Condo Living TV - Article #10

For some, the lure of condo ownership is the idea of living in a smaller, more manageable space. However, many of those people are surprised how small that space can seem when it comes time to decorate it. Because a condo is usually a person’s first chance at putting their own personal stamp on their home, it can be a daunting challenge.

Many people will be tempted to mimic the show suites that inspired their condo purchase in the first place. While that’s feasible for some, others will likely balk at spending that kind of money. As beautiful as some of these are, it’s important not to be too swayed by what you see at first.

Ryan Albert admits that when he first stepped into the show suite for his condo, he felt awed.

“I walked in and I thought, ‘Wow! This is exactly how I want our place to look,” says Albert. “But when we actually started looking at colors and for pieces, we realized that as great as that suite was, it really didn’t fit us and we ended up buying items that made our condo feel like our home and not a show suite.”

Carrie Gould of Riddell Kurczaba Interior Design has tips for those who need help deciding just how to fashion their homes to reflect their tastes, their styles, themselves. For those who can’t quite decide on what to do in their homes, Gould says that when it comes to decorating a new place, you have to be mindful of the four most important things.

Budget
“Everybody has something that they fall in love with right off the bat, so consider that in your budget, but then be sensitive to the other items that you purchase afterwards,” says Gould.

If you are going to splurge on one fantastic piece, like a really great couch for instance, then you may want to keep the bedroom a little more simple. Being on a budget doesn’t mean having to sacrifice style or substance; you just have to be creative with items that you already have in order to compensate for that one key piece.
Functionality
Gould advises, “Decorate how you actually use the space.”

Evaluate your space and ask yourself, “Do the items I have lying around fulfill my needs?” The answer, oftentimes, is no. If you are less than a frequent coffee drinker, maybe it would be best to leave the space-consuming cappuccino maker tucked away until a necessary occasion arises.
Scale
“When you’re decorating a small place or small rooms, you have to use smaller pieces to accentuate the space,” explains Gould.

Many interior designers will tell you that bigger pieces will make small rooms appear that much smaller. The key is to measure the room carefully. Measuring the individual spaces in your condo gives you a wealth of accurate information to help you select your pieces for each room. This allows you to shop and select items confidently, knowing that they will fit perfectly into place.
Color
Gould encourages people to “use color creatively. Go bold. It really defines who you are in a space.”

Color is the ultimate tool that you can utilize to establish mood and feeling in your new place. Blues, greens and yellows convey peace and tranquility while rusts, reds and rich browns exude the feeling of warmth in a room. So, don’t be afraid to experiment. After all, if you don’t like the color or grow tired of it, its very easy to change!

Another way to use color creatively is to different colors to break up the different sections of your condo. Using one color for the dining area and another for the great room helps distinguish between the two and helps establish separate spaces, despite having just one room.

Just remember that when decorating your new place, it’s important to stay true to yourself and your lifestyle. You aren’t going to change your habits or your routine, so choose items that cater to them. Don’t be intimidated into purchasing things that you aren’t sure about. Stick with the things that make you happy and you will be.

Meeting the Interior Design Challenge