3 simple ways to freshen up your Chicago home

Coming up with decorating ideas for your apartment scene might seem quite challenging at first but can be a lot of fun if you’re looking at it from the right perspective. Just think of it this way: it’s a good pretext for doing a little shopping, maybe hang out with your best friend while hunting for a good deal; you’ll get to play with colors, shapes and styles, which can be pretty fun; throw in some of your favorite music, which you may listen to while redecorating, and I bet you’ll enjoy every minute of it. Next year, you’ll want to repeat. Here are a few tips to get you started.

The easiest way to decorate and improve in the same time the air quality inside your Chicago apartment is to acquire some plants. There are thousands of great places all around the city where you can find plants, flowers, and small home décor that will help you brighten up the place.

Bromeliads image via Apartment Therapy

Adams & Son Gardens is an inspiring garden shop located in the heart of Chicago, at 1057 N. California Avenue that features a very diverse assortment of plant life, including annuals, perennials, organic veggies and herbs, exotics, as well as a large array of “air plants” that can be kept alive with a minimal effort (air plants or epiphytes are plants like ferns, cacti, orchids, or bromeliads that do not root in soil, they just need air and a little spritzing from time to time to grow well).

Bold print curtains, image via Apartment Therapy

Then, lose those old blinds and consider adding some chic drapes to your windows; that should certainly give a more luxurious feel to your apartment scene. Curtains and drapes vary a lot in terms of pattern and texture, and you have to be careful about things like placement, length and shape, as well as the rod you’ll be hanging them on. Check out EddieZ’s for some interesting drapery, including woven wood and roman shades.

Succulent wall art, image via Apartment Therapy

Wall art is another thing that will add personality and style to your rental; it can be a beautiful painting you liked at a vintage store, an old photo that caught your eye on Etsy or a fine print or poster you can easily get at printing studios all around Chicago.

What kinds of design accents have you chosen to freshen up your Chicago apartment’s look?