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Decorating with Style

Since you are spending so much money in rent, cheap options are the way to go for furnishings. The always-handy craigslist.com is definitely a place to check for used big items such as couches, end tables, TV stands and various other furnishings. Often people list their garage and yard sales on craigslist.org, as well, which are good destinations for items to re-purpose or re-use. Out of the Closet and Goodwill can also have some finds from time to time. And if you have some time to plan, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena has a giant flea market most Sundays where you can score some deals.

But if you are sleeping on an air mattress and sitting on milk crates, your living needs might not leave you time to hunt and peck through the stacks of used items. When in need and on a budget, IKEA and Target are a safe bets to find something usable and durable enough without plunking down too much of your savings. Another alternative if you want well kept used or vintage items that are immediately available is to check out This Is Not Ikea (http://www.thisisnotikea.com) at their store on Fairfax. TINI prices are usually in the same range, but carry more unique items.

If you’ve smartly saved up and have some dough to drop on your new home, head over to Culver City. In the historic Helms Bakery building, you will find some great, yet pricier home stores. Known as the furniture district, this area is home to H.D. Buttercup, Room and Board, Plummers, Jaxon and a host of other higher-end furniture stores. If you are looking to drop some money on one piece, this is the place to look as all the retailers are lumped into an easy walking distance, and have an eclectic range of styles available.

All said, once you get some furnishings, you have to make the most of your space. Below are some simple decorating tips to keep things organized and add personal touches to your new home.

Use Color Pops

While you might get a hodge podge of colors if you are going the cheaper thrift store route, you can still try to maintain a color palate in your main living areas. Find the boldest piece in the room, and build your scheme accordingly. Remember most things can be painted to especially if they are used. Pick a strong color that plays off the bold piece, and echo with accents throughout the space. More modern color accents are bold oranges, greens, blues and yellows. Crate and Barrel’s sister store, CB2 and West Elm are great resources for items with these colors pops (http://www.cb2.com/ or http://www.westelm.com/). CB2 has a physical store on Sunset while West Elm’s store is located near the Promenade in Santa Monica. While some landlords may approve painting in the apartment, don’t be surprised if they oppose this suggestion (or make you re-paint before moving out). Thus, why color pops are best found in accent pieces such as throw pillows, lamps, vases, clocks or area rugs.

Mix Textures and Tones

Another way to add interest to your space is by mixing textures. If you have a heavy dark leather couch, you may want to lighten the mood with a fuzzy or chunky bright colored area rug. Flor has great modular carpet tiles that are useful when decorating a small space on budget (http://www.flor.com/). It’s always a good idea to bring natural elements into your living space. That’s not to say you need a jungle growing in your bedroom, but a plant (even a really good looking fake one) planted in a clear vase with some stones, can bring texture into the room. Steel vases or clocks are another way to bump up the textures in your home. A mixture of natural elements and color pops are easy and go far as to creating an enjoyable environment.

Be Creative with Wall Art

Get Creative with Wall Decorations

To be hung on the wall, doesn’t mean it needs to come framed. Use a clothesline with photos or cover a corkboard with fabric and make your own collage, and be creative. Shadow boxes are a great way to display found objects or display something meaningful to you. Small bookshelves are a functional way to add a color pop and to also keep organized. Add some funky bookends, and that could be your wall art. If you can’t paint, and can’t stand bare white walls, another way to go is to try Bliks wall decals (http://www.whatisblik.com/). Blik’s are giant sticker wall art that come in various designs from whimsical to customizable.

Get Rid of Junk

You just moved. It’s time for a fresh start. Upload your cds, and sell what you can to Second Spin (http://www.secondspin.com/). If you haven’t worn a piece of clothing in six months, sell it off to Crossroads (http://www.crossroadstrading.com/). Utilize storage bins under your bed for off-season clothing. Bins can usually be purchased at Target or if you wanna get fancy, hit the Container Store (http://www.containerstore.com) for every kind of storage device imaginable. Or go to craigslist yourself, and sell your junk. It’s just stuff, and all that money can go to buy you new stuff.

In a Pinch, Remove the Door

If you are packed into a condo with multiple roomies, we wouldn’t suggest removing your bedroom door, but if you have some annoying fold-out closets, take ‘em off. That’s precious space you could be using for more stuff. Take the doors off and use a curtain to cover. Find a nice cloth shower curtain and hang it and enjoy your space. Kitchen cabinets that are knocking together can be solved with a simple unhinging and small piece of fabric. Make the space work for you.

Keep It Clean

As much as it’s pain to clean, and no one likes it, this is your home. You want it to be comfortable for you and your new friends. Don’t make a poor first impression by having guests dodge piles of laundry or smelly trash. Once you get your place settled, pick up a little everyday. That way you should be able to maintain your area. You are paying and arm and a leg for it, shouldn’t you enjoy your investment? – Lori Bartlett