Honolulu Self Storage Facility Features: • Minutes away from UH • Climate controlled interior units • 7 days a week access • Drive-up storage units • Full size passangers elevator *Special includes FREE pickup 1901 KAPIOLANI BLVD HONOLULU HI 96826 (808) 942-5533 WWW.THELOCKUP.COM *Student Specials starting at $45 Custom Tees Surf Outlet Looking for New Graphic Designers and Artists for Their Own Clothing Lines. CUSTOM SHIRT DESIGNS & STICKERS Official carrier of Hinano Bags, SUP, Surf and Body Boards Surfvivor Media, Inc. 94-1388 Moaniani Street Unit 202 Waipahu, Hawaii 96797 Phone: (808) 676-0700 www.surfvivor.com 2012 Spring Housing Guide Page 12 | Ka Leo | Monday, April 23 2012 [email protected] | Maria Kanai Editor |Alvin Park Associate K ARLEANNE MATTHEWS Chief Copy Editor There are clear financial ad- vantages to renting a furnished apartment. Large furniture piec- es, such as beds and couches, are not only expensive but difficult to move. But living in a furnished apartment can feel like staying in someone else’s space. Here are some ways to take advantage of the practicality of a furnished place while adding personal touches at minimal cost. SWITCH UP THE LAYOUT Don’t think you have to leave all the furniture where it was when you arrived. Arrange what’s there to suit your individual preferences and needs. Keep adjusting the lay- out for the first week or two that you live in the space; you’ll find out over time that you need a lit- tle more space in that spot where you’re always bumping your shins, or that you don’t use that one cup- board as much as you thought and it’s fine to partially block it with a chair. And the best part of chang- ing the furniture arrangement is that it’s a completely free way to transform your space. ADD SMALL FURNITURE You may not want to replace a couch or table (because of cost or hassle), but consider adding smaller pieces such as book- shelves, nightstands, a coffee table or a desk. If you’re willing to look online or at discount stores, you can find these items for $20 or less each. This will allow you to put your personal spin on the apartment’s look, while also mak- ing sure the space is functional for your needs. If you’re concerned about having too many furniture styles in a small space, choose simple designs that can appear al- most like a set: for example, black wood items with clean lines. CHANGE SOFT FINISHINGS You can make a big impact (at a small cost) with fabrics. Spruce up a tired design with fresh bedding, curtains and couch pillows (browse stores such as Ross for an eclectic se- lection). Bright rugs and new floor mats can add color, and even buying new towels for the bathroom can help personalize what is generally a bland space. If you’re handy with a sew- ing machine, consider buying fabric to make items for several different rooms to keep a cohe- sive feel. Also think about modi- fying existing furniture pieces; for example, I used some inex- pensive faux leather and a thin piece of cardboard to make a simple black topper for a rattan dresser that came in my apart- ment but isn’t really my style. Save cash with a furnished apartment Save cash with a furnished apartment Strategies for making your furnished apartment feel like home See Finish, next page KARLEANNE MATTHEWS / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I