Apartment Blog

 Continuing our weekly trend, here are some amazing tips on how to refresh your home using the happy color yellow. As the color of sunshine and daisies, yellow brightens up dark rooms and breathes warmth into cold spaces. And remember, these tips will accommodate most limitations given for apartment renters!

For an elegant feel, add black and white furniture with strong silhouettes to a room in addition to the color yellow. In the photo example, a simple color scheme of white, soft yellow, and black creates a timeless look to this room.

Pale yellow walls set a soothing tone. Pairing cheerful colors, such as soft greens and yellows are also very welcoming.

A beautiful combination is blue with yellow. It adds a classic French country feeling to any space, especially with patterns that include the fleur de lis, the swan motif, stripes, small floral prints and checkerboards.

Curtains, appliances and kitchen towels in a mustard yellow coordinate with rustic cupboards (common in many apartment communities) can give a kitchen a Mediterranean ambiance.  Pair a few mosaic plates with red, blue and orange on the wall to really get the feeling going!

A floral-inspired bedspread, curtains and chandelier bring a romantic feeling to a bedroom.

A bold beam of sunny yellow can be brought in with an accent rug or a piece of art work.

For a multifunctional room or a child bedroom, use yellow with other primary colors (red and blue).  Children of most ages like the bright colors, plus this palette can be used for many years.

Yellow backing on bookshelves will make the books stand out on a custom-built shelf.

Combine warm shades of yellow, gold, and tangerine give to a room a sophisticated and elegant look. The walls, floor, and drapery are kept neutral in shades of white and cream (as most apartments are). Yellow upholstery, pillows, and artwork add a bit of color but keep it rich and elegant (see photo on left).

One of the best qualities of the color yellow is that it goes great with nearly every other color — white, orange, green, pink, blue and brown. So if you’re looking to punch up a space, why not consider this pleasing color! What’s next on the palate? The color PINK!

Source: Country Living and Better Homes & Gardens

 In the world of apartment living, we all know how important it is to create a multifunctional space. I can’t tell you how many pieces of furniture I have purchased with the thought of ‘hey, that can double as this!’ or something to that effect. When you’re living in a one or two bedroom apartment, it’s essential to get all the practicality you can out of the space provided. So here are a few tips for those of you sharing a spare bedroom between an office and guest bedroom.

Office Space:

You will need a few key items for your office space in this room. Obviously a work station, a chair, office utensils, maybe a computer, books, etc.  Depending on whether you want your work area to be seen or not will determine what type of work station you get, either an armoire or a desk.  Be sure and have handy storage items for your pens, paper, personal mail, notes, etc. so that when guests do stay they are hidden. Having decorative storage containers will serve two functions as it is practical and eye catching!

You can also have larger office supplies stored on a bookshelf near the work station or inside the closet.

Guest Bedroom:

Think about how you would feel as a guest in your multifunctional guest bedroom. You know you will want a sleeping area that is practical for during the day and at night. So a day bed or a futon would be the best option here-sofa by day, bed by night.  Be sure to purchase one that is comfortable for your guest to sleep on. Also purchase plenty of blankets, sheets, pillows, toiletries, etc. A creative way to store those items is: a few small storage containers to slip under the day bed/futon so it is out of the way or for a more decorative option (but only if you have the space) is a nice trunk or storage ottoman. Storage cubes and chests can triple as seating, storage, and end tables. A night stand would be nice with a lamp.  And of course a few hangers inside your closet for guests to hang their garments would be appreciated.

Décor:
Now the décor for this space needs to be planned out as well. You want something you can live with everyday while using your work station but also something that is appealing to guests when they are visiting. I personally have a cool color palette (see pictures). The walls are a nice blue, the futon is a light brown and the sheet set/blanket is a cream and green pattern. The pattern isn’t too overwhelming for the space and it isn’t too girly. Color blocked trimmings (silver office supplies, hardware, and photo frames) help tie it together.
Wall-mounted accessories make the best use of the room.  Floating shelves is a good way to use height for space by storing trinkets or books on the wall. As we’ve mentioned in our ‘How to Decorate Walls Without Painting’ blog, mirrors help give the illusion of more space. Thoughtful art choices help warm the room.

And don’t forget to add a vase with fresh flowers as a nice touch. It’ll have guests wanting to visit you over and over again!

If you’re a renter you know the difficulties behind adding a little personality and color to your apartment. Restrictions like ‘no painting’ doesn’t allow for very much creative freedom. And given that your apartment is your space, your personal retreat from the rest of the world; it’s hard to be surrounded by bare white walls. Desperate to find solutions to this persistent problem, here are a few tips to help alleviate the madness.

Mirror, mirror on the wall.
Did you know when you decorate with mirrors that it can give the illusion of more space? Hanging a mirror on a wall opposite a window can also help with that effect while bringing in the color scheme of the outdoors. And my favorite, hanging multiple mirrors in a pattern is eye-catching as well as functional for adding dimension to the space.

Vinyl decals are lifesavers.
One day while sifting through the dollar store (you know, my favorite store), I noticed that they had wall decals. I bought a couple different sheets in a shells/beach theme to decorate my guest bathroom. They were a perfect solution to not being able to paint in there.  I put the decals on the tub as well as on the walls. The variety of color and artwork really was ideal for that small space. A friend of mine also purchased some for her bedrooms. Brightly colored flowers that coordinated with her bedding set. It was a wonderful compliment to her space. And with the variety of options out there, phrases, themes, graphics, colors, etc., you really can choose one that is all your own.

Collage of….EVERYTHING!
When you think of collages, you probably think of photographs. There isn’t just one way to do a collage of photographs though. You can do them by stringing them on a grid like patter, like we mentioned in our ‘20 Simple and Sensible Decorating Ideas’, or in frames. Varying the sizes and how you hang each one would make a big impact as well. In addition to a collage of pictures, you can also do plates. I saw on Home Décor with Kelly Edwards that this really makes a one of a kind art piece that is completely personal to you.

Think fabric & texture!
A rug doesn’t have to be on the floor! You can totally tack that sucker up on the wall for more vivid colors. You can also do one wall completely in curtains, Hildi taught me that (referencing Hildi Santo from Trading Spaces). It’s a way to make a very big impact with whatever pattern you want. Plus, you can change it out as often as you’d like. Another way to create visual interest on your walls is to do fish netting. I have that up in my bedroom with various shells weaved through it as well as a couple shell necklaces and sea glass. The netting itself doesn’t give any real color (besides the sandy color of the string) but what I can accent it with sure does!

When you purchase a home one of the main things, I’ve been told, you look forward to be being able to do is paint! Decorate those walls to your heart’s desire. But unfortunately, for us renters that is not an option right now.   So hopefully these tips will help you express yourself in your living space.

We all love when Valentine’s Day rolls around. If the pressures from the Christmas spending weren’t enough, let’s add another purchasing holiday a month and a half later! We understand the crunch you’re feeling, especially in these economic times; let us share a way to skip an added expense….. Valentine’s Day cards!

Now, I’m all for the modern, eco-friendly, economical approach (hello E-Cards), however, sometimes those aren’t appropriate for your loved ones who live close by.  So take a look below at two perfect homemade Valentine’s Day cards from AllFreeCrafts.com:

Here are the materials you might need:

• Pink and red hearts cut from construction paper (various sizes)
• Cream/white colored paper (computer paper) & red construction paper
• Scotch tape
• Elmer’s glue
• Blank cards (or use left over poster board for a one-sided card)
• Computer to type phrases or Alphabet stickers

Directions:

Card #1:

This Valentine’s Day card is quick and easy. Cut a piece of dark red paper to fit the front of your blank card (or poster board piece) and glue it in place. Type “Happy Valentine’s Day” on your computer and print it on the cream/white colored paper. Glue the cut-out phrase first on a dark red piece of paper, and then give that piece on another piece of cream colored cardstock to create a layered look. This card will open horizontally (or not at all), so turn it horizontally and glue the Valentine’s sentiment to the top third of the card. For the bottom portion of the card cut three small freehand hearts from the dark red paper. Glue these hearts to three torn scraps (in the shape of squares) to cream colored paper. Space these pieces across the bottom of the card and glue in place.

Card #2:

This card is made from a dark red piece of paper and a cream colored piece of paper. Cut a piece of the dark red paper to fit the front of your blank card (or scrap poster board piece) and glue it in place. Cut a large square from the cream colored paper and glue it just above the center of the card. Glue the piece of paper in place. Tear a large heart from the dark red paper and glue it in the center of the cream colored square. Type “Happy Valentine’s Day” on your computer. Print on cream colored paper and glue in the center of the heart.

These two methods are quite perfect whether you’re crafty or not! So use what you have lying around the house (scotch tape, glue and your computer) and if you don’t have the other materials, you can pick them up at your local dollar store. Trust me, for the price you’re paying you’ll get more bang for your buck! Plus, we’ll be posting a ‘Homemade Valentine’s Day Gifts’ blog where you’ll also be able to use these materials! Cha-ching!

As most of us renters know, while closet space is a nice amenity to have, it isn’t usually one of our top choices for narrowing down apartments. Therefore, we are usually stuck with whatever closet space we are given in the apartment we choose. And while a closet the size of Harry Potters Room under the stairs isn’t desirable, it’s manageable. So we’re here to provide you with a few tips on how to turn that hole in the wall of a closet, into a functional space for your wardrobe and accessories.

Tip 1: Do some ‘Spring cleaning’
The easiest way to get more room in your closet is to go through the items in there. Get rid of anything you don’t wear, haven’t seen or haven’t worn for more than a year.

Tip 2: Use all available space
If the closet you have only has one rod across the top, consider putting in a tension rod so that you can have double the space. Put the longer items on top (likes dresses and pants) and the shorter items on the bottom (like jackets, skirts and shirts). This is what I have done in my closet and it really opens the space!

Tip 3: Find Space Saver Ideas
The hanging shelf closet organizers can be used for various items. You can put sweaters, t-shirts, jeans or whatever in there. The space it takes to hang up the organizer will be more than doubled with the amount of garments you can put in there.

Tip 4: Use the back of the door
I think people underestimate the amount of room it’ll save them if they put a shoe rack or an over the door rack to hang accessories.  Instead of putting your shoes on shelves, free up those shelves with a shoe rack on the back of the door. If nothing else, you can always put a full length mirror on the back of the door so you can check yourself before you leave. That’ll save room somewhere else in your apartment.

Tip 5: Stash seasonal items
There are quite a few storage bins available in stores. You can get rolling bins for under your bed to hide non-season items. For example if you are in the summer months, there is no reason for you to have your bulky sweaters and jackets in your closet. They just take up space. Put them in a container under your bed and get them out when the weather calls for it.

So there it is, five tips to help you organize the closet in your apartment into something that is practical for your lifestyle. You will truly be surprised by the ‘magical’ transformation!

Re-gifting….YAY or NAY?? While some find this concept absolutely repulsive, others find this completely acceptable. If you find this option, re-gifting, ‘okay’ then you might want to check out these tips before doing so! Believe it or not, even re-gifting has rules…..

1. Hold onto the gift a full season or holiday, this way enough time passes that it may be forgotten by others
2. Give it to someone in another social circle, for example if Grandma gives you your thousandth trinket make sure to steer clear of family and pass it on to a co-worker or friend
3. Make the most of White Elephant opportunities- half of the gifts given are gags anyway so use the game as an opportunity to unload unwanted items
4. DONATE them at the holidays- those angel trees never share about the person’s interest or hobbies, so you’re safe dropping off something “random”, just make sure it serves as a little extra in their bag and not the primary gift
5. Embellish it- feel like it was shafty when you got it?  Then add something to it like a gift card or bow to make it worthwhile…then pass it on!
6. Consignment shop here you come- this is mostly limited to clothing and accessories, but if your special gift fits the bill then take it in and see what you can make!  Note: this mainly benefits you and the store, but shouldn’t the gift have benefited you initially?  I see no crime here.
7. Door prize!  Ever throw parties like ornament decorating, holiday book club, wine tasting, or Bunco???  Why not giveaway a nice little treat to the first person in the door?
8. Is Secret Santa going on at work?  Make sure you sign up to participate and empty out your stack of “desirable” gifts to that special name you drew.  The plus to this is, you make space in your closet and seem generous at the same time!
9. Obligation gifts…we all know what these are!  Next time someone unexpectedly gives you a gift during the holidays, be prepared.  Have your gift wrapped and ready, they’ll appreciate you thought of them as well and it saves you from spending money on people who didn’t make your shopping list the first or second time around.
10. Knock, knock- The holidays are the perfect time to build a relationship with your neighbors.  They will appreciate the gesture and hopefully will remember it the next time you ask them to keep an eye on your apartment when you’re away!
11. And they didn’t even see it coming!!!  Take time to re-gift presents to people who wouldn’t expect anything in the first place.  Your mailman, maintenance staff, kid’s bus driver, office receptionist, and security guards work hard everyday- give them a little something to show that you notice!
12. Lend a helping hand.  Have you ever been to something where a person forgot to bring a gift or was unaware they needed one?  Save them from shame and let them use yours.