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Posts Tagged ‘apartment decor’
Not many residents halls or apartment complexes are accommodating when it comes to putting holes in their walls, leaving you stuck with tacky vertical shades, cheap mini-blinds, or ancient black out panels. However, you do have some options, thanks to the advancement of temporary hanging solutions, such as 3M’s Command Strips.
There are different ways you can go with this, but in any case, you need to make sure you use the 5lb-capacity hooks and follow the instructions closely, or you will either have your draperies falling off the wall every 3 days, or you will do more damage to the wall than putting in a nail or screw.
One option is to use the hooks as the pole brackes, as seen here. This would work best for lightweight or sheer panels that you float over existing shades.
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Another option is to use a Command hook to anchor each tab of tab-top drapes. This will allow you to use heavier fabric, or bring in black-out lining if you are removing the existing treatments (temporarily, of course!) These panels are from Wal-Mart, and you can see how easy it is to add their blackout lining if desired.
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If your only option is to keep the existing panels in place, try adding temporary embellishments (trim, fabric banding, etc.) with the use of the double-sided tape that is used for body-to-clothing applications (think J. Lo at the Grammys). Test first in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it will cleanly remove once your lease is up.
Get your limited-time coupons for Command Strips here!
Maybe it’s a cold concrete dorm floor. Or, perhaps a not-so-thoroughly-cleaned apartment carpet. Either way, an area rug brings instant life to a room, as well as hiding less-than-perfect flooring. Being in college, you’re bound to do a lot of entertaining and you need a rug that is going to stand up to a lot of traffic, be inexpensive, and clean easily.
Try looking for an indoor/outdoor rug instead! These rugs are made to withstand heavy traffic (PARTY! PARTY!), varying conditions (Hey! Who spilled the beer…uh…I mean…soda?) and can be cleaned usually with a hose and general cleaner (i.e. parents are on their way so you need to clean up fast!) Plus, there are tons available in bright, colorfast patterns for really affordable prices, so you can take them with you from place to place, or change it out without feeling guilty.
The rug featured is from Overstock.com and is 4′x5’7″ and is only $55! Cheap shipping, too!
It’s Back-To-School time! If you’re a big-box store, that means breaking out the brightly-colored plastic goods and cheap bedding for kids who are barely out of high school. But, being an adult sets in pretty quickly as you realize that you’re not in mom & dad’s home anymore…with all the “protect them from the world” that goes with it. That’s when tastes start to change and a more sophisticated decor is desired.
This week I’m going to give ideas to spruce up your dorm or apartment on a limited budget but with big time style. There will be several DIY projects, some neat products online or at local outlets, and general ideas that anybody can use.
Plus, if you’re signing a longer lease (2+ years) and want more of a look that will take you into your first home, consider eDECORATING! There are many ways that this design plan can be tailored to accommodate your building manager’s stipulations. As a matter of fact, the fact that you’re using a professional designer for your rental will only help their ability to rent it out when you move on to home ownership. Bonus!
You’re going to do great…both in your classes and in developing your own personal living space all on your own. I’m so glad I can be a part of it!
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