Refurbish Your Furniture

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Sometimes we all need a little change of scenery in our apartments. But this time, rather than packing up all your furniture and heading to donate it why not take those old pieces and transform them into something unique? Turning old and and dated pieces of furniture into something new can be a great way to release your creativity into your apartment and increase your sense of ownership over the pieces you keep in your home.

Recreating older pieces of furniture doesn’t have to be difficult or overly time consuming. This blog from renters.apartments.com has some quick and simple ideas to update old furniture. Keep reading to learn how you can refurbish a number of old pieces.

• Slipcover an old armchair, sofa or ottoman: For instant furniture revival without any staples, find a slip cover that fits your chair, sofa or ottoman to give it a facelift. If needed, remove old upholstery on hand-me-down furniture and replace it with fabric that matches the room’s decor. While you’re at it, replace any foam or batting that has seen better days. Straight forward pieces are fairly easy to reupholster yourself, but if you feel overwhelmed by the project, take the furniture to a professional for guaranteed results.
  
• Repaint a tired dresser, nightstand or armoire: Whether the piece was painted previously or not, prep the furniture by sanding and priming it. Apply two coats of your favorite colored paint. Stencils and painter’s tape allow you create customized designs for added interest. Finally, replacing old hardware completes the makeover.
  
• Rescue a worn-out cart: Give media carts, movable kitchen islands, utility tables and other furniture-on-wheels a new lease on life with a properly executed makeover. Sand, prime and paint your old wood cart to freshen it up. New casters are probably in order as well, since these rust and wear out with age.
  
• Recover a chair or bench cushion: Kids and animals wreak havoc on cushion covers, staining and tearing them when your back is turned. Save the furniture by removing the existing cushion and recovering it with a new fabric of your choice. All you need to complete this DIY project is a staple gun and a screwdriver. You might also choose to repaint wooden portions of the chair or bench for a complete furniture transformation.
  
• Restore a shabby bookcase: Wooden shelves are as ho-hum as they get, but you can liven up even the shabbiest of bookcases on a Saturday afternoon. Sand and prime every surface and apply white paint to the exterior and shelf fronts. Then, paint a bright color on the insides of shelves to add contrast. White crown molding along the top adds a stylish finish.
  
• Update a drab headboard: Statement headboards are more fashionable than ever right now. If you have a stately headboard with a drab, damaging finish, update it with fresh paint, maybe even a unique stencil design. Upholstered headboards also add value and interest to the bedroom, as well as a comfortable way to prop yourself up.

Tips To Throwing A Successful Dinner Party

(Image Courtesy of Walt Stoneburner)

If you’re new to the art of throwing a dinner party, taking that initial leap can be a bit daunting. The important thing to remember when inviting people over is that you’re supposed to have fun- don’t let the menu and trying to make your apartment spotless get in the way of your good time.

The basics that you need to remember are the gues list, the menu and how to be a good host. Thankfully, this article from renters.apartments.com has a great guide to getting your started on your way to dinner party success. Keep reading to learn a few tips and tricks to make your first dinner party go off without a hitch!

The Guest List

One of the most important aspects to planning a dinner party is inviting the right people, as well as inviting the right number of people. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, and to keep food costs down, invite a maximum of ten people. If possible, choose to invite people that will likely mix well, but are different enough from each other to spark interesting conversation. When inviting guests, be sure to specify the type of dress (casual, formal, and so on) so they can plan accordingly.

Plan a Menu

A menu that includes some appetizers, a main course, and a dessert is ideal for any dinner party. When selecting a menu for your party, consider any special dietary restrictions that your guest may have, as well as your cooking ability. If you aren’t that skilled in the kitchen, stick with simple recipes that everyone loves, such as macaroni and cheese. It is more important that the menu be well-prepared than to be fancy.

Beverages are also important. You may choose to serve wine, beer, cocktails, or even a single “signature cocktail.” If you are serving alcohol, be sure to offer water and other non-alcoholic options as well. If you find yourself having a hard time deciding what to put on your menu, try choosing a theme for the entire party, and then choose foods that make sense with the theme.

Be a Good Host

A good host has a clean home, a welcoming attitude, and is attentive to their guests’ needs. Greeting guests with drinks and a selections of appetizers is a good way to start the evening, and makes hungry folks feel at ease. Giving guests a tour of the house, or at least, directions to the bathroom, is always appreciated.

Keep the conversation flowing by bringing up subjects that everyone can relate to, or by letting people know things that they may have in common with each other. It is also a good idea to have some activities around in case you sense that people are beginning to tire of table conversation.

When the party is over, be sure to thank you guests for coming, as well as for any hostess gifts they may have given you. Depending on the formality of your event, you may want to send a written thank-you note to those who attended your party. By inviting a great group of people, planning a menu that you can execute well, and being aware of your guests’ needs, your first dinner party is sure to be a hit.

Finding The Perfect Vacuum

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A vacuum is one of the staples of apartment living. Whether you’re just engaging in your routine cleaning of your apartment, or picking up after having friends over for a game night, a vacuum is one of the few pieces of equipment it is difficult to get by without. Because the vacuum is essential to so many people there are many different choices and styles to take into consideration with choosing a new one.

The amount of space you have and how tidy you like to keep your apartment are all factors that you need to take into consideration when choosing a new vacuum. This article from apartmenttherapy.com walks you through the steps to finding the right vacuum for your needs. Keep reading to find out what important questions you need to ask before buying this essential tool.

Uprights

Many people prefer upright vacuums because they cover a larger area, they fit well in a largish closet, and they're generally the best option for cleaning carpeted rooms.

Desco Vacuum: Located in Manhattan, this store is a good source for reliable information and reasonable prices on high-end vacuum cleaners. They carry Miele, Sebo, Pullman, and Dyson, as well as specialty brands like American-made Riccar vacuums, which come with 5-year household warranties. (Shown left is the Riccar Radiance.)

Overstock.com: Always a good source for deals, Overstock has a rotating supply of upright, canister, and handheld vacuums. They sell new and refurbished models, which are offered at deep discounts since they've been returned by customers, then examined by Overstock to make sure that they're in like-new condition.

Canisters

The attachment makes it easier to clean upholstery, curtains, and other hard-to-reach areas. Canister vacuums are also recommended for bare floors, since they can easily suck the dirt that collects near baseboards, but are more difficult to maneuver over a fully carpeted room.

Best Vacuum: Based out of Chicago, this online store has detailed reviews of their products, as well as guides to which vacuum is best for pet owners, allergy sufferers, people with thick carpets, or people with wood floors. For instance, they recommend the $680 HEPA Miele Pisces for people with allergies. (Apartment Therapy blogger Aaron has one if you want to read his take on it.)

Amazon.com: This ubiquitous online retailer is a great place to comparison shop, since they carry most major brands. Do your research and check out the prices on Amazon versus other stores, since their deals vary. We found a good price ($330 compared to $400 and above at other retailers) on the Electrolux Oxygen, a canister vac that's recommended by Consumer Reports (although reader comments seem to be split between strong positive and negative reviews).

Hand-Helds and Small Vacuums

Handheld vacuums are good for light jobs, but don't expect the coverage or power of an upright or canister. They're useful in small apartments that don't have a lot of carpeting, and they're great for upholstery or curtains.

Abt Electronics and Appliances: Headquartered outside of Chicago, this online store has received good customer service reports from Apartment Therapy readers. They carry the full range of vacuums, from uprights to handhelds, and their prices are on par with and sometimes below other electronics stores. The popular Dyson Handheld DC35 Multi Floor Vacuum is listed at $329.

Fry's Home Electronics: On the West Coast and in the Southwest, Fry's is a go-to source for household electronics. They sell a bunch of different vacuums, including the $100 Electrolux Ergorapido 2-in-1 Sweeper, which is actually a stick model with a built-in handheld vac. Gregory has one and he recommends it for pet owners with hard floors.

There are TONS of product reviews and information out there on Vacuums. Here are a few good sources if you want more information and recommendations.

• Vacuum and Floor Care Stores on Marketplace

• Best Vacuum Roundup: Dyson, Miele, Electrolux, Airider...

• Vacuums on Unplggd  

Is Your Apartment Pet Friendly?

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Adding a pet to your home can be a great change. You’ll always have someone there to greet you when you come from work, and having a pet can make your apartment feel more like a home. As many long time pet owners know, though, bringing a pet into your home requires more than just love- there are some very important steps that need to happen first.

Caring for your pet in an apartment is different than caring for your pet in a home. When you bring a dog or cat into the picture, even the set up of your apartment can change. This article from renters.apartments.com walks through the steps all pet owners (new and old) need to take to make sure their apartment is pet ready. Keep reading to learn more.

Pet supplies: Before bringing your new pet home, you need to have food (and a bowl to put it in), somewhere for him to sleep, a collar and leash if it’s a dog, and maybe some treats and toys to help ease his transition into his new space. If you got a puppy that will need to be housebroken, a crate is a good idea to help prevent accidents in every corner of your apartment (not to mention a serious dent in your security deposit). Other necessities may include medicine, poop bags, a hair brush, shampoo and toothbrush.

Cleaning supplies: As cute as they are, pets can also be messy, especially a dog who needs to be walked in all types of weather, thereby bringing mud, ice and snow back inside with him. Stock up on carpet and floor cleaner for whatever he tracks in, as well as inevitable accidents and sickness. Another key factor is hair – consider investing in a heavy-duty pet vacuum if your new companion is a big shedder, and stock up on lint rollers for your clothes and furniture.

Pet proofing: Another thing to consider before bringing your pet home is what hazards he could get into. Anything that lives close to the floor – like trash cans, power cords, stuff crammed under the bed – could look like enticing chew toys to your dog or cat. Get as much off the floor as you can, especially potentially hazardous items like pills, cleaning supplies and electric cords. When you’re not home, be sure to close off any rooms you don’t want him in unsupervised. And if he learns how to open cupboards and trash cans, it’s time to get some locks to keep him – and your stuff – safe.

Training: Just as important as making your apartment suitable for your pet is making sure your pet respects your apartment. Sign up for obedience classes right away if you get a dog, and set limits for what’s OK and not OK at home. It may be cute the first time your dog grabs a sock out of the laundry basket, but your roommate won’t be happy if she comes home to a half-eaten shirt. Make your house rules – whether the pet is allowed on furniture, if he can eat table scraps, etc. – and stick to them to maintain a happy household.

Learn more about living with pets in your apartment.