Give Your Apartment A Pick Me Up

(Image courtesy of hetsluvdesign)

No matter how much care you’ve taken in decorating your apartment, after awhile your carefully chosen curtains and wall art will start to look a little stale after awhile. Looking at the same pieces of art and knick knacks in the same spots every day can begin to take a toll on your eyes and your senses after a few months. When you get that itch to redecorate you don’t need to feel like you need to start over from scratch-there are few simple steps you can take to rejuvenate even the most bland apartment.

Adding a few extra decorations or moving around the pieces that you already have displayed in your apartment can make a world of difference! So before you head for the dumpster with the canvas prints you were in love with last year take a second to rethink your apartment layout. These ten tips, courtesy ofapartmenttherapy.com, walk you step-by-step through the quickest ways to give your apartment a boost when you feel like it needs it. Keep reading to learn more:

1. Bring the outdoors in with houseplants.

A little green can go a long ways towards bringing life into your space. Choose something low maintenance, like a succulent, if you have a less than green thumb.

2. Add a few throw pillows.

Throw pillows can add both color and texture, and go a long ways towards making a room feel finished.

3. Hang some art.

Frame it up or get creative. You can find great art on Etsy or at the thrift shop, or hang a masterpiece by your kid — anything that resonates with you or just makes you feel happy.

4. Buy fresh flowers.

Flowers add a lot to a space and feel decadent, but don't have to cost much. A bouquet from the grocery store in one bold color can have a great impact.

5. Add a shot of color.

Whether you pick up a bright throw pillow or paint a wall, bringing in color is the quickest way to bring about a dramatic change.

6. Cozy things up with a throw.

Throws add texture and warmth, inviting you and your guests to get comfortable.

7. Make it personal — display something meaningful.

Putting a sweet note or personal photo on display makes a house feel more like a home, and brings in a bit of your personal history.

8. Set out books and magazines.

Keeping reading material within reach invites you to sit down and make yourself at home, and is a great way to keep guests occupied.

9. Light some candles.

Scent can have a big impact on how we experience our environment, and the glow of a candle also brings a bit of warmth to a room.

10. Turn on some music.

Music is one of the easiest ways to set the mood and liven things up in an instant.

The Quick Apartment Fixer-Upper

(Image courtesy of Alberti.nl)

We all get that itch from time-to-time. You know the one - the feeling where you just need to change something about where you’re living. It may be the furniture, or the paintings on the walls, or just the way that you feel when you walk in the door that something’s not right. There’s no need to tear your apartment apart and start your decor from scratch, there are quick simple solutions to help your apartment feel brand new again.

It’s easy to feel like your apartment isn’t living up to your expectations after you’ve been seeing the same thing everyday for months. These tips, courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com will help you take the step back you may need to fall in love with your apartment again. Keep reading to learn more.

• Clean your home. It's usually the single best way to improve your environment, and it costs nothing. Plus, even a new sofa won't fix a dirty house.
• Get rid of something. It's free and free-ing. The bonus? Helping your apartment lose weight is a lot easier than dieting.
• Lay off the shelter porn. Just as ads make it seem like everyone's a beautiful underweight 21-year-old, shelter mags and blogs (yes, us too) often feature beautiful homes that can make your own space seem like it doesn't measure up. Work on learning to love your home for what it is.
• Paint. Nothing perks up a room like a fresh coat of paint, and the right color can offset things you already own, elevating your whole apartment to a new level.
• Rearrange your furniture. It's a really effective way to change your outlook on your home, it's free, and it gives you a good workout.
• Upgrade something. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to buy something new - you can revive an old piece of furniture with a coat of paint, reupholster a chair, or make a slipcover for something.
• Fix something. You know that drippy faucet, torn window screen, or broken doorknob? You'll feel better once it works again.

How To Divide Your Space

(Image courtesy of Wickerfurniture)

Creating exciting decor is all about finding one piece that will draw guests attention. Though definitive art pieces and colorful couches are great for drawing the eye and creating conversations, if you’re looking to change the shape of your space, it may be helpful to try a room divider.

To divvy up your space, you’re not relegated to the plain paper dividers that you can find at almost any store, there are simple solutions and opportunities to upcycle that will create a vibrant and colorful decor. Follow the links below, courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com, to find the perfect space divider for your apartment.

1. An old window used perfectly to divide the space, worth checking out the rest of the photos the rest of the house is lovely. koko studios via flickr

2. 3form's partitions are made from their Varia Ecoresin material, which uses a minimum of 40% recycled resin. A variety of options and colors available.

3. A nice use of the classic IKEA Expedit shelves, these are included because they are fairly easy to find used on craigslist. You can find all of the specs for these shelves on the IKEA website. SweetLunaNet via flickr

4. This project from Lifehacker turns old LPs into a room divider.

5. Natural Bamboo Screen from Gaiam, pesticide-free bamboo finished with nontoxic water-based finish.

6. Another great example of windows as room dividers. Perhaps not the best example for a renter, but so pretty. From Casasugar.

7. A fabulous fifties-inspired home, uses a tall entertainment unit that doubles as a divider. mouchoux via flickr.

Building The Perfect Bathroom

(Image courtesy of leyla.a)

Because the bathroom is the room we all spend the majority of our time in, doesn’t it make sense that we should feel comfortable and at home in there? A more cozy feeling bathroom maybe closer than you think. You don’t need to worry about replacing all the fixtures, tiles and wallpaper to create a different environment in your washroom.

Simple changes to the accessories and your storage routines can make all the difference in the world. These ideas from apartmenttherapy.com may be just the pick-me-up your bathroom needs to feel brand new again. Keep reading to learn more.

1. Accessorize.

A new shower curtain, bathmat or towels will add a blast of color to your bathroom and immediately raise your spirits. This could backfire if your bathroom is really past its prime, as it will highlight how scruffy the rest of the room is. But on the plus side, every time you walk in, you will see at least one thing you love.

2. Get rid of grubby grout.

It's not as much fun as choosing a new shower curtain, but this chore really will make your bathroom look cleaner and fresher. Here is one way of tackling grout without resorting to harsh chemicals: make a thick paste out of baking soda and water and spread it along the grout. Leave for ten minutes, then scrub with a toothbrush, using circular movements, and rinse. There are more bathroomcleaning tips here.

3. Add houseplants.

Plants love bathrooms, and they are good for body and soul too. Spider plants, ferns, aspidistra, and philodendron will all thrive in the warmth and humidity and are almost impossible to kill off. Find a longer list of suitable bathroom houseplants here. (And for a little inspiration for adding plants in the bathroom, check out this post.)

4. Add some art.

Hanging art is one of the easiest and most effective ways of transforming a space. No matter how small your bathroom, there is always room for a picture or two. Beware of humidity though, and save your original masterpieces for other rooms. Check out this post for inspiration.

5. Paint it.

Most bathrooms play it safe with all white fixtures and walls. Get creative and add some color and personality by painting the walls, ceiling or trim. I love the soft grey paneling in the picture above, from Kristen and Michelle's Modern Bohemian House Tour.

Sometimes making just one small change can be enough to shift your whole attitude towards a room. I'd love to know what has worked for you.

Have A Day In

(Image courtesy of jayneandd)

We all have those days when leaving the house just doesn't sound at all appealing. But even on days where going out sounds like a chore, no one wants to be bored. Just because you're camped out in the living room doesn't mean that there's nothing to do - there's plenty of fun to be had in your pajamas on the couch.

These ideas, courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com, are the perfect launching pad to start you on your way to a great day in. So grab your supplies, call up your friends and have a great day in!

Popcorn Party

• I highly recommend investing in a generously sized bag of popcorn kernels: it's dirt cheap, and you'll always have popcorn potential.
• Take some of the popcorn you already (now) own, and the faintest, cheapest whisper of oil, put them in a pan, and get poppin'.
• While you're waiting and shaking the pan, watch the videos for "Pop! Goes My Heart" from Music & Lyrics and "Lipgloss (It's Poppin')" by Lil Mama. If you don't have internet access or a device, sing any song you can think of with "pop" in the lyrics.
• Once your popcorn is done, the battle begins. Divide the popcorn among however many bowls you own/people there are, and let everyone go to town adding flavorings. This is a great way to use up underappreciated spices and syrups that may be languishing in your cupboards. Za'atar or furikake, perhaps?
• Declare a winner if you're the competitive type, make awards out of scraps if you're the crafty type, and make more popcorn if you're the hungry type (I'm all three).
• Costs Incurred: Electricity/gas for stove, amortization on pans/bowls, internet/electricity for watching videos, pennies' worth of oil/popcorn/salt.

Living Room Campout

• Gather your blankets, pillows, and, if you're really hardcore, sleeping bags in the living room and arrange your campsite.
• Round up all of your lanterns, flashlights, head lamps, glow sticks, lava lamps, and strobe lights, and turn off your regular house lights. A disco ball can easily stand in for a starry sky.
• Have each camper come prepared with a story to read and/or a story to tell.
• Turn down the heat (though not so cold that the pipes/walls freeze — we have to keep ours set at least at 59ºF) and snuggle up.
• If it's not deathly cold/dangerous where you live, go for a moonlit walk around the backyard/block.
• If you have a fireplace, you're living the dream. Roast marshmallows and veggie dogs on it if you own them, and bake potatoes in the coals. If you don't have a fireplace, make s'mores and dogs on the stove. Or roast bell peppers and tortillas directly on the burner and make tacos. Eat beans straight from the can. If all else fails, scrounge around in your cabinets for smoked salt or liquid smoke and add to your regularly cooked dinner.
• Costs Incurred: Battery life/electricity for various lights, firewood if you have to pay for it. Potential for saving money on heat and lighting.

Indoor Olympics

• Have everyone in your household come up with a list of events, and loosely clarify the rules for each.
• Most jump rope jumps! Lowest broomstick limbo! Fastest time running up the stairs! Getting the farthest around the living room without stepping in lava! Most somersaults! Balance on one foot, jump on one foot, hop on one foot throughout the entire house!
• Again, if you all are crafty, make medals for the winners: gold, silver, bronze, brass, copper, aluminum foil, etc. Everyone gets a medal.
• Make a makeshift podium out of stacked pillows.
• The gold medal winner has to sing the national anthem — bonus points for getting through the entire thing!
• Costs Incurred: Wear and tear on your furniture and flooring, random craft supplies used up to make medals.

So what are you waiting for? Time to get partying!

Drinks For Two

(Image courtesy of thekitchn.com)

It’s Valentine’s Day, and though you may not be going out, that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate! What better way to toast your sweetheart than with a homemade cocktail? Rather than scouring the internet looking for the perfect concoction to show your Valentine you care just whip up this recipe for Rose Champagne Cocktail.

This recipe, courtesy of thekitchn.com, is a quick fix-all you have to do is mix, sip and enjoy!

The classic recipe can be a little sweet, so I started wondering if I could cut the traditional sugar cube in half and found indeed you can. For this cocktail recipe you will cut one cube for every two glasses.

How to Cut a Sugar Cube

Using a sharp knife score the cube all the way around. Then using a sharp knife, serrated knife or scissors you can trim your cube the rest of the way through, making two halves.

This may seem silly to you, but if you don't like your sips sweet, it's key for this cocktail to work for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a bit of sweetness, go ahead and add one whole cube to each glass.

Since it is Valentine's Day, toasting with something pink seemed like the perfect pick, and a dry sparkling rosé or a Champagne rouge to top off our cocktail is just the thing. So polish your coupes or flutes and enjoy this sparkling rosé cocktail for happy hour.

Rosé Champagne Cocktail
Serves 2

• 1 sugar cube
• 8 dashes Angostura or other aromatic bitters
• Chilled rosé Champagne

Cut the sugar cube in half using a serrated knife or a sharp, thin knife. You will lose some sugar granules during cutting but that is ok.

Place one half of the sugar cube on the bottom of each champagne flute. Add 4 dashes of bitters over each sugar cube and then fill the glasses with Champagne.

Recipe Notes

The classic Champagne cocktail calls for a lemon twist garnish. You may choose to add one to this if you like.

Making Friends With The Neighbors

(Image courtesy of Design By Zouny)

When your favorite neighbors move away, it can be hard to make the adjustment to seeing new face. Though it’s normal to feel nervous about trying to establish a comfortable cohabitation with strangers, it’s important to establish a friendly relationship with your new neighbors early on.

Befriending your new neighbors will help to make sure that you’re both more comfortable in your surroundings. This article from apartmentguide.com has a few great tips to make sure that everyone adjusts to this new situation quickly. Keep reading to learn more.

Think the worst

We all harbor an understandable fear of the unknown. If you have settled into a positive pattern of coexisting with neighbors, then a situation that changes that dynamic could indeed feel a bit threatening.

Neighbor anxiety, or any kind of social anxiety, is often best managed by facing your fears with eyes wide open. Or closed, if you want to try a little visualization.

Imagine the worst neighbors you could possibly have. See them parking their car in your space after work. Smell the stinky food they cook. Hear the head-banging music they play every night and the shouting matches they have on their patio at 4 am.

Okay, that sounds really terrible. But ask yourself how likely a negative scenario like that will come to be. And if it did happen, what would you do about it?

Well, you’d call security, notify the community manager, buy earplugs — maybe turn on some of your own favorite music to drown out theirs.

In short, you could handle the situation, but it likely won’t happen at all if you take the next step and begin a relationship with your best good-neighborly skills.

Place your best foot forward

The keys to a good neighbor relationship are recognition and respect.

Let a new neighbor see your face and get acquainted. When you meet a new neighbor, introduce yourself, maybe even offer a little help getting to know the area, if the person comes from a different city. It wouldn’t hurt to bring over a new houseplant or something that will be a daily reminder that you are a sweet neighbor who should be appreciated. Keep in mind: it’s hard not to like the nice person who baked banana bread as a housewarming gift!

Subtly set expectations

Remember that you may not be the only one who is anxious about this new living situation. You might have a nervous neighbor next door who is dealing with culture shock, wondering how they should behave in this new community.

Do them a favor and ease their fears, while letting them know the real deal. A comment like “I think you’ll really like how quiet our community is” lets them know to keep the volume down. And “I’m your neighbor, Susan, with the red Honda over there” stakes your claim on your parking space. You can help the new guy or gal feel comfortable by subtly explaining the rules.

Sure, the unknowns of a new neighbor situation can be a little scary. But if you take control of the situation with some proactive friendliness, then you’ll put both your fears and theirs at ease. Nip potential bad blood in the bud by being, if not an actual buddy, then the kind of neighbor that you’d want to live next door to. (It’s amazing what a little banana bread can do!)