More Reasons Why You Should Get Curtains

September 8, 2010 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Our guest blogger Elyse is an NYU student who just recently managed to free herself from the college dormitory system. The Importance of Curtains When my roommates and I first found our apartment one of my personal favorite features was the gigantic, and I mean gigantic, windows in every room. As a film major/“photographer” and…

How To Personalize Your Pad When You Can’t Paint

August 23, 2010 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

One of the easiest ways to personalize your apt is to paint. You roll up your sleeves and, ideally, beg some friends to help. It can really light up a room, but sometimes there are reasons why painting isn’t an option. Either your landlord won’t let you, you already have too much furniture that moving…

How to Cozy Up your Apartment for the Holidays. . without going home

November 19, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

The holidays are coming! The holidays are coming! A lot of folks I know aren’t going home this year because of $$ issues so I thought I’d write a few post about how to make your apartment really embody that home away from home feeling. The first thing I notice about my parents’ house is…

Swankify your New Apartment — Starting with a Fresh Coat of Paint

October 8, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

If you’re on a budget, there’s a fair chance that apartment architecture isn’t tops on your list of necessities — having a window or two probably dominates. If you’re looking in New York, the city lacking alleys in favor of more buildings, there’s a high chance some of your rooms won’t got ’em. Beyond that,…

A beautiful apartment is possible no matter its size!

May 13, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Coming from college, many of you might equate a small apartment with the dingy dorm you were were forced to live in with nary a stove for X number of years. I can see where you’re coming from: your new apartment is also tiny and not by choice. But, oh, is it SO different! Sure,…

More ways to use your walls!

July 30, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

I’m really into walls these days — and all their crazy potential. So, this is a two-parter from earlier this week where I wrote about temporary walls (ie. the best invention since sliced bread). Walls. Sure, you can hang pictures on them, but there has to be more, well, to do with them. Like, you…

Spring Dumpster Diving for Free Furniture!

April 30, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Dumpster Diving It’s a pretty great term, right? It sounds almost exotic—maybe even hipster cool these days. I mean, Mary-Kate Olsen’s even made running around like a Hobo look hot. Hear me out though — I’m not recommending that you jump headfirst into your smelly neighborhood garbage can, but welcome to the Christmas of moving…

10 Ways To Make Your Apartment Greener

November 24, 2007 | By Amanda AuthorMy First Apartment

Ed. note. This is a repeat of one of our most popular posts from last summer. ‘Green’ is a concept that not only describes safer, more environmentally-friendly products, but also a state of mind. Let’s face it… times are changing and despite common belief, one person can make a difference. Below are ten ways to…

Decorating and furnishing when you and your roommate have different styles

November 14, 2007 | By Shelby AuthorMy First Apartment

So you love sleek, modern design and your roommate adores the lacy, floral, Victorian look. Now what? If you don’t talk about your conflict before you furnish your apartment, you’ll end up with a goofy hodgepodge look that you’ll both hate. There are two basic solutions to a design conflict like this. One, you could…

My Top 10 Places to Shop for the Home

June 10, 2007 | By Amanda AuthorMy First Apartment

We all have our favorite things to shop for. Some girls like to buy shoes, while others like to buy handbags. Some guys like to buy expensive toys, while others like to buy gifts for their girlfriends. (Okay, maybe wishful thinking.) Personally, I love shopping for home products. Living in New York City with some…