KU
KU Card
Page 20
Thursday, August 22, 2013
The University Daily Kansan
HOME SWEET HOME
Decorating tips brighten rooms, customize spaces
ASHLEIGH TIDWELL
atidwell@kansan.com
Decorating your apartment can be tricky business with all of the strict rules that complexes have: no painting, no holes in the walls and no candles, just to name a few. It can really put a kink in your style, but there are a few ways you can express yourself without breaking the rules.
BRIGHTENING YOUR SPACE
Apartments.com says that the key to making a space look bigger and more friendly is color. You can add color with bright bedding, a patterned rug and plants.
When used properly, lighting can also make a room look bigger.
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
hang up. This adds personality and is a great conversation starter.
according to gardenweb.com.
Adding mirrors to any room adds light and tricks the eye into thinking the room is more spacious. Putting lamps in the
"Command hooks are your best friend," Garren said.
Making the most of a small living space can be difficult. For easy organizational tools, use a vertical bookshelf. This takes up wall space and can help make a tight area appear larger. Bright colored rugs and mirrors can also add the illusion of more space.
MAKING THE MOST OF SMALL'SPACES
Lauren Garren, a senior from Wichita, says that she hangs colorful fabrics on her walls to cheer things up. Of course, she couldn't hang up a curtain rod so she found an alternative:
Let's face it — college apartments aren't usually as spacious as your parents' house; but you still have the same amount of junk to fit into your new place.
Sarah Willingham, a sophomore from Olathe, says that her method is
"You have to make use of the space you have."
to organize.
COVERING UP THOSE DINGY WALLS
SARAH WILLINGHAM Sophomore
corners of rooms brings light to the entire room, making the space seem larger.
Unfortunately most apartments won't let you paint the walls. This can be a bummer, considering most apartment walls are the same dingy off-white color.
Fortunately, there are other ways to cover up the boring white. Hit up the poster sale on campus, find a few that you love and tack them up on the walls. Or, if you're artistically inclined, you could create your own artwork to
"You have to make use of all the space you have," Willingham said.
The easiest way to do this is to add bookshelves; the taller, the better. By adding bookshelf.
you can take advantage of the vertical wall space. This saves floor space and gives you an extra opportunity to break up the monotony of the white walls.
For those who find themselves sharing a bathroom – particularly women – the best space saving tip is to make a magnetic makeup board. When you have two or three girls, each with a sizeable amount of makeup, you will quickly run out of counter space. So take away some of the clutter and hang it on the wall.
Edited by Elise Reuter
ADDITIONAL DECORATING IDEAS
- Turn wrapping paper or fabric into wall
- paper
- Candles (if your apartment allows them)
- Paint your furniture
- Repurpose empty wine bottles
- Replace your closet door with a bright curtain.
- Use command hooks to hang jewelry
- Use a shoe rack in your closet
- Check out these websites for inspiration:
curtain
- renters.apartments.com
- buzzfeed.com
- gardenweb.com
- realsimple.com
- -bhg.com
- hgtv.com