Memphis Apartments

When you are renting a Memphis apartment, you often feel like making changes is not on the agenda. After all, you don’t own the space so what can you do? Here are some tips to help you decorate and make your Memphis apartment feel like a home.
For every decorating project, large or small, the first step is always a walk through. You need to get a tablet or a notebook and walk through the Memphis Apartment area you are thinking of decorating while following these five steps:

1. Check for trouble spots that could cause a problem later; off center architectural elements, windows, fireplaces doors.

2. Look for anything permanent which would may a problem in arranging a room or giving the effect you want. Particularly in older Memphis apartments make a note of pipes, radiators, doorways that are closed off, uneven floors etc. In newer Memphis apartments, builders often put things like heat ducts, cold air returns and thermostats just where you want to put a piece of furniture or hang a picture. Make note of these.

3. Check for trouble spots, things that throw a room off center, or ‘uglies.’ As a renter you don’t have the options of a home owner to paint, pull apart, tear down or add to the permanent fixtures in your home. So if you don’t like the looks of the layout or the color of the carpet, write it down here.

4. Mark down and measure electrical, phone, or cable outlets for TV’s and computers. Check windows. Do they need to be covered for privacy or to keep out light? Are the windows unusually high or too close to the floor? Are they off center, or in the middle of a wall you need for furniture placement? Now is the time to measure windows. Measure the distance from the wall and between windows, the actual size of the window, and most importantly how many inches there are from the floor to the sill (or base of window). Make a note on which windows receive sun and when.

5. Next you need to make a checklist of the contents of the room. Decide how the room will be used; single or multi purpose. In Memphis apartments you will often find you need to use the dining area for the computer or the bedroom as a craft area. Once you have your purpose you are ready to start your shopping list.

· List and measure the things you have that you will keep. If you are doing a floor to ceiling make over, you will need measurements of pieces of furniture, as well as the length and height of walls. If you have a digital camera, better yet. You can put the information into your computer. The pictures don’t have to be perfect, they are just memory jogs.

· List the things that are worn out or won’t work and which you will either eliminate or replace with something else.

· Finally list any purchases that need to be made with descriptions if necessary and sizes.

When you have done all this, look over your notes and take one last look at your rooms to make sure you haven’t missed anything which could cause a major problem.

Now for some fun! Go through decorating magazines and books. Perhaps you have saved some pictures of rooms you love. Take a fresh look at them. Perhaps there are things in these pictures which can be used to get the look you want. Or perhaps you’ll see a room that reminds you of the ones you have. Go to furniture showrooms and shops that sell soft furnishings and see what is out there. If you are interested in antiques, check out the antique shops and used furniture/consignment places.

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