analysis: Decorating an Apartment to Reflect Your Personal Style

Check out your closet

Notes:

• It’s hard to add a unique twist to your apartment if you don’t even know your personal style! The best place to start: Your Closet
• Take a look at what you have on your hangers and see if you can find any trends. Look for things like:
  • Colors:  darks, lights, or certain shades
  • Textures:  rough, smooth, or soft
  • Prints: animal, stripes, paisley, plaids, or herringbone
  • Style:  vintage, minimalism, rustic, or luxury
• Are you going to decorate your entire apartment with animal prints if you notice you wear a lot of zebra patterns? Probably not. That’d be excessive.
• But try to combine all four of the things above in one way or another. That could mean incorporating a navy blue sofa if you like darker shades or adding a wool blanket to your living room if you want softer textures.

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Consider your favorites

Notes:

• Nothing says “personal” quite like incorporating your favorite things into your apartment’s decor.
• Your next task: Spend an afternoon going through your favorite items. These decor items can add nicely to the surrounding area:

  • Is there a beach photo that brings you back to childhood vacations?:

    Is there a beach photo that brings you back to childhood vacations? Then consider infusing a nautical rope mirror, horizontal wood panels, and tan and seafoam hues.

  • Do you have piles of old-school records lying around?:

    Then add Andy Warhol-style wall decor, earthy tones (like orange and brown), and a vintage record player..

  • Is it the sports trophies and jerseys that make you reminisce?

    Then invest in single leather chairs, high bar stools, and shelving for your signed footballs.

• You don’t have to make your high school trophies or seashells the “centerpieces” of your entire apartment — that could come off as tacky. Simply use your favorite things as thematic inspiration.

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•    some ideas to view and compare      

  adjustable computer deskdesk telescopevintage typewriter

Seek out inspiration on pinterest

Notes:

• Do you have no idea what you’re doing in the interior design sense but have somewhat of a clue into what type of stylings pique your interest? Then Pinterest could be your answer.
• Think about the things you like — your hobbies, favorite places, colors, and textures — and simply add “decor” to the end when doing a Pinterest search. Then…scroll.
• Not only will you find links to trendy decor pieces that you can buy on the spot, but you’ll also see “pins” of entire rooms built around your preferences. Use these pins to get those creative juices flowing.
• You might not know how to achieve a farmhouse style in your apartment right now, but you’ll learn to add greys, woods, and cozy blankets soon enough!

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•    some ideas to view and compare      

  floating shelvesoversized square wall clockmodern floor lamp

Don’t box yourself in

Notes:

• Continuity is great, and your guests will love it! But just as you don’t wear leather or the color green every day, you also don’t have to stick to a mid-century modern or minimalist style from room-to-room.
• Don’t box yourself in!
• If you like both industrial and Scandinavian, it doesn’t have to be an either-or.
• You can add a faux brick wall to your living room while keeping the space relatively bare. Or you can go entirely Scandinavian in the bedroom and industrial in the kitchen.
• Remember: You’re going to be the one looking at this decor and styling day in and day out. Don’t feel the need to put “sticking with the style” above your personal preferences!

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•    some ideas to view and compare      

  farmhouse dining tableindustrial pendant lightingglass carboy

Think about all the senses

Notes:

• When you think about interior design, what do you envision? If you’re like most people, your primary focus goes toward how the room looks.
• But your other senses are important too! And nothing will help you feel more “at home” in your apartment than putting a little extra thought into your stylings.
• Here are some ways to evoke the other senses:

  • Smell:

    Buy great-smelling candles, relaxation-inducing essential oils for your diffuser, or potpourri. This will keep the home smelling fresh at all times.

  • Touch:

    Invest in blankets, bedding, rugs, and couches that make you feel most comfortable (and warm) — like microfiber, wool, or cotton.

  • Sound:

    Infuse a record player, soothing music system, clocks that toll, or anything else that triggers this sense for you positively.

• On appearance alone, a room may make you smile.But since you’re the one who’ll be eating at the table, sleeping in the bed, or using the mirror, all your senses are equally important.
• Don’t buy that velvet couch if you can’t picture yourself lounging on it.

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•    some ideas to view and compare      

  wood pallet headboardlinen bed throwladder plant stand

Build around an anchor item

Notes:

• Do you generally have no idea where to start when it comes to overhauling your apartment? Does what’s in your closet not match your interior design preferences?
• Then here’s your next best bet: Find an anchor item.
• An anchor item is any piece of decor — whether that be a fruit bowl, velvet sofa, barn doors, or vintage painting — that you base your entire room or style around.
• Snap a photo of it. When you go furniture shopping or even make a “quick” Target run, go down the interior design aisles and ask yourself whether it’ll match your anchor.
• Your style may not have a technical name.But having an anchor item in mind (and on your phone) will give you the “I’ll know it when I see it” mindset when looking to overhaul your decor.

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•    some ideas to view and compare      

  director lamppulley pendant lightwood panel portrait

Take an interior design style quiz

Notes:

• You like leather furniture, orange, paintings from the 1800s, and dark wood flooring.
• In other words: You don’t fit “cleanly” into any of the major interior design styles. Naturally, this makes decorating your apartment a more difficult feat.
• But not impossible!
• Lucky for you, there are plenty of interior design style quizzes that’ll put your visions into appropriate terminology.
• This quiz from the Designer Society of America is a great start!

• CONCLUSION

  Decorating your apartment to match your style can be a substantial financial burden, especially if you have a taste for luxury.But don’t worry!

• You have more than enough time left on your lease to gradually introduce new decor and personal stylings.There’s no need to “flip” your apartment overnight or in a week. One item, one room, or one piece of furniture at a time is just fine.

• copper floor fancopper pendant lightcopper coffee table

     some ideas to view and compare      

• What comments can you share about
  your apartment or home decorating style

Adam Marshall:
is a freelance writer who specializes in all things apartment organization, real estate, and college advice. He currently works with Arch Troy to help them with their online marketing.