IKEA Solutions for Home Office for Apartments

LAIVA DESK $24.99

SPACE-SAVING DESK

SMILLE GUEST CHAIR $29.99

Home Office for Small Apartments

Whether you are a student or a full-time worker, everybody needs an office for their printer, fax machine, computer, etc and to organize their paperwork and files. That way, when it is time for tax returns or to pay bills, you have all of your paperwork in one, neat area. Unfortunately, it would be impossible to construct a Trump-tastic desk in a teeny apartment but that does not mean with a little innovation you cannot create an impromptu desk!

Using hinge tables, a small corner or crevice or against a small wall--there is possibilities for a small home office. Perhaps a wall mounted desk and a simple chair will suffice along with some under table file cabinets. I want to add a small home office where I can use the computer and keep everything organized, and since space is at a minimum, a wall-mounted table would be the most likeliest. But these things can be very attractive. Adding a colorful vase on the desk or some paintings above the desk can help the area flow in with the rest of the house--as well as using a table that is the same colour as the walls.

Putting It All Together

ONE OF THE MANY PAINTINGS GOING ON THE WALL

A BEGINNING OF AN ACCENT WALL

SOME BAR CHAIRS

DRESSING UP THE BOOKCASE

My manta is: You can never have too much art in your house. Anything can be made into art: wine bottles, old wood, anything. You don't always need to go to fancy art galleries to have a huge impact in your space. You can find art in the most creative places: empty glass jars with unique shapes, flower beds, old stones--even painting something that is plain and mundane just to add that extra spark. I am always rethinking ways to make our space homey, cozy and artsy...Think outside the box and go crazy. Even if you think it's a ridiculous idea--it's still your idea and that makes it unique and original.

In Love With My Place

So now I'm moved in and some things have been unpacked I'm ready to do the funnest thing--PAINT! Yesterday I headed over to Home Hardware to pick up paint for the living room/kitchen--the first rooms we are going to paint today. The color we chose is called "Gaucho Brown". It was a close call between that and a lovely light gray but we just felt we had a lot of brown/white to work with in the house so it would be natural to go with it. Chocolate and white is such a lovely pair--the white pops against the chocolate colour and adds a homey, cozy feel. Luckily, our couch is brown as well so with a few bright white accent pillows and a white rug...well you can imagine how lovely it will all go. I'm excited/nervous to paint because I've never done it before! Hopefully I don't screw up!

I wanted to work with the walkway\hallway and a door-less closet near the front door. Right now we are storing the mop/brown etc in it but I am going to paint, add a mirror and a chest of drawers and some sconces. We will use it to put our mail, car and house keys, dog leash/collar, poop bags and miscellaneous items you have when you're walking in the door like a place to put a box of delivery pizza while you pay the delivery guy. I forgot we had a walk-in closet and plan to add lower drawers from IKEA for shoes and add some mirrors/art and a rug to lighten it up. It's a fantastic closet and I think if we unclutter ourselves, it will work for us. The bathroom just needs a new shower curtain, window curtains, some art, some nice soap holders, etc, candles and it's ready to rock. The kitchen is perfect we are just going to get a wine rack. I'm going to hang up some paintings today after the paint dries so it's coming along great. Can't wait to show the before/after!

And Puppy Makes 3

Like most people, I love dogs. I couldn't imagine living without one and the very first thing I did (even before we moved out) was to find a dog. I would've gladly adopted a dog but the "right" dog who came our way ended up being a mutt puppy--a mix of red and blue heeler and Border Collie with unique coloring. It is a medium sized dog and if you know what a medium sized dog looks like in a small apartment--like a horse. 

I know I'll have to be strategic in planning how to properly contain the newest member of our family and still have a chic and clean flat, but I'm willing to work on it. His name is Benji Trouble and he's already won his way into my heart. I know he's going to be a great companion and the better I train him, the easier it will be to keep the flat attractive. I know Febreeze and static-remover brushes will be useful items in the house! Nobody wants a house smelling like dog. 

From prior dog-owning experience these are things you need to keep your house intact:

- a dog crate. This isn't to keep your dog locked up for long periods. Ideally, you shouldn't keep your dog in there longer than his age. Puppies under 6 months old shouldn't stay in a crate for longer than 3-4 hours at a time, and it should be comfortable and cozy for them. Think: cozy blanket, chew toys, bowl of water. The crate should be big enough for him to move around and turn in. 

-flea\tick leash and spray. Keeping bugs outside is important since you don't want an infested house. Brushing your dog regularly and a flea leash and formula is a good bet to keeping them at bay. 


-A cozy bed. If your dog isn't allowed on the bed or couch, invest in a dog bed for him to enjoy sleeping in. 


-Stain remover spray (Accidents happen)


-Dog shampoo (a clean dog means a clean house)


-Lint roller (to get fur off clothes, furniture, etc). 

   With a lot of exercise, dogs can definitely enjoy apartment living. Giving your dog something to do like agility classes keeps his mind busy and sharp. It is great to get him outdoors as much as possible--and there is a hidden benefit: exercise for yourself. I'm excited to see how incorporating a larger dog into our lives (and home) turns out. We've always had toy dogs so this is a new experience! Welcome home Benji!

Last Minute Inspiration

"To select well among old things, is almost equal to inventing new ones."
This is very true. That is why there is dozens of interior decorating websites and magazines--to give YOU the inspiration to invent a cool new house/room and also so you'll buy their brandname stuff. 

I LOVE HOW SIMPLISTIC YET HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THIS COZY APARTMENT HAS.

PUTTING PHOTOGRAPHS ABOVE A BED AND PAINTING THE WALL ADDS LIFE AND PERSONALITY!

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF BIG WINDOWS, USE A LARGE MIRROR IN IT'S PLACE FOR THE SAME EFFECT

MATCHING THEMES (BLACK & WHITE) AND MONOCHROMATIC COLOURS KEEPS THIS PLACE COOL. NOT TO MENTION THE SMALL DETAILS LIKE A VASE OF FLOWERS AND THE SIDE TABLE!

THE RED CARPET ADDS A PUNCH TO AN OTHERWISE DULL SET UP!

THE WOODEN TREND HERE IS APPEALING AND A SIDE TABLE WITH DECOR OR A COLLECTION OF SOMETHING, PLUS A LAMP IS A NICE WAY TO RAMP UP A BORING ROOM.

EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS SET UP SCREAMS COZY, SERENE AND PEACEFUL. THE USAGE OF POWDER BLUES AND ABSTRACT VIBRANT RENT PAINT WITH STRIPES KEEPS THIS COTTAGE-FRESH LOOK VERY MODERN.

THE USE OF CREAMY LIGHT COLOURS KEEPS A ROOM LIGHT AND BRIGHT AND CHEERY! ADD SOME COMFY PILLOWS AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO!

UTILIZING SPACE AND KEEPING IT LOOKING NICE IS IMPORTANT. HERE, A DESK BEHIND THE SOFA LOOKS VERY NATURAL WITH THE LEATHER EMBOSSED WHITE CHAIR AND MATCHING WHITE DESK. EVERYTHING FLOWS SEAMLESSLY.

A POP OF ACCENT COLOURS IN DECOR CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE ON A CREME AND WHITE PALETTE.

   I like to just have beautiful rooms on display so I can peruse through them and perk up on anything I see that I'd like for my own space.  There are some creative-minded people out there with fabulously decorated and innovative homes! 

The Elephant In The Room

A 46" TV IS ONE BIG HONKER

YOU SHOULD ONLY GET A LARGE TV IF YOU HAVE....A LARGE HOUSE.

There was a great deal on HDTV's at Best Buy today and my fiancee couldn't resist but to buy one of the biggest ones for our modestly sized living-room. I am fearful that the TV will be an embarrassing monstrosity and space-eater in the living room. The first thing you will notice, and the ONLY thing you will notice is the huge 46" TV sitting in the living-room when you walk in. Forget anything else........the huge TV is unavoidable. I hope I am just over-reacting and it'll fit in nicely and look great, but seriously........who needs a 46" TV?!?!? I'd argue who would even NEED a TV but then again I'm an avid fan of Criminal Minds. I was pretty excited about the TV, because as a girl, I get excited about any kind of shopping...........but I wonder if a 37"-40" TV would be more than big enough for our small abode?

One Million and One..

Now we are only 6 days from moving in, I am forgetting the one million things I wanted to do with the flat! I guess it is a form of stressing out, which is what I did on my first vacation. I had planned to scuba dive, snorkel, visit X museum and X restaurant and instead, went with the flow and still had a great time. I am flipping through the pages and reminding myself "Oh yeah, the wicker box for the toilet paper" and "Don't forget you need to get a ladder to paint--and a power drill! You need the power drill!"

Yes, we are DIYkes and we are lesbians who like to hammer and do stuff ourselves. That is the whole POINT of the blog--the adventure of making the place where you live...yours. I realized since I didn't have my own digs yet, I had to compensate by uploading pics and vids of other rad places and things but in 6 days I'll be able to record my own videos and take photographs of my place and stick 'em up on the blog which is pretty fricken' awesome because I'll see what needs to be fixed, be changed--hey, maybe the taupe paint will look god awful and I'll switch to something else, who knows? 
Maybe the dropleaf dinner table won't work and instead we'll get a bistro size table. It's all about experimentation--and fitting two unique people's styles into a tiny apartment takes skill and negotiation! 

I'm completely camera-shy but I'll do my best to showcase our home in all it's different levels of becomingness. Hopefully, it'll be half decent!

Collect Your Decor

Paint Selections

I have pored over what colors to paint each room for months but have narrowed it down finally. I want the living room to be calming and cozy, the bedroom to be lively and the bathroom to be chic. So by room, these are the suggestions. 
Bedroom -  bermuda grass green, bayberry, beechnut or wasabi. 

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED YELLOW

WASABI PAINT IS COOL

CARIBBEAN TEAL

Bathroom - tapestry gold, camel, burnt caramel or Carribean teal. (Runner ups: marmalade, Appalachian spring and driftscape tan). 

MARMALADE

CAMEL

Basement Bellissima

I am hell bent on creating a basement space that is modern, artsy and functional. One that does not necessarily feel like a basement. I want to accentuate the windows and bring in as much natural\artificial light as possible so this means clip-on shelf lights, lamps and mirrors. I never really thought about lamps before. I always assumed the ceiling pot lights would be fine, but the more light, the merrier!

You wouldn't expect a lot of greenery in a basement so house plants that can survive in shade are on my top list of things to get. I think wall sconces add a baroque, traditional element and will look great against the paint! So to liven up a basement flat these are some good things to get:

-lamps
-lights that attach to your shelving
-floor to ceiling bookshelf
-light coloured paint
-wall sconces
-mirror opposite your window

-accentuating the basement windows (sheer curtains, perhaps?)

Ceiling Shelving

Whoever thought of ceiling shelving is ingenious and fantastic. For those short on space, building vertically is like one of the few viable options but it could be chic. We have high ceiling space that most people don't utilize because they do not think storing things so high is very convenient. But it can look chic and be functional, and keep floor space clear making the apartment look organized and neat. 

CEILING SHELVES IS CHIC AND PRACTICAL

WHEN SPACE IS AT A PREMIUM, BUILD VERTICALLY

A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ORGANIZING WITH CEILING SHELVES

I plan to put ceiling shelving in the apartment because space is already at a premium. On the shelving, I will store important documents, a few pieces of decor and books/movies. That way I can use the floor space for things like an easy chair or an ottoman or just walking space. It's such a clever idea!