Ideas to Steal for Your Apartment

When we used to live in an apartment, it was a bit harder to decorate. But one thing apartments often have going for them is open wall space. No matter how big or small your space or budget, great design comes in all shapes and sizes. Here a few things that you can do to decorate your apartment.

Rework a pair of sturdy bookshelves into an attractive storage wall:

-- Cover them with curtains that match or complement your window treatments (for an extra touch, try pinning a wire sunburst or other lightweight art to the fabric, like we did here).

-- Place the shelves side by side, or use a floor-length mirror to separate them and give the illusion that the room expands past the shelves.

-- To make your ceilings seem taller, hang the curtains from the ceiling, rather than from the top of the bookshelf.

Extra cabinets and closets are a rarity in apartments, so make do with your own storage shelves. To make them as pretty as they are functional, try these five tips:

-- Group books and dishes by size and color for artful impact.

-- Corral thin, busy-looking items, such as papers, magazines, and CDs, inside stylish boxes.

-- Start filling shelves at eye level, a natural focal point. Add punch with colorful accessories.

-- Don't cram shelves full -- it's not attractive. Leave some breathing room between objects.

-- Mementos add your personal style. Tuck in photos, shells, souvenirs, and other trinkets you adore.

Most apartment living rooms have space for a sofa, coffee table, and maybe a chair -- definitely not enough seating for hosting a group of friends. Solve the problem with fabric-covered cushions that make sitting on the floor not a big deal. When they're not needed, the cushions can be stacked and stowed.

-- Purchase foam cushions of the thickness and size you need.

-- Search remnant piles and discount stores for pretty fabric that matches your decor.

-- Wrap the fabric around the cushion and hot glue in place.

Think above and below for finding extra storage: above bookcases, cabinets, and shelves, and below sinks, countertops, and tables. Keep all the stuff organized with these tips:

-- Slip discount store plastic shelves where they fit to separate dish towels, washcloths, and cleaning supplies.

-- Find a diminutive file cabinet and use it to store house records or take out the folders and use the cabinet as extra kitchen drawers.

-- Put numbered labels on everything and write a coordinating list. Example: "1: Washcloths, 2: Extra utensils." This way, if you ever switch out drawer contents, you don't need to relabel, just rewrite.

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