Budget Decorating Tips for a Studio Apartment

A studio apartment is a challenge to decorate. But with the right attitude and a little work you can make your studio apartment a pleasant and homey place, even on a budget. You don't have to be a great designer with your own show either. You can do it on your own!

Space.
Often times space is the biggest challenge of a studio apartment. There are a lot of things to consider when you are looking at your space. You can use these decisions to decorate your apartment for the perfect feel.

If you have the need for divided space you can use dividers as a decorating medium. Dividers are available in a huge variety of styles and a large array of prices. These can be used to give a little added privacy to a certain section of the room or even to hide storage that just isn't eye appealing. Choose one that is a light color since your space is limited and you want it to feel larger then it is. Shopping at a discount store or a sale can be very helpful for saving a lot of money as well.

If dividers are too expensive or too difficult to get your hands on you can make your own great divider from material, a sheet, or a curtain. If you want added color you can paint this for a dash of color in the room and to offer the same benefits as the fancy dividers for a fraction of the cost. If you are real thrifty, go garage sale-ing and pick up a set of sheets for a small price and use these!

Storage.
Apartments make storage a pain, a studio apartment often leaves it even more so. However, you can do so much for making a lot of storage out of a small space and making it feel homey as well. You might want to find some friends with a few home tools to make it inexpensive and easy to go with. Building wardrobes are simple and they can be beautiful. Add to that shelves and cupboards and you are well on your way to a fantastic look for a fraction of the cost.

Not feeling real up to building your own items. Go with easy to make shelves. You can go and pick boards that are wide enough for the times and locations that you will be using them at. Most stores will cut them to size for you so you can have them cut to the appropriate size (no tools needed). You can paint or stain them. Hang them on the walls using shelf hooks (available in a wide range of styles and colors at stores such as Lowes and Home Depot). You can use these to give the room the style that you want. Place decorating items such as pictures, glass, collectibles, and other items. However, you can also use them as a great place for books and other carefully stacked and arranged items.

Color.
Color is very important for space. The largest issue with a studio apartment is that it often feels crowded and cluttered. This is easy to do especially if moving from a larger space. You are fitting your entire life, something we normally divide into bedroom, living room, dining room, and other spaces into one large space. While you want to divide it up to meet your needs it is best to leave as much of it open as possible. It is also important to choose color very carefully. Go with something light colored. If you can paint, paint a wall or two in a color to give it a more personalized feel. If you can't paint consider hanging a painted curtain or clothe on one wall for added color. Make sure that most of your colors are light and bright with only a few dark accents. This will help make the space feel bigger. Avoid a lot of business in your colors, decorations, and designs. This only adds to the cluttered feel of the space.

Layout.
While how you layout your space is up to you, think big. Try to leave as much room left in the room as possible. This often means not tucking everything away against the wall which then makes the room feel crowded because their is no open wall space. Instead, carefully arrange your furniture in small groups that try and open to each other. For example, arrange your living room furniture around your TV, but leave one side of that open to your table so that the room still flows from one setting to the next.

Designing a studio apartment on a budget is a challenge, however you can do it. Be confident and make your decisions with care. Try to keep it open and bright while not getting too busy or visually cluttered. Don't worry about spending a fortune and remember that the garage sale, the second hand store, and sales can be your best friends. It is also often helpful to go slowly and add pieces only when you find the perfect ones to meet both your needs and your style. Don't forget to have fun as you create a space to relax and live in!