| Moving into your first apartment is an exciting | | | | your new, sophisticated image, there is nothing |
| experience. If you are like most college students | | | | wrong with incorporating some of the pieces that |
| or new graduates, money is going to be tight, and | | | | served you so well during your college years. |
| yet you want your place to look nice and you | | | | Convertible items as futons that serve as beds |
| need it to be functional. You don't have to spend | | | | and dining tables that are used for desks can be |
| a lot on things like Bauhaus furniture or Modloft | | | | attractive as well as functional while taking up less |
| furniture to have a young, modern looking home | | | | space. Most everyone has bookshelves that can |
| if you use some common sense and ingenuity. | | | | be painted fresh and modern colors and storage |
| The first strategy for saving money when setting | | | | containers that fit underneath the bed are |
| up your first grown-up apartment is to get a | | | | fabulous for keeping tons of clutter out of sight. |
| roommate or two. You need to start by taking | | | | Once you figure out what you would like to |
| inventory of everyone's belongings to see what | | | | reuse, then you can begin shopping for the rest |
| each person can contribute to the apartment. If | | | | of the essentials. Luckily, there are many |
| each of you has their own bed, and one can bring | | | | affordable options out there and even some of |
| a kitchen table, another roommate has the T.V. | | | | them are free. One of the best and most |
| and the last roommate will share their sofa, then | | | | convenient places to shop for your domestic |
| you're off to a great start. For the remainder of | | | | desires is right in your parent's home. You never |
| the seating and tables, it will save many | | | | know what treasures can be discovered in the |
| headaches down the road if everyone buys | | | | basement or garage and your mom will be more |
| separate pieces instead of sharing the cost of | | | | than happy to get rid of the excess clutter. |
| one because eventually someone will move out | | | | Don't forget to check out the classified section of |
| and then it's difficult to decide who gets to keep | | | | your local newspaper or online for sites that might |
| what. If you plan of entertaining often and you | | | | have free items listed that you could possibly use. |
| care how attractive the place looks to visitors, | | | | In addition, take a walk in your neighborhood |
| then {you might want to plan your purchases | | | | because sometimes people leave perfectly usable |
| around certain colors that coordinate and pieces | | | | furniture sitting on the curbside when they move. |
| that are acceptable to everyone that will be | | | | Don't bring in anything that is too damaged unless |
| located in the common areas such as the kitchen | | | | you know how to fix or reupholster it and check |
| and living room. | | | | carefully for any critters that may have taken up |
| Although it's more of a challenge financially, there | | | | residency inside couches. Finally, shop at garage |
| is nothing quite like living all alone in your very own | | | | sales, thrift stores and resale shops where you'll |
| place. While you want your apartment to reflect | | | | be able to negotiate what you're willing to pay. |