The little things to make an apt. more comfortable

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m a single guy, 22 years old, no pets, living in a somewhat spacious one bedroom apartment (by no means luxurious but not a cookie cutter hole in the wall). I work in a somewhat professional job and have, within the past year or so, given up the whole college lifestyle for the most part and am now trying to live a lifestyle of a real adult.

Now, with all that background out of the way, I want to know all the little things I can do to my place to make it feel nicer to visitors and to just feel more comfortable in my home.

I already have enough art in the place, and a tapestry in the living room… Air freshener things, plants (though I’m better at killing them than keeping them alive for some reason), an eating area that isn’t my couch, art in the bathroom, music broadcasted from my computer to the two stereos on opposite ends of my house (makes for a nice effect when I’m reading in the living room and walk down the hall to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat).

My bedroom… Well, the walls are blank… no ideas (used to put up movie posters and flags in college… not what I’m going for now). I sleep on a futon and have my desk and computer in there.

The place is all hardwood floor (I don’t have any rugs, that could be good for the living room, I guess). The kitchen has these crappy office type chairs but I just can’t bring myself to spend a couple hundred dollars on a pair of matching chairs that look decent… (Again, not a luxurious place, more of a somewhat poor just after college place but have enough money to live pretty comfortably from week to week).

Any ideas? Further questions? My budget isn’t big… So don’t list things that cost more than 50 or 100 bucks (a hundred is by far the max, and I’d have to budget that).

I’m more looking for the bargain buys, the things you find in thrift shops, low cost little things that just help make a place look/feel/smell good.

Thanks.

2

Oh, two more things… The architecture of the place is woodwork around the doorways and baseboards, hardwood floors, has a feel of an older place but isn’t falling apart. A couple useless light sockets that look ok with a cover (one comes out of the wall and I decided it looked cool and decided to keep it).

And within reason my landlord doesn’t give a damn what I do to the place as long as it makes it nicer… I put in a deadbolt (I used to be able to break into my place when I forgot the keys with only my drivers license… actually it was faster to do this… made me uneasy) and I re-stained all the woodwork. He was cool with both and I didn’t even tell him until I happened to run into him weeks later… So within reason I can take out a couple power tools and have at it.

3

I’m no interior designer, but…

Having a definite design and goal in mind is probably the best; having things that match - or at least fit together - helps a lot. I went through college picking stuff up when I needed it, and it’s all horribly mismatched in both color and style.

But since you want actual ideas, I would suggest lighting. I feel most comfortable in halogen, whereas fluorescent lighting makes me tense. I think you can still pick up torchieres for cheap (or are they illegal now? they’re a fire hazard if you’re not careful) or you can get mini lamps for the walls or ceiling.

Or sell out like me and shop at Ikea…

4

Do your downstairs neighbor a favor and put rugs where you walk with shoes on. :slight_smile: Plus, yes, they’ll add something.

5

Thats the first mistake. Step one in “Getting Old”.

I suggest petite women. :smiley:

Seriously (since I think that is what you are looking for), I suggest things that make *you * happy. To hell with what other people think.

6

I’ve lived in my house for 2 years now and the walls are still bare. I’m waiting for some sort of divine inspiration to tell me what my “decorating sense” is.

I agree with Frank that you need rugs, and also with Gatopescado (damn dude, I just now got your username!) that you should decorate how you feel most comfortable.

If you want posters in your room put up posters - except go the “adult” route and put them in frames :slight_smile:

I make my guests comfortable by always remembering to turn on the front light, having tissues within reach, plenty of TP in the bathroom and plenty of Cokes in the fridge. That’s all they get :wink:

7

Rugs really do make a difference – they look nice, absorb sound, and are more comfortable to walk on if you’re a “kick off your shoes” type – plus they make the place look furnished in a way no other single change will.

Check out a remnants store to get a large rug inexpensively. My dining room rug is about 10x12 and cost about $150. They’ll mostly have solid colors, but also some patterns (mine is an “oriental” pattern on a dark-red background, it’s quite nice).

8

Do you have curtains? I notice one thing a lot of people (especially guys) forget or think aren’t important are curtains. They’re more than just modesty panels, they really do spice up a room. You can get them cheap in the bins at Kmart or Wal-Mart.

9

Girlfriend.
Ya gotta get a girlfriend. Most love to help their guy out with these types of issues.

10

Ditto on the curtains and rugs. Given your age and likely budget, you should check out stores like Urban Outfitters. They have lots of rugs, curtains and other decorating items that are inexpensive and really help spruce a place up.

11

Look around flea markets, antique stores, garage sales, etc. When something really strikes you, get it. Do not rush the process.

12

Thanks on that advice… There’s been more than one occasion where I thought “Hey, I could use this!” and I end up with a blender on my kitchen counter that I’ll never use.

And yes, I have curtains, I do have some basic decorating skills, enough to not be sitting on crates…

I should work on that girlfriend thing… Yes… That would make my apartment look much nicer… Oh, yeah, a few other benefits as well. :smiley: I could ask a female friend of mine, that would work as well…

13

I had this conversation once with a friend… Talking about how posters alone make your place a frat house while posters framed (especially b/w photography) look classy.

The only thing is framing posters seems to be rather expensive… Even with just the plastic stuff.

14

I think you already have way to much decor. Time to stop.
Metrosexual is code for undatable.

15

And dating is the point of life? :slight_smile: I think living to the fullest is the point of life, and if a girl doesn’t like it, she can go hang.

16

I will add to the suggestions picture frames with pictures. Mix the media both in the frame (family, friends, you doing activities you love, etc.) and of the frame itself (fancy, plain, wood, shiny finished metal, etc.).

MeanJoe

17

Yes, but a nice framer (may I suggest a locally and independently owned frame shop) could cut a custom mat for you that would make your poster fit into a frame you found at a yard sale or thrift shop. Within reason of course - if something has been in an attic or garage for years and is dirty and buggy it’s more trouble than its worth.

Speaking as a plant killer myself, if you can’t keep them looking at least alive, give 'em away to someone who can care for them. My apartment looked worlds better after I got rid of the plants (and with them the accompanying guilt). Healthy plants really improve a space. Dead and dying plants detract. I did have luck with a Christmas Cactus (I think they have a new name) that actually thrived for several years, but it didn’t survive 2 days in a moving truck in February.

18

I got a rug at Target-and I’ve seen them at Bed Bath and Beyond as well-that is bamboo. It is great and very neutral so it goes with everything.

19

You could also just pick up some cheap prints at garage or yard sales that appeal to you. I hate getting anything framed, it really does cost a ridiculous amount.

I was trying to think of the things I have hanging up on my walls. I’m not much of a decorator either, and I am the girl.

In my private room, I have a lot of stuff from my culture and his - lot of Chinese and Indian crap. What’s your heritage? Maybe stuff related to that? If you’re Irish for example you could put up some Celtic things.

I also have scenery prints, which you can sometimes get for cheap, pre-framed. I like these.

Clocks are good. You can put a clock in every room if you like. Clocks are not expensive (well they can be but they don’t have to be). My living room has a bird clock.

I’ll come back if I think of more.

20

Some antique looking maps, perhaps? That and globes will be my main design element whenever I finally get my own place.