First apartment accessory must-haves

Apartment shopping doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Here are some affordable yet stylish basics to get you started.

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Umbra

Bethesda-based interior designer Kelley Proxmire suggests establishing a slush fund “for trendy and fun accessories.” After all, who knows when you’re going to find a sweet avocado dish rack like this Umbra one? (www.umbra.com, $30. Also available in red.)

/ Umbra

Ikea

Metal etageres bring structure and architecture to a standard, uninteresting apartment, as well as open shelving to display your favorite goods. Most are pricey, but the Vittsjo shelving unit from Ikea fits the bill for smaller wallets. Add more from the Vittsjo series as your collections grow. (www.ikea.com, $40)

Samuel Svensson / Ikea

World Market

Clear pieces of furniture and accessories reduce visual clutter in small spaces — even cramped studios. Find your favorite lampshade to put over the Clear Ariana Table Lamp Base from World Market, which lightens up any room. (www.worldmarket.com, $39.99)

/ World Market

Bodum

You can’t have full-fledged grills at most apartment complexes, but you can still have fun with Bodum’s stashable Fyrkat Mini Picnic Charcoal Grill in lime green, black or red. (www.bodum.com, $60)

/ Bodum

Zinc Door

“New apartment dwellers may want for their main pieces — sofa, chairs — to be a neutral covering and then infuse color via accessories,” Proxmire says. One way to do this is by purchasing quality natural-fiber rugs and then layering smaller, colorful rugs on top. Change them out to mark each season. The Frontier Moroccan Orange Hand-Woven Wool Rug from Zinc Door is one bright option. (www.zincdoor.com, $63)

/ Zinc Door

Chilewich

Easy style, easy to clean: Chilewich’s new “cowhide” place mats are actually an embossed, printed, synthetic textile that will dress up Craigslist-found tables. Available in black spots, brown spots, brown solid and gray solid. (www.chilewich.com, $20 each. Table runner also available for $75.)

Victor A. Schrager / Chilewich

Dash & Albert Rug Co.

Popular rug company Dash & Albert is branching out into other pieces for the home, including this rugby-stripe throw in denim, charcoal and platinum. Throw it over the back of a sofa for comfy movie-watching, as well as a spot of fresh pattern. (www.dashandalbert.com, $74)

/ Dash & Albert Rug Co.

Philips

For your apartment housewarming, the Philips Fidelio DS3000 Desktop Speaker Dock is essential. Add flowers and candles for even more grown-up ambiance. (www.store.apple.com)

/ Philips

NotNeutral

In a small space, organization often equals decoration. Round melamine trays from NotNeutral in red, orange, pink, yellow, green, blue, black and white will help you gather your clutter. (www.notneutral.com, $18)

/ NotNeutral

Target

Buy white sheets that will last, then wake up the bed with fun, colorful shams such as Target’s Room Essentials Geo Sham in yellow. (www.target.com, $9.99)

Heidi Ehalt / Target

Nordstrom

Nordstrom's Flokati Decorative Pillow checks off three boxes: It embraces the faux-fur fad, will add texture to a sofa's pillow collection and is available in neutral colors that should match any style: cream vanilla, gray silk and lilac fog. (www.nordstrom.com, $58)

/ Nordstrom

CB2

Set up supplies for a home bar on CB2’s Formosa Tray Table, in trendy chartreuse or classic white. It’s versatile enough to use in your next apartment or future house. (www.cb2.com, $49.95)

/ CB2

Anthropologie

“You should be comfortable in your new space,” D.C. interior designer Christopher Patrick says. “And by adding your own style, it’ll make it feel more like home.” Anthropologie’s Perpetual Blooms jacquard terry towels will add a soft touch to any bathroom; in coral, gold, dark turquoise, turquoise, white, neutral and light gray. (www.anthropologie.com, $8 to $36)

/ Anthropologie

Krylon

Paint is one of the easiest ways to update a home and make it your own — and we’re not just talking about walls. Stools and utilitarian desk lamps are especially good picks for paint. Krylon's fluroescent paint is available in blue, cerise, red-orange, safety-school green, yellow-orange, lemon yellow and green. (www.amazon.com, $5.39, prices vary by color)

/ Krylon

Featured Photo Galleries

Homeowner David Firth tries to beat back a brush fire heading towards his home at Bettas Road and Low Drive as wildfire burns Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012 in Cle Elum, Wash. The fire jumped the line they were trying to make but still stands after being sprayed with water trucks and further efforts to beat it back with the help of several neighbors volunteering. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Bettina Hansen) SEATTLE OUT, USA TODAY OUT, MAGAZINES OUT, TELEVISION OUT, NO SALES . MANDATORY CREDIT TO: BETTINA HANSEN/THE SEATTLE TIMES.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Protesters gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks is staying on August 16, 2012 in London, England. Mr Assange has been living inside Ecuador's London embassy since June 19, 2012 after requesting political asylum whilst facing extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

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Chase Culp of Houston checks his clown makeup before the performance of Circus Smirkus on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Montpelier, Vt. Circus Smirkus, based in Greensboro, Vt., is an award-winning international youth circus founded to promote the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

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LEWISBURG, WV - AUGUST 11: ( EDITORS NOTE: Image was created using the iPhone 4s with Snapseed's vintage filter) Two young boys sip a drink at the West Virginia State fair on August 11, 2012 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. People from across the region travel to the fair, which is celebrating its 88th year, and hosts various events including equestrian and livestock demonstrations along with a full compliment of carnival rides. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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First apartment accessory must-haves

Apartment shopping doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Here are some affordable yet stylish basics to get you started.

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