Image via Complex Original
We hope you've finished up your spring cleaning, because summer's here and it's time to take your apartment game to the next level. We took the liberty of compiling a list of ten ways you can spruce up your crib without dropping a ton of money—all for under $50. From fresh paint to upgraded linens, here's to your dapper new home and a dope ass summer.
RELATED: 25 Items Every Man Needs in His Apartment
RELATED: 25 Bachelor Pad Hacks Every Man Should Know
10 Cheap Ways to Make Your Crib Look More Expensive
Embellish with plants, fruits, and booze
Embellish with plants, fruits, and booze.
Price range: $5 - $40 (depending on your liquor preferences)
A healthy plant says, "I know how to take care of something other than myself!" And fruits add a bit of elegance to an end table. There's a reason all those Renaissance artists spent so much time painting pears and stuff, you know.
And last but not least, expensive alcohol is a surefire interior winner. Deck out the shelves of your TV units with half-empty bottles (or full, even better) of scotch or whiskey so you can drink while you decorate. Cheers!
Declutter your space. Minimalism is good.
Declutter your space. Minimalism is good.
Price range: $0
It probably goes without saying, but less clutter is more class. And while bold colors and patterns can be stylish, you can never go wrong with black and white or all-white everything. Sometimes less is more.
Change your linens
Change your linens.
Price range: $15 - $40
You don't have to be Jay-Z to go from rags to riches, especially with your interiors. Throw out your shabby towels and get yourself some fresh new linens for the bathroom. You'd be surprised at how big a difference it makes. Maybe get a set of varying sizes with your initial sewn onto it—or not, whatever. Just make sure they're new.
Get yourself some coffee table books.
Get yourself some coffee table books.
Price range: $10 - $30
Head to Barnes and Noble and browse the bargain section for some coffee table books (you know, to show off your refined taste). It could be a book on the history of graffiti or an Alexander McQueen biography—whatever floats your boat. Feel free to casually place those bad boys on your coffee table and watch as guests marvel over your worldliness.
Ditch the gold
Ditch the gold.
Price range: $0
Not to discredit Trinidad James or anything, but when it comes to home décor, it's probably best to leave out the gold. Too much bling can come off tacky and like you're trying too hard. It's best to stick with silver or bronze.
Frame your posters
Frame your posters.
Price range: $20 - $50
This ain't college anymore. Gone are the days when you could get away with taping up an 18 x 24 of beer pong rules or a bikini-clad Kim Kardashian. Save up for some sturdy, decent-looking frames before hanging up any of your old posters. Hopefully your taste in wall art has changed since college, too.
Add some color to the couch
Add some color to the couch.
Price range: $5 - $20
Nothing says sophistication like strategically-placed cushions, which are also good for adding some color to your otherwise plain couch or armchair. Drape a matching blanket over it, and voila—you've got a perfect place to nap, entertain, or whatever else you might be doing on the couch.
Swag out your shelves
Swag out your shelves.
Price range: $0
Decorating doesn't always mean being flashy, and it certainly doesn't have to result in something tacky. All it takes is a bit of creative planning to make a boring bookshelf look dope. Show off your shelving game by introducing some variety into the way you arrange your books—stack some, lean some, maybe add a picture frame or the mid-century modern vase your girlfriend bought you last Christmas. If you've got left-over paint, consider painting just the interior or trim of your bookshelf.
Change those doorknobs
Change those doorknobs.
Price range: $10 - $30
After you've polished up those cabinets, top off the look with some swanky, new doorknobs. Swap rusty or generic handles with custom ones that reveal a bit more personality. The little things count.
Paint your old cabinets and walls
Paint your old cabinets and walls.
Price range: $10 - $30
A fresh coat of paint goes a long way. Do your worn cabinet doors and discolored walls a favor, and get your Picasso on. Applying a crisp layer of paint onto old furniture and walls can give a drab interior space the pizzazz it needs, changing the entire atmosphere from dull to dapper. If you're running low on cash or feeling lazy, you can also just paint an accent wall for a pop of color.
