Incorporate modern furniture with clean lines to tone down wild textures.
With space at a premium and multi-story, walk-up apartment buildings serving as a main staple of accommodation options, decorating homes in New York City can be tricky. Small apartment homes become easily cluttered due to the lack of storage, while changing wall color or replacing large furniture items is a challenge in confined spaces. Take a "measure twice, decorate once" mentality to select furniture and accessories that will withstand the test of time, plus the wear and tear of city living. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Planning and Painting
1. Select a neutral wall color, from the brown, gray or white color families, using a paint swatch book; choose dark neutrals to add depth or lighter shades open up small homes.
2. Paint each room in the home prior to moving in large furniture items that are difficult to maneuver around.
3. Measure the home's doorways and all potential furniture purchases with a tape measure. Check proportions on the home's floor plan to ensure the pieces with both fit through the doors and in the space.
4. Photograph all potential furniture purchases with the digital camera to ensure the styles and colors complement one another before buying any large, difficult-to-move items.
Storage and Decorating Solutions
5. Maximize storage space by installing floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Store a vintage, collapsible stepladder nearby to access overhead items. Raise couches and beds with leg extenders to increase storage space below.
6. Purchase eclectic storage options, such as vintage suitcases and decorative baskets that add decorative character to a space when left out in the open, instead of unattractive plastic bins that detract from the decor.
7. Economize space by incorporating collapsible items, such as a hinged dining table that folds up out of the way, colorful folding chairs to be hung nearby as functional artwork and fold-up dish drying rack to save counter space.
8. Repurpose flea market finds and industrial furniture for inexpensive furniture and storage ideas, such as a wall-mounted magazine rack installed in the kitchen to store dishes.
9. Add pops of color and texture in contrasting, yet complementary shades with items that are easily swapped out to freshen the decor, such as in shower curtains, bedspreads, throw pillows, rugs and small decorative accessories. Prevent small spaces from becoming overwhelmed with too-vibrant colors or wild textures by selecting minimalist furnishings with clean, modern lines.
Tags: furniture items, furniture purchases, furniture purchases with, items that, large furniture
