Having your first apartment can be exciting yet stressful. However, things can go smoothly with the right amount of planning and understanding of your budget. Let’s go over some helpful tips on decorating your first apartment.
Use Pinterest
Don’t be exact and stress while comparing inspiration. Approach your inspiration practically and within your budget. Make sure to purchase items you know for sure you’ll use, and remember to start your search in the clearance area online or in-store. Pinterest is a great place to begin organizing your thoughts visually. Create a Pinterest board for each section of your apartment and pin it accordingly. Visually helping you budget and manifest the aesthetic you’re decorating.
Determine Your Budget
Before you do anything, figure out how much you’ll like to spend. Also, figure out your cap in case you go over budget. You don’t have to get everything at once. Purchase items you need for everyday living. Rule of thumb it’s best to break everything down by section in your apartment: kitchen, bath, living room, etc. Then begin organizing the budget from there. If one area of your home is too expensive, adjust as you go along. List the items you want on an excel sheet with prices; this will give you an overall idea of your decorating budget. Creating a sheet will help you not to overspend or buy items that you don’t need.
Hold Yourself Accountable
Stay disciplined as possible while decorating your space. Understand your budget and limitations. Realize you do not have to have everything at once. Think practical about your lifestyle and your everyday habits. Consciously thinking will help you to determine if you need a particular decor item, for example. If you rarely host or sit out in your living room area, is it necessary to buy a $70 throw pillow? You can spend that $70 elsewhere, maybe, wine glasses? Purchase something you know you’ll use and looks beautiful as well. Understand the difference between decor wants and needs. Prioritize based on your assessment with these top 3 things; you will feel confident in decorating your space and less overwhelmed.