All joking aside, getting your first real apartment, or even just your first room whether it’s in a dorm or shared apartment, is very exciting. This is YOUR space. The place you will call home and go to relax after a long day.

So, I think it is important to put energy and time into decorating it right. That does NOT mean you have to put tons of money into this project.

I have been doing some research into how to cheaply and efficiently decorate a space as I am preparing to move into my first real place this weekend and felt CC readers would appreciate some tips during this fall transition time.

One article I read offered some important tips to keep in mind such as, remember to declutter because nothing ruins a great look like a bunch of junk, pay special attention to display surfaces to keep a minimum of 2-3 things on them, and play around with paint in order to spice up a space quick.

The most important philosophy from this article: Spend time — not money — decluttering, painting, and accessorizing to give your place some attitude.

So, once you are on the fun part, accessorizing, is it possible to find some cheap, yet stylish, places to explore? The answer is YES!

For one, check out THRIFT SHOPS! I have already scheduled my Sunday for hitting up different places around NYC. For a list of the best thrift shops for this locale, check out this list. Or, if you are in another city, look at ApartmentTherapy.com for some tips.

If trolling thrift shops isn’t your thing and you would rather point, click, and order, check out these sweet websites for accessorizing:

MXYPLYZYK

Z Gallerie

Surprise! Surprise! (love this one!)

Target (come on, what room wouldn’t be complete without some sort of Target accessory?)

Happy Decorating!