Deciding Between Your First Apartment Wants and Needs

May 29, 2013 | By Christa AuthorMy First Apartment

After you move into your first apartment you can’t wait to go shopping. Then you enter your favorite home goods store and you’re faced with the age old battle between wants and needs. You may want a 50 inch HDTV, but do you really need it? You may want one fabulous over-the-top chair, but do you…

5 Green DIY Ideas For Your Apartment

May 23, 2013 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Do you feel that in the air? It’s the change in seasons, heralded by green leaves lining branches, birds chirping in the morning, and rays of sunlight streaking through the clouds. When the seasons change, so do our lifestyles. We spend more time outside, we change our wardrobes, putting the boots back in storage and…

Furnishing on Budgets from $0 – $500

April 19, 2013 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

You’ve saved and saved and finally got your own place. Then the sad reality hits. After you pay your first month’s rent, security deposit and moving costs there is no money left to furnish your place. Are you doomed to sleeping on the floor in an empty apartment? Our bloggers say no. They are so…

Should You Work With An Interior Designer?

February 28, 2013 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

As our February design/decorating month ends we have managed to cover it all, from super cheap $50-$100 fixes to a $2,000 Ikea-furnished studio to bedroom do-overs and duvet giveaways, and even working with a decorator. Thanks to all who participated with questions and comments! (Ed.) Let me be honest. I always assumed working with an interior designer was something rich…

Zainab Continues Decorating Her First Apartment in Austin

February 27, 2013 | By Zainab AuthorMy First Apartment

Austin is an amazing city. Having only lived in large sprawling metros before, it’s lovely to live in a place where you can walk around, where you have interesting neighborhoods, culture, and so much to do. Austin is a blue island in a red state, a college town and the capitol, with many opportunities. My…

Renting Furniture: Is It a Good Idea?

February 21, 2013 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

In keeping with this February’s Design Month theme, I’d like to answer a question from one of our readers, Jared. He was wondering whether it would be worthwhile to rent-to-own his furniture, rather than buying it piece-by-piece. He made the point that for the expected monthly payment of rentals, he could afford much nicer…

Interior Design 101: Answers to our Readers’ Questions Part II

February 19, 2013 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

We hope you’re enjoying Design Month here at My First Apartment. We’ve been working with Kate (left) from Arranging Order, and have learned a ton about everything from smart looking storage to how to use area rugs. Check out Part One of our reader Q&A here, and read on for more great reader Q’s and…

Cheap and Easy Bedroom Fixes: The Crane and Canopy Giveaway Results

February 16, 2013 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

As our readers know by now, February is Design Month at My First Apartment. To help celebrate, we featured a giveaway from the bedding company Crane and Canopy. This online retailer, which has very high-quality products, keeps its prices down by shipping directly to consumers rather than selling through brick-and-mortar stores. As a way of testing…

Designer 101: Answers to Our Reader’s Design Questions!

February 13, 2013 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

As a reminder, it’s DESIGN MONTH here at My First Apartment! We’re working with Kate Marengo of Arranging Order to share tips of the trade, as well as show how interior design can, really, be quite affordable. Check out the first post of the series here. In today’s post, we’ve worked with Kate to answer our…

How to Furnish a Studio with IKEA Products for Under $2,000

February 7, 2013 | By Alexandra AuthorMy First Apartment

STARTING FRESH – HOW MUCH DECORATING MY FIRST NEW YORK STUDIO APARTMENT REALLY COST! It’s no secret furniture can be one of the most costly expenses when it comes to starting fresh in your new place… But it doesn’t have to be that way! As I have already told you, I attacked IKEA head on…