Decorating for Austin’s Hip Apartment Living

Make an apartment into a home with these fundamental design tips.

By Monique Penner

While the home is a place for living, interior design is about creating balance within the environment of the home. The key to a successfully designed apartment is making it workable. Besides being functional, it must also be comfortable, both physically and emotionally. Don’t let space dictate the terms. It is important to ensure that the spatial design is put to practical use.

Decide what the practical needs are before planning the apartment’s interior design. The basic layout and contents of the apartment’s interior design are generally predetermined, that is of open-plan living, with a kitchen, living room and lounge. Interior design for an apartment is aimed at making the stay practical and comfortable, including all modern conveniences. Everyone has his or her own unique style of living, so forget about tradition and think about what is workable.

Trust and be confident in your personality and designer, and allow that to determine the style of the apartment’s interior design. Style is a reflection of your personality and the specific type of apartment or layout you have chosen. Include trinkets and treasures that have meaning and create that special, personalized environment.

Art doesn’t have to be expensive to be interesting. It may be a collection of framed family photographs and can be displayed in any number of styles. Put the imagination to use and be creative. Mix a variety of sizes and shapes, as there are no hard rules. Use whatever looks good.

Speaking of whatever looks good, color has the distinct ability to ultimately change a room in many wonderful ways. It has the ability to hide mistakes and affect the mood of the room. There are many ways to add color to a room and that does not necessarily result in painting the walls and the ceilings. Look at the floor coverings, the furniture, fabrics, the wallpaper and adding accessories.

The secret to creating an interior design is to transform the apartment into a personalized space in which to experience things you love. Include items that hold memories and have meaning. Learn to trust your instincts when deciding on colors and patterns, shapes, sizes and textures when putting a room together.

Apartment interior design will work if the space reflects your personality and is a place you feel at home.