First Apartment Gifts on Our Santa Wish List

December 9, 2013 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

The holiday season is in full-swing over here at My First Apartment! We are buzzing with great ideas for saving money during the holidays, inexpensive ways to bring the holiday spirit to your apartment, and even how to have a stress-free holiday party with your roommates. However, we’ve yet to cover the most fun topic…

Dollar for Dollar: Furnishing Your Apartment at Ikea vs. Target vs. Pottery Barn

November 15, 2013 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

When it comes to furnishing your first apartment, there is always a budget to consider. What you can get with your money is vastly different from store to store. A while back, My First Apartment compiled an excellent list that compared the cost of buying your furniture essentials at several different stores. As a self-professed bargain hunter…

First Apartment Decorating Finds: The Big Box Store Edition

November 7, 2013 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

In the world of first apartment decorating, big box stores like Walmart, Target, and Kohl’s have gotten a bad rap for being too cookie-cutter and too expensive. It’s true that monster chain stores are often guilty of both of those charges, but they aren’t all bad for decorating your apartment. In fact, if you take…

Making Every Inch Count in a Tiny Apartment

November 4, 2013 | By doug AuthorMy First Apartment

If you find yourself considering a tiny apartment, you’ll probably be thinking most of all about the downsides: there’s just not enough space for your stuff, or even your friends. Three really will be a crowd because no more than two people will fit in this living room! And, sure, that’s a shame. But small,…

Decorating With the Color of the Year: Emerald Green

July 21, 2013 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

Every year the famous color source known as Pantone releases their anxiously awaited color of the year. For weeks before the big color reveal, designers, planners, and artists everywhere speculate and formulate guesses on which perfect shade they will choose. Then the day comes, they finally announce their pick for the color of the year and…

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…

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…

Giveaway: Win New Duvet Set From Crane & Canopy

February 5, 2013 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

WE HAVE A WINNER! Our randomly selected winner of a Crane and Canopy duvet of her choice is Becky who added a burst of color to her bedroom with new gorgeous, super affordable curtains from Century 21. Congratulations Becky, we’ll email you with the directions to claim your prize. Thanks to all who shared their…

Ask a Designer: Interior Design 101

February 1, 2013 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

This February, we’re focusing on interior design to help you turn your new apartment into a cozy home you’ll love. Since not all of us are design wizards, we’ll be working with Chicago interior designer Kate Marengo of Arranging Order. She’s given me some great tips on decorating that I’ll be sharing throughout the month – and she’s…