|
urban
décor
[urban chic on a budget]
Limited space shouldn’t stop you from thinking big
Your first year of college, décor is secondary
and usually consists of egg crates (serving as everything from
coffee tables and book cases to T.V. stands) and hand-me-down
furniture. Life after graduation, however, puts you in a
position to create a space that reflects your personality. Most
young professionals start out in a smaller space and work their
way up.
[studios and efficiencies]Efficiency apartment – A one-room
apartment that serves as all of the living space including
kitchen, living room and bedroom—the only separate room being a
bathroom.
Studio apartment – In a studio apartment, the living
area and bedroom are combined in a single space. Similar to the
efficiency, studios tend to be more spacious and there is
usually a separate, defined kitchen.
Because more people want to live close to the action and
close to their job in the urban areas of Columbus, apartment
space is springing up all over the city. Space size is varied
with some single-occupant apartments being smaller. Don’t be
discouraged by smaller spaces, because with small spaces come
some nice benefits.
- You are less likely to become a packrat, so
purge before you move
- Small spaces are easy on the budget because it
takes less to create a cozy look
- Less to clean
If there are some things
you have to keep but don’t know where to store them,
be creative.
- Purchase pieces that serve both as furniture
(especially tables and end tables) and storage
- Most kitchen cabinets have space above them that
can be used for creative displays
- Find nice pieces for your keys, mail and other
odds and ends. Pretty glass bowls, baskets or
colorful boxes work nicely and double as part of the
décor
- For a small closet or a bedroom that isn’t big
enough to have a large dresser, purchase either
wicker or clear, stackable storage bins for smaller
items and clothing
- If your living room and bedroom are one in the
same, think about getting a futon that can easily
transform from bed to couch
With a little know-how
you can create the illusion of a bigger space by
applying a few simple tricks.
- Mirrors, and especially mirrors opposite
windows, open up a room
- Use lighter colors on the walls and lighter
fabrics for the window treatments
- Angle furniture to give the appearance of longer
walls
- For tables, choose glass instead of a heavy,
dark wood
- For furniture, choose pieces that have don’t
always go to the floor, but rather have legs so you
can see the floor underneath
[spotlight décor]
Chrissy Foster, a recent OSU graduate, finds ways to
make the best of her small space. “On a student’s
budget, if you’re willing to take a road trip,
IKEA
[in Pennsylvania] is the best place you can go. Take a
big truck or a big van, save up all your money, get
everything you want and it all comes flat packed,” she
says. She also finds great bargains and Target and World
Market.
She says her style is modern-eclectic, a little new mixed with a
little old and lots of bright colors. “It’s never bland.
I like to spice it up.” For a small space, she says you
have to be creative with your storage. “You have to
find to find storage everywhere. I put a lot of
stuff under my tables. And I even had a few things
in my kitchen cabinets,” she admits.
Chrissy is like many young
professionals who are graduating and either moving to Columbus
from other cities or moving up in Columbus from a roommate
situation to their own space. She effectively utilizes the living
room for both that and an office space set up
between her kitchen and the main room.
 In her bedroom, Chrissy uses a
large mirror over the bed to open up the space. And
in the kitchen, she employs bright colors. click on the image to the left to read why
Chrissy Foster thinks OSU is a fun mix of old and
new, dive and upscale, and the perfect complement to
student life and beyond
|
Check back for more
Urban Décor features in which we will tackle
everything from small spaces, to larger apartments
and homes, and take a look at how Columbus city
dwellers are decorating their spaces. |
| we need your help!! think-urban.com is looking for some of the
issues that you come across when looking for an urban community
to live in. what can't you find? what would you like to know
more about? who would you like to meet or have us interview?
What restaurant reviews would you like to see? anything else?
CONTACT US HERE. |
[close window] |
