Furnishing Your First Apartment: Big Ideas for Small Spaces

By Susan Johnston

When I graduated from college, I couldn’t wait to move into the real world and into a real grown-up apartment. I was through with sleeping on an extra-long twin bed lofted three feet in the air and of sharing a tiny dorm room with an almost-stranger. Unfortunately, living in an expensive city, I found myself living in a room with square footage that was less than my old dorm room. And did I mention it didn’t have a closet? Oh, the irony!

But after hanging curtains and creatively positioning my furniture (kinda like a game of Tetris), the room gradually began to feel more livable, cozy even. From sublets to studios, high-rises to single-family homes, my friends and I have experienced the gamut of urban real estate and picked up a few pointers along the way. Here are a few common housing situations and their decorating solutions.

Situation #1: You’ve finally moved out of the dorm and into your very own apartment. Well, technically, it’s a studio with a kitchenette, and it’s about the size of a shoebox. Houston, we have a problem…

Solution: Look on the bright side, at least with limited space, you won’t have to buy a ton of furniture and use up every penny from graduation (you’ve probably spent a big chunk on security deposits). What you need are a few small, space-efficient pieces to make your shoebox feel like home.

Repeat after me: futons are your friend. They are the perfect starter bed, because they’re cheap and space-efficient. One caveat, though: do not buy the cheapest, lumpiest 12-inch mattress you can find. In this case, saving money could result in a raging case of insomnia that not even industrial strength sleeping pills will soothe. Try out different brands and thicknesses of mattress to ensure a decent night’s sleep. Then when you want to have friends over, just fold up the futon, rearrange your throw pillows, and lounge on your comfy couch. For extra seating, you can pick up a few folding chairs and store them in a corner until company comes. Padded slipcovers will transform those secondhand chairs from drab to fab.

Now onto that kitchenette. Check on what appliances are included (and how much counter space you have) before you buy anything extra. If you can’t live without your coffee maker and food processor, look for smaller models instead of the one that brews enough coffee for a small army. Once you move into a bigger place, you can buy that super-deluxe caterers’ version and resell your pint-sized appliances to some one else in a studio.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing.  They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments.  Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county.  For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

 

Methods of Searching - Fee v. No Fee Rentals
If you can afford to pay a broker's fee, searching with a broker is highly recommended for convenience. Brokers can give you an overview of the market, guide you in your search, and facilitate the paperwork for you. Some landlords list apartment availabilities exclusively through brokers.

Brokers charge a commission for their services. In Manhattan, expect to pay between `12%-15% of the year's rent. That means if your rent is $1,000 a month, the broker's fee works out to $1,000 x 12 x 15%, or $1,800. Fees outside of Manhattan are usually less, ranging from one month's rent to 12% of the year's rent. The fee is payable only at the time of lease signing. OCHA maintains a list of real estate brokers, many of whom will give a discount on their fees to CU students and affiliates. The larger firms have Web sites where you can search their listings in advance of contacting them. You can also check their most updated listings in the classified ads in The Village Voice, The New York Times and LOOT. Don't forget to ask if a student or Columbia corporate discount is available.

If you prefer not to pay a broker's fee, "no fee" searching options include:

Classified Ads - look for ads that say "no fee" or "by owner" as well as ads for sublets and shares.
Landlords and Management Companies - Call directly and ask for a list of their vacancies. OCHA has compiled a list of some of the larger companies. Gabriel's Guide to Apartment Hunting is a book, which lists management companies, rental buildings and contact information.
Online Search Sites - First check out OCHA’s Housing Registry listings. Then try the series of Web site links we have developed.
Flat Fee Agencies - A flat fee ranging from $60-$250 is usually paid up-front for access to non-realtor fee listings.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing.  They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments.  Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county.  For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson.

How to create an art-friendly room.
Think about it. When you walk into a gallery or museum, what do they all have in common? White walls and lots of light. If a wall is wall-papered or painted a color other than white, it limits the choices for hanging art that will look good on it. If a room is dark, the art will not show to its best advantage.
If you want to make art the center of attraction, play down the other elements of the room like window coverings, carpeting, wall coverings, and even furniture. A room crowded with other colors, textures and objects will take the spotlight away from the art. Follow the principle that less is more. Keep it spare and let the art star. Then relax and enjoy it.
Selecting and displaying art is an art in itself. Experiment to learn what pleases you and what doesn’t. You’ll be well-rewarded for the time you invest by finding more satisfaction both in the art and in your home.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

Is Renting a House For You?
  Renting a house is not cheap. Usually the rent is a lot higher than an apartment. In some cities, renting a house is about the same as renting a townhouse. Of course, this depends entirely upon the location of the property, the landlord, and how eager the landlord is to rent it out. If the landlord hasn’t been able to rent for the past few months, the price is going to come down. However, if the property is in a popular location, the rent is going to rise.

Like most other units of rental, renting a house will most likely require a year-long lease (or maybe even a 16-month lease). If your income might decrease within that timeframe, being locked into a high monthly rental amount might not be a good idea. Most landlords will check your credit and income to be sure you will be able to afford the lease, just in case.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing.  They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments.  Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county.  For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson.

Decorate Your Studio Apartment on a Budget!
By Kathy Wilson  
Decorating a studio can be a challenge. You are dealing with small spaces and little storage, and you are usually dealing with a small budget as well!

Here are some great low cost tips for maximizing that small living space while minimizing the damage to your wallet!

*Create dual use furniture. A twin bed pushed against a wall can easily double as a sofa during the day. Add bolster pillows for armrests, and a row of throw pillows along the back to lean against.  A small dining table can double as a work desk, and short bookshelves can make wonderful end tables!

*Pick up colorful wire baskets or wastebaskets from the dollar shop and screw them to the bathroom wall or hang them over the shower rod with a shower ring for storing all your makeup, sundries, and personal items.

*Pick up inexpensive door mirrors from the discount store, and mount them on walls or doors facing the living area. It will visually expand the space. Try making them part of a wall arrangement with framed prints to help them blend into your décor.

*Keep clutter under wraps! Hang fabric over cluttered bookshelves or entertainment centers, keep the toaster under the counter, and have a basket or drawer to store those little items you use every day.

*Let's face it, no decorating trick is ever going to make a studio seem like a mansion…so why not just work with it? Add a cozy feeling with bright colors, and your place will at once feel homey and interesting. Add bright throw pillows, cushions for the dining chairs, and a collection of framed art on the walls.

*Small throw rugs can help define different areas in a small space. If you use several rugs in the room, have them match in color to create flow and expand the space.

*Don't have any art for your new place? Tight budgets call for creative thinking. Pick up  12 matching frames at the dollar shop, and frame anything from CD covers, to cut outs from magazines or catalogs to brightly colored fabric. Arrange in rows gallery style on your focal wall, and you have art! No matter what you frame, placing it in matching frames in an organized grouping gives it importance.
 
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing.  They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments.  Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county.  For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson