Atlanta Apartments

It’s time for a new look but you can’t afford to hire a decorator. Don’t worry - there are plenty of ways to spruce up your Atlanta apartment without a total makeover and without a ton of expense. Here are some tried and true cost effective decorating ideas that will work, whether you live in an efficiency Atlanta apartment or have plenty of space.

* Frame it. Framing kits are no longer necessarily an expensive proposition. You’ll find many pieces of art that aren’t that great look wonderful in the right frame. Consider something original. Create an abstract with colors to complement your walls and furniture. Or put your computer to work. Choose a favorite family photo, change it to greyscale and have it printed poster-sized for just a few dollars. If you add your own frame, you’ve got an eye-catching piece of art for your Atlanta apartment that is also very personal.

On this same line, choose inexpensive full-length mirrors and reframe them. Almost any home builders supply store will have kits for framing. The frames are inexpensive and require few tools, meaning almost anyone can handle this task.

* Put fabrics to use. Sheets make wonderful window treatments. With a single snip of the scissors, the top hem of a sheet will slip over almost any curtain rod. Too long? Let them puddle onto the floor or create a swag with ribbon as the ties. The beauty of this plan is that you can buy matching pillow cases and use them as covers for ugly throw pillows, creating an instant eye-pleasing contrast for your Atlanta apartment.

* The power of the rug. How often do you look down? You probably think, “Never,” but you’d actually be wrong. A rug can create a whole new look in an Atlanta apartment room, whether you realize it or not. Throw rugs are ideal because they are both inexpensive and easy to change when you grow tired of them.

* Rearrange and hide the clutter. Sometimes, it’s not so much that you need something new as you need to make the best use of what you have. If you have a wonderful piece of furniture hidden away in the guest room, you might find that it lends new life to your living room. Even a dresser or chest of drawers could become an accent piece for a living room or den. If you have lots of “stuff” sitting around, pack up what you can and put it away in a closet or, better yet, get rid of it. You may find that you don’t really need an Atlanta apartment face lift as much as you need to get it all cleared away.

* Look at the accents. Many times, adding or changing something minor can make a big difference. You might find that simply putting a new lamp on a side table and adding a green plant scores major points. Shadow boxes are a good way to display your own “treasures” including the cup your niece made for you in second grade. Make a collage of your favorite photos on a mirrored back or in a large frame to further imprint yourself on your Atlanta apartment.

* Watch the papers, craigslist.com, yard sales and resale shops. Whether you’re looking for furniture or accessories for your Atlanta apartment, you may find some incredible bargains here. Remember that what you see isn’t necessarily what you’re stuck with. Can the scuffed up table be painted? Can the barstools be recovered? These finds are sometimes the best of all because an inexpensive table with a coat of paint can easily be repainted the next time you want to change your décor. And if you decide you simply don’t want it any longer, you haven’t made a significant investment.