How to Host a Dinner Party in Your Apartment

Posted on February 20, 2013 by tpham

Whether it’s for a special occasion, holiday or just because, a dinner party is a great excuse to get together to enjoy the company of others, eat delicious food and perhaps indulge in a few adult beverages.

Hosting a dinner party in your apartment doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little creativity and DIY flair, you’ll have a great night with close friends.

Gather a list of guests and use our tips to help throw a glamorous dinner party in your apartment.

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Guest List
Look at your space and figure out how many guests you can seat comfortably. You want to create a cozy, intimate atmosphere – not a space where your guests can barely move and are bumping into one another.

Dining Table
If you don’t have room for a dining table in your apartment, take advantage of furniture you already have in your space. Use a dresser, desk and other available tables in your apartment to create one large surface. Heights may vary, but knowing that things don’t have to be perfect will take a lot of the pressure off of the host/ess. If you’re inviting neighbors, don’t be shy and ask to borrow a few chairs for the night – and you can even ask very close friends attending to bring their own chairs.

Another important aspect to hosting a party is the seating arrangement. If you are having assigned seats, arrange it so your guests can be near someone new. Split couples up, and don’t sit your work colleagues next to one another. This will force your guests to mingle and break out of their comfort zones.

Décor
Keep your decor simple. Add bold-colored, low-profile floral arrangements to the dining table and throughout your apartment. Dim the lights and add a few candles to create an intimate atmosphere.

Food and Drink
Make sure you’re aware of dietary preferences and requirements in advance. You don’t want to prepare a large meal that only a select few of your guests can enjoy. If a guest has dietary restrictions that are unusual, feel free to ask for suggestions on what will work for them.

For your dinner menu, keep it simple and delicious. Choose dishes that can be mostly prepared ahead of time so you can spend more time with your guests and out of the kitchen. A sample menu could include a green salad, crusty bread and lasagna. Remember to not cook anything you’ve never tried before, and avoid potentially messy foods like spaghetti or lobster. If it’s easier, set up a buffet-style area so your guests can serve themselves. This frees up space on the dining table.

For drinks, provide bottled waters, sodas and beer to keep possible spills to a minimum. For adult beverages, you don’t have to get the most expensive bottle, but provide something that your guests will enjoy. Consider making a punch, like a champagne punch, that becomes your “signature cocktail.” When your guests offer to bring something, it’s okay to encourage them to bring a bottle of wine they like.

Be a Good Host
Prepare everything ahead of time in order to spend quality time with your party guests. Make an effort to connect with every guest, and be sure to introduce your guests to one another. Instead of just introducing your guests by name, add an interesting fact that could help jump-start a conversation. For example, “Joe, this is Jennifer. She just got back from a trip to Spain.” If you’ve invited a mix of work colleagues and personal friends, avoid talking only about work. Create conversations in which everyone can participate.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/arsenik

Save Space By Properly Hanging Your TV

Posted on January 8, 2013 by sroman

Hanging your TV will save space, but make sure you hang it properly.

With post-holiday season sales (and the Super Bowl) on the horizon, now is a great time to consider purchasing a new TV! Whether you find a deal online, or receive one as a holiday gift, you’ll want to unpack and start watching your new television as soon as possible.

Not only do flat panel televisions look great, their thin profiles make them relatively easy to mount on a wall. Hanging your TV will save space and keep it well out of a baby or toddler’s reach in case you need to baby-proof your entertainment area.

Here are a few tips to properly hang your new TV in your apartment and hide those pesky wires.

Step 1: Unpack
Unpack your television, including cables, brackets, remotes and all related documents. Keep the television in its protective wrapping, and place it face down on a flat surface covered with a blanket.

Step 2: Attach Brackets
Attach the brackets to the back of the TV with the hardware supplied. Be sure to select the right size screws for the holes on the TV.

Step 3: Mark your TV’s Location
When selecting a location to hang your TV, remember that televisions are best viewed at or just above eye level. In order to hide the cables, choose a location where wires can easily connect from their source to the television. When you’ve chosen your location, draw an outline of the television on the wall with a pencil and a straight edge. You’ll also want to hang your TV near a power outlet. For a cleaner look, install a new outlet directly behind the TV.

Step 4: Attach the Wall Mount
If a wall mount did not come with your TV, be sure to purchase one that will bear the full weight of your television. Consider an articulated wall mount if you want to swivel the TV, or extend it from the wall.
To keep your television secure, install your wall mount directly into a pair of studs in the wall. If the screws are planted into drywall alone, your television is more likely to fall off and break. Using a stud finder, locate two studs within the television outline. Mark the outside edges and the centers of each stud. Use a level to make sure the wall mount is aligned evenly on the wall, and then drill the holes. Finally, attach the mount to the wall using the included hardware.

Step 5: Hide the Wires
Cut a hole in the wall just below the bracket to feed the wires through using a drill and utility knife. Be sure you know the diameter of the hole you need (the size will change depending on how many items you are hooking up and how many cords you have) so that the hole is completely obstructed by the TV once it is hung.

Feed the cable directly through the bracket and the wall hole.

Cut another hole where the cables need to exit the wall. You may wish to conceal the exit point later with a plant or piece of furniture.

Attach all cables to the TV and feed them through the first hole you cut as you move the TV closer to the wall and mount it. Ask a friend to help you lift the TV and guide the cables. Once the TV is mounted onto the wall portion of the bracket, the cables should be visible through the second hole. Reach in with your finger and pull out the cables. Connect them to a power source, and you’re ready to watch your new TV!

Photo credit: iStockphoto/Roob

How to Create a Studio in Your Apartment

Posted on January 4, 2013 by jpalmer

With a little hard work and creativity, you can create an art or music studio in your apartment.

We all need a place where we can create a side business or work on a hobby, especially if that side job or hobby is rather complex. But with a little hard work and ingenuity, you can easily turn a bedroom in your apartment into a studio for your music, art or anything else. Here’s how.

Music or Recording Studio

Soundproof your space. Soundproofing is very important. Fasten egg crate foam to the walls, ceiling and windows using staples or drywall screws. This will help control echoes and keep sounds from coming in or getting out. Your goals are to both cut out street noise and not irritate your neighbors.

Noise Cancellation. Quiet your new studio by placing computers and other equipment in a closet or the next room if possible. This cuts out background noise from PC fans.

Mount speakers and other such equipment on the walls, and wrap the metal legs on chairs, tables or other equipment in Bubble Wrap to remove audio echoes.

If possible, build a separate booth for recording equipment or where you will do your actual instrumental or vocal recording. This will allow for additional soundproofing and noise control.

Leverage Technology. These days, you don’t necessarily need big, expensive mixing boards and other complex equipment. You can achieve all the same effects digitally on a PC, laptop or tablet using often free software and a $100 microphone.

Art Studio

Check Zoning Laws. Your state may require you to purchase a building permit in order to build an art studio, especially if you intend to sell your work out of your home.

Check Your Floor Surface. You’ll want a floor that’s easy to clean and can preferably take a beating. Carpet gets gobs of paint and collects paint or pottery dust, so that’s out. If the space you want to use as an art studio has inadequate flooring, consider ripping it up and redoing it.

Lighting. Strong, natural light is the best to work under, especially if you’re a painter. Make sure your chosen room has a north-facing window. If not, install some lighting that can simulate natural light.

Ventilation. Painting, drawing and pottery can throw up a lot of fumes and dust. You’ll need a safe way to filter this out of your workspace. Install a ventilation fan in the ceiling or place a box fan in an open window.

With just a few modifications, you can turn a spare bedroom into an awesome music or art studio so you can explore your passion from the comfort of your own apartment.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/dantok

Get Your Apartment’s Kitchen Holiday-Ready With These Space-Saving Ideas

Posted on November 29, 2012 by sroman

Get your apartment’s kitchen holiday-ready with these space-saving ideas.

At the holidays, the kitchen often becomes the focus of family gatherings and parties. But in most apartment kitchens, space is at a premium. If your holiday plans call for entertaining or hosting friends at your home, having an organized kitchen will assist with meal preparation and help keep your holiday hub show-ready!

Check out these easy space-saving ideas to keep your apartment’s kitchen organized this season.

Magnetic Spice Rack

Ever thought about how much shelf space you’d save by eliminating all of the little bottles in your cupboards that contain spices and seasonings? A revolving spice rack is one option to stack and store all of your spices in a compact space, but it still needs room to stand on your countertop. The Large Magnetic Spice Rack from A Place for Everything takes up zero counter or shelf space, and it looks cool! Made from 18-8 stainless steel, each individual spice holder is clear on top and magnetic on the bottom. They will stick to your refrigerator, or they can be arranged on the included stainless steel back plate.

Hang Pots and Pans

Install a hanging rack above your kitchen counter or island to save space in your cabinets — and make your pots and pans easier to find. Place them near the range or oven for convenient access.

Storing Knives

Here’s an amazing tip from the queen of kitchen organization – Martha Stewart! Say goodbye to bulky knife blocks or dangerous drawers filled with loose sharp utensils by transferring your knives to a shallow drawer lined with artists’ drawing-board liner (available at most art supply stores). The fabric wipes clean easily and has a slightly rubbery surface to keep knives in place.

Hanging Bike Baskets

Bowls filled with fruit can add a pop of color to your kitchen, but not everyone has precious counter real estate to spare for a large bowl or basket. But if you have some spare wall space available, purchase a few baskets designed to hold fishing tackle or those that hook onto a bicycle’s handlebars. These baskets come with holes in the back and can be easily hung on a kitchen wall with hooks, or onto a peg board. Choose a few to hold kitchen tools, potatoes or fruits and vegetables that don’t need to be kept in the refrigerator.

There are many stylish ways to save space in your kitchen, and with a bit of planning and creativity, you’ll soon be hosting and toasting in the most organized kitchen on the block!

Photo credit: iStockphoto/mattjeacock

Organizing your Home Office

Posted on October 17, 2012 by ag-admin

The key to an organized home office is to reduce clutter.

Maintaining a neat and orderly home office can be a challenge. A home office can easily become a catch-all for the rest of your home’s clutter. Next thing you know, you can’t find that bill that must be paid, or last year’s tax returns. But with these simple tips and a little effort, you can create and maintain a neat and orderly home office.

Create a System

Come up with a way to deal with your workflow. Get an inbox to use for incoming work, an outbox for things that have been dealt with and are to be filed or thrown away and a filing system for keeping track of it all once it leaves your desk.

Clean Your Desk

You spend most of your time in your home office at your desk, so this is a logical place to start. Is it buried under stacks of paper, pens, business cards or other debris? Go through it and separate everything into piles based on what you need to keep, what needs looking over later, and what needs to be thrown away (put this pile straight into the trash can).

Get a Filing Cabinet

A four-drawer file cabinet is useful for storing last year’s tax returns, client info and other things you need to get to that would be in your way if it was piled on your desk.

Cut the Cords

Keep your cords dusted and out of sight behind your desk, or replace your keyboard, mouse and printer with wireless peripherals.

When in Doubt, Throw it Out

Be honest. If that catalog that’s been on your desk since January is still there, you’re probably not going to order anything from it. Throw it away. If there is anything you have acted on but are required to keep, file it. And if you have hard copies of anything that you can access readily online, toss it.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/poligonchik

How to Throw a Great Party in a Small Apartment Space

Posted on October 15, 2012 by ag-admin

Read about cool ways to transform your small space into a festive place!

You don’t need a big space to have a big time with your friends. It’s easy to throw a great party in a small apartment.

Here are some cool ways to transform your small space into a festive place.

Make room for fun
If your goal is to maximize space and fit more people in your apartment than usual, try moving furniture around, or, if possible, removing some furniture temporarily. A quick fix is to push furniture against the wall so you have more open space for milling about, while you preserve seating along the wall. If you have a guest bedroom or large closet, you can stash stuff there, too. Rearrange to make way for a dance space or the buffet table.

Get creative with your serving surfaces
Small apartment living requires you to get creative with your space when you are serving food. Think beyond the kitchen table and counters; any flat surface can sport a tray of crudités. The secret is to disguise surfaces and make them seem special.

Pick up some fancy fabric from the home goods store and cut out squares to drape over your stereo, coffee table or other sturdy, flat surface. Also look for different levels of surfaces to keep things visually interesting. Use plastic cups that guests can label as their own to cut down on glassware usage, saving space and clean-up time.

Repurpose rooms in unexpected ways
Keep turning the tables on how you use your small space by changing the way you use your rooms. People have a tendency to serve food in the kitchen and play games in the living room. But what if you switch up the space and make your dining area the hangout, while serving snacks on the coffee table?

Be inventive and turn your guest room into the dessert den. Set up a food station on the patio so people don’t pile up in the kitchen. Place appetizers in the foyer so folks can enjoy them as they walk in. Consider any set-up possibility that helps party-goers flow comfortably through your space.

Try to use all of the space available to you. If you have an outdoor patio or balcony area, this could become an additional room for enjoying the out of doors, weather-permitting. If you would prefer guests not to smoke inside, consider making an outdoor area the designated zone.

Make the most of small details
One way to wow your friends is with a smaller, more intimate party. Ditch the paper plates and maximize your style while you make the most of your small space. If you invite six to eight people, you might choose to splurge on handwritten invitations, an expensive beef tenderloin, or other luxury details that might be cost prohibitive to share with a larger group. Party favors or gift bags are another nice touch to make a tinier party top the list of favorite bashes of the year.

Don’t let the logistics make you lose out on hosting a great party at home. Follow these suggestions that will support your small apartment soiree!

Photo Credit: Shutterstock / Tyler Olson

How to Maximize Space in Your Apartment

Posted on October 10, 2012 by tpham

Space is limited in an apartment, but with a few simple additions, you can maximize what you have. Keep in mind that these additions can also act as décor pieces in your space. Find shelves, racks and hooks that are not only functional and space saving but also have character and serve a decorative purpose.

<a href="http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/how-to-maximize-space-in-your-apartment"><img title="Tips to Save Space in Your Apartment" src="http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/apartment-space-saving-tips.png" alt="space saving tips" width="600" height="1802" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.apartmentguide.com/college/">Apartment Guide – Find Off Campus Housing for Rent</a>

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8 Tips to Prevent Kitchen Fires

Posted on October 1, 2012 by ag-admin

Prevent kitchen fires by using these eight tips.

Don’t let your next dinner party go up in smoke! Cooking fires are the most common cause of household fires, and you don’t have to own a commercial-sized Viking range to feel the heat. From grease spills to stray dishtowels, even a tiny cooktop in a studio apartment can set a blaze. Follow these eight tips to reduce your risks for an apartment kitchen fire.

1. Stay in the kitchen. This may seem obvious, but, according to the National Fire Protection Association, unattended cooking is the number one cause of cooking fires. If you must leave a stove unattended, turn off the heat and move the pan to a cool burner.

2. Use a timer. Check food regularly, whether you’re simmering, baking, boiling or roasting. Using a timer can help remind you to check on your dish.

3. Keep the stove top clear. Keep dishtowels, oven mitts, paper towels—anything that can catch fire—away from your stovetop.

4. Dress for the occasion. Wear close-fitting clothes, and tightly roll up sleeves, when you’re cooking. Loose clothing can come in contact with burners and catch fire.

5. Wipe up spills. Cooking on a dirty stove, or in a dirty oven, is just inviting a potential fire. Grease buildup is flammable; clean your stove every time you cook and promptly wipe up any spills.

6. Don’t overheat your oils. Overheated cooking oil can start to smoke and bubble up, which can cause it to spill out and ignite. Not sure about the smoking point for your cooking oils? Refer to this handy chart.

7: Wait for grease to cool before disposing. Toss hot grease into your trashcan and it could go up in flames! Wait for it to cool before disposing of it in the garbage. Or, better yet, pour it into an old food can before tossing it out.

8. Keep your smoke detector working. A smoke detector is an important fire safety device and your first line of defense. Make sure your landlord has installed one. And make a mental note to change the batteries twice a year, when you change your clocks fordaylight savings time.

If a small fire does erupt on your stove top, you might try to smother it by sliding a lid over the pan; turn off the burner, and leave the pan uncovered until it has cooled. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

But, when it doubt, just get out. Too many people have been injured trying to fight fires themselves. Close the door behind you to help contain the fire, and call 911. Renters insurance might help replace your valuables, but it can’t replace you!

This guest post comes from the editors of the the Allstate Blog, which helps people prepare for the unpredictability of life. Follow the Allstate Blog on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Turn Your Home Office Into a Functional Storage Space

Posted on September 19, 2012 by ag-admin

Whether you live in an apartment with lots of space or in a 1930s house like mine with little space, you should never ignore your home office. We all know your home office’s function is to keep your life organized, as well as allow you to have a place to get your work done, but this can also serve as extra storage for your apartment. With a few simple steps, you’ll have your place organized in no time. If you’re wondering how to make the most of your space without sacrificing your work area, check out these storage solutions every renter needs to know.

1. Have dedicated shelving from the ceiling down. If you have it, use it. Sometimes your home doesn’t come with a lot of storage. Take advantage of all the vertical space that you can for storage. An easy way to do this is to add floating shelving from above the desk all the way to the ceiling. Find inexpensive shelving units, such as Elfa shelving from the Container Store, which has limited wall damage – a plus for renters! With the shelves, create an organization system so your things don’t look cluttered. Invest in matched boxes for a cohesive look, but remember that not everything has to be in a box.

2. Invest in storage furniture. Storage furniture is functional, as it serves two purposes. This is a must, especially for small spaces. When I pick out furniture for a space, I ask myself, “Is this piece working hard for the right to be here?” For your home office, pick furniture that packs a one-two punch, like coffee tables, ottomans or benches.

3. Oz-Style Storage. Create an illusion in your home office while keeping your items stored – behind a curtain just like the Wizard of Oz! Pick a wall in your office and hang a curtain rod from the ceiling, approximately a foot away from the wall. Choose any pattern or color that you want for the curtain. This creates an amazing space solution, as it becomes a “soft” or faux wall that hides an extra foot of space. The possibilities of what you can store behind this curtain are endless; you can store your bike, cleaning supplies and miscellaneous office supplies behind it, and no one will ever have to see it. Not only is this useful for storage, but it’s a great opportunity to get color in your white box of a space.

This article was written by TV host and design expert Kim Myles, who partnered with Apartment Guide for the 2012 “Your Picks. Your Place.” sweepstakes. Kim Myles won the HGTV reality series “Design Star 2” and hosts HGTV’s “Myles of Style.”

How to Make a Stenciled Folding Screen

Posted on September 7, 2012 by ag-admin

One of the biggest challenges for most renters is storage – What do you do with all your stuff if you have limited space? Make your storage work for you. Use a folding screen – specifically one that you can personalize or accessorize, so you hide almost anything behind the screen – a bike, unpacked boxes – and create instant artwork by adding color and pattern to your space. Go wild with your own design, or create a bold, graphic pattern using a stencil like the African Kuba design from my new Global Glam line of wall-sized stencils, available exclusively through Cutting Edge Stencils.

Supplies: (1) paintable folding screen (made of canvas or wood), (1) large stencil design, (2) shades of interior latex wall paint, (2) paint rollers, (1) can of non-permanent spray adhesive

Step 1: Prepare your folding screen by painting two layers of your first paint color, completely covering each panel of the screen. Let the paint dry completely before moving to Step 2. {Note: See inset below to help visualize how each of your two paint colors will work in the stencil design}

Step 2: Lay the folding screen flat on the floor, with all panels fully extended. Spray a thin layer of adhesive onto the stencil, and place it in the top left corner of the first screen (this step helps prevent paint bleed at the stencil’s edges). To create a seamless design, you may want to allow part of the stencil to extend over the edge of the first panel – this will allow the stencil design to reach the edge of the panel, and avoid extra work or touch-ups later on.

Step 3: Roll your second color of paint over the stencil. I also like to keep some folded paper towels at hand so I can roll off a bit of the excess paint before applying it to the stencil. You’ll need to apply firm pressure as you paint, because if the roller is overloaded, you’ll end up having lots of bleeds.

Step 4: Carefully lift off the stencil and position onto the next section to paint. Use built-in guides to line up the design. Reapply spray adhesive as necessary to secure the stencil.

Step 5: Let the screen dry fully and then place it in any space to help disguise storage.

I hope you find this tutorial helpful! Happy Decorating!

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