Condo living has a lot of advantages but can be a challenge to decorate. Because of their limited space, pre-planning any design and decorating is important. Your friends, family or even your real estate agent often may be able to offer ideas or suggest a designer who can help. Here are some suggestions to consider to help you to get started.
With any stylish condo, you will want to ensure your decor is stylish, too. Because trends change so quickly, one key strategy is to try and make choices that will follow contemporary themes but also be timeless. Finding the right furniture, furnishing and accents to accomplish this is a challenge to every condo owner. You should also keep the resale value in mind of any upgrades or larger choices you make in updating your space. Ask yourself if the same unit would appeal to a Brampton real estate agent as it would to an IT executive in Markham. Odds are that you will someday wish to sell the unit and will be showing it to every walk of life. As such, when the time comes, you will want it to appeal to as wide an array of tastes and styles as possible.
The storage space available to most condo owners is often limited. This makes for a constant effort by the owner to live clutter-free. Most find that they have to adopt an almost Zen-like philosophy to all of their possessions, especially their nick-nack's and mementos. Owners from Etobicoke to Newmarket homes alike, know that they must make purging their unused stuff a part of their daily life. Your life in a smaller unit will be much easier with less stuff cluttering it. Make sure to give away, recycle or throw-out anything that you don't need or no longer use.
Try to streamline your storage spaces as much as possible. Closet organizers, wallsheves and bookshelves can go a long way. Trays and drawers that can be fitted under the bed can be a huge asset. Whether you live in a North York condo, Toronto Waterfront condo, or Chicago loft, you will need to be creative in using every possible square foot of space that you can. Thin plastic storage boxes can go a long way in storing and preserving your seasonal clothing and the items you use less often, such as gift wrap and old tax records.
Next, be sure to pick a theme for your decor and stick with it. By introducing lots of colour schemes, owners can often overpower smaller spaces or make them feel even smaller. One suggestion that many decorators who specialize in Toronto condos often share is to repeat colours from one room to the next, such as having your bathroom and bedroom painted the same colour. It gives the impression that the rooms are connected, perhaps that the washroom is en suite when it's not. Use lighter tones of the colour in the halls, living-room and kitchen. Use dark stains on your wood floors and cupboards to add depth and dramatic accents. Don't make the common mistake of making your favourite colour a focus of your choices. Experiment with accents and variations on tones.
One key feature you should always keep in mind is the quality of your floors. Keeping hardwood or carpeting looking new and fresh is important not only to your enjoyment of the unit but also it's resale value. Whether you've just bought some brand new Oakville Ontario real etstae or have been living in a brick and beam loft for years, you should make a constant effort to sweep and spot-clean your floors. With hardwood floors, make it a regular routine to clean and wax them. Sanding and refinishing the floors every so often, especially before listing the unit, is a great investment.
Condos can be a bit of a challenge to decorate and up-keep but the value of their convenience, lifestyle and designs can be great. With some effort and inquisitiveness, you can find all of the pieces you need to put together a stylish home for you and yours to enjoy.
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