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You can’t spell “HOME” without “om,” a unique meditative phrase sometimes interpreted as “that with which one is liberated.” If nothing else, we hope your apartment home is a place where you feel free to be you … or, even more simply, a sanctuary where you feel free, period. Here are five ways to create the sanctuary of “om” in your own apartment home!
1. Clear your mind
… And your space. Clutter is a huge energy suck in your home. We all know the familiar impulse to hold on to things because we might need them someday, we’ll convinced they’ll increase in value, they have sentimental value, or the dreaded “just in case.” But consider how much space those “just in case” items are taking up … and how stressed your clutter can make you on a daily basis! Take time today to clear away clutter, especially from desktop surfaces and your major relaxation spaces. Consider donating or regifting the items you no longer need; not only will you decrease stress, but the act of giving things away is an instant mood enhancer!
2. Create your zone
Find a space that you can make your own private refuge. Whether it’s a special spot on the couch, your bed, your favorite spot to sip your morning coffee, or the bathtub, we all need a place in our home that is private and personalized. Find a way to define that personal space, be it with an item (a guitar, a special chair, a beautiful rug, etc.) or an extra touch of coziness (extra pillows, bath salts, a scented candle, etc.). Find ways to make that area distinctly yours, even if you can’t create physical separation from the rest of your apartment. Consider the impact of draping your favorite blanket over your favorite chair in your favorite reading nook … that spot is yours, and no one else’s, even if it’s smack dab in the middle of your living room!
3. Here comes the sun
“Let the sun shine … Let the sunshine in!” Natural sunlight boosts your mood and health, and can totally change the feel of a room. Whenever you can, let in as much sunlight as possible. Consider natural daylight bulbs if your apartment doesn’t naturally face direct sunlight during the day. Crack open a window and let in the fresh air … soak it in!
4. Color your calm
Add pops of your favorite colors to every room. Pick a color theme that creates the mood you want in each space of your apartment. Even if you’re in a studio, you can create distinct mood places through color: deeper shades wherever your bed is, brighter colors in the living room, softer hues for a spa-experience in the bathroom, etc. Greens are serene. Blue is restful. According to Feng Shui, 2017 is the Year of the Rooster, so consider this year’s “lucky” colors: yellow, brown, gold, silver, and white!
5. Sent-sational
Have you ever heard of signature scents? Many hotels feature specially crafted scents as you enter the lobby or your room to create an instant sense of place. You can bring this same sense to your own space by identifying, claiming, or creating your own signature scent. Flagstaff is known for smelling of vanilla, so if you love nature consider scenting your apartment with vanilla, evergreen, and cinnamon. The main scent “categories” are: musk, smoky, citrus, woody, green, floral, aquatic, and incense (spicy and sweet). Consider your favorite scents of cologne/perfume, shampoo, lotion, or even your favorite coffee shop or hangout. Find ways to bring those scents home.
Remember, it’s the things that make your space personal, peaceful, and private that make it your own sanctuary. When it comes to making your home into a haven, do what feels right to you! With the tips above, and your own personal touches, you’ll be saying “om” to your home in no time!
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This April our focus is RYAS: Rocking Your Apartment’s Socks! We’ll take you from recipes to try in the kitchen to thrifty apartment décor and much more!When we think of the big city, one of the first things that comes to mind is always “style”! Whether it’s the hottest fashions or the latest trends, you can always count on cities like New York, LA, Philly, and Phoenix to give big ideas of what will be “the next big thing” across the country. This week, let’s borrow some ideas from big city style that you can easily bring to your home right here in Flagstaff!
Make It New
We’re all about reinventing and repurposing old stuff. Take something vintage and make it your own with a fresh coat of paint, a new pillow on an old chair, etc. The vintage look is super chic right now, so don’t be afraid to make an antique piece your living room’s statement piece.
Layers Are In
Play with texture, and don’t be afraid to drape and define your floors and furniture with layers. Layer your carpet with accent rugs. Drape two or three throw blankets on your couch.
Mix, Don’t Match
Forget about matching end tables, pillows, and décor. Don’t be afraid to mix things up with some mismatch work. Use at least two unique color patterns. Pair black and white with pops of vibrant colors: red, yellow, green, blue. Polka dots and stripes can totally rock it out together.
Bling Your Bookshelf
You can also throw out the idea that shelves are just for books or vases. Fill your shelves with a hodgepodge of accessories to show off your personal flare. Wine bottles, picture frames and photos, and other fun mementos add spice to your space … and variety is always the spice of life, so mix it up!
Texturize
Urban chic is all about playing with textures. Smooth edge and armless seating are in, as are the blended textures that remind you of all things urban: bare brick, smooth metals, and reclaimed wood. Mix and match textured pieces—a wood bowl, stainless steel art piece, a unique stone as a paperweight … just play with the textures your world has to offer.
Taste the Rainbow
Pick a simple color pallet—black and white is always in style, but brown is becoming a favorite foundation hue, too—and make it pop with a rainbow of color. We already talked mismatching, but bringing a plain color base to life with those pops of color is another fun and easy way to recreate big city flair in your apartment home.
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This April our focus is RYAS: Rocking Your Apartment’s Socks! We’ll take you from recipes to try in the kitchen to thrifty apartment décor and much more!
This week we’re bringing you five easy apartment DIY projects that you can knock out over the weekend! Not only are they all super easy, but they’re great and inexpensive ways to upgrade your home without breaking the bank or losing your security deposit! Since spring is the perfect time for cleaning and reorganizing your apartment, we’re sure you’ll love using these projects as incentives for getting your home fresh for the season!
DIY Pillows
Nothing will jazz up secondhand furniture (thanks, mom) like a new piece of décor … even something as simple as a few new homemade pillows! All you need is some canvas fabric, fabric paint, and foam stamps or other pattern makers to craft some beautiful homemade pillows to decorate your favorite seats! Check out a simple guide to some fun designs using nothing but foam stamps and masking tape here: Hand Printed Pillows
DIY Chalkboard Containers
Want to add some green to your home? You’ll love these easy chalkboard pots for your new plants! Pick up a few cheap, plain plant pots, painter’s tape, chalkboard paint, and a sponge brush to paint your own perfect planters. Our favorite upgrade on this project is to paint some old mason jars and use them for small item storage; using chalkboard paint lets you easily label and relabel your jars as you repurpose them over and over! Here’s a basic guide to painting with chalkboard paint: Chalkboard Paint Jars
DIY Art
If you’re struggling to find the perfect art for your walls, look no further than your local fabric store. Head to the sale aisle to find fabric squares, scraps, and other lengths you can easily frame to make colorful art for every room. You can jazz things up with fabric stretched over a canvas frame; pin it to the back or use spray craft glue to easily smooth it over the canvas and tuck into corners on the back! Brit + Co provides an easy tutorial for creating your own canvas art here: Fabric Canvas Art
DIY Rope Rug
Add instant style to your apartment with a hand crafted area rug! We love the look of circular rope rugs (and all you have to do is wrap the rope in a circle to make it!), and they’re perfect floor pieces for any home no matter what your decorating style. Check out an easy guide to making your own from Completely Coastal: DIY Round Rope Mat or Rug
DIY Wall Mount Side Table
This is one of our favorites, and adds instant eye-appeal to your living space! It’s a project that takes more effort than the other projects we’ve given you to try (you’ll need a saw and hand drill) but it’s well worth it! Learn how to make your own wall mounted side tables here: Wall Mount Side Table
Happy Crafting!
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This April our focus is RYAS: Rocking Your Apartment’s Socks! We’ll take you from recipes to try in the kitchen to thrifty apartment décor and much more!
One way to rock your apartment’s socks is to keep it organized! As much as we might hate cleaning, you can always make organization and tidiness a little more fun by finding unique and eye-catching ways to do it! Check out these ten life hacks that will keep your apartment organized and looking f-i-n-e!
1. Use soda can tabs to create closet space
Just slip the soda can tab over the hook of your hanger, and hang a second hanger on the open tab hole! You’ll fit twice the number of hangers in your closet without wasting money on pricey space-saving hangers.
2. Create magnetic spice jars
Instead of filling your precious cabinet space with all your spices, check out this guide to making magnetic spice jars! You can then stick them to the fridge for a unique look and a cute space saver!
3. Save dresser space with a new shirt fold
Fold and organize your shirts in rows rather than laying them flat! Not only will you create more space, but you’ll also be able to easily find your favorite shirts more easily! Learn how here.
4. Create a magnetic bathroom storage strip
Use a magnetic strip roll to create three storage strips in your bathroom medicine cabinet: one at the top, one toward the bottom, and one in the middle (make sure you avoid placing the strips at the same level as the shelf, as this might keep the cabinet from closing). You can use these to store tweezers, small clippers, and other metallic bathroom accessories … especially the ones you’re more likely to lose! We’re looking at you, bobby pins!
5. Use spice racks to organize your bedroom and bathroom
Need a low cost alternative to shelving for over bed storage? Or maybe you just need to organize your hair products, lotions, nail polishes, etc. Look no further than spice racks! They are small enough to not take up much room, but big enough to hold all your everyday items. And they’re super easy to install! Use them to create bathroom organization, or create an over-the-bed bookshelf or place to stick your glasses for the night!
6. Create unique storage with baskets
You can find beautiful wicker or faux-wicker baskets at a local craft store. Use them to create a unique storage option. You can easily hang them from the wall either facing up (for hats, scarves, etc.) or facing out (for books, vases, and other small items).
7. Use Dollar Store buckets for desk organization
The Dollar Store always has nifty knick-knacks … one of our favorites is their cute multicolored buckets and pails! They are not only adorable décor, but they also present fun desktop organization. Use them to store pens, markers, scissors, and other items. Stick one in the living room or kitchen to store your small hand tools, too!
8. Cereal containers double as trash cans
Another awesome Dollar Store find? Cereal containers. These not only give you a great way to keep your cereal fresh … they also provide the perfectly sized small trash bins you may need for each room. Tuck one down beneath your desk, beside the bed, or just inside the front door; it’s easily hidden, but big enough for small trash you don’t want to take a trip to your main trashcan for. (Bonus: Grab one for your car, too! No more loose straw rappers and unwanted receipts!)
9. Save closet storage space with baskets
Invest in some cloth collapsible baskets for your closet. Instead of stacking extra clothes or sheets on the top shelf, use these to create a more colorful and space saving organization system! One benefit to these is that you can stack them up or on their sides; lay a basket on its side for sheets, and stack baskets with extra shirts, socks, and other clothes on top of each other.
10. Use shower curtain rings to hang belts and scarves
Secure a rod (try an expandable curtain rod) inside your closet and hang as many shower curtain rings as you need. Use them to keep your belts and scarves organized! Learn how to make your own here!
Happy Organizing! And don’t forget to share your favorite organizational tips with us!
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