You close the door behind you and sink down on the heap of mismatched luggage littering the entrance hall of your new abode and only THEN do you take a good look around. Up until now the thrill of having your own place kind of clouded the rest of the issue ? in between deciding if you could afford the rent and pressuring a friend into helping you move, chances are that doing online shopping for drapes and throw pillows was the last thing on your mind. Looking around now, it might have been a good idea.
No need to despair, redecorating doesn't need to cost the earth. Begin by taking stock of what you do have as opposed to what you lack. Second-hand furniture can be easily be livened up by giving it a lick of colour or changing the upholstery. Dilute ordinary white wall paint with two parts water and use a rag to it apply to out-dated pine furniture for a fresh ?white wash? look. Professional upholstery is obviously way too expensive, so improvise. Buy some cheap and cheerful fabric from a discount store and invest in a staple gun ? this way you can change the appearance of your furniture often and with a minimum of fuss.
Shop online for d'cor ideas and be creative in thinking of new ways to implement them in your own space. Single walls of bold colour create interesting focal points within a room, but if your landlord is not keen on letting you loose with a paint brush the same effect can be achieved by propping large, colourful canvasses against select walls. When it comes to art, anything goes. Old postcards, pictures from calendars and blown-up photographs can all be used to liven up dreary wall space. Group objects - pull out your favourite collectibles and show off your personality. Find a display area and group related objects together in sets of three or five, varying shapes and textures to create interesting little nooks throughout your home.
The nature of your garden area will determine what your landscaping options will be. Depending on how large a space you have available, you may have to think outside the pot (so to speak). Gardening equipment can be bought from various on-line stores or scavenged from family members. The same goes for cuttings and seedlings (solely for use by the patient gardener). Learn to love hand-me-down plants. People with established gardens often alter the lay-out of their floral follies and this is a good time to score some shrubbery. Mulch empty bed space with natural materials like stones, nutshells and bark ? not only does this serve to fertilize your soil; it also creates an illusion of fullness. Price comparison websites will give you a good idea of where you will be able to shop most cheaply and this will save you the trouble of dragging yourself from shop to shop on your precious Saturday mornings.
Speaking of fertilizer, instead of buying chemical formulas from nurseries or online stores, go green and make your own compost. Worm composting is very in right now. All you need is a container, bedding (such as shredded newspaper, straw, sawdust or aged manure), some worms (red wrigglers are best) and your kitchen waste. Worms can be bought from farms and various other establishments and are generally dirt cheap ? excuse the pun. Grass cuttings, fruit and vegetable peelings, shredded cardboard, teabags and egg boxes all make excellent worm fodder. If you're uncertain if something can be used as compost, have a look on the internet, online garden stores and forums which list advisable compost ingredients.
So, there you go ? see the dreary state of your new lodgings as a clean slate that gives you the opportunity to get creative. There is no better time to figure out your personal likes and dislikes. Pull on some old jeans, invite around a few friends and have a go at decorating ? you might just surprise yourself.
You scroll your mouse over the list of Cape Town flights, your holiday destination is chosen and a ticket is now reserved for you. It won't be cheap though. You have saved and scrimped for this holiday to the sunny and windy beacon of South Africa, and choosing a hotel or guest house to stay in is of utmost importance.
So what choices are there? Unlike your cheap Cape Town flight, a hotel is going to cost you money, loads of money. What are the options for a student, or even the young professional looking to save cash where they can? A guest house or a backpacker is a great option, emphasising fun and communal activates over a snooty atmosphere. Up and down our coast and winding through the roads of our fair town lay many hidden jewels which can be easily found with only a swift search on Google, or by using this handy article you are currently reading right now.
?Best for Budget Backpackers are without a doubt the only lodgings which the more thrifty traveller should choose. If you are staying or travelling through Cape Town, then you will find an abundance of backpackers down Long Street, the main road of the inner city. Most of them are tucked away secretly and some searching will reward you with fantastic options like the frankly marvellous Cat and Moose Backpackers. This combination of old world charms with student-friendly conveniences such as pool tables, keyless locks, a TV lounge and much more entices every stranger into its welcoming atmosphere. The prices are also insanely cheap, starting at R90 per night for a dorm room and only R270 per night for a double or twin room. For safety and fun, the Cat and Moose is hard to beat.
Let continue our Cape Town travel experience and make our way into Observatory or ?Obs? as the locals like to call it. This is an incredibly calm part of Cape Town with a very cool backpacker located deep in its suburban heart. The Green Elephant is conveniently situated in the area which is close to the student hangouts, shops, movies, public transport and the famous Baxter theatre. Other than the convenience of having such cool facilities close at hand, the Green Elephant sports a massive braai [BBQ] area, solar heated pool, a hot Jacuzzi for those cold winter evenings, a large living room with satellite TV and a pool table. The Green Elephant has many more features I can't even begin to list, but what of the price? It is very reasonable in my opinion, starting at R100 for a dorm per night in this cosy suburb which is definitely not too much to ask of anyone.
?Time to Splurge We travel back to Cape Town now, and end up at Daddy Long Legs, a guest house which has unique, artistically designed rooms which cater for any taste. There are thirteen fashionable rooms in fact. Daddy Long legs claims that staying in one of the hotels rooms is similar to being part of your very own art exhibition. Each of these one of a kind rooms has the artist's signature stamp affixed to it. There is the Freshlyground room, decorated with the iconic Cape Town band and suffused with music and African-influenced art. Or choose Far From Home, where the room is painted with the vista of an ocean, setting you instantly at ease. However eclectic your tastes may be, Daddy long legs has the room to suite you. Prices range from R575 per room per night in the low season to R825 during peak season.
This is only the tip of the iceberg as far as accommodation is concerned in Cape Town. My best advice to you is to explore and seek out the accommodation Cape Town has to offer. Another idea is to travel on the Bazbus, a lively road trip which stops at selected backpackers and guesthouses. They travel up the famous Garden route of Cape Town, letting you hop off at any point of the trip. Whatever your decision is, book a Cape Town Flight now and experience the best in backpacking and guesthouses!
Both Robert D. Thomson & Robert Thomson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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