Photo: Aylaa Exclusive

So, you want to decorate your place, but you’re on a budget. I know the feeling. As an apartment dweller, I don’t care to spend too much money on fancy decorations. If I ever buy a home, chances are, my apartment stuff won’t work well, and I’ll just end up getting rid of it all. So, I’d rather stick to a budget, chick the credit cards in the bin and abandon every payday lender I have ever set my eyes on.

Whatever your situation, if you need to decorate on a budget, you’re not doomed. Because what you lack in funds you can make up for with a little creativity. All the below design ideas can be achieved for under £100. That means that even the most destitute of the destitute can get creative and add a splash of colour to your house or apartment.

Homemade Art

Fiona Jackson works for the short-term cash lender SimplePayday, her advice for saving money stems from her job of arranging loans for people that need cash before their payday. “Doing the job I do, I often see people that are on the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to finances and what they can afford to give as presents.”

“A few years ago, a client of mine who was a tremendous artist demonstrated this quite magnificently. I had dealt with this gentleman for a few months prior and it was now leading up to Christmas when out of the blue he asked me quite matter of factly what I’d like for Christmas.”  “I don’t know,” I said. “Make me something.” So, he painted me this amazing Freddie Mercury portrait. I’m a big Queen fan, and I’m a big fan of art, and this is one of my most prized possessions. If you want to decorate on a budget, homemade art is the way to go.

Repurposed Art

Photo via: Kroshuslandscaping

Yep, that vase is just on old mason jar. And those are cactus weeds in it. I usually buy cheap daisies from the farmer’s market, but lately, I’ve been too busy to go. Unfortunately, these weeds were the closest things to flowers in my garden. I’m actually not even sure they’re weeds. The hummingbirds love them. But…where were we? Oh right, cheap decor!

The stuff on the lower shelf isn’t repurposed, but it was super cheap. That jar and bottle of lotion were both on clearance for a buck and some change. You can find a lot of clearance bath stuff at the drugstore. It’s dirt-cheap, and it makes for great bathroom decor.

Maps of my Travels

I like to look at pretty things, but I love to look at pretty things that conjure memories. The first frame in this photo includes a free map I got when my boyfriend and I visited the Olympic National Forest a couple of years ago. The second frame is a map I ripped out of an atlas we used for driving around England last summer. I love to occasionally study these maps and remember our trips. The frames were cheap, and the maps are, essentially, repurposed.

Cheap Frame Collage with Free Photos

Some of these frames came from thrift stores. Some were hand-me-downs.  And some were on clearance at Marshall’s. Either way, they were all low-cost. None of them match, but they all somehow work together. An added bonus? All of the photos you see here were printed for free. Snapfish often have free photo print offers.

Magazine Display

Okay, this one isn’t actually mine–it’s just on my list. I’m planning to redo my office area, and I love this decorating idea. It includes three of my favorite things, all in one: cheap decor, repurposed stuff and glossy magazines.

Photo via: Pinterest

I realize there are so many cheap decorating ideas out there. Some of them are great in theory, but they don’t actually work in the reality. So, I figured I’d put together a few low-cost decorating ideas that I’ve actually tried and conquered (well, minus the mag display).

The Wine Bottle Hack

Getting maximum use out of things is part of what frugality is all about. In addition to being clever, these ideas must also be easy. As much as I love the idea of a wine bottle chandelier, that’s just not going to happen in my lifetime.

In the Garden

Drip watering system: Fill a wine bottle with water and garden marbles, then install it, upside-down, into a plant. “Uh, what did I just do?” you might ask. My friend, you just created a mini, DIY drip watering system. I did this without the marbles. Somehow, it still worked.

Outdoor vases: Paint and decorate old wine bottles to use as lovely garden vases. Or, if you’re lazy like me, don’t paint or decorate them. They’ll be less lovely, but still completely functional. I also like to bring them in the kitchen and use them as vases for fresh-cut basil.

Photo: Urban Leaf

In the Closet

Boot shapers: Got slouchy boots? Wash out your wine bottles, stick them in your boots, and, voilà, you’ve got boot shapers. I’ve done this; it keeps my black suede boots standing up straight on my closet floor, safe from the sea of cat hair below.

Jewellery holder: I love the idea of a wine bottle reused for stacking and displaying bracelets. If you’ve got bangles, this is a great way to keep them separated and untangled.

In the Kitchen

Dry goods containers: I also love the idea of using old wine bottles to store beans, lentils, rice and other dried goods.

Anywhere Decor

Candle holders: Most taper candles fit perfectly in the opening of a wine bottle. Instant candle holder! This is great for a cheesy, romantic, at-home dinner.

Bookends: Fill an empty wine bottle with sand, re-cork it, then use it as a bookend. It’s a fun idea, but it’s definitely an at-your-own risk kind of thing. With my clumsiness, I already foresee a huge mess.

Photo: Rue Magazine

Condominium units are gaining popularity and many people want to live in them because they are easy to maintain. You need to decorate your condominium unit if you want it to look appealing and make a good impression on your visitors. Here are a few tips for decorating your condo:

Art Frames

No condo unit will feel complete without a frame on the wall. If you have a few art pieces from your old house, you should find a suitable place on your wall to hang them. Just look for a wall that is empty and has enough space – you should not squeeze art pieces together because your walls will appear too busy.

If you want the walls stand out, you should consider ordering a few custom frames for your walls. People who travel frequently can make a collage of photos and put them up. Not only will they bring back memories, but they will also add a splash of color to an otherwise blank space.

Bring Nature to Your Home

Most luxury condos are usually located in urban areas. Without any trees or plants outside, your apartment might be lacking a touch of nature. You can solve this problem by planting a small garden on your balcony and growing a few small plants.

Photo: Decor Zest

If you do not want to take care of a garden, you can buy artificial plants that look real. You can also add a soft touch to your condo by putting flowers in a vase and placing them on the table.

Drapes

If you want your space to stand out, you should invest in some solid and sharp colored drapes. You can choose from a wide variety of drapes, including patterned and embroidered. However, if you want your apartment to look elegant, you should opt for sharp hues such as Persian blue.

You can use dark-colored drapes on windows to block sunlight when you do not want too much light and to give your condominium a soothing look. If you are looking for bedroom drapes, you should buy blackout curtains that will block out all the light and provide you with restful sleep.

Photo: Style Me Pretty

Brighten Your Space

You should consider painting your walls with bright colors if you want them to give off a warm feeling. If you combine soft walls and dark drapes, you will create a serene environment. Although natural light is considered good, you should also consider buying bulbs to add some artificial light to your space.

They will come in handy at night when there is no natural light. If your condo does not have enough natural light, you should consider installing a mirror on the opposite side of your windows to create the illusion of light. Doing so will bring in sunlight during the day and allow you to keep the lights turned off, thus saving you energy expenses.

Accessories

If you want to decorate your condo, you can choose from a number of accessories. However, the problem comes when you consider the amount of space that is available. You can solve this problem by scaling your furniture and accessorizing smartly around your space. You should use wall mirrors if you want to make your space look bigger.

Photo: The Miller Effect

If you want your condo to have bookshelves, you should consider using mountable ones. They will save on space and allow you to have what you want.

Having a well-decorated condo is always heartwarming, especially if you entertain people regularly. Although decorating will make your space look better, you should make sure t keep it clean at all times if you want people to notice the décor.

Nilan Joe is an influencer marketing pro with brownboxbranding.com who is passionate about building authentic relationships and helping businesses connect with their ideal online audience. She keeps her finger on the pulse of the ever-evolving digital marketing world by writing on the latest marketing advancements and focuses on developing customized blogger outreach plans based on industry and competition.

Photo: Apartment Therapy

With so many new apartments available for rent, how do you find an apartment that best suits you? Use these six tips to find the right apartment.

What Do You Want?

When it comes to finding a rental apartment, you must know what you want. There is no second-guessing your options. What exactly are you looking for in an apartment? Ask yourself some of these questions:

• – How many bathrooms and bedrooms do I need?
• – How important is the apartment’s location?
• – How about the apartment’s size?
• – How much closet space do I need?
• – Are features like a modern kitchen and floor to ceiling windows important?
• – What amenities are a must-have?
• – Will I need parking space?
• – Do I need an apartment that allows pets?

These questions help you determine what’s most important and what are the acceptable alternatives. For instance, The Vue, a new development with apartments for rent in San Pedro, CA, offers a wide range of features and amenities for the perfect living experience.

Photo: Deco Holic

Stay Focused And Don’t Lose It

It’s normal to feel frustrated during your apartment search, especially when looking at options like apartments for rent in Amsterdam, or any other location of your choice, and not finding exactly what you want. Stay positive and keep your focus! Even if a great apartment slips through because someone else secured it first, your ideal place is still out there waiting for you. There are so many people who tell stories of how they missed out on their dream rental apartment, yet finding something even better. It happens! 

Be Realistic

You’ll rarely meet someone who found a good rental apartment without putting in a lot of effort. Expect nothing less during your search. Being realistic goes hand in hand with affordability. Just because you found a rental apartment you love doesn’t mean you should overspend. It’s also super easy to decorate your apartment and make it feel homey, so even a bland apartment can look great with a little effort and creativity. Decorating small spaces is also not that expensive, so don’t be too worried about paying an arm and a leg for re-decorating.

[otw_shortcode_quote border_style=”bordered” background_color_class=”otw-pink-background” color=”#ffffff”]Don’t lie to yourself that you can afford that extra hundred buck. Many people make this mistake only to move out later because they can’t afford that extra expense. Never overlook the rental price. That’s why setting a budget is important before you begin your search.[/otw_shortcode_quote]

Photo: Daily Dream Decor

Have A Plan

A plan pretty much defines everything about moving into an apartment. Say, you have a roommate. Have you considered how you will divide things up? Who’s responsible for looking at listings or will you both be meeting different brokers? Do you have all the relevant documents ready?

According to property experts in Denver, “Just like in any other popular suburbs in big cities, good Lodo Denver apartments tend to go first.” Having everything planned out and ready for a quick move is paramount to avoid missing great apartment opportunities.

Stay Organized

 Once you’ve seen a few apartments, it’s easy to get confused. Stay organized by keeping records such as:

• – The apartment’s address,
• – Contact information of the apartment broker or owner
• – Pros and cons
• – Neighborhood details

You can have a small file to keep any photos or floor plans you have for the apartments.

Photo: Style Me Pretty

Ask Questions

 Lastly, when you view an apartment, ask as many questions as you can. Remember that this is a place you’ll be living in, so don’t hesitate to ask. Get clarification for things that are unclear.  If there is some cleaning or fixing to be done, maybe your landlord can lower the price. Also consider saving money with these apartment cleaning hacks we blogged about earlier. Hopefully, with these tips, you can look forward to a more pleasant process of finding the best apartment!