Tame Your Mid-Winter Closet

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We’re all familiar with the idea of spring cleaning - clearing out our closets and purging our homes of the clothes and items that we no longer have a use for. There’s no rule says that we need to wait until the weather turns warmer and the windows are open to start clearing out the dust and organizing those overflowing closets.

If your coats and shoes are constantly on the verge of exploding out of your precariously closed closet, it may be time to start weeding out the useful items from the ones that could be donated. This article from apartmenttherapy.com has a few great tips to get your closet organized to it’s best shape. Keep reading to learn more.

Clear Out Unworn Clothing and Shoes.

Purging clothing and shoes that no longer fit (whether too large or small), are outdated or unworn for longer than a year will make a huge impact on the clutter level of your closet. Donate unwanted pieces to a local charity or make a few bucks by selling in a garage sale! After purging, organize the remaining clothing into categories – pants, tops and so on. Place all remaining shoes in a shoe organizer or into pairs on a shelf.

Organize Accessories.

Organize scarves, ties and belts by using clothes hangers or wall hooks. For jewelry, use hooks and/or a jewelry box to keep all of your necklaces, earrings, bracelets and watches together so you can find them easily. This is also a great time to purge all unwanted accessories to donate or sell, and polish and clean that silver jewelry that needs tending to.

Hang Bags and Purses.

If you are anything like me, you have bags and purses on the floor in a messy pile. Instead, use hooks on the wall to hang your bags in your closet so they are off the floor, organized and easy to access. Again, this is a great opportunity to donate or sell items you no longer need.

Box Up Miscellaneous Items.

After organizing your clothing, shoes, accessories and bags, store any leftover miscellaneous items in pretty or neutral boxes with lids and place on the floor or shelf. Make sure you can easily access the boxes if you need to by not placing them too high.

Add Fragrance.

When your closet is fully organized, clean and beautiful, add a scented sachet, cinnamon sticks or dryer sheet for a light, fresh fragrance. Now, every time you walk into your closet you will be greeted by a wonderful scent!

Do you clean your bedroom closet each Spring?

Santa Claws Is Coming To Town

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Our pets show us unconditional love at all times during the year, whether it be waiting by the door when you come home from work, or just a quick nuzzle in the morning when you wake up. This holiday season, show your pet just how much you care by including them in your holiday celebrations.

Fido’s tail will wag when they see that you pull a nice new toy out from under the tree just for him! This article from apartmentguide.com has a few great ideas to make sure your dog knows he’s a member of the family.

Healthy treats for dogs

Although we may try to watch our waistline at the holidays, it’s also important to make sure we’re not handing out too many treats to our four-legged friends. To keep your dog from adding empty calories, try to offer only treats made from 100 percent natural ingredients. Three Dog Bakery makes dog biscuits from peanut butter, apples and oats that are both tasty and nutritious for your pet. Visitwww.threedog.com for locations or to shop online.

Canine-friendly cleansers

If you’re planning to host family and friends during the holidays, a bath might be in order for your pup. Why not use a new organic shampoo to keep his coat cuddle-ready? Both Kiehl’s and many pet specialty stores carry organic dog shampoo and conditioner, or you may want to ask for a referral from your vet. Using a gentle cleanser can help prevent your dog’s skin from getting too dry in winter weather.

Join the neighborhood light display

Show off your dog’s holiday spirit on your next evening walk with a new LED leash and collar. Not only will these illuminated accessories keep him safe and visible to cars, they can also be a festive fashion statement in red or white. Make Clark Griswold proud!

Not a creature was stirring…

Winter is also the perfect time to bring home a cozy new pet bed for your dog. Choose a soft fleece or cotton fiber lining that will breathe while your pet snoozes after a hard day of opening presents. When the festivities are over, and the wrapping paper and gift boxes have been sufficiently pounced upon, Fido will be happy to sink his paws into a plush new bed.

The holidays are an exciting time of year for both people and dogs. Remember that animals can be sensitive and may need some quiet time away from new guests, noise and additional stimulation. Allowing for sufficient down time will also give them the chance to dream about their new toys and gifts. Happy Howlidays!

Reuse Before You Recycle

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We know there have been times when you finish burning a candle and wonder if there’s anything else you could do with the jar it was burning in before you dispose of it. Upcycling- the process of repurposing previously used items from trash into something useful-is becoming a wide-sweeping trend among the environmentally conscious.

With a little creativity and a DIY mentality, it’s easy to turn everyday recyclables into useful household items. This article from renters.apartments.com lists a few great ways to make your apartment a little greener with upcycled items. Keep reading to learn more!

Empty bottle to picture frame, vase or candle holder

If you have an old bottle you don’t know what to do with, save yourself money on picture frames, vases and candle holders by using these upcycling ideas. They are pretty self explanatory, and you can be as creative as you like.

Used candle jar to storage jar

This is one of those upcycling ideas that requires very little effort. Take any empty, lidded candle jar and put it in the freezer. This shrinks any remaining wax for mess-free removal. Toss the wax or, in light of your new upcycling ideas, stockpile the wax until you have enough to melt it down into a new candle!

Clean out the empty jar with soap and water and remove any labels. Finally, fill the jar with whatever you need to store, from cotton balls and swabs in your bathroom to sugar and spices in your kitchen.

Scratched CD to fashion jewelry

Never toss out a scratched CD again. Instead, break it into smaller pieces, file down the edges, drill a small hole in the corner, and attach a chain or earring backings for an upcycled fashion necklace or earrings.

Old necktie to stylish headband
If you’re husband or boyfriend tries to throw out an old tie, don’t let him; upcycle it instead. There are dozens of ways to wear a necktie on your head, from gluing the fabric to an existing head band to sewing elastic onto it for the right amount of cinching to attaching on buttons in just the right place. The method is up to you.

Worn out jeans to trendy tote

It’s a shame when your favorite jeans finally develop a hole in a regrettable location, but you don’t have to toss them out. Cut the legs into strips and sew them together to make a trendy tote that’s all your own.

Ugly sweater to cozy pet bed

Sew a bed using your preferred type of stuffing. You can combine upcycling ideas by using stockpiled lint from your dryer as the pet bed filling. From square to round to oval, your furry friend is bound to love your ugly sweater more than you ever did.

Wooden ladder to playroom shelves

It seems a shame to toss out a perfectly good wooden ladder simply because you replaced it with a fancy metal one. Well, upcycle it into something useful, such as shelving. Open up the ladder all the way and screw or nail planks across every other rung. Fill the shelves with toys, pictures, storage baskets or anything else your heart desires.

These upcycling ideas are perfect for anyone in a small space living on a tight budget. Give them a go!

Creating Holiday Customs

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As children, each of us grew up conforming to the customs our families set down for the holidays- some of us opened gifts on Christmas eve and some of us enjoyed a large meal on the date of our holidays of choice. After a while these traditions, though special, can become a little stale. This year may be the year for you and your loved ones to create new traditions.

Reinventing your holiday season doesn’t mean that you have to give up all your old traditions, you can simply add new habits and routines to your holiday celebrations! This article from apartmentguide.com offers a few great ideas for your next holiday tradition. Keep reading to find out more:

Pick your perfect party

Kicking off the holiday season with a fantastic party is a great tradition, but you don’t have to stick with the same old cocktail weenies. Pick the holiday party that suits you and your guests’ style. Host a unique season opener party for the holidays you celebrate this time of year. (Christmas carol karaoke, anyone?)

Gift exchanges are always a fun option, especially when you pick out-of-the-ordinary themes like dollar store trinkets, quirky cocktail napkins or best (meaning worst!) re-gifted items.

If your friends are scattered around geographically, why not try a holiday hangoutonline? It’s not like being in the same place together, of course, but it is a way to share the spirit of the season.

If your holiday spirit takes a while to kick in, postpone your party for New Year’s Day or early January when everyone could use a post-holiday boost.

Communicate creatively

The thought of sending out holiday cards makes some folks seriously stressed. This year, relax and create a well-wishing strategy that works for your busy holiday schedule and your budget.

If you are short on time and money, send e-cards to family and friends. In this time of iEverything, it’s acceptable to post an online holiday greeting to your email list or Facebook friends. The best part is that you don’t have to prepare your thoughts so early in the season; you can wait for the right moment when the holiday spirit strikes you.

If you prefer more traditional paper cards, mix things up by creating a custom card design through an online vendor like Folded Words. Online card design sites like this and others feature fun templates which allow you to add your own sentiments or photos based on your favorite card theme.

To make your mailing strategy easier, use a handy web-based contact list likePostable, which creates a special website where your friends can enter their mailing addresses, building your address book for you!

Make your own kind of calendar

Follow the fun tradition of counting down to whichever wintertime holiday you celebrate. In the Christian tradition, Advent calendars track the days to Christmas, with various treats or gifts associated with each day. In a similar way, you can use your own special calendar to count down to whatever day or season you look forward to, be it Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Year’s or Boxing Day. The key is to have fun and make it unique to your family’s tradition. Check out these ideas for cool containers you can adapt to your custom holiday calendar.

Start a new giving tradition

Often we get wrapped up in the tradition of “what are you going to get me this holiday season?” Why not flip the switch and establish a new type of holiday celebration where you give away instead of gather up?

One giving option is to plan a special day during the holidays where you meet with your friends and family to volunteer at a local homeless shelter or food bank. It’s a great way to share your holiday cheer beyond your own home. Or consider supporting an organization like Heifer International which lets you donate food and other needed items to help challenged families thrive in other countries.

This holiday season, challenge yourself to establish traditions that are truly meaningful and fun, ones you’ll want to celebrate for years to come!

Easy Changes To Freshen Up Your Decor

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No matter how much care you took in designing the way that your apartment looks there comes a time when cushions on the couch begin to look a little stale. If you’re beginning to tire of your plain white dishes, there are simple solutions that you can take to avoid starting over and redesigning your whole apartment from scratch. Sprinkle a few visually appealing, eclectic elements throughout your apartment to add a little visual interest.

The changes that you make to your interior design don’t have to be drastic to achieve the desired effect. This article from renters.apartments.com is full of great ideas to add a little exotic spice to your interior decorating. Keep reading to learn more!

Color palette
The heart of an exotic design in décor is mostly achieved through the creation of a vivid backdrop. Indian décor may use saffron or mango colors and textiles in colors such as turquoise, jade, amethyst, orange and fuchsia. A typical Moroccan look can be achieved through turquoise and white tiles and dark wood. African décor, for example, features more earth tones and animal prints. Asian styles focus on faded browns, shiny black, red and white as well as green. Tropical hues include green, bright orange, sky blue, red and lovely bright yellow. Or, you can always go for some mottled green or blue in a traditional French style.

Flowing fabric decorations

Fabrics in lovely tones, loosely draped over the walls can truly transform a given room, giving it a completely new look. Adding a lantern or something similar will allow the lighting to give soft shadows and a different sense of space. This could help make your apartment feel like a Moroccan home – and you easily can find lanterns, sconces and more lighting fixtures at most home good stores.

Its all about the details

Regardless of whether its tiles or something else, the design is mostly felt in the small touches that add character. You can go one step beyond the usual decorations by adding Moorish symbols, changing your interior so it can closely resemble the traditional styles seen in the East and more.

Mosaic tiles

Complex tile work is something of a driving feature in Moroccan design as you can find it pretty much everywhere from floors to tabletops and walls. You can install mosaic tiles that look as close to zillij as possible, so you can achieve the same sense of aesthetic typically seen there. Many stores offer plenty of different opportunities to buy interesting designs when it comes to mosaic tiles.

The use of stencils

Stencils can be used more like an alternate solution you can do yourself so you can create the feel of a zillij tile. Just using a stencil pattern in the according colors can truly transform an entire room for a boring uniform color to something teeming with life and character. If you look up photos of Marrakesh you will see these patterns present in their more traditional interiors.

What Makes Living In An Apartment Community Great?

It’s a great feeling to walk down the hallway and know every face that you pass. Being friendly with your neighbors, along with the comfort and style of your surroundings, can make living in an apartment community one of the best experiences around

This Thanksgiving, let’s take a second to appreciate all the great aspects of living in our apartment complex. This article from apartmentguide.com lists some of the reasons that we all love to live in our close-knit apartment community.

Comfortable places

Comfort and community starts on the inside, which means creating an apartment home where you feel safe and comfortable. As soon as you move in, make an effort to personalize your space and make it your own. Hang your favorite artwork, add fresh flowers or cheery houseplants, and decorate your front door or outdoor space. The faster you feel at home in your apartment, the more you’ll want to explore your apartment community and get involved.

Friendly faces

You can personally have a huge impact on the sense of community between your neighbors. All it takes is a smiling face and a simple hello to create bonds that will lead to a rich community sense for everyone.

Don’t wait for neighbors to speak to you first. Become the MVR (Most Valuable Resident) by practicing consistent, friendly behavior. Wave to fellow residents as you drive through the parking lot, say hello to neighbors you pass in the hallway, stop and pet a dog or two and take a moment to play with the kids.

This kind of generosity and kindness is contagious. By making the first move, you’ll naturally build an apartment life that feels close-knit. Try being extra-friendly for a full week and notice the effect it has on you and your neighbors.

Shared spaces

Don’t be afraid to settle in, both inside your own apartment and in common areas. Shared spaces are a hot spot for community living. Make the most of areas like the pool, fitness room, clubhouse and dog park. The more you hang out in these spots, the easier it will be to make friends and feel like you belong in your community. Even if you don’t have a dog yourself, you might take a quick walk by the pet area and say hello to the folks walking their dogs, for instance.

Also, get involved in any community-sponsored activities and organizations that bring members together. Your community may sponsor social events that are great for mingling and meeting new faces. The support of neighbors is always needed to make events like these successful. When many participate, the energy can really make a difference to the experience of sharing life together in a community.

If you want to take your apartment’s community feel to the next level, host a party of your own. Plan a simple potluck dessert party in a common space and invite everyone to join in. If you live in a building that doesn’t have much shared space, organize a meet-up event for your neighbors at a local coffee shop. If you have a good turnout, make it a monthly gathering or expand it into a book club or wine tasting group.

When you’ve created a cozy living space in your apartment, enjoyed using community spaces and shared a friendly face with your fellow apartment dwellers, the time will come to relax and enjoy being an important part of the wonderful community you helped create!

Creating The Perfect Table

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It’s safe to say that we all have a vision in mind for a room when we decide to start decorating (or redecorating). Regardless of whether or not we've seen the items that we’re looking for, we have a distinct idea of colors and shapes of the furniture and accouterments that we want for our rooms. But what happens if we can’t find that perfect sofa, or perfect kitchen table? One option for the crafty Do-It-Yourselfer would be to update your own personal piece of furniture.

Creating your own table would be a great way to inject your personality into your decorating. Though it can turn into a lengthy project, the look of your room is worth it. This article from renters.apartments.com is full of great ideas to get you started toward the table that’s right for your kitchen. Keep reading to learn more.

1. Reclaimed wood

Furniture made from reclaimed wood is one of the hottest trends right now. Reclaimed wood simply means that the wood is salvaged and repurposed into a piece of furniture. Reclaimed wood dining room tables come in all shapes and sizes. Many have a cool vintage look, but they can also be finished to look like new as well. Rustic dining room tables add a homey touch to your apartment; modern dining room tables add polish. No matter which aesthetic you prefer, there is a reclaimed wood dining room table that will fit the bill. Better yet, build your own.

2. Doors

Making your own dining room table out of a unique-looking door can be a fun DIY project. You will be rewarded with a one-of-a-kind piece that will instantly become the focal point of your room. Doors can be found anywhere from salvage yards to flea markets and can usually be purchased for a pittance. Usually the door will be covered in glass on top so that you have a smooth eating surface that is easy to clean. Check out these easy-to-follow instructions on how to construct your own.

3. Hand-painting

If you are an artist, or have a friend who is an artist, hand-painting your dining room table is another great DIY project. A hand-painted dining room table is like having a mural in your dining room. This can be a great alternative for renters who want to add color to their apartment, but are not allowed to paint their walls. A good lacquer will preserve your work for years to come.

4. Gaming table

Gaming tables are a great way to go retro. If you live with a card player, a poker table can add vintage flair to your dining area; it also comes in handy when you are entertaining. Many vintage and newer card tables were designed to double as dining room tables. Therefore, look for a model that is convertible or has a cover.

If you’re a child of the ‘70s or ‘80s you’ll remember the days when video games doubled as furniture. A two-player, console video game table is a fun way to relive your childhood. You can find originals online, and again, you never know what you’ll come across at your local flea market.

Do you have a great idea for an alternative dining room table? Share it with us!

How To Use Bright Colors In Your Decorating

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Using vibrant tones in your decorating can really add personality to a room. But, how much color is too much color. Though incorporating different color palettes into your rooms can be exciting, it’s easy to go slightly overboard and throw off the look of the room.

In order to give your room a pop of color without going too far, it’s important to keep balance in mind. This article from renters.apartments.com has some great ideas that you can use in your own apartment for fun places to surprise guests with color while not getting carried away. Keep reading to learn how you can use color to make a bold statement!

1. Dynamic Dinner Decor

Who said your plates and napkins should always match perfectly? You can mix and match a palette of complementary colors to make your dinner decor stand out in an interesting new way. Martha Stewart suggests you choose three solid, complementary color shades like navy, turquoise, and lime. Buy a fabric sheet of each and use it to staple alternating colors of seat covers on your dining room chairs. Use the remaining fabric for to make stylish napkins and purchase similarly colored plates and cups. Stick with a basic white tablecloth to offset the design.

2. Contrasting Pillows

A simple, modern art way to incorporate color blocking into your home is to accent couches, chairs and beds with contrasting solid colors. For example, if your living area has plain black couches, you can dress them up with a few bright red square pillows for an edgy new look. Or, you can spice up a mustard yellow bedspread with different-sized turquoise pillows.

3. Minimalist Wall Art

Colorblocking was likely inspired by minimalist art because both ideas are virtually one in the same. It can be something as simple as a red circle on a white canvas, or as complicated as a rainbow-striped canvas. Keep it simple and chic, and make sure to coordinate with other home decor accessories in the room. If you want to get creative and save a little money, you can easily paint your own minimalist wall art piece as well.

4. Statement Pieces

You’d be surprised how a statement piece can transform the entire look of a room. For example, you can dress up your living room with some teal curtains and a mint rug. Add some coordinating accessories like a lamp, foot stool, and pillows to bring the whole room together. Even something like a bright yellow chair can quickly add a splash of color to a dull setting.

The hardest part about colorblocking your home is just choosing a palette to start with. Once you’ve got a basic color scheme in mind, you can find simple, solid pieces basically everywhere you go. However, since colorblocking is such a popular trend, you can also find decorative pieces that will do a lot of the work for you. For example, colorblocked curtains can quickly make your living space a modern masterpiece, and the same decorating convenience comes with a colorblocked rug.

Stash Your Clutter

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Regardless of how often your purge your apartment of unwanted items, we all have those few belongings that we just can’t seem to shake. Though these items may not fit our decor, or just aren’t fit to be sitting in full view, we can’t seem to get rid of them.

Just because you’re having trouble parting with a few items, doesn’t mean that they need to be in plain sight all the time. Your apartment can afford you ample opportunities to stash these items. This article from renters.apartments.com offers a room-by-room guide for hiding the essentials you may not want your guests to see. Keep reading to learn more.

Kitchen: When all the cupboards are full but you still have a box full of pots, pans and kitchen gadgets to unpack, look up! The spaces above the cabinets and on top of the fridge are ideal for storing things that don’t get used every day, like waffle irons, blenders and serving trays. They will be out of sight for you and for visitors, but if it bothers you to leave them out in the open, get a couple wicker or canvas bins in colors that match your decor and disguise them in style.

Living Room: As the area where your house guests will hang out most, the living room definitely needs to be free of clutter. One easy option is an ottoman or bench that has a lid and storage space inside, perfect for video games and controllers, blankets and those VHS tapes that you just can’t part with, even though you don’t own a VCR anymore. Another place to look is under your end tables: Buy – or make your own – table skirt and hide whatever you want under there, like workout equipment, crafting supplies or your clarinet from middle school.

Bathroom: If you have a pedestal sink, a fabric skirt is also a great way to hide unsightly necessities like the plunger, extra soap and toilet brush; check out this HGTV tutorial if you want to make your own. Other clutter savers can be purchased at any home goods store, including cabinets that fit over the toilet, over-the-showerhead shelves and baskets or bins for towels and washcloths.

Bedroom: Once the closet and dresser are filled to the max, the best spot to hide clutter in this room is underneath the bed. Buy short and wide bins that are specifically designed for this space to store sheets, blankets and out-of-season clothes. If you need more space, prop your bed up on specially made risers. Other solutions include hollow benches and bins and freestanding armoires.

Home Office: Few things look messier than piles of printer paper, bills and jumbles of paperclips and pens. Tidy up this space in a snap with a filing cabinet or two, and set aside an afternoon to organize important papers into files – think insurance of every kind, lease/mortgage info, bank statements and past tax returns. For smaller items, get a drawer organizer at an office supply store, as well as a multipurpose desk organizer for things like Post-Its, pens and extra staples.

How To Use Color In Your Decorating

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Colors can have a profound effect on any room. The colors that you choose can create a soft comforting tone, or an energetic, exciting one. Depending on the mood that you’re going for, the main colors and accent colors that you choose can create an inviting environment.

Deciding on a palette doesn’t have to be a difficult task. This article from apartmentguide.com offers some basic advice on how to get started injecting color into your apartment. Keep reading to learn more about what color can do for your decor!

Created in 1666 by Sir Isaac Newton, the color wheel is comprised of 12 colors, which are divided into three categories:

• Primary colors (red, yellow and blue)
  
• Secondary colors, which are created by mixing primary colors (orange, green and purple)
  
• Tertiary colors, which include a primary color combined with a secondary color next to it, such as yellow-orange, red-violet and blue-green.

It will also help your decorating by understanding the three dimensions of color:

• The hue of a color is its basic color; for instance, green is the hue of light green.
  
• Adding white to a color to make a tint, or black to create a shade, or gray to create a tone, involves the value of a color.
  
• The saturation of a color is its purity. If you’re looking for bold, vibrant colors, you will be working with highly saturated colors.

Take a Look Around

If you’re having trouble figuring out what colors you like, simply take a look around you, starting with your closet. What colors do you see repeated there? Chances are, you’ll see a few colors that show up more than once, so it’s safe to assume that if you like a color enough to wear it on your body, you’ll like it enough to decorate with in your apartment. This color will become your primary color. Once you have narrowed down your primary color and have familiarized yourself with the colors on the color wheel, you can begin delving into different color schemes.

• A monochromatic color scheme plays it safe and sticks with one color in varying intensities, from light to dark. This is often the easiest color scheme to begin with, as you are only working with one color.
  
• Complementary colors are located directly across from each other on the color wheel. Blue and orange are complementary colors, as well as green and red. This color scheme is great for people who want bold yet pleasing color combinations that create a sense of harmony and provide a visual contrast.
  
• In the same vein as complementary color schemes, an analogous color scheme uses anywhere from two to six adjacent colors paired with colors located on the opposite side of the color wheel, such as blue and purple against red and orange.
  
• The final color scheme, triad, is comprised of three colors that make a triangle in the center of the color wheel, like orange, green and purple. This color scheme is bold yet balanced, and can give you lots of color to play around with.

Mood Lighting

It’s important to note your natural reactions to specific colors so that when you begin decorating, you know which colors to incorporate in specific rooms.

• Cool colors like blue and green soothe your mind, body and spirit and can have a calming effect on your space. These colors work best in rooms where you want to invoke peace and serenity, like a bathroom or bedroom.
  
• Warm colors like orange, red and yellow inspire energy and invigorate the senses. Use warm colors in rooms where you anticipate a lot of movement, like a kitchen, workout room or a child’s play room.

Finding Inspiration To Decorate Your Place

Whether you’re moving to an entirely new place or you just want a change of scenery in your apartment, decorating is a great way to express yourself and add a personal touch to your living space. Though decorating can be exciting, there are many decisions to make with your decor that can be a bit daunting and it is easy to become overwhelmed by all the options available for updating your space.

One of the best ways to get started is by picking a theme for the room. This blog from apartmentguide.com offers a couple good ideas to get you started with a theme. Keep reading for inspiration to get you on the fast track to developing your own eclectic style.

Period pieces

One approach to interior decorating is to seek inspiration from favorite periods in history. A few recently-popular period styles includeContemporary andRetro decor.

A trip through Tumblr can score some ideas about Contemporary Scandinavian Style – think sleek lines, light colors, and natural-looking woods. The key to going Contemporary is using neutral colors, geometric patterns and artistic lighting to evoke a cool, comfortable setting.

Another period decorating trend revolves around retro furnishings. Bright colors like pink, green, turquoise and yellow inform the Retro style, which gets its design inspiration from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Furniture and accessories take on abstract and futuristic shapes. If you can imagine living like The Jetsons, then you’ve nailed the sense of it, reaching back to the recent past’s idea of the future.

Check out style guides that will educate you on the basics of different periods and perhaps guide you toward the right pieces to shop for.

Location? Location. Location!

Often apartment decorating ideas emerge from a specific place, instead of a period of time. If you like to travel (or dream of traveling), then pattern your apartment after one of your favorite locales. Watch theTravel Channel or read travel magazines and blogs. Decorating around the world is an adventure where you search for tidbits from trips and immerse yourself in import shops for inspiration.

Remember that your location-inspired decorating can focus on a specific part of the world or represent a thematic style used in many areas. For example, Spanish styleevokes the feel of that country with colorful tiles, earth tones and carved wood. On the flip side, a more general theme like Rusticcan include influences from many locations, like the mountains of Montana and deserts of New Mexico. The secret to Rustic chicis using natural elements, found objects and warm colors.

Picture your lifestyle

Another way to look at your interior decorating is to evaluate your lifestyle. Are you relaxed and easy going? A little more conservative and buttoned up? Decorating is personal and should suit your unique lifestyle choices.

Laid-back, carefree decorators should take a look at Cottage style. This approach is more about attitude than accessories. The goal is to create a welcoming vibe that celebrates the ordinary and imperfect. Think thrift-store finds, slip-covered furniture and funky family heirlooms on display.

For those who appreciate structure, theTraditional style might represent you well. Traditional apartment decorating might include furniture that looks like it’s straight out of the 19th Century, though undoubtedly more comfortable. Floral patterns, symmetrical arrangements, and elegant window treatments show off the warmth of classic tastes.

If you are unsure about your decorating style, there are great online quizzes to help you decide which direction to take your apartment decorating. Or just take a chance and start decorating – you’ll have figured out your own eclectic style by the time you’re done.