Cheap Apartment Decorating Ideas

If you are looking for cheap apartment decorating ideas, all you need to do is conjure up a little imagination and willingness to go on a treasure hunt through thrift stores, vintage shops, and online sites such as Craigslist and Ebay. Sure there is plenty of cheap furniture that you can buy ready made, but the problem is that this furniture isn't made to last, so you will ultimately pay a higher price when you have to replace it in a few years.

The trick to decorating an apartment without breaking your budget is to purchase used furniture and then up your style quotient with inexpensive accessories, artwork and found objects.

Sofa:

The most expensive piece you will have to purchase for your living room (other than a television) is a sofa. Fortunately it is relatively simple to find an inexpensive gently used sofa for around $300-$500. One of the best places to look is Craigslist. If you don't find something right away, check every other day for new listings.

There should also be a wide variety of used sofas at your local thrift store. However, the most important thing to note when purchasing a second hand sofa is to make certain that it is well constructed, doesn't have any holes in it or a large amount of pet hair.

Rugs:

The second most expensive piece you will purchase for an apartment is a rug. Even if you have carpet, a rug can help to designate room space and will add a lot of character to your living room. Thankfully there are several options available for cheap rugs.

• Urban Outfitters
• West Elm
• HomeDecorCenter.com

Walls:

If you are renting your apartment, chances are that you can't paint the walls. One of the least expensive ways to add color to your rooms and cover up an expanse of wall is to hang fabric panels. Check out the following resources:

• Novica.com
• ContemporaryCloth.com

Lighting:

Used lamps are a dime a dozen, and an inexpensive new shade can immediately spruce up a $10 lamp and make it new again. You can find cheap shades at almost any department store, including Target or Wal-Mart.

Stocking a kitchen doesn't need to be an expensive endeavor. Thrift stores are a virtual treasure trove of used pots and pans, as well as vintage dishes and inexpensive glassware. Don't be afraid to purchase a few mismatched plates that have a similar color scheme or design pattern. The same goes for your glassware. Pick up different shapes and sizes, all in clear glass.

Dining tables can be incredibly expensive and cheap department store versions are likely to fall apart after just a couple of years. One of your best bets is to look for an older wooden table and spend a little time sanding and repainting it. A little elbow grease can go a long way.

As with your plates and glasses, a set of mismatched chairs repainted and reupholstered can be fun and interesting. Again, all it takes is a little handiwork to make a cheap piece of furniture look like new again.

Today you can find a cheap bed frame for around $400. Be careful when buying an inexpensive frame, however, because you don't want to buy something that is cheaply constructed. If you are really on a budget, consider a futon, because you won't need to purchase an expensive mattress and box spring set.

Cheap bedding is one of the best ways to decorate your apartment. Check out the following resources online for great looking bedding at a price that will make your wallet happy.

• CB2.com
• BedBathStore.com

A funky shower curtain, a few brightly colored towels and a fluffy floor rug are all you need to dress up a drab bathroom. Thankfully there are a plethora of cheap shower curtains on the market with a lot of pizzaz. As well, you can find extremely inexpensive towels in a wide array of colors from places like Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

• ShowerCurtains.org
• BedBathandBeyond.com
• Linens N’ Things

Here are a few ideas for super cheap decor items, such as artwork, decorative objects, and collectibles.

• Purchase a photography book with pictures that appeal to your design sensibility--nature photos, rock and roll, flowers, exotic locations--cut out a few of your favorite shots and set in frames. Hang this collage on a single wall
• Look for decorative objects with a similar theme, such as birds, orbs, etc., paint them white and display them as a collective group
• Reupholster old pillows and breathe new life into your living room or bedroom

There are a few important corners that you should never cut. First, don't purchase a used mattress unless you personally know the person you are purchasing it from. There is always the possibility of bringing bed bugs into your home through a mattress purchase at a thrift store or from a source online.

As with mattresses, check any used sofas, rugs or other upholstered pieces for any major wear and tear, including pet hair, holes or unpleasant smells.

• Country Style Decorating Ideas
• Bathroom Design Pictures
• Interior Paint Color Combinations

• Country French Style Basics
• Common Themes for Teenage Bedrooms
• Designing for Small Spaces
• Basics of Color Design
• Asian Style Interior Design