accident or injury.

When the brackets are in place, thread the curtains onto your rod, set the rod in place, and you’ll have beautiful window treatments! Use the same process for hanging art and mirrors— finding a stud is always best, but use screw anchors if that isn’t possible.

Find an Area Rug

Another apartment decorating basic is knowing how to find an area rug that fits your space perfectly. Most apartments have hardwood flooring, carpet, or laminate, but no matter what, a rug will give the room your own personal style (and camouflage any stains or damage). Finding the perfect area rug will depend on a couple of factors: which room it’s for and the dimensions of the room.

For living rooms, most home decorators agree that an area rug should cover the entire sitting area, which means it should be big enough to fit under your couch, chair, coffee table, end tables and any other furniture. If you have a big living room, it’s OK to find a rug that fits under only the front legs of each piece of furniture.

Before you go shopping, measure the space and do some research online to look at typical rug dimensions. That way, you’ll know exactly what to look for!

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Image Source: Wayfair- Birch Lane, Wayfair, Wayfair- Chango & Co, Wayfair – Clean Design Partners

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