Decorating your Hamilton Apartment on a student budget is easy to accomplish with a lot of creativity and a little bit of hard work. Hazelview Properties has compiled the following tips, tricks and ideas to help you make the most out of a tight budget, while still decorating like a pro.
Keep it Simple
First and foremost it is important to keep rooms uncluttered and clean. No amount of décor can make a messy and disorganized space look good. Start the decorating process by first ensuring the space is organized and that junk is either thrown out or properly tucked away. From there, keep it as simple as you can with clean lines, simple designs and a pre-determined colour palette in mind. If you are at a loss for where to start, try white. Budget finds like storage boxes, lamps and bedding look clean and crisp in shades of white. You can always add additional colour and patterns with artwork and accessories at a later time. It’s best to start safe and continue to build from there.
Treasure Hunt
Vintage, antique and thrift store shopping (or hunting) is a fun and exciting way to save money while still creating a unique look for the home. By choosing to spend a little of your free time hunting down one-of-a-kind treasures at yard sales, charity shops and consignment stores, you will be greatly rewarded with your unique and interesting décor finds. For example, a coat of high-gloss white paint can update almost any old or worn piece of furniture for a chic and modern feel. International Village Antiques and Collectables offers a wide selection of vintage treasures and great prices, and is only a five-minute walk away from Hazelview’s 23 Spring Street South community. When ‘treasure hunting,’ remember to carefully inspect any upholstered pieces to avoid pet stains and unwelcome critters.
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Repurpose
Why not try repurposing items you already own into clever design pieces? Mason jars, teacups, mirrors and decorative trays are just a few examples of items that can be used for design and display purposes. Have an old trunk or chair lying around? Simply add a pane of glass to make a new coffee table, or turn that chair into a convenient bedside table. Look around at the items you already own and challenge yourself to find new purposes for these objects.
Gallery Display
Create your very own art gallery with a variety of different-sized art prints, photos, posters and more. Utilize different yet complementary frames (for example one colour but a variety of shapes and sizes) to create a fun gallery themed aesthetic on a student budget. More affordable ways of building up this look include using postcards, snapshots and even cutouts from art books and magazines to enhance your gallery. Homesense is a great place to pick up picture frames for less, and is located less than a ten-minute drive away from our 205 Hunter Street community.
For additional budget décor inspiration check out Houzz’s article ‘Create a Chic First Apartment on a Dorm Room Budget’ available here.