Cheap, easy, functional tips on redecorating!
March 6, 2021 5:13 PM Subscribe
I live and work from home in my tiny apartment. I want to redecorate my room so that I can stand being there for the at least sixteen hours that I spend on the weekday. What functional, cheap tips do you have to keep a wfh room tidy and pretty?
I have a queen bed and two desks. One desk is for my work, the other for makeup. I was thinking of buying full sized mirror but they are pricey. My room has one tiny window and a tiny mirror. I still don't exactly have a color scheme but I'm thinking gold and grey.
I have a queen bed and two desks. One desk is for my work, the other for makeup. I was thinking of buying full sized mirror but they are pricey. My room has one tiny window and a tiny mirror. I still don't exactly have a color scheme but I'm thinking gold and grey.
House plants in pots that match your color scheme
posted by aniola at 5:46 PM on March 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by aniola at 5:46 PM on March 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
I bought a bunch of white IKEA Kallax shelving and stuck rattan boxes in them so that I could put all my work stuff out of sight. That’s my biggest problem when working from home, all the stuff out on surfaces. If I can’t see it I’m much more peaceful.
posted by Peach at 5:55 PM on March 6, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by Peach at 5:55 PM on March 6, 2021 [5 favorites]
I use a lot of decorative cardboard storage boxes. I usually get mine at TJMaxx or Tuesday Morning. They are pretty cheap but nice to look at and easy to use! I
posted by ChristineSings at 6:54 PM on March 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by ChristineSings at 6:54 PM on March 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Corner shelves are very handy in unused corners. Might as well maximize your space!
posted by erattacorrige at 7:48 PM on March 6, 2021
posted by erattacorrige at 7:48 PM on March 6, 2021
Can you say more about what’s uncomfortable or causing friction in your room?
Do you need new bedding? A new tapestry cloth to toss over your bed? Vinyl wall decals? Plants? An armchair from a thrift store? Morris from Craigslist?
The solution might involve completely rearranging the furniture or buying new lamps. Or maybe something that clears up floor space so you can step back and do stretches throughout the day. Do you need to turn your bed into a canopy bed?
posted by itesser at 7:50 PM on March 6, 2021
Do you need new bedding? A new tapestry cloth to toss over your bed? Vinyl wall decals? Plants? An armchair from a thrift store? Morris from Craigslist?
The solution might involve completely rearranging the furniture or buying new lamps. Or maybe something that clears up floor space so you can step back and do stretches throughout the day. Do you need to turn your bed into a canopy bed?
posted by itesser at 7:50 PM on March 6, 2021
House plants. Try to divide work space from chill space.
posted by gnutron at 8:45 PM on March 6, 2021
posted by gnutron at 8:45 PM on March 6, 2021
Came here to say you might get a nice big mirror fairly cheaply at a thrift store. Also if you're on a tight budget, you don't usually have to buy house plants. Ask friends if they might have houseplant cuttings you can then root in a jar of water, or ask on-line on sites like Nextdoor.com (I know, it's a squicky site, but it's a great place to get free houseplants). Try to reduce the amount of things you have out and visable in your room. Put things in closets or baskets or under the bed in storage bins. Reducing clutter goes such a long way towards making your space pleasent.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:06 PM on March 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:06 PM on March 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
I've been thinking a lot about my home space recently as well, and came across Myquillyn Smith who writes about home decor and suggests that decor should include all the senses. So, what do you want your home to smell like? What do you want it to sound like (music-or-other-audio?) What do you want it to feel like, texture-wise? Making a change in those ways might not cost much or add clutter, and it might really contribute to your feeling of home.
posted by rogerroger at 10:14 PM on March 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by rogerroger at 10:14 PM on March 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Do some searches on Apartment Therapy for "studios" and "rentals." Oh, and "bedroom home office." AT has a ton of ideas for making small spaces functional. Even if you don't have a studio, AT offers a lot of advice about making the most of every square inch with double duty furnishings, best use of space--bedside table is a file cabinet, that kind of thing. You'll find out how to create zones even in a small space--entryway where you can drop your stuff even if you don't have an entryway so your keys, mail, boots don't spill into the rest of your space. You'll see examples of how to make the best use of wall space since it sounds as if you're limited on floor space. A drop light from the ceiling takes up less space than a table or floor lamp, for example. Check out "bedroom home office" on Pinterest for many great examples.
Start with function before you tackle decor and color schemes. Do a big, ruthless decluttering, first of your closets, kitchen cabinets, bathroom, and all visible surfaces so that you start out with clean, pared down spaces. I know, what a drag, but that's absolutely the first step to having a tidy, functional space. Apartment Therapy has an annual January Cure you can access to learn how to tackle decluttering in tiny steps for a month. Read a little bit about layouts, ideal measurements, and the most comfortable, pleasing placement of your furniture. Every piece of furniture in a small space has to do a job and has to be comfortable and well placed.
Do you have a piece of art in your space? If not, start looking for a great piece you like then pull your color scheme from the art work. Don't buy anything new or used that doesn't relate to what you have already--stylewise or colorwise--so everything harmonizes. So, first downsize your stuff bigtime, try out workable furniture placement, pick an art work, then move on to decor.
posted by Elsie at 3:23 AM on March 7, 2021 [4 favorites]
Start with function before you tackle decor and color schemes. Do a big, ruthless decluttering, first of your closets, kitchen cabinets, bathroom, and all visible surfaces so that you start out with clean, pared down spaces. I know, what a drag, but that's absolutely the first step to having a tidy, functional space. Apartment Therapy has an annual January Cure you can access to learn how to tackle decluttering in tiny steps for a month. Read a little bit about layouts, ideal measurements, and the most comfortable, pleasing placement of your furniture. Every piece of furniture in a small space has to do a job and has to be comfortable and well placed.
Do you have a piece of art in your space? If not, start looking for a great piece you like then pull your color scheme from the art work. Don't buy anything new or used that doesn't relate to what you have already--stylewise or colorwise--so everything harmonizes. So, first downsize your stuff bigtime, try out workable furniture placement, pick an art work, then move on to decor.
posted by Elsie at 3:23 AM on March 7, 2021 [4 favorites]
Elsie is correct about decluttering.
I'd try to separate work from living spaces. Perhaps try hanging light gauzy curtains to separate that workstation from everything else since you're probably not able to make massive alterations. I've hung them across a room via a heavy duty wire/cable suspended between two eye-hooks placed at the very top of the wall.
Thrift stores are your friend because you can try thing inexpensively and re-donate if you don't like the vibe. Otherwise, select a store that allows easy returns.
posted by mightshould at 3:38 AM on March 7, 2021 [1 favorite]
I'd try to separate work from living spaces. Perhaps try hanging light gauzy curtains to separate that workstation from everything else since you're probably not able to make massive alterations. I've hung them across a room via a heavy duty wire/cable suspended between two eye-hooks placed at the very top of the wall.
Thrift stores are your friend because you can try thing inexpensively and re-donate if you don't like the vibe. Otherwise, select a store that allows easy returns.
posted by mightshould at 3:38 AM on March 7, 2021 [1 favorite]
My big mirror is an old sliding shower door panel. Another thing to use is a panel from old mirrored closet sliding doors. Check your local Habitat for Humanity store or FB Marketplace or Craig's list. I am planning to make roll-out ladder-like shelving to go behind it.
My trick for small spaces is to have no/little tall furniture. Anything furniture taller that desk height should be as shallow as possible (under 12") and painted white or the same color as the wall. If you can afford it, a smaller bed would give you more space.
Check out these hideaway office ideas.
I wonder if you could replace one of your desks with something like this mirror on wheels & attach a foldout work surface & some wee shelves.
Reddit DesignMyRoom is hit or miss but can be a source for great advice esp. for small spaces. Also Never Too Small YT is an inspo goldmine IMO.
Good luck to you!
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 5:02 AM on March 7, 2021
My trick for small spaces is to have no/little tall furniture. Anything furniture taller that desk height should be as shallow as possible (under 12") and painted white or the same color as the wall. If you can afford it, a smaller bed would give you more space.
Check out these hideaway office ideas.
I wonder if you could replace one of your desks with something like this mirror on wheels & attach a foldout work surface & some wee shelves.
Reddit DesignMyRoom is hit or miss but can be a source for great advice esp. for small spaces. Also Never Too Small YT is an inspo goldmine IMO.
Good luck to you!
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 5:02 AM on March 7, 2021
Declutter.
Pare down to absolute essentials.
Wash and clean everything, including your windows inside and out.
Solid colors and minimal clutter can help make a smaller place look larger.
Bring in a houseplant in a pretty ceramic pot that matches your bedding.
Keep most of your things in drawers and use a couple bins or containers in a solid matching color to hold most-used items on desk surface. If you want gold, Walmart, Target, and Amazon all sell gold desk accessories.
Ikea, Target, and Walmart also have full length mirrors. Ikea has a framed full-length mirrors in $50 or less range.
If you need new bedding I am a fan of quilt sets rather than comforters because comforters can look a little bit messy to my eye. I live in a warm climate and don't need a lot of insulation to keep warm so YMMV.
posted by loveandhappiness at 6:11 AM on March 7, 2021 [2 favorites]
Pare down to absolute essentials.
Wash and clean everything, including your windows inside and out.
Solid colors and minimal clutter can help make a smaller place look larger.
Bring in a houseplant in a pretty ceramic pot that matches your bedding.
Keep most of your things in drawers and use a couple bins or containers in a solid matching color to hold most-used items on desk surface. If you want gold, Walmart, Target, and Amazon all sell gold desk accessories.
Ikea, Target, and Walmart also have full length mirrors. Ikea has a framed full-length mirrors in $50 or less range.
If you need new bedding I am a fan of quilt sets rather than comforters because comforters can look a little bit messy to my eye. I live in a warm climate and don't need a lot of insulation to keep warm so YMMV.
posted by loveandhappiness at 6:11 AM on March 7, 2021 [2 favorites]
To save on space, I would add that you shouldn't have two desks in a small bedroom unless one of them is also being used as a bedside table. Put all your makeup in a makeup carrier in the bathroom. Carry it to your dresser or regular desk that has a mirror over it. Put carrier back in bathroom. Now you have an extra space where the extra desk was. Leave it empty. Everything needs a double function in a small space. You don't need two desks in one room. BTW many people who live in tiny apartments use two small short dressers as bedside tables so they don't need a full dresser taking up space.
posted by Elsie at 7:38 AM on March 7, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Elsie at 7:38 AM on March 7, 2021 [2 favorites]
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posted by fingersandtoes at 5:27 PM on March 6, 2021