As a young Nigerian, existing is as tough as it comes; but living with your parents is another unlocked level of “God abeg”. The dream, therefore, is to wake up one day and say, “I’m moving out” and then you mean it and move into your luxurious one-room self-contained apartment in the middle of the hustle, to be independent. The perk of this is that you don’t get to a gateman or generator operator of the house.
Getting your apartment is a big deal, and it doesn’t come easy for young Nigerians, because of the phenomenon called Sapa. Paying rent is literally through your nose, and your house looking like a home is another headache. Instead of just painting it white and being reminded of asylums, here are 5 affordable options to bring life to your new Nigerian apartment:
There’s no art without pictures
Naturally, nobody would prefer to stare at a blank wall all day long, which is why wall art is an important part of home interior decoration.
It doesn’t have to be pictures of you shining your teeth beside Father Christmas or a giant picture of yourself taken at your grandmother’s burial party you can also use random landscape pictures, beautiful birds or flowers in a frame. If you’re obsessed with your beauty, you can get 3D prints or a mural of yourself from an online website and print it out for free!
Buying mirrors and flower vases is always a good idea
When it comes to decorating your Nigerian apartment with art, there are no rulebook, anything goes. It’s your house, you’ll tell the story of how you’re now an enthusiast of depth. Collecting hand mirrors together to make a cluster is very stylish. It could be a single round mirror also, beside a vase of plastic flowers. Even better, the mirrors reflect that you’re a beautiful work of art as you walk past them everyday. These are functional and adorable, especially when available in different sizes and shapes.
Make your DIY pieces
You have to remember that your forefathers used mats and feathers to decorate their homes, so they’re the standard, honey. DIY pieces are a cheap alternative in your Nigerian apartment. You just need to remodel items you already have into decorative objects and making your own pieces of art to display on the wall. String leaves together, or cut cardboard into plain shapes to stick on your walls. This doesn’t count if you’re blind to colours, sweetheart. If it doesn’t pop, leave your wall plain.
A simple DIY on cardboard that says “Go, little rockstar!” using watercolors can improve your mood by a lot, especially going by how many absolutely crazy people you have to deal with in a day in Nigeria.
Hang an empty frame covered in Ankara
For your new Nigerian apartment, all you need here is scrap wood, and the passion to become the next Picasso; only that this time around, you’re making empty frames. Place them together on a wall and you’re all good to go. If you can’t make it yourself, you can ask your friendly neighborhood carpenter to make it, and then you can paint it or cover it in nice Ankara pieces to make beautiful wall art You’re even helping him clear his waste wood, dear. This is usually nice on kitchen walls, and you suddenly look mature, which is very impressive for a hustler like yourself.
Get a Greeting Card Display
What’s a Nigerian home without respect? Greeting cards are probably your cheapest bet to decorate your small Nigerian apartment. They make your apartment warm and comforting. No, these are not birthday cards or wedding cards, dear. You just need to put a card that says “Almost there, champion!” in your toilet. You underestimate the importance of such encouragement until you have it!
No matter the budget, no matter the taste, you can decorate your home with art and paintings to add character and style. By following some simple guidelines and having a desired outcome in mind, you can hang art around your house without it being overwhelming or distracting. Artwork doesn’t have to dominate your rooms; it should enhance them. And also, your art should be authentically you.