Sarah Schachterle - HERLIFE Magazine

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Urban
Oasis
By Kim Antisdel
C
hoosing to live in an urban
area of a city can be daunting,
especially if you’re used to living
in a single family home environment.
Apartments and lofts retain a completely
different vibe and energy than a typical
suburban house, but that doesn’t mean
they should feel any less like a home.
There are several approaches to making
your apartment or loft feel like a true
home, and they can all be done without
breaking the bank.
PROPORTIONS
Generally speaking, urban living
doesn’t permit the plentiful square footage
associated with suburbia. You may
be restricted to as few as 700 square feet
in your space, so there’s a small margin
for error when selecting your furniture.
40 HERLIFEmagazine.com
The best rule of thumb is to watch your
proportions and keep them consistent
with what the space offers. You may be
in love with the oversized nine-person
couch your boyfriend found at the
consignment shop, but a large piece of
furniture will instantly make your space
seem smaller. Conversely, if you’re lucky
enough to have ample square footage, a
small side table paired with a loveseat
will result in the room feeling empty and
neglected.
TEXTURE
Lofts often boast beautiful hard
woods or even concrete as their flooring.
While this is a fantastic and modern
design element, it’s also important to
introduce various textures into your
space. A big fluffy throw rug can break
up the monotony and rigidity of a wood
floor, while also offering sound deadening
to cut back on the echoes of high
ceilings. In an apartment, you may find
that carpet covers every square inch of
your floor. While you can’t do anything
about the carpet, adding a printed area
rug with a funky pattern can help to
minimize the less than desirable floor
covering beneath it. In addition, both
lofts and apartments can benefit from
textured curtains and throw pillows,
adding an extra element of design to your
space.
LIGHTING
Adding light to a space is one of
the very best ways to create an element
of drama and warmth. In an apartment,