| Apartment living can be a really good choice for | | | | sleep in a full size bed but a single person may be |
| many different reasons. With the economy as it is, it | | | | amenable to it, especially if it means additional space |
| is not a bad option for people looking to save money. | | | | in the bedroom. |
| Should you decide that apartment living is for you; | | | | Even better would be an antique Murphy bed. This |
| how you choose to decorate it will determine how | | | | would allow you to have your bed up and out of the |
| much you enjoy your new lifestyle. It is all about | | | | way during the day and only down taking up floor |
| space and how much of it you will have. | | | | space in the evening. This would be particularly |
| Antiques are not for everyone but most people have | | | | advantageous if your bedroom served a dual |
| to admit that, if nothing else, they are timeless. They | | | | purpose. |
| are also unique in charm, character and workmanship. | | | | To take full advantage of the storage capabilities |
| Most people think of antiques as being mainly | | | | antiques have to offer then you need lots of antique |
| decorative, used for the purpose of achieving a | | | | case goods. Case goods include bureaus, dressers, |
| certain look. Antiques were not used for decorative | | | | sideboards, chests, highboys, lowboys and the most |
| purposes when they were new - every piece was | | | | important of all, armoires. If your apartment lacks |
| designed for a certain purpose and they were | | | | enough closet space you can create your own with a |
| actually quite practical and sensible additions to the | | | | couple of well placed antique armoires for clothing, |
| home. There is no reason they cannot be that once | | | | shoes and purses. Also, taller chests provide more |
| again. | | | | drawers than shorter waist high bureaus and |
| If you have visited a number of older homes that | | | | dressers. Using as much vertical space as possible will |
| have not yet been restored you will notice that the | | | | save on floor area. |
| rooms in these homes are much the same as you | | | | Another important way to save on floor area, |
| find in many apartments - they are not overly | | | | especially if your apartment does not have a |
| spacious and they don't have much storage. Many | | | | separate dining room is the use of an antique drop |
| antiques were designed for just such living spaces. | | | | leaf dining table. If you position the table with the |
| You should not be put off by the proportions of | | | | sides down behind your sofa it can sub as a sofa |
| some antique furniture pieces, thinking them too big | | | | table. Two side chairs, one at either end, will provide |
| and bulky for an apartment, you should concentrate | | | | the necessary seating when you put up the outside |
| on the storage they will provide instead. Believe it or | | | | leaf to serve a meal. |
| not, these pieces can even give you more room than | | | | Since you can never have enough storage in an |
| you might have had otherwise. What would require | | | | apartment, instead of a bench at the end of your |
| two or three pieces of traditional furniture to | | | | bed or a coffee table in front of your sofa, consider |
| accomplish can sometimes be handled by just one | | | | two large antique trunks. You could add a custom cut |
| larger antique piece. | | | | glass top to the one in the living room and a custom |
| One example of a multipurpose piece would be an | | | | cushion to the one in the bedroom. You will still have |
| antique hall tree. Usually used in an entryway, it is tall | | | | a coffee table and a bench to sit on but you will also |
| with a shelf on top, a mirror, a number of hooks for | | | | have a ton of hidden storage inside those two |
| coats or hats, a seat bench with inside storage and | | | | trunks. |
| some of them even have an umbrella stand. That's a | | | | Last but not least is an antique tilt top table. When |
| lot to have going on in a space of about three and a | | | | not in use, it takes up very little room when it is |
| half feet across. | | | | placed against a wall. In addition to being beautiful, a |
| There are many types of antique beds from which | | | | tilt top table is also very versatile. When you need a |
| to choose. Victorian high back beds are usually quite | | | | small table, simply pull it away from the wall, tilt up |
| fancy and beautifully done in rich oak or walnut. | | | | the top and snap it into place. |
| There are also the classic antique four poster beds | | | | There are a huge variety of antiques available at local |
| that are still quite popular today, if the number of | | | | shops and auction houses. They come in all shapes, |
| reproductions out there is any indication. Antique | | | | sizes and designs. Visitors to your apartment will be |
| beds however do pose a problem for many people. | | | | able to admire the way in which you showcase your |
| They do not come in queen size and they most | | | | furniture. There will be no clutter to distract them |
| certainly do not come in king size. | | | | because it will all be hidden away inside your space |
| You have to remember that apartment living requires | | | | friendly antiques. |
| some compromises. A couple may not be willing to | | | | |