My First Decal!

As you may know, I have a long-running obsession with wall decals.  They're great, especially for renters who want to liven up their walls but aren't allowed to paint.  You can stick them on walls, furniture, and even laptops to make creative, unique statements.  When you're bored with them or it's time to move, peal the decal off and your back to a blank canvas.  Such a great idea!  But after years of talking about my favorite decals, I've never actually owned one until now.

In a desperate attempt to get the look of a coat tree without taking up floor space, I went on a search for coat tree wall stickers.  I've shown a coat tree decal before.  Many come with the hooks that attach to your wall and make the decal actually functional as a coat tree.

The decal I chose is from Etsy seller Art and Decoration.  It didn't come with the hooks, but for $20 it was a great deal.  If you're looking for a decal but working on a limited budget, you should definitely check them out.  Be warned that their decals come in a lot of pieces, which is why they're able to sell them for so cheap...more pieces arranged in a smaller space means less sticky film is used which translates into lower prices for penny pinchers like us.  I had to ask them to send me a diagram so I could figure out which piece goes where, but once they did, it took me no time at all to put the decal together.

 

The original decal included cats chasing butterflies at the bottom of the coat tree.  I don't know why.  I threw them out. 

Piecing it together.

I cut the pieces apart, then used painter's tape to arrange them on the wall.  Once they were in the correct positions, I pealed away the backing, used a credit card to smooth everything out, then pealed away the transfer tape and, voila!  Once I get the hooks up, it will be even more awesome!  What do you think?

Etsy Shop of the Week: PopWall

My belated Etsy Shop of the Week goes to decal genious PopWall.  I'm all about wall decor.  As a renter, anything you can do to jazz up those boring white walls is great.  Which is one reason why I like decals.  Most decals are removable so you can slap 'em on when you move in and pull 'em off when you move out. 

The best thing about working with PopWall is that they'll help you customize your decal before you make your purchase. Send them a picture of your room and they'll photoshop the decal of your choice into the picture so you can see what it looks like. You can also pick from a variety of color options and adjust the size if you need a larger/smaller decal. If you don't see a decal that you like, convo PopWall and they'll make a custom decal for you.  Who says you can't get good help nowadays!

From Ikea to Mykea

Ever gone to someone's house only to find what apears to be an off-site Ikea display room?  It's like they went in and asked for one of everything!  Now don't get me wrong, I love Ikea (still mourning the discontinued Kramfors sectional), but like everything else, it's better in moderation.

Are you or your friends suffering from an Ikea overdose?  Don't worry, there is help.  Mykea offers decals custom-made for Ikea furniture!  In just a few short minutes, you can transform your dressers, beds, and tables into original works of art.  Mykea's website makes it simple: select which item you'd like to customize, choose your decal, and order.  Each print arrives cut into the exact dimensions for your furniture.  There are several amazing designs to choose from, but if you really want a double dose of awesome, upload your own picture or design and have it turned into a decal.

Apt528 Tip: if price is a factor, buy your furniture from Ikea's as-is section or from craigslist.  You'll find great pieces for just a fraction of the already low prices, leaving you plenty of money to buy the decal of your dreams!

Blik Your Walls

I'm all about wall decor.  As a renter, it can be hard finding a way to spice up boring neutral walls without violating your lease.  Though I paint all of our apartments and think art is great for adding pizzazz, I'm also a huge admirer of wall decals...they instantly change a room and come down in minutes when it's time to move.  Plus they come in awesome designs that are fun to play around with.

My coat tree decal in our old apartment.  Loved it, especially when we added hooks!

So as you can guess, I was super thrilled to see that Blik, one of my favorite decal companies, is working with Threadless on a line of self-adhesive wall tiles.  The tiles come in sets that can be cut to your desired size making them easy to use for non-wall projects like adding color to bookcases, spicing up a door, highlighting a nook, or even covering end tables.

"Summer Freshness" would be perfect in a kitchen or a kid's room.  So fun and colorful!  "Bird Flurry" is on the right. {via blik}

"Trees" {via threadless}

"Ten."  Cute for a kid's space. {via threadless}

"Take Shape Furs" is my favorite!  Would look glam in a dining room. {via threadless}

The tiles won't be available at Blik until July 12th, but you can pre-order them over at Threadless right now.  Have a tile design in mind that you don't see offered?  Make us proud and enter it in the Threadless Loves Patterns Challenge...the grand prize winner will have their design made into a wall tile, plus $2500.  If you win, don't forget to share some of the love with me for tipping you off to this great opportunity ;)

The Big Move

It's that time again.  Everyone's moving around to get settled before the fall.  Whether you're moving, going to move, or already moved, we have something for you.

About to Move

If you're still looking for a place, don't forget to try websites other than craigslist.  Zillow has a great rental search engine that gives you detailed information about the apartment AND the neighborhood.  If you want a nice, move-in ready condo, Avalon Communities is a great option.  Not only are they an awesome Apt528 sponsor, but their properties are awesome as well...many include pools, workout facilities, and more.

Once you've found a place, use the Rent-o-Meter to see if it's priced right for the area.  Who knows, you may be able to negotiate a few bucks off your rent!

Moving

Once you're ready to move out, head over to our Move-Out Checklist to make sure you've done everything you need to get your security deposit back.  Also check out the wood cleaner product review to get your hardwood floors as clean as they were on the day you moved in and the Fix-It Club to find answers to every problem you can imagine.  Now your landlord will never know about the hole you accidentally knocked into the wall or the scratch you made in the floors while moving furniture.  It will be our little secret!

Moved

Already moved in? There are a ton of great DIY projects you can do to make the place your own.  The one thing to consider is, how long do you plan on staying?

Short Term

Get some privacy.  Window film is perfect for covering ugly views or blocking your neighbors while still letting the sun shine in.  Rolls start around $15 and come in many different designs, colors, and textures.  The best part is, you only need soapy water and a squeegee for the install.  When it's time to move, simply peel the film off and bring it to your next apartment.  If you have a little extra money to spend on shipping, check out Emma Jeffs, a UK designer who makes the more beautiful films.
  
 
 A year

• Add a few accents.  If you don't want the work of painting the entire apartment, try painting a couple of accent walls to highlight your favorite furniture pieces or architectural details.  If your landlord hates the color, you'll only have one wall to paint back.
• Make a headboard.  You can go as simple as a headboard decal or make your own tufted piece.  Either way, it will give your bedroom instant glam.

  A year +

• PAINT!!!  Painting is the easiest way to completely change the look of your apartment.  If your landlord doesn't like your color scheme, volunteer to paint it back when you move.  You may choose to paint the larger rooms a more neutral color to save time when you move-out, or just stick with accent walls.
• Cover the counters!  If you have horrible laminate counters that you just can't stand, talk to your landlord about painting over them (you can do this one yourself) or completely replacing them...offer to pay the $75 for materials if they'll pay for labor.  It's a win-win - you get a nice kitchen and they get to raise the rent when you leave!
• Make a Moddi.  The Moddi is a DIY Murphy bed that can be made using hardware and Ikea pieces.  For $275 (not including mattress cost), you can have a guest bed that folds away to save space when not in use.  Genius.

Don't forget other fun options like changing out your cabinet knobs and pulls or switching out light fixtures.  Just remember to put them back when you move out!

**What are your move-in/out tips and tricks?

On the Surface

My search for wall decor continues. Earlier this month, I told you about WallPops, a company that makes removable wall stickers in various patterns and colors - a great solution for renters.

Now I'm introducing you to Surface Collective, a Canadian company whose unique wall tattoos are a "fusion of art and interior design." The extremely creative decals designed by Surface are sure to make all your friends jealous when they see your hip new space. (Do people still say hip?)

My favorites are the deer and the grass blades...so cute!! Aside from their good looks, these removable wall tattoos are affordable and easy to use. Stuck on how to get your decal on the wall? Go to the Surface Collective "how to apply" page for advice.

Browse the Surface Collective website for more graphics.

Stars

Bye Bye, Blackbird

Grass Blades

Oh Deer

Peacock Feathers

I need help!!!

As promised, here are a few pics of our new apartment.  So far I've only taken pics of the basement because it's the space I have the least amount of ideas for. Please, please, PLEASE help me with ideas!!!!!!

This is looking from the back of the basement (standing in the laundry room door) to the front.  My office is at the very front right corner, and the guest bedroom is the door in the middle.  As you see, we're using the front as our living room.  The upstairs is shaped the same way but it was easier to put the living room downstairs because we didn't have to worry about the floor vents or the front door being in the way.  The house is so long and narrow there's no room to put the TV on the wall and still have room to sit and watch it.  That's why we've positioned the TV coming out into the room.  We're getting the Karlstad sectional from Ikea and put it where the 2 chairs are. 

Now we need help with ideas on ways to cover up the TV from behind.  So far we're thinking of building a half wall that will block the TV and entertainment center from the back.  Any other suggestions?  I'm so lost!

This is looking from the front to the back.  The white door in the back next to my office is the laundry room.  Our plan is to paint over this horrible pinkish burgundy.  I can't seem to get used to the white walls either and will probably end up painting them a grey that will match the grey sectional and be neutral enough that the landlord won't make us paint it back!  The pink wall will be painted a bold, fun color.  Behind the TV, we're still trying to figure out to do with all that space.  We're thinking of getting a foozball table (the nice kind of course).  It's big, will take up space, and is one of our favorite games so triple score!  We'll see...

This is one more place where I'm lost! We bought 4 cheap, Walmart bookcases and added doors in an effort to make a built-in bookcase at our centipede apartment.  We were going to paint the doors, add trim, and add a dark wood-stained top but we ended up moving before all this happened.  So now we've got 4 bookcases spread throught the new place.  I think it would look better if I added 1 more bookcase to the set to fill out the wall.  Once I paint the wall grey, maybe I'll like the area a bit more.  What are your ideas for the doors?  I bought fabric and trim to cover them but hated it.  Maybe a dark stain?  Or a painted finish?  Maybe a wall decal? 

I need help!