Horizontal fabric shades are a good choice for decorating a new apartment

Starting out in a new apartment means decorating with a clean slate on which colors, patterns and textures come together to express a personal design style.


According to The Washington Post, determining a style can be done by looking through magazines for ideas and tearing out pages that show color schemes and furniture that express an individual's favorite looks.


When making initial furniture choices, focus on the largest, long-term purchases, such as sofas, beds, a dining table and lighting. Having a budget helps consumers match what they can afford with the best quality furnishings available in their price range.


Catherine Roberts, owner of an upscale furnishings shop in Georgetown, Maryland, told the newspaper that buying one or two quality pieces can elevate the look of less expensive furniture. Shopping auctions and flea markets, as well as accepting furnishings that family and friends no longer want, is a frugal way to fill in the gaps.


Window treatments can range from blinds and shades to many styles of curtains. Horizontal fabric shades have the look of a window shade, but the individual slats are reminiscent of a venetian blind. The range of fabrics, colors and print designs in horizontal fabric shades work well with any room design.