Making that new apartment feel like home takes some time. It's all about making it feel like a comfortable place to come back to at the end of each day. From decorating to potentially learning a new city or at least learning a new area, it can feel like a lot all at once. Luckily, at The Vintage, we've crafted a DIY apartment hack list to take some of that extra stress off of you! Work at your own pace. Make it your own place. Your apartment is your own space.
TIME TO GET CREATIVE WITH DECORATING
We all know that embracing your creative style can take some trial and error sometimes. However, these are a few of our favorite decorating hacks when it comes to making your space feel comfy while being clutter-free. Feel free to add your own spin on them!
1. Add Your Very Own Personal Lighting
Brighten things up a bit and hang up some personalized lights. Choose between floor lamps, desk lamps, strings of lights, and many other options. Not only will it give a homey feeling but the customized effort will show off your own style and be the perfect touch. It's also a great way to create a warm ambient setting!
2. Use Shelves as Makeshift Walls
Perfect for studio apartments or open spaces, use shelves to create visual rooms. This is a great technique to create the feeling of having separated space, and you can organize it in a way that doesn't make the area look or feel cramped. Additionally, those shelves are great for storage.
3. Multipurpose Furniture
Talk about being convenient! Multipurpose furniture, such as a wall-mounted desk, coffee tables that open up for additional use, and a sleeper ottoman can provide extra storage while giving you extra space. Not only can you maximize the usability throughout your apartment, but you can often find pieces that fit your personal style. That's essentially doubling up on perks!
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS & MAKING YOUR WAY DOWNTOWN
As you begin decorating your apartment, shop local. While you'll be supporting local businesses, you're also more likely to find unique and artistic designs on furniture and decorations that make your house even more specific to your personal taste. Make your way down the Washington, DC streets and find your favorite shops, restaurants, and the best places to grab some brew.
Shop Local at These Hotspots
Old School Hardware is the place to find any and all tools you may need to put furniture together, paint those apartment walls, and complete any home improvement tasks.
Stop by Miss Pixie's on 14th St NW to browse the vintage and quirky decor they offer. Every Wednesday they receive a new truckload of items, making shopping all that more exciting. You never know when you're going to come across something special.
Grab a Bite to Eat
Beau Thai brings you traditional dishes from Thailand. With flavorful cuisine, you can dine in for lunch and dinner seven days a week. That's right, you can enjoy all those delicious meals whenever you want!
For all of your breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner needs stroll on over to Elle. You'll discover a café, bakery, and restaurant to serve you with the most memorable experience. It's typically a busy place to eat, so if you can make it in before rush house meal times, it's best to head on over.
Coffee and Other Drinks
At The Potter's House you can enjoy the local brew while shopping for art to take home, books you may want to read, and attend one of the many music events they host. They serve breakfast all day and offer an open space setting to ensure you're comfortable. Often the staff gets creative and comes up with new drinks to try.
When you're feeling the travel bug hit but don't have time for a luxurious trip, head over to Addis Paris Café. Doubling as a French and Ethiopian bar, you'll find a tasty wine list as well as deliciously roasted coffee. Take advantage of the free Wi-Fi and get some work done if you're looking for a relaxing environment to hang out at for a while. In addition to the delicious drinks they serve, and the friendly atmosphere, you can grab brunch should you get hungry. It's basically that 'home away from home' hotspot.
JOIN US AT THE VINTAGE
There are hundreds of incredible places to have fun, relax, and simply enjoy yourself scattered all across Washington, DC. We've done our best to share a few of our favorites, but don't hesitate to ask for more local recommendations when you contact us. Not only will we assist you in picking out that perfect apartment to call home, but we'll help you get to know the area.
At The Vintage Apartments, we offer a variety of community and apartment amenities. Get a workout in at our 24-hour fitness center or bike room. Have a cat or dog? Bring them with you and take advantage of our rooftop dog run with your furry friend. Relax in the comfort of your new apartment or in the media room. We offer fully furnished apartments with short term leasing when needed. Don't worry about finding a dishwasher, microwave, or refrigerator – we've got you covered. For a full list of what we offer, you can check out our amenities tab online.
Call us at 833-880-1145 or contact us online when you're ready to begin your apartment hunt in Washington, DC. The Vintage Apartments are located at 3146 16th Street NW Washington, DC 20010. You can find our lovely apartments in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, close by a variety of restaurants, shops, and more. We look forward to talking with you and scheduling a time to tour our available apartments. For more information on fun things to do in Mount Pleasant and the surrounding Washington, DC area, dive into our blog.