Decorating your first apartment can be overwhelming, so I've gathered up some inspiration photos and tips for any new apartment or condo owner looking to transform their blank canvas!
1. Paint if you can: If your complex allows you to paint, by all means do! Color enhances your mood and is a great pick-me-up from the depressing builder's white they give you. A color on your walls also allows artwork and wall decor to really POP! Your space will instantly feel cozier!
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This dark gray paint provides the perfect backdrop for white ceramic accessories and a colorful piece of art!
2. Oversized Mirrors & Artwork: Large-scale wall decor makes a bigger statement than lots of little pictures and prints. Think of larger items and you'll need less of them!
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This apartment bedroom shows how simply adding 1 oversized mirror and 1 large frame are all that's necessary to complete the look.
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One large, mirror is all that's needed in this bedroom to make a unique design statement.
3. Group frames together If you have a collection of photographs or prints you'd like to display, you can make more of an impact by grouping them together. Hang prints together tightly with minimal spacing and go for oversized matting and identical frames for a rich, gallery look.
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Different size compositions still look unified with thin, black frames
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All white mats and frames give a super chic look
4. Skip the matching bed & bath sets. Instead of the "bed in a bag" and coordinating bathroom sets, opt for simple, solid sheets and towels, then pick the accent color of your choice! 

In the bedroom, keep your bedding neutral, and bring in a color scheme through pillows, drapes, lamps and accessories.
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Loving this bedroom's color scheme of black & white with accents of blue. So chic!
In the bathroom, look for crisp white or gray towels and rugs with a simple touch of color. And if you can, avoid the matching counter accessories, instead opt for clear glass jars to hold cotton balls, q-tips, etc. and then find ceramic pieces in your accent color for water cups and toothbrush holders.
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Now this is a grown-up bathroom. White towels with a darker shade of blue tie in the wall color without overdoing it.
5. Tie it all together: Whether it's your inspiration or the final touch, you'll need some pieces to unify your space. This could be an area rug, a great piece of art, a colorful print for pillows, or a grouping of accessories. Consider all these items in addition to your wall color and upholstery to have a well-balanced room :)
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The colorful canvas and ceramic vases bring this cheery living room's color scheme to life.
With these tips in hand, you should be well on your way to making your first apartment a home of your own!


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When most people think of wallpaper, images of old and dated florals from grandma's house may come to mind, but TGI would like to take this opportunity to defend wallpaper and introduce you to the new papers and styles of 2010! On a recent visit to the Duralee Showroom, we went through wings and wings of the latest papers from Thibaut Wallpapers and had to share with you some of our findings!

Full of color and texture, today's updated papers could easily serve as the inspiration for an entire room. We saw metallic and floral prints with large-scale patterns and subtle color palettes creating a more refined and sophisticated feel. These papers are fashionable and decorative without being over the top. We noticed famous designers like Candice Olson and Kelly Wearstler designing wallpaper lines in similar aesthetics as well. There now seems to be an understanding in the industry that wallpaper is coming back in a big, yet understated way.

Below are some of our favorite styles (click to enlarge):
These are the latest grasscloth papers that provide a warm texture in a modern way. In my opinion, textured wallcoverings like these bring so much more to a room than paint can offer.
When it comes to deciding which rooms to paper, I always recommend dressing up the showcase rooms in your home: the powder room and dining room. You can always get away with doing something a little different in these rooms, so select papers that amp up the style factor and have some fun!

Some other creative ways I love to see wallpaper are as a feature wall in a bedroom behind the bed or even on the ceiling! The wallpaper then becomes the focal point of the room and really makes a statement!

Here are some of the wallpaper samples we picked up from our latest showroom visit. My hands-down favorite is the champagne and oyster floral on the bottom right:
My hope is that this post helped to open some minds to the new possibilities in wallcoverings!

Enjoy the holiday weekend everyone :) TGIF!
photos courtesy of Thibaut Wallpaper and Fabrics

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