Bleak 2 Chick ~Coffee Table Chic #design #decor #apartment #coffeetable #digitaledu #ottoman

Want a chic coffee table that will put a new spin on your space for a reasonable price? Investing in pieces that can serve more one purpose is a must. Using an ottoman as a coffee table does double duty. It gives the option for extra seating when guests come by and is pretty kid friendly with less sharp edges to worry about.

The ottoman promises ample storage for stowing away things like extra throws, remote controls, magazines, you name it! It isn’t limited to the living room although its a welcome change, it can also be used in the bedroom at the foot of your bed or in a hallway or entrance way.

The common theme in this blog is focusing on storage and key pieces that can be used for more than one purpose. It helps to keep things organized and easier to find. Ottomans with a lid gives you that inside storage, even better if it has a rack underneath (see below). If you are having a hard time finding a color that matches your decor you can get your padded leather or fabric custom dyed for a truly unique statement piece.

So how do we decorate the different sections of the ottoman? You can place a stack of books on it, a small plant or vase of flowers, a cute basket or bowl and put decorative items of your choice in it. A tray with a collection of things you like. This is a great opportunity to put some color into the room.

Now that we have that out of the way, have you measured for space? One thing you don’t want is an ottoman that takes over the room or becomes a heavy bulky piece and makes the room look smaller. Be sure to get out the note pad or cell phone and measuring tape before you go on the hunt for a new ottoman. measuring the height of the sofa arm is key in this process. Also measure the length (between the arms) of your sofa and  the height of the seat so you purchase the right width and height of your ottoman as well. You don’t want to live with the mistake of not going into the store prepared.

Instant Coffee Table Chic

Coffee Table Chic and there’s storage? Bonus!

Bleak to Chick ~ Have a Seat! #design #decor #apartment #seating

When your guests enter your home your seating area should welcome them further into your space. It should be a reflection of you and create a warm meeting space or conversation area for them to sit, talk, listen to music, watch something interesting or maybe even have a drink.

Before Bleak – Seating

The first step is choosing 3 or 4 pillows to place on the couch as a permanent fixture that compliments the space and ties in with other visible rooms. They can be changed according to season as well if you wish but not necessary. Textured pillows create a good look in the space without sacrificing style. Natural whites, beige’s and grays are great compliments to any decor and you don’t have to change it as often.  You can also add a throw to the couch or chairs to tie everything together. Don’t forget our beloved Pouf we spoke about a few posts back as well for additional seating!

After Chic – Seating

Another great feature to add to your seating area is some art or photography to your wall! It’s a great conversation piece and says a lot about you. A full-blown gallery isn’t necessary. One statement piece can do wonders for a room and have a huge impact on the space.

Before Bleak – Couch Seating

After Chic – Couch with added Pillows, Art and a Fab Rug!

 How about some carpet? When you are living in an apartment you are stuck with the floors they give you. Rugs are an easy way to cover up those floors you aren’t fond of and if you do love them, will add some pizzazz to the room. They also lower your noise level in those apartments with wooden floors. The great part is that you can roll it up and take it with you when you leave. See how everything ties together? Simple fixes that take your living room seating area from Bleak to Chic!

Bleak to Chic ~ Bottoms Up! #winerack #decor #design #Kitchen #apartment

Who likes the occasional glass of wine or cocktail? Having creative storage ideas for your bottles allows your to add style to your decor and help you organize your space whether its big or small. This also encourages your to not go out and spend more money on a relaxing drink. While fancy wine storage helps you to organize and save space, it also gives your decor its own personalized touch. This adds interest to your room and rises your apartment appeal.

If you are someone who likes to have guests over, having an attractive wine rack (key point: the one I have has a removable serving tray on top – BONUS!) is a great display of your drinks of choice and gives your guests options to choose from.

Here are some key tips and information about storing your wine bottles:

• Store in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight
• Low Humidity and light can result in oxidation which can change the flavor of your wine
• Store in an area between 10-13 degrees Celsius to keep in ideal condition
• Keep the cork moist by storing wine bottles lying down. This avoids the cork from shrinking too much which allows oxygen to enter the bottle and oxidize the wine. This alters the flavor and we can’t have that!

Before Wine Rack Bleak

Ensuring proper home organization and storage design reaps you some wonderful rewards.

Adding some interesting glasses, a carafe, an apron related to your wine rack and lets not forget some beautiful wine glasses all create an interesting and decorative showcase of furniture to your kitchen decor. Also some home bar essentials like a cocktail shaker and a wicker basket for storage of your other bottles of alcohol finish off the design of the rack beautifully and keeps everything visual. Choosing beautiful bottles is another key to keep it looking nice! Adding charming accents, keeps your wine rack looking modern. Please see an example of this below with my wine After Chic wine rack design:

After Wine Rack Chic

Bleak to Chic ~ Pouf Mania!! #design #decor #apartment

Ok…. Lets talk Space… Space, Space, Space! It seems to be a recurring theme or concern when it comes to apartment style living. How do we find a multi-functional item that ties in with our decor and also can be used for a variety of different things.  A Pouf is one of those things that you don’t really need as part of your decor, and you’re not really sure what to use it for. To sit on? To put your feet up? As a decorative piece? The answer to that is all of the above.To say that it is a versatile accessory is an understatement.  You can’t really go wrong with a Pouf because it can be used to so many things. It adds a nice little sprinkle of spice to any room and any decor. Although it isn’t necessary, it is a nice little additive to any room whether its your living room or your bedroom.

A few Poufs around the house can serve as extra seating, an extra table, or even in a nursery to prop up your feet during those long late nights with the little one. The perk as well is that it can easily be stowed away in a corner when not in use and will still be a stylish decor piece. As I type I am so happy that I bought one for my apartment!

Here are a few different ways you can use a pouf to accessorize and spruce up your space:

1. Adding a pop of color

2. For texture

3. Add cool patterns

4. To tie in various colors

My Pouf Bleak!

My Pouf with some added Chic!

And for the creative readers you can create your own Pouf as well! Watch this video:

CHEVRON – DIY Pouf Ottoman BY youtuber: JAKOBMOOR

Bleak to Chic ~ Come On In! #design #decor #apartment #entryway

Bleak to Chic will be designing and organizing your entry way.The entryway is one of the most vital parts of your living quarters. It speaks to you as an individual and should be an area that is very inviting and warm. Your layout and size comes into play when designing your space. Lets talk clutter and storage for a moment. With all the shoes, bags, scarves, hats, umbrellas etc… storage and organization is key to ensure that your space remains functional. Your entryway should be free of clutter and make it easy for your guests to enter.

Entryway Bleak

One of the first things that should be placed at your entry way is a stylish runner rug that compliments the color scheme of the rest of your home.  The runner rug invites your guests through your entry way and also brightens up the space. Speaking of brightening up the space, make sure that it is a well-lit area as well. Day or night you want everything in the space to be visible and inviting for your guests not to mention yourself. One thing is for certain, you want your guests to have a smooth transition into your home. Bleak to Chic has some ideas to improve your apartment sized entry way…

Follow us and take a look:

Look at how a rug instantly adds flair!

You can also add storage to this area with things like:

* Woven baskets

* Umbrella holder

* A sleek coat rack

*Vase with flowers of your choice

Simple Shoe Rack pulls it all together and eliminates clutter!

Make use of wall space and add:

* A small piece of art

* Key holder

* Mail holder

* A Mirror

* A Clock

*A Chalkboard Wall

*Change the wall color

The final touch? Make it smell good. Use some candles or plug-ins and keep your space warm and inviting. Now lets invite those guests over and let the entertaining begin!

Bleak to Chic ~ Apartment Style Dining

Want to entertain more often? Have a tight space but want to eat in style? Need a chic decor idea that is a good space saver?? How about table that folds up when it’s not being used? How cool is that?

A statement piece when not in use, that is big enough to accommodate for quaint dining, and mindful of storage concerns when you need to make room, is a perfect compliment to your humble abode! You can fold it up to seat fewer when your are dining solo, and then unfold the table, and add chairs to accommodate for more people when you’re having company. Additional seating is always a plus in any home and both looks are very chic. The effectiveness of its flexibility, and the added modern flair that this furniture piece offers is undeniable. To add some stylish decor to this functional table, here are some decor ideas to pull this look together quite nicely folded or not:

• some cute and functional chairs
• a patterned accent rug
• tabletop decorative piece
• a floral arrangement
• cool place mats
• decorative candles
• a small vase
• a stylish serving tray w serving accessories on top
• take it a step further with a mirror to give the illusion of a bigger room
• a piece of wall art that will compliment your color scheme.

Space saver Before but still Chic!

Unfolded After Chic!