How to Affordably Decorate Your First Apartment
You’ve spent hours on end searching online for how to rent an apartment, and you’re not ready to pull the trigger on that special place. Congratulations! Once you have the details of your lease in place, you can turn your attention to more exciting details associated with your move. And that includes buying everything you need to make your new space your own. Decorating your first apartment is easier said than done, but don’t let this stress you out. It’s supposed to be fun.
Here are five tips to put you on the right track:
- Set a Budget
You know how easy it is to spend, spend, and spend some more. You also know how this can take a toll on your budget. With a concrete decorating budget in place, you can stop buying things you don’t need so you can afford those that you really want. The only way to set an accurate budget is to closely review your income and expenses, as well as your spending habits as of late.
Yes, it can be frustrating to follow a budget when decorating your first apartment, but it’s better than the alternative of overspending and regretting it in the long run. Remember this: you don’t need thousands of dollars to make an impact. There are ways to save and decorate at the same time.
- Shop Online
Fortunately, you’re moving into your first apartment at a good time. There are more online stores than ever, with many of them offering prices so low that you won’t believe them. This doesn’t mean you should never shop in person. It simply means that you should browse the internet before you pull the trigger on a purchase. If nothing else, this will open your eyes as to how much money you need to spend to get what you want.
- Splurge on Items You Really Want or Need
It’s okay to splurge. But this is only the case if you know how to keep your spending under control. If there’s an item that you really want or need for your new apartment — such as a particular piece of technology — it’s okay to splurge as long as you are comfortable doing so. What’s not okay is continually splurging by talking yourself into thinking that it’s something you need. If you’re going to head down this path, make sure you have a shortlist of items that you are okay spending extra money on. This makes it easier to keep your spending in check.
- Buy Second Hand
Don’t let anyone tell you this is a bad idea. No matter what you’re shopping for, there’s a very good chance you can save money by doing so at a local garage sale, estate sale, or flea market. And of course, there are also stores that sell second-hand items.
As you open your mind and look into all the local thrift options that are available to you, you’ll come to find that you can save a lot of money without having to give up much — if anything — in regards to quality and condition.Start slowly by checking out some antique stores and garage sales in your local area. As you gain more experience, you can widen your search in hopes of finding everything you need.
- Wait!
Even though you want to get everything done as quickly as possible, don’t overlook the benefits of waiting. This gives you the opportunity to see what you really want and need, while also saving more money for your decorating budget.
It’s okay to buy a few items when you first move in but take your time to purchase those that will make the biggest difference. Even if it’s only a few weeks, waiting can help you make better decisions both in regards to what you buy and how much money you spend. Good things come to those that wait!
Final Thoughts
It doesn’t matter if you’re decorating an apartment in an expensive city or small town, nothing changes the fact that you need to remain on budget throughout the process. Using the tips above will help you decorate your space in a way that puts a smile on your face.
