Decorating Your First Apartment: From Moving in to Making It Your Own

by Paige Gilchrist

Book Overview

Congratulations You've finally found a place to call your own. Now you have to turn it into a real home--and that takes both practical and creative smarts. From hanging shelves to choosing colors, these eminently doable projects, sensible how-tos, and marvelous photos are exactly what new apartment dwellers need. See how to make a simple floor plan and figure out what goes where. Spruce up with basics on everything from painting walls to refinishing...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1579903355
• ISBN13: 9781579903350
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Lark Books (NC)
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.8" x 10.5"

Customer Reviews

love this book

I think this book is everything I was looking for. I'll be getting my first apt. in a few months and this book is filled with great advice, great pictures, and great ideas!

Perfect!

This book is so great! Being a recent college grad and planning on moving out of my parent's house soon, this book was great for learning about getting out on your own. I thought the book was great at explaining what to look for when looking for your new apartment and then gave great tips on what to buy for it. Obviously, I already had ideas about what to buy, but it did give me more things that I didn't even think of. Overall, I think this book is excellent and would recommend it for anyone who's in the same position as I am.

Exactly what I needed 7 years ago

I don't actually own this book. I only looked at it in the bookstore. So, you may want to take my advice with a grain of salt. However, this is exactly the book that I was trying to find seven years ago when I rented and wanted to invoke a bit of style into my living space. I was even tempted to buy it now that I own my second house. The only thing that discouraged me from doing so was the beginning section, which focuses on the basics of renting--i.e. selecting an apartment. However, the meat of the book that talks about decorating seems to be excellent. It has inexpensive and temporary decorating ideas. It is perfect if you want to spruce up your space without making permanent and expensive changes. I can't wait for Paige Gilchrist to come out with a book for homeowners living on a pathetic budget!

I love this book and I am not decorating my first apartment

Parents definitely buy this book for your college-going kids! Others will enjoy it as well, but the style will most appeal to people under 40. The style is kind of funky-modern. I just bought the book, so I have not read the whole thing, but so far so good. It has instructions and materials lists for creating all the looks in the photos which is lacking in many interior design books. It also has general decorating tips.Bonus: It describes typical problems to look for in an apartment and how to evaluate an apartment for these problems. It describes potential problems and red tape with the landlord, and how to avoid them, and it explains the renter's contract as well.If you have just started exploring interior decoration, or are looking for your first apartment or tips to refresh your current one, buy this book!

Not just for first-time renters!

This book has so much information, it should have been called "Renting an Apartment".Although this book was written for young first-time renters, the information would benefit anyone that rents their home. Even though I'm now living in my 8th apartment, and have renting experience, I found lots of tips and ideas to help make my home more comfortable and pleasing. This book is split into two parts. The first part addresses what you need to know when renting an apartment, and includes tips on- what to look for when scouting for a place to live, both in terms of dwelling and landlord- how to look for a roommate- what you're expected to pay (or not)- what you can do in improvements - how to keep your apartment cleanThe second part, my favorite, shows you how to decorate your apartment on a budget, and includes DIY projects that are imaginative and down-right cheap, such as:- painting walls, floors and furniture (how-to and supplies)- window coverings (using copper pipes for curtain rods)- separating rooms without building (hanging drapery panels)- lighting (wastepaper basket lights)- screens (fabric panels between dowels held straight with concrete)The writing tone is light and fresh, and perfect for the intended audience. Photography is well done. My only (minor) complaint is that for most projects, there was only one picture of the finished project. The accompanying written instructions are detailed, but I would have preferred pictures along with them. In my view, it's easier to see how something is done, than reading it. I recommend this book, both for the ideas, and as a starting point.