Finding Interior Decorating Ideas for Your Apartment

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Finding Interior Decorating Ideas for Your Apartment

Rachael Weiner · Oct 13, 2009

When you’re ready to begin making your apartment uniquely yours, you’ll probably begin searching for interior decorating ideas. Luckily, there are an abundance of design idea sources out there, both traditional and out of the ordinary, to expedite the process. The more sources you take into consideration, the more likely you’ll be to end up with a design you truly enjoy.

Turn On Your Television

It’s nearly impossible to avoid home decorating programs on TV these days. If you have no idea what kind of interior decorating scheme you’re looking to incorporate into your apartment, watching several design shows may help you get a general idea of the possibilities. Fortunately, you can narrow your focus and watch programs based upon your situation.

Looking to decorate as inexpensively as possible? Tune into one of the many “design on a dime” types of programs for stylish and affordable ideas. Looking to take a hands-on approach? There are many decorating programs with a do-it-yourself focus. Let channels like HGTV and TLC be your guides.

Look to Magazines and Catalogs

Magazines are a great source of inspiration. Often aspirational in nature, architecture and home decorating magazines offer high end design ideas that may require a little bit of creativity to mimic. If you’re looking for something a little more accessible and realistic, check out home furnishing catalogs like Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel an Restoration Hardware. Even if you’re not looking to purchase anything from these retailers, their catalogs offer good decorating ideas that don’t cross into avante garde territory. Best of all, catalogs are a free source of design ideas. Just pick several up in the store or borrow one from a friend.

Walk through Design Showrooms

It’s a bit conventional, but inspiration can come from things you can physically touch and see in person. Take a walk through both furniture stores and stores that sell interior design accessories. You may see a key piece, accessory or furniture layout that will spark design ideas for your own place. Seeing something as simple as how the showroom designers coordinated colors or room accessories could offer you a good starting point in your decorating.

Use Your Creativity

Inspiration can come from unusual sources. Rather than focusing solely on interior design based publications and sources for all your decorating ideas, branch out and discover ideas unconventionally. Visit art galleries and museums to open your mind to the use of color, shape and form. Going to a park or nature trail may inspire your design theme or help you to incorporate a natural element to your home decor. Don’t be rigid in where you draw inspiration. Look at the world around you and let your imagination wander.

Search the Web

Even if you allow your imagination to wander, chances are you’re still going to use the Internet to look for interior design samples. Simply doing a search for “interior design ideas” is bound to give you all kinds of sources. Look to interior design blogs and decorating websites to widen your search. It’s impossible not to find exactly what you’re looking for given the breadth of the Internet.

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, choose one source to start with. You can always enlist a design-savvy friend to help you!

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Rachael Weiner: I’m a communications professional for a non-profit, which financially necessitates my status as an apartment dweller. Constantly “on-the-go,” I’ve resided in five different apartments across the United States over the past five years. Roommate issues, budgeting, organizing and handling problem neighbors are my specialty.

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