Does your apartment look dull and drab now that spring is here? A few simple changes and additions can liven up your space after a long New Jersey winter. Why not try one or more of these decorating tips this spring?

Upgrade Your Bedroom

Bedrooms are often low on the decorating priority list for many renters and homeowners. After all, few people see the rooms, so why spend time and money improving them? Although your bedroom will function perfectly fine with mismatched furniture and bare walls, it may look out of place if it doesn’t mesh with the other spaces in your apartment.

Start with a color scheme you find soothing and restful. Countless studies have identified blue as the ideal bedroom color. If blue isn’t your favorite color, plenty of other shades can promote relaxation and encourage uninterrupted sleep. In a British study conducted by Travelodge, yellow, green, silver and orange bedrooms also helped induce sleep.

You may not be able to paint your walls as a renter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate color with bedding, curtains, lamps and artwork. While it’s important to select a dominant color for your room, keep in mind that every item you add to the room doesn’t have to be the same shade. Complementary shades will tie your theme together without being too overwhelming. Add a few touches of contrasting color to create visual interest.

Feature walls aren’t just for living rooms, but also offer an excellent way to personalize your bedroom. Create one by turning a wall into a gallery space for your paintings or add removable, self-stick wallpaper to one wall. (Test the wallpaper on a small spot first to make sure that it doesn’t damage the wall.)

Add New Bedroom Furniture

As the largest object in the room, your bed offers a natural focal point. Dress it up in a luxurious comforter or bedspread and high-count linens to make it pop. Have you been meaning to replace your bed for a while? An upholstered headboard provides a comfortable resting place while you’re reading in bed and can add a little color to your room.

When shopping for beds, look for styles that reflect your personality and don’t overwhelm the room. If your mattress is more than 10 years old, you may want to consider replacing it too, particularly if you’ve been waking up with back pain or other aches.

Although furniture stores display matching sets of furniture, you don’t have to buy every item in the set when outfitting your new apartment. Feel free to mix and match or incorporate a few items you’ve brought from your old place, inherited or found at an antique shop.

Plants, colorful outdoor rugs and pillows, and stylish all-weather furniture enhance the comfort of your balcony and help it stand out. Although it’s tempting to overload your balcony with furniture, stick to a few key pieces, such as matching lounge chairs or a small table and a few chairs.

Bring the Outdoors In

Flowering plants are an unmistakable sign of spring, whether they grow indoors or outdoors. Potted tulips or daffodils provide an instant pop of spring color in any room. After the flowers die, plant the bulbs in outdoor pots or planters. For year-round color, buy African violets, begonias or peace lilies at a Bridgewater home improvement store or garden center. The plants are easy to grow and thrive indoors.

If you don't have a green thumb or suffer from allergies, silk flowers and plants offer an excellent alternative. Today’s silk flowers and plants look more realistic than ever, last forever and won’t cause sneezing fits. Caring for them is as easy as an occasional dusting.

Upgrade Your Décor and Accessories

Getting your home ready for spring can be as simple as changing fabrics and textiles in your home. Add new throw pillows in bold colors, or swap your flannel comforter for a bedspread or duvet in a light, airy fabric. Heavier curtains can help you conserve heat during the winter but they can look out of place once warmer weather arrives. Replace them with lighter weight versions that draw your attention to the changing landscape outside your windows.

Are you getting tired of looking at the same old prints and paintings on your walls? Swap them for scenic seasonal landscapes or illustrations of your favorite flowers, or choose a few inventive modern pieces of art to add interest to your home.

Candles give your apartment a pleasing smell yet don’t produce an overwhelming, artificial aroma like air fresheners. If you’ve been burning eucalyptus, balsam, candy cane and other winter scents, now’s the time to invest in a few spring scents. Try lilac, jasmine, cherry blossom, lemon and other seasonal aromas instead.

Make Your Balcony Inviting

When you moved into your apartment you may have had big plans for your balcony. Unfortunately, when life gets busy, it’s easy to forget about the space right outside your living room. During the spring, summer and fall, your balcony expands your living space and offers the perfect place to gather with friends or enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine after a long day. In fact, your balcony can function as another room during the warmer months of the year.

Your balcony may look just like your neighbor’s in its natural state, but a few small changes can make the space totally your own. Fill large pots with your favorite flowers or train clinging vines to climb portable trellises that also act as privacy screens. When you choose plants for your pots, consider when they’ll be in bloom. If you select varieties that bloom at different times, one type or another will always be flowering.

Turn Your Bathroom into a Retreat

Bathroom makeovers are usually quick and inexpensive due to the relatively small space of the room. This spring, why not take your inspiration from your favorite vacation spot? Add a blue-striped shower curtain, sand-colored bath mat, colorful blue towels, and a few seashells or piece of driftwood if you enjoy vacationing at the beach.

Is your favorite getaway spot a mountain cabin? A few rustic touches can completely transform your bathroom. Store towels on a shelving unit made of distressed wood or place them in a wire basket. An old wooden bucket (or reproduction) makes the perfect trash receptacle or can serve as storage for extra rolls of toilet paper. Changes don’t have to be expensive. Adding bath products or wildflowers to Mason jars doesn’t cost much but adds to your bathroom’s country flair.

It’s much easier to decorate for spring when your apartment is bright, airy and spacious. If your current apartment isn’t any of those things, it’s time to pay a visit to Fairway 28, a Country Classics Rental Community. The one- and two-bedroom apartments feature large windows and a sliding door that leads to your private balcony. The spacious open floor plan includes a generously sized living area and chef’s kitchen with Silestone countertops and stainless steel GE appliances. Contact us for current availability information. 

Sources:

Today: The 16 Prettiest and Most Colorful Indoor Flowering Plants

https://www.today.com/home/16-prettiest-most-colorful-indoor-flowering-plants-t75276

BHG: Inspired Spring Décor

https://www.bhg.com/decorating/seasonal/spring/spring-decorating-ideas/