Apartment Blog

 Continuing our weekly trend, here are some amazing tips on how to refresh your home using the happy color yellow. As the color of sunshine and daisies, yellow brightens up dark rooms and breathes warmth into cold spaces. And remember, these tips will accommodate most limitations given for apartment renters!

For an elegant feel, add black and white furniture with strong silhouettes to a room in addition to the color yellow. In the photo example, a simple color scheme of white, soft yellow, and black creates a timeless look to this room.

Pale yellow walls set a soothing tone. Pairing cheerful colors, such as soft greens and yellows are also very welcoming.

A beautiful combination is blue with yellow. It adds a classic French country feeling to any space, especially with patterns that include the fleur de lis, the swan motif, stripes, small floral prints and checkerboards.

Curtains, appliances and kitchen towels in a mustard yellow coordinate with rustic cupboards (common in many apartment communities) can give a kitchen a Mediterranean ambiance.  Pair a few mosaic plates with red, blue and orange on the wall to really get the feeling going!

A floral-inspired bedspread, curtains and chandelier bring a romantic feeling to a bedroom.

A bold beam of sunny yellow can be brought in with an accent rug or a piece of art work.

For a multifunctional room or a child bedroom, use yellow with other primary colors (red and blue).  Children of most ages like the bright colors, plus this palette can be used for many years.

Yellow backing on bookshelves will make the books stand out on a custom-built shelf.

Combine warm shades of yellow, gold, and tangerine give to a room a sophisticated and elegant look. The walls, floor, and drapery are kept neutral in shades of white and cream (as most apartments are). Yellow upholstery, pillows, and artwork add a bit of color but keep it rich and elegant (see photo on left).

One of the best qualities of the color yellow is that it goes great with nearly every other color — white, orange, green, pink, blue and brown. So if you’re looking to punch up a space, why not consider this pleasing color! What’s next on the palate? The color PINK!

Source: Country Living and Better Homes & Gardens

 In the world of apartment living, we all know how important it is to create a multifunctional space. I can’t tell you how many pieces of furniture I have purchased with the thought of ‘hey, that can double as this!’ or something to that effect. When you’re living in a one or two bedroom apartment, it’s essential to get all the practicality you can out of the space provided. So here are a few tips for those of you sharing a spare bedroom between an office and guest bedroom.

Office Space:

You will need a few key items for your office space in this room. Obviously a work station, a chair, office utensils, maybe a computer, books, etc.  Depending on whether you want your work area to be seen or not will determine what type of work station you get, either an armoire or a desk.  Be sure and have handy storage items for your pens, paper, personal mail, notes, etc. so that when guests do stay they are hidden. Having decorative storage containers will serve two functions as it is practical and eye catching!

You can also have larger office supplies stored on a bookshelf near the work station or inside the closet.

Guest Bedroom:

Think about how you would feel as a guest in your multifunctional guest bedroom. You know you will want a sleeping area that is practical for during the day and at night. So a day bed or a futon would be the best option here-sofa by day, bed by night.  Be sure to purchase one that is comfortable for your guest to sleep on. Also purchase plenty of blankets, sheets, pillows, toiletries, etc. A creative way to store those items is: a few small storage containers to slip under the day bed/futon so it is out of the way or for a more decorative option (but only if you have the space) is a nice trunk or storage ottoman. Storage cubes and chests can triple as seating, storage, and end tables. A night stand would be nice with a lamp.  And of course a few hangers inside your closet for guests to hang their garments would be appreciated.

Décor:
Now the décor for this space needs to be planned out as well. You want something you can live with everyday while using your work station but also something that is appealing to guests when they are visiting. I personally have a cool color palette (see pictures). The walls are a nice blue, the futon is a light brown and the sheet set/blanket is a cream and green pattern. The pattern isn’t too overwhelming for the space and it isn’t too girly. Color blocked trimmings (silver office supplies, hardware, and photo frames) help tie it together.
Wall-mounted accessories make the best use of the room.  Floating shelves is a good way to use height for space by storing trinkets or books on the wall. As we’ve mentioned in our ‘How to Decorate Walls Without Painting’ blog, mirrors help give the illusion of more space. Thoughtful art choices help warm the room.

And don’t forget to add a vase with fresh flowers as a nice touch. It’ll have guests wanting to visit you over and over again!