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- Design Tips To Create Space in a Crowded Home
- 10 Innovative Ways to Maximize Space in Your Apartment
- A Handy Checklist For First-Time Apartment Renters
- 7 Tips To Accommodate Guests In Your New Apartment
- Create an Apartment Fit for a Professional
- 10 Handy Tips for Finding Your Dream Apartment!
Design Tips To Create Space in a Crowded Home
Trying to accommodate children, personal relics and long-time furniture in your
apartment can be a paramount challenge.
Here are some tips to create space in a busy apartment.
Lighting is everything! Flat overhead lighting makes your apartment seem
smaller. Accessorize your apartment with separate light sources and lamps. Not
only will this ‘stretch’ the corners of your room, it will give you control over
your atmosphere, allowing you to conceal cluttered areas and highlight others to
get the best and most flexible use out of your space.
Strategically place mirrors in your apartment to capitalize on natural light.
This also creates the impression of extra space by tricking the eye into
believing there is a twin room.
Pale furniture will open up the room. You should also look for furniture that
serves more than one purpose and will free up space in your busy apartment. Find
a coffee table with built-in drawers, tables with enclosed cabinets, a couch
with drawers underneath. Note that cabinets with sliding doors will save space
because they do not encroach on the room when opened.
Position your couch facing the living room entrance to increase the sense of
space and give your apartment a welcoming feel.
Choose lightweight, versatile furniture that can be moved around easily. Floor
lamps and tables can be moved between studying and socializing areas as needed
in your apartment.
Double up on apartment space by using a futon instead of a couch in your living
room. This will come in handy for extra guests. Use bunk beds if you have
multiple children sleeping in a single room, to create more floor space.
Making these easy changes will help you expand your apartment space.
10 Innovative Ways to Maximize Space in Your
Apartment
Cluttering your apartment with odds and ends is not just messy but can be
hazardous to your children.
Follow these suggestions to streamline your apartment.
1. Use empty jars, margarine containers and ice cream tubs to store your
buttons, threads, nails, screws and other odds and ends laying around your
apartment.
2. Cut plastic milk bottles in half and use them for storage to keep puzzles,
marbles and other small toys off your apartment floor.
3. Keep your kids’ backpacks in an easy-to-find location to reduce last-minute
rushes when leaving the apartment. Backpack Racks sell online for about $5.
4. Donate clothes to charity if your kids have outgrown them or if you haven’t
worn them in the last year.
5. Reduce paper clutter in the kitchen by hanging a bulletin board (or adding
fridge magnets) on an unused wall in your apartment.
6. Donate or discard multiple kitchen items, or items you haven’t used in a
year.
7. Buy a cheap wine rack to store your bathroom towels. You’ll be surprised to
discover that rolled-up bathroom towels fit surprisingly well in a wine rack,
creating extra space in your cupboards!
8. Hang a rack in your shower to store soap, shampoos and conditioners. Make
sure razors are kept out of reach of children.
9. Throw out expired medicines and old makeup. Expired medicines can be
dangerous in your apartment if your children discover them, and ineffective if
you return to use them. Makeup that is past its best is not good for your face!
10. Keep a watch in your neighbourhood for free furniture. Many people leave
unwanted furniture at the curb, particularly the night before garbage
collection.
A Handy Checklist For First-Time Apartment Renters
Moving into your first apartment can be overwhelming, particularly if you have
few possessions and are on a limited budget.
While family members, garage sales and second-hand furniture stores are cheap
and fun sources for ‘treasures’ to fill your apartment, don’t fall victim to
buying loads of apartment items you don’t need.
Paramount Properties has prepared a list of basic essentials you’ll need when
moving into your first apartment.
Item Check
√
___mattress
___bed sheets and pillowcases
___comforter/blanket
___pillows
___alarm clock
___desk/table, chair, couch
___clothing hangers
___drawer organizers
___mirror
___dinnerware set
___coffee mugs
___drinking glasses (any will do for now – buy tumblers and wine glasses later)
bottle opener
___saucepans
___measuring cup and spoons
___garbage can
___dish detergent
___dish drainer
___laundry powder
___laundry bag
___tool kit
___flashlight
___toilet brush
___cleaning products
___toothbrush and paste
___towels
___kettle for coffee/tea
7 Tips To Accommodate Guests In Your New Apartment
Apartment-living is an attractive option for seniors who no longer need a big
family home, or want to get the most out of their retirement savings by reducing
extra costs.
But downsizing your home doesn’t prevent you from throwing successful family
parties in your apartment! With simple planning, you can still bring everyone
home for the holidays.
1. Plan your space
Furnish your apartment with pieces that serve multiple purposes. Stools and
pillows look great and can be used for extra seating. Tables that fold or expand
can temporarily double your serving space.
2. Clear the Clutter
Put away any knickknacks, counter clutter, and small decorative furniture. Your
valuables will not only be safe, but you will have more surface space and the
room will seem bigger and more inviting.
3. Delegate
Once your children have grown out of calling peanut butter and pickles a dinner,
ask them to help with the preparations! If each adult prepares an appetizer,
desert or entrée, your preparation time will be cut significantly, your kitchen
will stay cleaner and everyone will be able to contribute to the day.
4. Make after-party arrangements
Are people coming from out of town? Will alcohol be served? Is transportation
available? If any of your guests will need overnight accommodation, make sure
arrangements are made before the big day. A smaller home means less space for
unexpected overnight guests.
5. Don't forget the children
If children are coming, make sure there is a safe space away from the excitement
of the party available. In an apartment, a bedroom or office can be used for
this purpose. Young children may become overwhelmed or tired before the day is
through and having a 'children's only' area will make sure that they enjoy the
day as much as the adults.
6. Eat simply
Unless you are planning a formal dinner, serve simple food that won't stain
clothes. If everyone can't fit around a single table, skip the dinner time
ordeal and allow your guests to mingle and graze the food.
7. Watch the clock
Know when your guests are coming and leaving. If your first guest arrives early
and the last guest leaves late, the day can quickly become long and
overwhelming. Set a start and finish time for your gathering and you and your
guests will get the most out of your time with each other.
Moving into a rented apartment doesn't mean you have to give up your family
traditions. With just a bit of planning, you can still find room to accommodate
everyone when celebrating family occasions.
Create an Apartment Fit for a Professional
Many professionals choose apartment living over home ownership. The flexibility
that renting provides is a perfect solution for professionals in dynamic
careers. Access to transit services is close by or you can find properties right
downtown! And who needs the added stress of property taxes, building maintenance
and bill after bill after bill when renting is so simple? No wonder nearly 40%
of Ottawa homes are rented.
Apartment living is clearly a great choice, but how do you turn those
eggshell-white walls into a comfortable home to match your professional
lifestyle? It's not as hard as you might think!
Before you begin
Read the lease or rental agreement - what can and can't you do? Can you drill
into the walls? Can you paint? Knowing your restrictions will help you determine
what you can do. If in doubt, speak with your building landlord before beginning
any questionable projects - This could save you headaches down the road.
Add Colour!
The walls are the background of your home and set the tone for each room. White
walls in apartments can make an apartment seem cold and institutional. Make
yourself feel truly at home by dressing up the walls.
If you paint, select a light or neutral colour. Many lease or rental agreements
require that you return the walls to their original colour when you move-out.
Lighter colours are much easier to paint over than dark, bold colours and they
can make small rooms look larger.
If you don't want to paint, you can still dress up your walls with wall
hangings, fabric, removable wallpaper boarders and stickers, stencils or
artwork.
Create a Theme
A staple of a student apartment is mix-and-match furniture. Professionals often
hang onto these not-so-treasured heirlooms far longer than necessary. Pull the
room together by getting rid of those worn-out hand-me-downs and invest in
furniture that compliments your style and taste. Accent your room with
decorations and colours that create unity.
Focus on Functionality
Apartment living is all about functionality. Create a useful space that is also
stylish by dressing up your storage space. Unique wall-shelves make a statement
and make use of vertical space. Doors on cabinets and shelves create a clean and
organized look by keeping otherwise cluttered looking items out of sight.
Less is more
Clutter shrinks rooms. When decorating a small space, chose a few key pieces and
keep the knickknacks to a minimum. Create the illusion of more space by choosing
furniture and accessories that have clean light lines and let light pass through
the room. Use doors and dividers that are made from glass or mirrors. Find
furniture that has exposed legs and light materials. Hanging lights, shelves and
plants can increase vertical space and keep the floor from feeling heavy.
10 Handy Tips for Finding Your Dream Apartment!
Whether you’re new to the city or relocating to another neighborhood, it takes a
great deal of time and effort to find the perfect apartment. If you take into
account these 10 handy tips, your dream apartment may be closer than you think.
#1: Create a Realistic Budget
Decide what you can afford in rent, including monthly utilities. And, don’t look
at any apartments out of your price range.
#2: Shop and Compare
This apartment will be your home, perhaps for years, so ensure peace of mind by
comparing prices, options and locations before taking the plunge.
#3: Ask About Vacancy Rates
If an apartment building has a large number of vacant units, chances are the
building is not being managed well.
#4: Deal with A Reputable Company
Dealing with a larger apartment management company has its advantages. They have
websites that showcase their apartments. They offer convenience, comfort,
safety, value and variety. And, they have solid reputations for being committed
to serving their tenants needs.
#5: Make a Wish List
Do you want a balcony? Or a pool on-site? Do you want to live near bike paths?
Do you want an adults-only apartment building? Figure it out and create your
wish list.
#6: Use the Internet
The Internet is one of the best resources for zeroing in on your dream
apartment. It can give you a clear idea of what’s available before you actually
go out looking for it.
#7: Find Your Ideal Neighborhood
Drive or walk around different parts of the city where you might like to live.
Consider commute times, your lifestyle needs and local conveniences.
#8: Do a Thorough Inspection and Take Notes
Keep a record of each apartment you visit. Note what features are extra or
missing. Take measurements of the rooms and doorways to ensure furniture fits on
moving day. Turn on light switches, look inside closets, check water pressure,
visit the laundry room, walk the grounds and ask neighbors what it’s like to
live there.
#9: Ask Lots of Questions
Who controls the heat? Are appliances included? Is smoking ok? Are pets allowed?
When is the apartment available? Will they paint before you move in?
#10: Understand Your Lease
Your lease should clarify the rent, terms and duration of your agreement. Read
it carefully and negotiate terms before signing. If you give a deposit, get a
receipt.
However you decide to undertake your hunt, remember these ten handy tips to
finding your dream apartment. It could be just around the corner. Happy hunting!
___________________
Tina Barton is a writer for Paramount Properties, Ottawa’s second largest
residential property management company. With more than 4,500 units in some of
the city’s finest locations, we’re your #1 choice for apartment rental in
Ottawa.