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Apartment living is gaining in popularity, especially among single young professionals, and is a great way to get a start on the property ladder. But how do you make the most of the space and ensure it is shown off in its best light?
Busy professionals tend to want turnkey homes, that they can just buy and live in, whilst getting on with their lives. So, updating your apartment before selling it will make it much more attractive to buyers, especially those who are buying for the first time and want something easy to maintain.
Interior design has seen so many trends over the years, and 2021 is no exception, with going back to nature being particularly popular when it comes to sprucing up a tired space. Comforting, nostalgic and homely is currently favoured over sleek and modern and minimalist. People want to imagine themselves living in a home, rather than being wowed by showroom sparkle. However big or small that space is, there are hundreds of ways to make it come alive.
Nowadays, you need more than just a lick of paint, if you want to stand out from the crowd. But it is a good place to start…
Colours drawn from earthy tones – browns, greys, yellows, greens – are all the rage at the moment, and painting living rooms or bedrooms in these muted, soft shades is both stylish and effective. If you don’t want to paint the walls, accenting with soft furnishings can also bring warmth to an otherwise uninspiring room.
Dulux chose Brave Ground as its colour of the year for 2021. The subtle brown-grey colour gives off sophisticated vibes while still keeping itself grounded in the earth. Pair it with some bright yellows, to make both colours zing and complement the space.
Maximalist is big, in more ways than one. But sometimes you just need clever storage to contain everything you own, rather than having it all out on show. In apartments, which by nature tend to be smaller than houses, having creative storage solutions is a godsend. This might take the form of a breakfast bar with inbuilt shelving, underbed drawers, or an ottoman footstool.
Floor to ceiling shelves across an entire wall aren’t just practical, but make a real visual statement too. The space above the doors is also perfect for shelving and is underutilised in many homes. Low-level cupboards under seating banquettes are also a great way of tidying up magazines or notebooks, but still have them on hand for when you need them.
2021 has been the year of the home office, with many people opting to work from home for at least part of the week. By providing an area that looks ideal as a home office space, either as a separate room – if you have one – or a corner of another room that can be kitted out with a desk, and chair, it automatically makes your apartment seem more appealing.
A hybrid home-office design needs to be practical, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give it a bit of flair too. You need it to be somewhere you want to sit and work for several hours, without getting too distracted.
The use of natural materials and upcycling is becoming more and more common when it comes to home interiors, as people are choosing comfort and cosiness. Reclaimed wood is an upgrade on the shabby chic trend of a few years ago, with it being allowed to age naturally. Genuine vintage furniture and ‘cottagecore’ soft furnishings are combining to give a more lived-in look.
The kitchen is an excellent example of somewhere where wood can work really well. Being hard and durable, as well as looking good, makes it the ideal material for kitchen worktops. Walnut worktops are timeless and beautiful with a rich colour palette, transforming a kitchen and offering a unique alternative to more standard laminate.
Saving the planet is high on the agenda in all areas of people’s lives at the moment, with the threat of climate change and issues of sustainability. Changing your light bulbs to LEDs, replacing carpets with natural fibre flooring, and installing built-in energy-efficient appliances, won’t just appeal to the more eco-conscious buyers but will also put you bang on trend.
An area of the kitchen or utility room specifically designated for recycling is a bonus in any property and may just tip the balance in your favour when it comes to getting a sale.
Don’t get fooled into only using interior design that you like. Remember, you are aiming to sell your apartment by trying to appeal to the masses. Using some of these decor trends will at least give you a headstart. You may even get ideas for what to do with the property you end up buying, so it is win-win all round.
Posted by Simon on May 26th, 2010
Posted by Simon on November 8th, 2012
