Decorating...One Room Apartment

There are all types of difficult rooms. Some are too large, others too small. Often rooms have architectural defects such as alcoves, corners, or ceilings that are too high or low. Halls and staircases are often difficult to decorate, and careful attention to detail is needed if they are to succeed and be an integrated part of the home's decor.



The one room apartment poses its own special problems, whether it small or large. Planning, clever decorating, use of new materials and fabrics all contribute much in the difficult room, which help to disguise its faults. And surprisingly, the ugly duckling room often turns into a swan through use of ingenious ideas.

The one room apartment may seem difficult to furnish and decorate, at first. But with a great deal of thought and ingenuity its obvious problems can be solved, even when space is at a minimum.

Work out furniture needs and arrangements first, before attempting to furnish. Pay strict attention to storage, consider all those things that make the wheels go round in daily life. You must be lucky enough to have ample closet space. If you do not, plan for wall hung units with storage cabinets, and which also hold books and bric-a-brac. Drawers under the bed and a couple of deep chest also provide plenty of storage. A folding bed, one that pulls out of the wall or sofa couch are obvious answers to sleeping and living in one room.

If the one room apartment is small, it is much better to choose two or three large pieces of furniture and leave it at that, rather than clutter the room with too many scaled down pieces. Selection of fabrics and color schemes are of prime importance. Different patterns will only make the room seem smaller, and even messy. Make sure all textures, patterns and colors blend. This also applies to the overall color scheme: it should be one or two colors that are carefully balanced and blended.

The once unused room at the top of the house can easily be turned into a den, family room or unique bedroom. It need not be the place to store junk, suitcases and trunks. With careful planning and clever decorating it can become an integrated part of the house, a room to entertain friends, pursue hobbies or accommodate guest.

Time was when an unfinished attic was used for storage space, or perhaps a playroom for the young ones. Perhaps your attic is not large enough for traditional furniture, and also requires decorative touches to give the illusion of spaciousness. Try placing a simple narrow bed against the wall and frame with a valance and side draperies to create the feeling of a sleeping alcove. Choose light, pastel shades for walls, add a spark of color with imaginative accessories.

If you are planning a room for children, pegboard is a marvelous catch all for all the important paraphernalia that adds clutter to the room: hanging shelves provides extra space for books and games. An old chest can be transformed into a window bench with just a new coat of paint and a fabric covered seat. With a little imagination and a minimum of expense, an unattractive attic room can come to life and be a place to live in, or house guest.

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