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First Place Essentials

My first place was a townhouse shared with two friends - two friends with great style who had tons of furniture, so I really only decorated my bedroom. But my second place - my first place on my own - was a tiny one bedroom apartment in Annapolis with barely-working hot water and just enough space in the bedroom for a bed+dresser. I loved it.

First apartments are rarely spacious or perfect, but they are all yours and there's something fantastic about decorating for yourself for the first time. In the rush to personalize, though, there are a few key elements that should be a part of any "first place" design:
Kit Pollard
Kit Pollard
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Let's be honest - we all spend a lot of time on the sofa, whether it's for studying, sleeping, or just relaxing. One that's comfortable AND pretty is an important purchase.

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The perfect bedroom doesn't require lots of fancy furniture - just a bed with fantastic bedding and a simple nightstand. Cool art is a bonus.

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Unfortunately, many "first places" lack great storage. Large dressers and armoires become lifesavers (or at least mess-savers).

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They don't have to be fancy, but bookshelves by the bed are fantastic - especially on lazy days when you don't want to get out of bed.

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A few flowers (or lemons, or limes, or whatever) brighten up a whole room, without much expense at all.

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In fact, extra shelving all over the place - like this little shelf tucked into the dining room corner - is key to happy living.

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When you're looking for a place, it's not so important that the kitchen is big, but it is important that it's organized in a logical manner. The refrigerator, oven and sink need to be within easy reach of one another - and a little counter space is a nice bonus.

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First-place bathrooms are often small and not that inviting. Dingy, even. The addition of cool wallpaper or paint, and maybe a personalized piece or two, can make a tough space kind of great.

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