The library is packed, the sun at the park is creating a blinding glare off of your computer screen, and those five dollar lattes from the coffee shop are really eating up your budget for, well, eating…so where on earth are you going to study for that Chem test? If you’re one of many college students living in an apartment, chances are that your place is no mansion. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to create your ideal study space amidst your one bedroom or even studio apartment! Check out these tips on how to create a space that’ll guide you straight ahead to straight A’s. Read the rest of this entry »

By Kelly Schwarze

If Friday nights are usually spent in bed watching the 13-inch screen of your laptop, it’s time to take your movie marathons to the next level and create a home theater that will have all your friends and family members knocking down your door for a season pass. You can create a theater in your living room that will not only be just as thrilling as watching the latest chart toppers, but also provide plenty of opportunities to entertain your favorite people. Grab some popcorn and start imagining your new home theater with these five pieces. Read the rest of this entry »

If a burglar thinks your apartment is “easy pickings,” it could become a target…even if the fanciest thing you own is a VCR with a copy of Dirty Dancing stuck in it. Why not make things difficult for that burglar? You’d be surprised by how much you can do to protect your apartment without spending big money on armed guards and snarling dogs. Read the rest of this entry »

Depending on your style, an apartment with hardwood floors can feel cozy, swanky, or vintage. While hardwoods look good and certainly feel good under your bare feet, what about cleaning them? Here are some quick cleaning tips for apartment dwellers who want to make their hardwood floors shimmer and shine! Read the rest of this entry »

It seems like no matter how careful you are with your one-bedroom apartment‘s furniture, something is bound to cause a little damage. Whether it’s the process of moving, the presence of puppies, or the perils of popsicles, life happens and your furniture can get caught in the crossfire.

So how can you keep your furniture looking like new? Here are 5 do-it-yourself ideas for the renter who wants to take matters into their own crafty hands.

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Don’t get us wrong. A little apartment DIY can be a fun, crafty way to decorate a space on the cheap. But if you have too much fun with your upcycled cork projects, you may find yourself getting into the harder stuff. Thermostat installation? Maybe. Kitchen island demolition? Watch out. There’s a line between do-it-yourself and shouldn’t-have-done-it. If you’re fighting the DIY bug, here are some tips to help avoid falling down the rabbit hole of complicated apartment DIY.

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You’d be surprised how small of a space you can cram a shower, toilet and sink into. The good news is, with a little creativity, you can create more storage than you think in your fun-sized bathroom.

1. Baskets

For items that you take to the sink every day – toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, makeup, comb, or whatever it may be – find a cheap, decorative basket to easily stash your essentials wherever they may fit. Read the rest of this entry »

Apartment living can come with a lot of perks: a great local community to interact with, paid amenities, and free maintenance. But when looking at studio apartments, closet space can often leave something to be desired. Here are the top 5 easy tips for making the most out of a smaller closet. Read the rest of this entry »

Hey pal, put a cork in it! In your apartment decorating, that is. Corks aren’t just for popping champagne and making bulletin boards. Saving corks from bottles can pay off in some seriously awesome DIY décor. From one-bedroom apartments to townhouses, here are 5 ways any renter can finally put all those leftover wine corks to good use.

Favorable Table Labels

Halve the cork vertically, then make a ¼-inch horizontal cut on the rounded sides of your two cork halves. Place the halves flat side down, and ta-da! It’s a couple of tiny cardholders. Host a dinner party and put them to good use—make place cards for your guests, or put out hors d’oeuvres platters and name all those unusual-looking cheeses. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the perks and benefits of living in an apartment is maintenance service. However, sometimes it’s easier to fix a problem yourself than wait for maintenance to arrive. If you’re looking to save time and frustration, follow these simple DIY tips for apartment maintenance.

Plumbing Problems

Having the right tools can solve many plumbing problems. Keeping a plumber’s snake on hand can help you quickly unclog a sink or shower drain without having to call maintenance. Know the difference between a sink plunger and a toilet plunger? If you don’t, odds are you’re using the wrong one for the job. Also think about what you put down the drain. Oils, solids and even coffee grounds can clog up your garbage disposal and kitchen sink. Read the rest of this entry »