marathon06.org

By Jesse Akre

A first apartment is an exciting time for any young adult. But knowing what furnishings you need can be a bit of a conundrum. In the old days, most first time apartment dwellers were happy with second hand furnishings and shelving made out of cinder blocks and particle board. But today, there’s many more choices, even for those on a small budget.

While it may be tempting to go dumpster diving or thrift store shopping, you can work a lot of magic with your limited budget by planning exactly what you need and what you can add later. By not trying to do it all at once, you can invest more money in key items you want to last a long time, such as a bed.

If you haven’t purchased any furniture yet, make sure you can take measurements of your first apartment before you go shopping or deciding what to take from home. You don’t want to spend an hour wrestling a king sized mattress up four flights of stairs, only to find that it won’t go up the last flight in your apartment because the opening is too small.

To help you figure out what you need, let’s go room by room.

Living Room

A really good option for seating in a first apartment is a futon or sofa bed. Not only does it offer a nice seating area, but you can use it when friends want to spend the night. Try to stay away from the old fashioned hide-a-beds. Their not comfortable to sit on, they’re even worse to sleep on, and you’ll get really tired of lugging them around from one apartment to another as you trade up.

Add a couple of end tables and a coffee table and you’re well on your way to furnishing the living room. If you need additional seating, floor pillows can work or you can get an ottoman, if you want versatility. Of course, most people want an entertainment center, so get one that can grow with the size of TV you plan to get down the road. And don’t forget storage areas, which can be in the entertainment center or you can use a bookcase with shelves and doored areas.

Dining Room/Kitchen

In a first apartment you may not need a dining room table, unless you want to use it to do homework or have a poker night with friends. Chances are a couple bar stools at a breakfast nook will do just fine. If you really want a dining table, go with a bistro table or kitchenette that can be reused down the road in your next apartment or house.

Bedroom

This is an important room to furnish since you spend one-third of your life there. Invest in a good bed because you’ll probably have it at least 8 to 10 years, perhaps even longer. Try to get a queen or even a king, if possible, since you’ll hold onto it longer than a full size. A dresser is a good option, too, since many apartments are short on closet space. Round it all out with a nightstand or two for an alarm clock and you’re good to go. Alternately, a cedar chest can double as a night stand and give you additional storage space.

Home Office

In this day and age a lot of people spend as much time on their computer as they do in bed. It’s wise to get the best chair and desk you can afford. A bookcase can come in handy, too for storing supplies and software.

Patio/Deck

If you have an outdoor space, you’ll want to create an escape that is comfortable and relaxing. A bistro table will work nicely on a patio or deck, along with a barbecue. Alternately, you can get a couple of chairs and a small outdoor occasional table. It largely depends on the size of your space.

Decorations

This is a personal choice, of course. But personalizing your space can really make it feel more like home and you’ll look forward to coming home to your first apartment if it feels comfortable and welcoming. Lamps are perhaps the biggest consideration, since apartments tend to offer a single fixture on the ceiling and nothing else. Choose lamps that will work well in your next couple of places. Don’t go with something that’s too trendy.

About the Author: Jesse Akre owns Edenvale Shoppes and hosts numerous furniture and furnishings for any home whether it be

towel bars

or

indoor bench

styles and designs.

Source:

isnare.com

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What Colours to Choose for Your Hotel Room

by

Mitrelinen

Colour is one of the all important aspects of bedroom design and one of the prime factors to consider when arranging and decorating a room. However, though it is a central factor it is still not easy to choose and there is a lot of thought behind which colours are best.

Influence:

Many people believe that the colours around us influence the way we act and think and that some are more suitable for certain areas than others. Of course, whether this is the case or not, specific tastes are also very important and can make all the difference between how content we feel in a room.

For hotel rooms, designers tend to choose colours that reflect the appropriate mood of the room. This means that they pick colours and tones that encourage relaxation and to help provide calm and restful sleep. Make sure that you keep this in mind when choosing a colour for your bedrooms.

Neutral Colours:

Neutral colours are extremely common and also on trend at the moment. Shades of beige and cream are common, as they can be combined with a range of other colours. Other colours that promote peaceful and restful feeling are lavender, green and pink tones and even light blues.

Blues are said to create calm, serenity and are even said to delay the onslaught of nightmares. Purple is associated with happiness as well as creativity. Each and every colour has certain things attributed to it so bear this in mind.

Dark Colours:

Dark or vivid colours are not recommended as they tend to make a room appear smaller and have certain moods associated with them that are removed from ideas of calm and relaxation. The same is true for dark tones of more vibrant colours; these can overpower the room and make it seem even smaller than it is. If you want to add a bright colour; paint all the walls neutral, while adding a bright colour to one wall of the room. This prevents it from becoming overwhelming and too vibrant. Other notable colours for bedrooms include gold, wine and slate brown these all will add to the feeling of ease and relaxation in the room making them ideal.

Additional Items:

Plants and other additions can be placed in the room to add a little extra colour. Also make sure that the colour of the bedroom walls complements the furniture this is important for balance and can make all the difference for the way the room feels.

Colours can change a room completely and lay the foundation for a whole new appeal. On the other hand, they are also a great manner in which to inflict a slight change of feel. So, use them to your benefit and your room is sure to look excellent.

Mitre Linen is a leading ready-made bespoke soft furnishings and wholesale bed linen suppliers to a wide range of customers in the UK and overseas. We manufacture curtains and many other items such as hotel towels,

hotel bedding

,

hotel linen

etc.

Article Source:

What Colours to Choose for Your Hotel Room