The Old Switcheroo

One easy thing you can do to upgrade the look of a room is to change out the light switch covers. They're cheap, come in a gazillion different designs, and you can easily switch them out when your lease expires.

Here are just a few from the folks over at Etsy.

Clockwise from top left: Beatles Let it Be Switch Cover, $8 (Tatty7); Custom Light Switch Covers, $4 (Bright and Beautiful); Dear in the Headlights Cover, $8 (Tatty7); Southwest Cactus and Yucca Double Switch Cover, $10 (Crochet and Craft); Plaid Light Switch and Outlet Covers, $6.50 (Lindsay's Lights); Faux Antique Brass Textured Floral Cover, $12.50 (Gina Parnell); Owl Light Switch Cover Plate, $30 (Bright Color Art)

The Perfect Home Gym

I know this may not seem design related but the truth is, there just isn't enough apartment space for full size gym equipment and trying to work it into your decor can be a little tricky.

After giving up on going to the gym (I'm pretty lazy!) I did a little research and found a few options for UNDER $150 that work perfectly for small apartments.

Option 1: Folding Treadmill ($115-$153 - Amazon.com)

I stongly considered purchasing a folding treadmill that I could store under the bed. Unfortunately, all the folding models under $300 are manual and shorter than regular treadmills. If you're up for a challenge in your run, this could be a good choice for you.

Option 2: Mini Machines(Starting at $20)

You can find mini versions of your favorite machines (steppers, ellipticals, bikes) that take up less then 2 square feet so they're easy to store in a closet and light enough to move around as needed. Most come with arm resistance bands to help you tone your upper body as well. I tried the Aerobic Twisting Stepper from Brookstone ($100; pictured left). The twisting action really works your inner thighs. I hear the mini bikes are great for work-a-holics...you can use them while sitting at your desk!

Option 3: Hide it!

If you decide that you can't live without your full-size treadmill but you still don't like the way it looks in your living room, try using a room divider to block off your equipment. The Dignitet curtain system from Ikea is cheap and effective. The curtain wires can run straight, at angles, or make corners, allowing you to configure your curtain to fit your space. You can also try using screens or bookcases to hide your workout gear when needed. I like the way Flikr user From the Trenches uses bookcases to mask her treadmill behind the bed...clever!

Chiasso

Nowadays, everyone's looking to save money where they can, especially on non-essentials like furniture and decor. For most people, that means heading to Ikea to pick up an affordable flat-packed furniture item that takes FOREVER to put together.

Don't.

Instead check out Chiasso. Their prices are somewhere between Ikea and Crate and Barrel - not too cheap but still reasonable. You can find sofas for around $1000 and cheeky gift ideas for under $50 (see the doorstop below). If that's still a little pricey, check out the sale section. You can always find a great bargain there!

Abbey Sofa - $1198

Stiletto Doorstop - $15

Apt528 Reads: Turf

Turf

By: Anthony Garay

Amazon Price: $17.99

Apt528 Rating: 9 out of 10

Today I'm combining Apartment 528 Reads and Weekend DIY into one. Turf is the best DIY book I've read. Anthony Garay's writing is witty and funny and his directions are easy to follow.

Made for 20-somethings on a budget, it won't cost you much to make the projects in Turf. Not only are they affordable, but all of the furniture can be built with just a jigsaw and power drill.

Of course, if you're looking for something more than the basic plywood pieces shown in Turf, don't worry. With paint, fabric, and a few extra tools, you can customize to your heart's desire using Turf as your launching point.

The book is full of projects for every room including a headboard, a microwave cart, a chair for the living room, and a filing cart to keep you organized. I plan on making the nightstands for myself!

Mid-Century on the Cheap

In this economy, you have to watch every penny. Sometimes that means not spending money on furniture and decor for your apartment.

Thankfully, Better Homes & Gardens is here to help with their "Mid-Century Mod on a Budget" slideshow. There are 16 great ideas for affordable decorating, including adding simple touches like black and white photography and using peg board (about $6 at Home Depot) to create a lighting feature. Pretty good idea!

For more info, check out Better Homes & Gardens.

Apartment 528 in the Boston Globe!

Yep. That's me peeking around the bookcases in my living room! The Globe ran an article on January 29th about radiator covers and how to work then into your decor. I was thrilled to participate...who knew my 15 seconds of fame would come from something as simple as a radiator cover!?!



In my opinion, radiator covers should be treated the same as you would a piece of furniture. What style cover should you use? What color works best? Lucky for me, the metal grating on the radiator covers that came with my apartment fit perfectly into my retro-themed decor. All I had to do was add a quick coat of paint and, voila!

If you're apartment came with covers as well, paint or fabric may be the cheapest way to dress them up. If you don't have covers, consider making one yourself or working out a deal with your landlord. They might be willing to buy them for you or take a little something off the rent, if you leave the covers behind when you move.

Looking for more tips and DIY instructions? Check out the Boston Globe for ideas.

Thrifty Thursday: Night Stands

Thrifty Thursday is back. Yea!!!!

To kick things off, we're looking at nightstands. I tried to go with something modern, but as it turns out, they stopped making quality, wood nightstands back in the 60's!

Chess Night Table

Location: Chicago

Price: $15

Now you can play chess until the wee hours of the night!

Retro Blonde Nightstand
Location: Washington, D.C.
Price: $70

Add a funky retro flair to your bedroom. Super cute and practicle with large drawer and small hutch for keeping things in order.
Also See: Blonde Bedside Table

Bedside Cabinets

Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Price: $60 (set of two)

Perfect if you're looking for a little extra storage space. Each stand has a cabinet and small drawer.

Also See: Bedside Storage

Shabby Chic Night Tables

Location: Ventura, CA

Price: $75 (set of 2)

So adorable! Curtains close off the cabinet doors. You can easily change the look of your room whenever you want by changing out the fabric.

Also See: Glass-top Nightstand

Black Mid-Century Nightstands

Location: San Francisco

Price: $85 (set of 2)

If you read my blog regularly, you've probably guessed that these are my favorites! Great price for such great pieces.

Also See: Mid-Century Tables

Knobs and Pulls

Fix up your dresser or cabinet the affordable way with these cute knobs found on Etsy.

Clockwise from Top Left: Beachstone Drawer Pulls, $28 (Stepping Stones); Floral Pattern Drawer Pull, $10 (Revamp Boutique); Seeing Spots, $20 (Gigi's Designs); Pink and Brown Knobs, $51/set of 6 (Lisa Everett Design); Decorative Pulls, $3.75 (All Squared Up)

Weekend DIY: Pillow Shams

A couple weeks ago I posted pics of the pillow shams I made. I tried to come up with instructions to post, but it's hard for someone who doesn't know how to sew to tell someone how to sew! Instead, I found a few good websites to check out for DIY instructions.

DIY Pillow Shams:

• eHow.com
• HomeFurnish.com
• DigsMagazine.com

Apt528 Tip: No time (or skill) for sewing? Substitute No Sew, an iron-on adhesive that's great for creating hems. It costs about $5 for a double pack that should last for 2 or 3 shams. You can also try making the opening on the side, like a regular pillow case and use iron-on velcro to close the sham.