But there’s no need to be afraid of it. ... Read More »]]>

Decorating your apartment is never an easy thing to do. There are so many aspects to take into account (like the size, the number of people living there, whether it’s a rental, etc.), and there are too many things that can go wrong… But it’s also an amazing opportunity for you to express your own personal style, taste and aesthetics. Decorating your home is a continuous process that never ends. You can’t pull a room together in one day, nor you can find all you need in one quick trip to Ikea.

But there’s no need to be afraid of it. You can have so much fun while decorating your pad, and if you follow these simple rules, you can definitely do no wrong:

1. Draw inspiration from everywhere. It can come from books, magazines, art, movies, fashion, hotels, restaurants…the possibilities are countless and unlimited. Just keep your eyes open and pay attention to the things that surround you and make you happy.

2. Set up an inspiration file. It can be a simple binder or a folder in your computer. That’s where you can gather photos, articles, ads, paint chips, wallpaper samples and everything you love and what inspires you.

3. Determine your style. Assess your inspiration file and look for the recurrent themes, colors, patterns, pieces of furniture, accessories. Try to put a name on your style ( or a mixture of styles), like elegant with an edge, classic with a modern twist, minimalist. It is not an easy exercise to do, but it will greatly simplify your life and your home decor shopping (no more impulsive purchases that don’t fit in at all).

4. Choose a color scheme. Pick one that complements your personal style and suits the space. If you’re afraid to get bored, choose a different color palette for every room.

5. Observe your current place. What does work well in your current apartment? What doesn’t? Which items do you want to keep? What’s bogging you and what would you like to change?

6. Assess what you have. Take note (or better, a picture) of everything in your apartment: furniture, rugs, accessories. Look closely at every single item, then divide the pictures into three piles: keep. makeover, give away.

7. Take measurements of your furniture. Write them down so you can keep the proportions in your mind when organizing the space.

8. Draw up a floor plan. Be sure to include all the measurements, proportions and emplacements of windows, doors, and various nooks. Work with your room, not against it.

9. Evaluate the space. Make a list of aesthetic pros and cons of each room. Decide what you want to highlight and what you want to hide.

10. Do a lot of research. Check out lots of websites and e-shops, read magazines and blogs, visit little shops as well as big department stores, compare prices and quality, think twice before you splurge.

11. Make your own to-do list. Write down everything that needs to be done or bought. You don’t have to (and simply can’t) do everything at once, but you have to keep track of your progress and what you have to do next.

12. Have fun! Don’t take it too seriously. Decorating your apartment is a perfect opportunity for you to showcase your creativity and your unique sense of style. Don’t think about it as an annoying necessity, but as a great chance to play around and have a good time.

Photo credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Ivana is an international relations manager and an aspiring magazine writer passionate about fashion and home decor. After living and working in Paris and Brussels she is now getting used to her new life in Graz, Austria. She loves to spend her time writing a lifestyle blog Macarons and Pearls, decorating her new apartment, designing clothes and learning German. Her ultimate style icons are Blake Lively, Rachel Zoe, Blair Waldorf and Emily Schuman.

Visit her blog at http://styleinthecityen.blogspot.com

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