New York City Condos: 3 Tips for Furnishing

New York City Condos

There is no city like New York City. When it comes to decorating New York City Condos, the sky is the limit.  Decorate your condo with style and class without breaking the bank. Here are 3 great tips for decorating New York City Condos.

Tip Number 1

Always select lighter, somewhat neutral colors for the walls and flooring of New York City Condos. Neutral colors are classic and will match any color scheme you choose for furniture and wall decorations. The most versatile neutral colors for decorating are antique white and beige, which are great for living room and bedroom walls. These colors make rooms appear larger, feel cooler, and more relaxing. Choose a light peach or dull yellow color scheme for the kitchen and dining room walls.  Then spice up the kitchen by adding various shades of orange and yellow with a splash of light green; place kitchen towels, rugs, vases, and paintings that include these citrus fruit colors which will give New York City Condos the fresh feeling of spring all year long.

For the main flooring use tan tweed colored area rugs and runners for high traffic areas like the living room and hallways. Tan tweeds are great for hiding stains and wear. In addition, tan tweeds will match most sofas, chairs, and living room accessories. Add bold print sofas to the living room if you like a lively energy, or go with multi-colored earth tones for a more peaceful, calm feeling.

Tip Number 2

Decorate with space in mind. New York City Condos are not always spacious. Use storage furnishings to decorate your condo and increase your space. Instead of a traditional end table, use ottomans to add style and storage space in your living room and bedrooms. Modern futons are fashionable and have the power to convert your living room a guest room in less than 5 minutes. They come in all sizes, colors, and designs and prices start as low as $200.

Tip Number 3

Keep window coverings simple in New York City Condos. Heavy patterns, and large curtain rods make rooms look cluttered. Use simple blinds or shades in very light, neutral colors that blend in with the walls. Both vertical blinds and mini-blinds work well for most types of windows. For extremely large windows, vertical blinds are a better option in terms of style. Likewise, mini-blinds are the best choice for very small windows.

New York City Condos vs. Coops: The Endless Debate

If you are a NYC property owner or are currently looking to buy, you are aware of the continuing debate over which is better – New York City condos or coops. though New Yorkers will always argue over which one is better, there is definitely a better choice for you.  The first step to understanding if a New York City condo is your best option or if you belong in a coop is understanding the difference between the two.

What is a New York City condo?

Buying a condo is similar to purchasing a house in that your unit is entirely yours.   If you choose to buy a condo, your unit will have its own deed and tax bill.  New York City condos are not controlled by a board and maintenance fees are relatively low.

Financing your New York City Condo

When purchasing a New York City condo, you are often able to finance up to 90% of the purchase price.  This means that you do not need to put as much money down as when purchasing a coop.  Condos are, however, more expensive than coops.  Monthly fees, called Common Charges must be paid to finance the upkeep and maintenance of common areas.

Defining Coops: How they differ from New York City Condos

Most NYC apartments available for purchase are coops, so if you are looking to buy, this option will give you the greatest variety.  If you are looking to buy in a pre-war building, this is most likely your only option.

The most important thing to understand about buying a coop is that you are not actually purchasing your particular apartment, but rather shares in a coop corporation which owns the building.  Like a condo, there are monthly maintenance fees, although they are quite a bit higher.

All coops are under the guidance of a Board of Directors.  What does this mean for you?  This means that you will have to be approved by the board before you are able to purchase the apartment.  This process is not so simple.  It is often lengthy and rigorous.  Boards are known to ask for extensive information regarding finances, employment, and even your personal history.

Financing your New York City Coop


Financing on New York City coops is often limited by the Board of Directors.  Upon purchase, many Boards require a cash down payment of at least 25% of the total cost.  Some more exclusive coops do not allow any financing at all.

 Now that you are familiar with the basic differences between New York City condos and coops, which one is right for you?