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ABOUT BASEMENT APARTMENTS |
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Let's say you're a newlywed and saving up for a down payment on your first house. Or maybe you recently retired and just didn't need a large house anymore. Perhaps you're a live-in nanny or elder care provider, and an apartment comes with the job. There are many life and work situations that make living in a basement apartment a great option, particularly if your basement apartment comes equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, and private entrance. Some basement apartment dwellers rent from family or friends; others have a more traditional, renter/landlord setup.
If your apartment is in the basement of a house, you can create a homey place for yourself in many ways:
Create a "foyer." Many basement apartments lack an entrance area because the basement is built to be just another room. Create a faux foyer by placing some of the following items near the door: a runner-type rug, a chair, a mirror, and a coat rack.
Warm it up. Some basements are a little dark or cold, but you can warm it up by painting the walls with warm, rich colors.
Lighting. If you have a drop tile ceiling in your basement apartment, you might have tube lighting built right into the |
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ABOUT SMALL PLACES |
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You have probably heard the old adage "Good things come in small packages." Somehow, though, never quite applied that adage to living space. Have we become accustomed to thinking that more is better? Perhaps, until you realize that living in small spaces does have many merits.
For instance, how much time does it take you to clean a large apartment? Now, if you lived in a smaller place, how long might it take you? Do you think you could save one, perhaps two, or even three hours a week? But cutting your cleaning time isn't the only benefit to having a small apartment. You could also think of a small space as an inspiration to edit your collections, rid yourself of clutter, and fight off the urge to be a packrat. If you don't have the space for things, letting them go is just a little easier. Plus, if you are a budget decorator, it's logical to surmise that small spaces require fewer furnishings and accessories, thereby enabling you to make the most of a limited decorating budget.
Even with all the practical benefits aside, small spaces can be fun, cozy, and intimate. But often, they require some creative decorating. For instance, |
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ABOUT LIVING ROOMS |
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If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the living room is probably a close second. Living rooms are truly wonderful inventions. Most don't serve a specific purpose, like the kitchen which is set up for cooking or a bathroom which is set up for personal care. Instead, living rooms are there for whatever you'd like to do in themsitting around, having intense family conversations, taking Saturday afternoon naps, watching Monday night football games. Living rooms are just meant to be a place where you can "live," and what you do there is up to you.
There are no standard styles or rules that work for every living room. The furniture and accessories you can purchase for yours span every possible style and price range. Most people enjoy having a living room that reflects their lifestyle. My society-type acquaintances have lavish, richly decorated, painted, and furnished living rooms with grand pianos and fabulous artwork. Just sitting in these rooms makes me feel elegant.
Several of my friends and family members have casual living rooms that go beyond being comfortablethey are inviting. You probably have friends with living rooms like this. The rooms with huge comfy chairs, ottomans for feet propping, a |
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ABOUT BEDROOMS |
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Your bedroom is a personal space, perhaps even a haven of refuge for you. Chances are, few people will visit your bedroom, so it doesn't have to be set up for anyone but you (or you and your partner). This fact makes your bedroom the perfect place to indulge yourself and do anything you like without the worries that may accompany decorating other rooms.
In your bedroom, you will likely need a bed, a dresser, at least one night table, and a lamp. You might also like to have a chair, a vanity, an additional night table, and something to hold a television set.
Of all your necessary furnishings, I'd venture to say your bed is the most important piece of furniture in your bedroom. Youve probably slept on a bad mattress or two in your life and experienced waking up tired and cranky and not at all ready to face the day. When you shop for mattresses, don't be shy about testing them out before you buy. If you'd like a headboard, they are abundant at flea markets and yard sales and also can be purchased new at furniture stores in many different styles, colors, and sizes. But if your |
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