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First Place Essentials
Apartment interior design ideas
I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst, and a stay-at-home mom.
I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst,... More »
My first place was a townhouse shared with two friends - two friends with great style who had tons of furniture, so I really only decorated my bedroom. But my second place - my first place on my own - was a tiny one bedroom apartment in Annapolis with barely-working hot water and just enough space in the bedroom for a bed+dresser. I loved it.
First apartments are rarely spacious or perfect, but they are all yours and there's something fantastic about decorating for yourself for the first time. In the rush to personalize, though, there are a few key elements that should be a part of any "first place" design:
First apartments are rarely spacious or perfect, but they are all yours and there's something fantastic about decorating for yourself for the first time. In the rush to personalize, though, there are a few key elements that should be a part of any "first place" design:
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Let's be honest - we all spend a lot of time on the sofa, whether it's for studying, sleeping, or just relaxing. One that's comfortable AND pretty is an important purchase.
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| The perfect bedroom doesn't require lots of fancy furniture - just a bed with fantastic bedding and a simple nightstand. Cool art is a bonus. |
| Unfortunately, many "first places" lack great storage. Large dressers and armoires become lifesavers (or at least mess-savers). |
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They don't have to be fancy, but bookshelves by the bed are fantastic - especially on lazy days when you don't want to get out of bed.
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A few flowers (or lemons, or limes, or whatever) brighten up a whole room, without much expense at all.
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In fact, extra shelving all over the place - like this little shelf tucked into the dining room corner - is key to happy living.
When you're looking for a place, it's not so important that the kitchen is big, but it is important that it's organized in a logical manner. The refrigerator, oven and sink need to be within easy reach of one another - and a little counter space is a nice bonus.
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First-place bathrooms are often small and not that inviting. Dingy, even. The addition of cool wallpaper or paint, and maybe a personalized piece or two, can make a tough space kind of great.
Comments
Margaret Everton This ideabook is fun. My husband said just last night of our first apartment together, in Santa Monica, Californa: "I would move back there in a second, TO THAT SAME APARTMENT EVEN." With more refined, established taste and things this time around. First apartments have that special nostalgia of . . . potential.
4 years ago · Like
Kim Great ideabook. I really miss my first sofa...(but not really my first apartment...).
4 years ago · Like
Kit Pollard You're so right, txranchgirl - it's all about potential. Which somehow makes it easy to overlook crappy appliances and under-powered electrical boxes...
4 years ago · Like
carolinagirl I still own my first sofa and love it just as much today as the day I bought it...moved into my first place and decided all expense would go into a bed and a sofa the two places I would be the most. The memory of a first love never fades!
3 years ago · Like
sakura nice pics! i particularly love the one with the small black dining table, the room is so homey. my fiance and i are on the process of buying our first home, we're lucky that we're buying at a time when minimalism and great design/decor really go together. :D
3 years ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Nov. 9, 2012.
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