A Queer Eye on decor tips for apartments
One of reality TV’S ‘Fab Five’ design experts, Carson Kressley, shares advice for the apartment dwellers among us.
First-home buyers, downsizers and even families are moving towards apartment living. While buying is one thing, decorating these smaller spaces is vital to how they function.
Who better to ask about making the most of a small space than New York apartment-dweller – who’s soon returning to our screens – Carson Kressley?
The original Queer Eye favourite has paired up with his former on-screen buddy Thom Filicia for Bravo’s new series Get a Room with Carson &
Thom, where their skills are put to use revamping drab spaces.
Kressley, a fashionista turned interiors aficionado, lives in a Manhattan apartment with furnishings he once described as ‘‘a high-low decorating mix’’. The quote sums up his first apartment decor tip for Kiwis.
‘‘Invest in good-quality basics. For decorative pillows, throws, accessories – keep those on the less-expensive side so you can change them up more often,’’ he said.
Pricier ‘‘anchor’’ pieces are the workhorses of the room and they should be the best you can afford.
‘‘If you’re buying anything new in your apartment, invest in pieces you want to take with you, especially if it’s a rental,’’ he said. ‘‘In the bedroom it’s your bed, the living room your sofa, your dining room, your dining table,’’ he said. ‘‘As long as you have that superstar you can surround it with a supporting cast.’’
Keep the decor cohesive by using a consistent wall covering, colour and texture throughout.
‘‘Wrap the base entirely in one colour, texture or wall covering,’’ he said. This allows the walls to recede and allow a small space to not appear ‘‘choppy’’.
Brighten things and break away from neutrals using paint and wallpaper.
‘‘Neutral is boring. Paint is so inexpensive and so easy to apply and change if you muck it up,’’ he said. ‘‘Temporary wallpaper is great for people who live in apartments – peel and stick and it looks like the real thing….use it on a wall, a closet, in your kitchen area, just somewhere fun, and unexpected, to give you a lot of design impact.’’
Avoid creating ‘‘rooms’’ in a small space, but define living areas with rugs.
‘‘You might live in a studio where there is a sofa bed; anchor that area with a rug, that gives you visual clues as to how the space should be used. It doesn’t clog up the space visually, like placing a bookcase in the room to act as a room divider,’’ he said.
And choose furniture that does double duty. ‘‘Not necessarily having a dining table, but having two small round cocktail tables that you can move around and use as a low-slung dining area. Ottomans that have storage, or seating, Murphy [wall] beds are great. Think vertically and use floating book shelves for additional storage,’’ he suggested.
Kressley’s had his own issues with apartment decor, once ordering a sofa online that didn’t fit through the doorway. Avoid these issues by having a plan and a concept, he said.
Map out the physical parameters of the space and furniture within it.
‘‘Draw in [the plan] how large the sofa is, what size for the coffee table, for example. That really helps you when you go to the store on your own and stops you from buying things that aren’t going to work,’’ he said.
The concept is the creative part. ‘‘Are you looking for a Moroccan vibe, or American-western vibe, or an old Hollywood vibe? This can be created with Pinterest boards or tear sheets if you’re doing it the old-fashioned way,’’ he said. ‘‘These two things will really keep you on track.’’
Kressley’s apartment decor tips:
❚ Invest in anchor pieces and spend less on ontrend or switchable items like cushions and throws.
❚ Stick to one wall covering, colour and texture.
❚ Steer away from boring neutrals.
❚ Avoid creating ‘‘rooms’’ with furniture like bookcases. Instead define spaces using rugs which take up less space.
❚ Choose furniture with a dual purpose. Sofa beds are an apartment-dweller’s friend.
❚ Plan well before buying to avoid having furniture that’s too-big.
❚ Use Pinterest or tear sheets to bring a look together before making it a reality.
Apartment growth on the rise
The dream of the Kiwi quarter-acre section is now a distant memory. Buying a standalone home of any kind is now far beyond many people’s financial reach. This, along with people realising the benefits of living in smaller spaces, is driving more of us into apartment living, said Bindi Norwell, chief executive at REINZ.
‘‘Over the past few years apartments have become more popular as people realise the benefits of being in a more compact environment, including less maintenance and less gardening. Apartments in the CBD and fringe suburbs hold the obvious appeal of being close to work, close to the motorways and also close to entertainment options. Some areas are also in excellent school zones,’’ she said.
‘‘We’re also seeing an uplift at the luxury end of the market. Apartments are proving to be more popular with high-end buyers as they look to buy apartments that are architecturally designed, have high-end fixtures and fittings, lots of natural light and amazing views.’’
Get a Room with Carson & Thom premieres December 3 at 7.30pm on Bravo.
‘‘Neutral is boring. Paint is so inexpensive and so easy to apply and change if you muck it up.’’ Carson Kressley