Many professionals choose apartment living over owning a home, because of the flexibility that renting an apartment provides is a perfect solution for professionals in dynamic careers.

Access to transit services is usually close by or you can find properties right in the heart of down town. Besides, who needs the added stress of property taxes, building maintenance, and bill after bill after bill when renting is so simple? It is no wonder that nearly forty five percent of homes in the United States are rented. Apartment living is clearly a great choice, but how do you turn those eggshell white walls into a comfortable home to match your professional lifestyle?

It is not as hard as you might think, but before you begin redesigning your apartment be sure to read your lease or rental agreement to find out what you can and can not do. You need to find out if you can drill into the wall and if you can paint. By knowing your restrictions before you start will help you in determining what you can be able to do.

Begin by adding color! The walls are the back ground of your home and set the tone for each room. White walls in apartments can make an apartment seem cold and institutional. Make yourself feel truly at home by dressing up the walls a little. If you paint, then you will want to select a light or neutral color. However, many lease or rental agreements require that you return the walls to their original color when you move out.

Lighter colors are much easier to paint over than dark, bold colors and they can make small rooms look larger. If you do not want to paint, then you can still dress up your walls with wall hangings, fabric, removable wallpaper boarders, stickers, stencils or artwork. What ever you decide on you will want to create a theme that expresses your own individual style.

A sample of a student apartment is mix and match furniture, but professionals will often hang onto these not so treasured heirlooms far longer than necessary. Pull the room together by getting rid of those worn out hand me downs and invest in furniture that compliments your style and taste. Accent your room with decorations and colors that create unity.

Next, you need to focus on functionality your home. Apartment living is all about functionality, so create a useful space that is also stylish by dressing up your storage space. Unique wall shelves make a statement and make use of vertical space. Doors on cabinets and shelves create a clean and organized look by keeping other wise cluttered looking items out of sight.

Remember that less is more and clutter shrinks any room. When decorating a small space, chose a few key pieces and keep the knick knacks to a minimum. Create the illusion of more space by choosing furniture and accessories that have clean light lines and let light pass through the room. Use doors and dividers that are made from glass or mirrors. Find furniture that has exposed legs and light materials. Hanging lights, shelves, and plants can increase vertical space and keep the floor from feeling heavy.