You may have recently moved into a new place, or maybe you’ve been in the same apartment for a year or two already. In either case, you might feel like something is missing when you walk through the front door.
For many people, home decorating is an ongoing process, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Keeping things fresh is a great way to keep your mind and the energy in your home feeling new.
Home decorating may be a never-ending process, but not knowing how to put the finishing touches on it doesn’t have to be the reason why. Today we’re going to share with you five little touches that will make your apartment look “finished” — even if it’s not.
Set the Lighting
If you’ve lived in an apartment for a while, then you probably already know that most don’t come with much natural lighting, let alone light fixtures.
Maybe you’ve got fluorescent lights in your kitchen or bathroom, with no lighting built in anywhere else (this actually happens).
Placing a standing floor lamp in a corner and a table lamp on the other side of your dark living room is an excellent step toward brightening the space. Take that a step further by adding a mirror to an opposite wall.
Mirrors are for more than just checking your hair and makeup. They reflect light (duh) and end up making your room feel brighter and larger than it actually is.
Perhaps your apartment has a ton of natural light. Window treatment is a great way to tame that brightness, provide some privacy, and add to the theme of your home.
Select a Theme and Go With It
Many apartments come completely unfurnished, with pretty drab, plain colors throughout. Don’t let that stifle your inner interior designer, though. Think of it as a blank canvas.
If you want your apartment to look “finished,” you could simply select a color you’d like to highlight throughout the space and do it!
Find a throw blanket, a set of couch pillows, picture frames, an area rug, or any number of little accent pieces with matching colors. This is sure to tie the room together.
If you’ve got a cabinet, side table, or bookshelf:
Creating a vignette with small decorative pieces might be the missing piece of your home decor puzzle.
Vignettes are a great way to tell a story, whether it’s about your career, your family, or something you’re passionate about!
Fill the vignette with small personal items or photos, and tie it to the rest of the room with other related items throughout your home. For example, a musical instrument, a painting, or a mini bust of your favorite author.
Set Up Your Entryway
Sometimes the only thing that needs a finishing touch in any apartment is the entryway. Making sure that you and your guests feel welcome and at home is essential.
Imagine walking through someone else’s front door and seeing nothing but blank walls, darkness, and nowhere to hang your coat.
Give your guests a place to take a seat and remove their shoes before entering. Giving them a place to put their footwear adds an extra level of hospitality.
Adding some artwork will help you create some conversation and cover up those blank walls. You can add artwork to cover up blank walls anywhere in your apartment and accomplish the same thing.
Make sure you have somewhere to hang your coats too. Nobody likes having to carry that everywhere they go and having a place for your guests’ coats will help them feel at home.
Adding a doormat and a runner will immediately give your apartment a more complete and homey feel, as it guides you into the warmth of your home.
Bring In a Variety of Houseplants
You could have all the furniture, paintings, and decor in the world, but sometimes there’s nothing quite as tasteful as a touch of nature.
Having plants in your house can:
- Offer a source of stress relief
- Improve your mood
- Make you feel more connected to nature
- And maybe even improve the quality of air in your home!
Something as simple as a pot of flowers by the window in your kitchen can help to brighten any morning and bring literal life into your home.
Not into flowers and other delicate plants?
Get yourself a set of succulents to decorate your coffee table or bookshelf. These plants need very little maintenance and still bring that touch of life you might be seeking.
If you’re still not satisfied with the plants in your apartment, consider hanging some of them from the ceiling.
Hanging plants at various heights will add depth to the room and ultimately make the space more dynamic. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the seven wonders of the ancient world for a reason!
Add an Area Rug
After coming home from work on a cold day, the last thing you may want to do is walk around barefoot on cold, hard floors. Yet, putting in carpet requires way too much investment and maintenance (and looks a little tacky).
Adding an area rug can give you the best of both worlds. Find a color or design that you love, and place it anywhere you’d like.
Place your area rug underneath your dining room table to add elegance. Or in the living room for a cozy addition to your entertainment experience.
Extra noise reflecting off of your hard floors can make even the quietest conversations difficult to hear.
Adding an area rug helps to cut down on all that audible mess while helping to bring the whole room together. Not to mention, keeping your toes nice and warm at the same time!
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember when adding the finishing touches to your apartment is that the space is yours.
Don’t feel discouraged if you still don’t think your apartment looks finished after:
- Enhancing the lighting
- Decorating with a theme
- Setting up a welcoming entryway
- Adding houseplants or an area rug
Everyone likes different things. Get creative by taking any of these five tips a step further, and you’ll be sure to find your apartment feeling finished in no time!
Author Bio
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.
