Decorate Ur Apartment

[Zaini 22]

Decorate Your Apartment Frugally and Have Fun Doing It!

Just because you are living on a shoestring budget does not mean that your apartment cannot look fabulous. You can decorate frugally but still find plenty of enjoyment in it. Read on for some suggestions as to how you can be a frugal and fun do-it-yourself decorator!

* To start, make sure your home is neat, tidy, clean and as organized as possible. Get rid of the clutter and throw out, recycle or donate anything you no longer need. Organization can go a long way in making an apartment look great, especially if it is small.

* Magazines are a great source of inspiration as are decorating shows on television. You can always take high-end decorating ideas and modify them for your purposes. Resolve right now to think outside the box!

* One of the thriftiest ways to liven up a room is to paint it. A coat of paint (or two) works wonders. Make sure though that before you don painting clothes and get out your painting brush that you find out if you are allowed to paint your apartment. In some buildings this is a no-no because you are renting and do not own the apartment.

* Change your focus. Do not always assume that decorating has to be about buying something new. To give the rooms in your apartment a new and inviting look, rearrange your furniture from time to time. Try experimenting with a new look and you might be surprised at what you discover!

* Learn to shop smart by browsing your local second hand shops as well as garage sales and flea markets. Not only will you find bargains at these places but you will likely find household decorating items that are a little out of the ordinary! The earlier in the day you arrive at these places the better because you do not want to lose out to other shrewd shoppers!

Living room renovation: step-by-step

In Brief

If structural changes are required do them first and make sure you consult a professional.

Complete any electrical alterations next

In most cases flooring should be next, but this depends on the material

Plastering, paints and finishes should be last on the list

A step-by-step guide to creating a beautiful, functional living room in your home.

One of the most heavily trafficked areas of any home, the living room can have multiple functions including relaxation, dining, watching television and kids' play. It's important to create a zone that's comfortable, practical and stylish, with room to relax and entertain. Follow our step-by-step guide to ensure your new living space meets your specific needs.

Design

Your design requirements depend on the scope of the renovation.

If structural changes are required, consult an architect well before scheduling work. With an architect's plan, your renovation team has a clear blueprint to work from and costly oversights are less likely.

Make sure your builder or project manager can make sense of the plans and has a clear idea of what's needed before scheduling work.

If no structural alterations are required it may be a good idea to engage an interior decorator or colourist to help with layout, decor and colour scheme.

To ensure they arrive at appropriate solutions, provide design professionals with accurate measurements of the space, including the exact positions of doors, windows, skylights and staircases. You should brief them on your usage patterns and indicate your colour and style preferences.

Even if you're confident about your design and decorating skills, consult professionals before purchasing furniture, fabrics or paint.

Construction

If structural alteration or an extension is involved, contract an architect, licensed builder, and possibly a residential construction engineer, carpenter, bricklayer or stonemason. Structural work might include the following:

Excavation to create a split-level living zone or sunken lounge area

Removing walls and adding supporting beams or columns.

Adding buffets or serving hatches between kitchen and living areas.

Installing French windows, sliding or bi-fold doors linking indoor and outdoor living areas.

Opening up the ceiling to add insulation, expose rafters for greater vertical space or enable the addition of a mezzanine.

Adding a deck, balcony or patio.

Constructing a staircase.

Adding a feature wall or fireplace.

Adding, resizing or resiting doors, windows or skylights.

Constructing or installing partitions or customised cabinetry, shelving or storage.

Electricals

Once the new structure is in place engage an electrician to do the following:

Upgrade circuitry.

Add outlets and dimmer switches.

Install ceiling fans or heating and cooling units.

Advise on appropriate lighting.

Install overhead spots and halogens.

Set up light installations, complex configurations or 'smart' lighting systems.

Flooring

Generally, flooring is laid after structural alterations are complete (and underfloor heating is installed).

An exception is rendered concrete floors, which generally require excavation and access for heavy equipment. Allow up to a week for concrete to be prepped, laid, stenciled, sealed and dried.

Engage a carpenter or wood flooring specialist early in the renovation to replace floorboards and sand (make sure you protect surrounding areas from sawdust).

Postpone polishing or sealing floorboards till you have time to let two to three coats of varnish dry. Ensure floors are clean, dry and dust-free before varnishing or sealing and allow sufficient drying time between each application.

If living room floors are to be tiled or paved, allow time for the surface to be prepped and tiles or stone to be laid, compacted and sealed. Allow anything from 24 hours to a week for the new floor surface to dry and harden.

Unusual flooring, such as glass bricks or bamboo, should be laid by a specialist.

Lay carpet as late in the piece as possible definitely after you paint.

Plastering, painting and finishes

In living areas, getting wall finishes right is important, so leave time to do it properly.

If plastering or special molding is required, hire a professional plasterer (after rewiring and structural alterations are completed but before painting).

For a faster, professional job, engage an experienced painter. For best results, ensure walls are properly prepped, and do a minimum of two coats.

Minimise dust-producing work while paint and varnish dries.

Special finishes and wallpapering are generally best done by professionals.

Furnishings

Ensure everything works together by deciding on a decorating style and colour scheme prior to purchasing (particularly key pieces such as couches and curtains).

Decide whether you wish to source your own furniture, soft furnishings and storage, or have an interiors specialist do it for you.

If sourcing furnishings yourself, start well in advance. Browse interiors magazines, websites and catalogues, using a pinboard or scrapbook to compile an inspirational collection of appealing looks, fabric swatches and samples of preferred paint colours and finishes.

Take exact room measurements and a copy of your proposed floorplan when shopping for living room furniture.

If unsure of how to coordinate the look, visit large homewares stores that offer inspirational displays and integrated packages to suit various styles and budgets. Save time and cut costs by buying a living-room furniture package - but only if you can negotiate one that truly suits.

Browse antique and specialist furniture and lighting outlets to source distinctive, special pieces.

If you can't find the perfect key piece, consider having it custom-made.

[Zaini 22]

Home technology and features

Engage professionals to advise on and install home theatres and integrated home technology systems, including smart lighting and security.

Note that integrated systems may need to be embedded into walls or ceilings, and may require special wiring or outlets. Consult an electrician in advance, and ensure any electrical work is scheduled at an appropriate stage in the renovation.

Living area renovation: what to consider

When renovating your living room consider what you can do yourself and what you need an expert for.

The living room is where we spend a lot of relaxation time, so when renovating you really want to make sure it's a room you will enjoy spending time in. We take you through what you need to consider before beginning your renovation.

Initial considerations

Will the new living area be a dedicated or multipurpose space?

Will it be a separate room or part of a larger open-plan living area?

Determine the exact dimensions of the area. Note the positions of doors, windows, staircases, decks and skylights. These will affect the ambience of the room; the amount of natural light; the need for heating and cooling and the best positions for furniture, home entertainment systems and lights.

Will you be removing walls, raising the ceiling, incorporating an open verandah or adding a deck or mezzanine to open up the space?

Will you be adding or resizing doors, windows, skylights or staircases? Or will you be installing built-in shelving or lighting systems?

If you are incorporating any imported or custom-built furnishings or fittings, order them well ahead of installation.

Consider how the 'time out' for renovation will affect your daily life. Try and plan around the disruption, particularly if your home has only one designated living area and major structural work is to be undertaken.

Expert advice

You should consider consulting the following professionals.

Architects, interior designers, colourists or lighting specialists

A licensed builder, carpenter or residential structural engineer for construction and structural changes

Electrician

Flooring specialist

Painter and/or plasterer

Glazier

Home technology specialists.

Can U do it urself?

Many of the steps required to create a new living area can be done without expert help, with the exception of complex structural work. Sanding and finishing floors, constructing and installing basic shelving and storage, helping to construct a deck and painting walls and surfaces is well within the scope of the skilled DIYer. However, a pro will almost certainly do a faster, better job, and raw materials, for someone with no trade discount, can be costly.

Sourcing and installing furniture and window treatments is a pleasurable task for anyone with design flair and some initial advice from a decorator or interior designer.

State-of-the-art home theatres, media centres, integrated home security and smart lighting systems are generally installed by specialists.

Common pitfalls

Plan ahead and consult professional designers and tradespeople to avoid these common oversights in living room design:

Planning your new living area without considering crucial basics such as traffic or usage patterns, light sources, functionality or the need for adequate storage, shelving and power outlets.

Buying furnishings without a defined decorating style to unify them, resulting in a look that doesn't hang together.

Failing to accurately measure the space, then finding your furnishings don't fit.

Failing to allow for the sweep of doors (and cabinet doors) when planning your layout.

Failing to trial paint samples under different lighting conditions, then painting the space two shades too dark.

Underestimating the time and money required to complete structural additions or alterations.

Tips for maximising living space

How to use space effectively and make your living room feel bigger.

Everyone loves an expansive living area. Creating a feeling of space in your living areas requires advanced planning and clever solutions. We look at how to maximise space, increase functionality, and circumvent loungeroom clutter with tips for layout, colour, storage and lighting.

Layout

For most people, the living area is the hub of the home. If your budget allows it, it's worth considering structural improvements that maximise the useable space or provide the feeling of expansiveness, such as:

Knocking out internal walls to combine separate rooms forming one large open-plan living zone.

Putting a buffet bar through to the kitchen.

Adding a wall of glass bricks, mirrors or large reflective panels.

Expanding the living space vertically raising the ceiling to expose rafters, adding a mezzanine or even building into the roof.

Incorporating outdoor areas by adding a patio or deck, French windows or bi-fold doors.

The living area is a zone in constant use. Hence, layout is crucial to functionality and comfort, as well as the feeling of space.

Ensure there's sufficient passage space between furniture groups and allow space for opening cabinet drawers.

Use light, versatile furniture that can be moved around easily. For example ottomans and floor lamps can be moved between studying and socialising areas as needed.

In larger, open-plan living areas:

Create 'permeable' zones by adding moveable screens or folding partitions.

Place furniture in functional groups to define the space and its functions; creating 'rooms within the room'.

Use floor rugs (large enough to encompass each functional area) to further define living zones within open-plan space.

Two or more smaller coffee tables rather than one outsized one make the area more flexible.

In more compact living rooms:

Opt for furniture in minimalist forms rather than chunky oversized pieces.

Use glass and mirrors to capitalise on natural light and give the illusion of extra space.

Rather than cluttering the area with couches, have just one, plus a few streamlined armchairs, floor cushions or ottomans.

Choose furnishings with multiple functions: good-quality sofa beds; cabinetry that can house clutter; storage chests that can be variously deployed as tables, storage or seating.

Avoid cluttering the space and surfaces. Keep accessories and artworks to a minimum.

To increase the sense of space and create a welcoming feel, position your couch facing the living room entrance.

Employ various light sources as flat overhead lighting makes the space seem smaller.

Use wooden or venetian blinds or simple drops rather than elaborate window treatments.

Colours, patterns and finishes

Lighter colours and blonder wood make the area seem more spacious.

A dark colour on the back wall makes the room appear wider.

Vertical patterns on walls or furnishings give an illusion of greater ceiling height; horizontal patterns make areas appear lower but wider.

Furniture upholstered in monochrome neutral hues is less obtrusive, simpler to update and coordinate. Use patterns and brights for accents only.

Block colours help avoid a cluttered feel.

Storage

Organise storage around your routines and activities. Choose storage units that correspond to what actually needs to be stored.

Cabinets with sliding doors save space.

To streamline the living area, contain non-decorative items within closed storage units. Then put decor items, books and valuables on open shelves or in glass-fronted cabinets.

Use shelves and storage units to partition off zones.

Save space by choosing storage that doubles as seating or surfaces. In this way you can keep frequently used items (stereos,

DVDs, candles, throwrugs etc) out of sight but close at hand.

Lighting

Consider adding skylights or resizing windows to increase the amount of natural light entering the area.

Compensate for insufficient natural light with clever use of colour, reflective surfaces and smart lighting.

A variety of light sources in your living room allows you to change ambience to suit different activities. Use soft and multilayered diffusers for entertaining, bright but focused directionals for reading, indirect sidelamps for watching TV and spots or floorlamps for dining.

Avoid using a single overhead light source as it makes the space appear smaller.

[chinky 31]

... KEEP IT UP

ZAINI

[Zaini 22]

Thanx Chinky

[Ramz 8]

:biggrin:

[imi.munib 0]

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