Home Design Ideas

Apartment Community Amenities to Look For

Finding your first apartment can be a tricky task; after all, this is your new home for the foreseeable future, and you want to be sure to have all of your bases covered. So aside from the obvious basics such as floor plan, affordability and safety, what amenities should a new apartment resident look for?

Location, location, location! Having an apartment in close proximity to your workplace will save on gas and other expenses, and be sure to keep an eye peeled for public transportation such as bus stops located near your new abode. Also, you’ll likely want to avoid apartment communities situated near noisy public places like shopping malls or concert halls.

Parking can be a real hassle when there are too few spaces, so be sure and ask prior to signing the lease whether or not you will be assigned a parking spot. Many communities will offer a reserved (and sometimes covered) spot for a low monthly fee.

If you have four-legged friends, you will definitely want to research your new apartment’s pet policies prior to moving in. Even some pet friendly communities still have breed restrictions, so read the fine print carefully. Reptiles and other exotic pets are often banned outright as well.

Hosting an Apartment Movie Night

It’s safe to say you consider yourself a bit of a film buff, what with the ‘Star Wars’ memorabilia and vintage ‘Godfather’ poster highlighting the walls of your new apartment.  But now that you’ve finally purchased the surround sound / flatscreen entertainment system of your dreams for your apartment living room, how best to kickoff your new setup in style? How about by hosting a theme movie night?

First things first – you’re going to want to pick your genre. The choices are as limitless as your imagination or at least your DVD collection. If horror films are something you want to stick your fangs into, try hosting a zombie-themed ‘Night of the Living Dead’ marathon. Spruce things up with some ‘brain punch’, or give out prizes for the best undead garb. Gangster nights can also be a ‘blast’; try following up a showing of ‘Scarface’ with a late night poker tournament (all in good fun of course!). Try whipping up a classic Italian appetizer menu for your guests for that authentic feel of the old country.

How to Have a Picture Party at Your Apartment

Want to have some cheap fun in your apartment without causing too much destruction and havoc? Have a picture party!

And by party, I don’t mean inviting tons and tons of people. I’d advise, for your sake and for your neighbors’ sake, limit your guest list to 5-8 people. Also, be sure that the ones whom you invite are creative and good with cameras. At the end of this event, you want to come away with hundreds of really great photos from a variety of different eyes that will immortalize your apartment and help you retain those often awesome, yet fleeting memories.

And if you take some really awesome pictures that feature your sweet looking apartment be sure to share them with your apartment manager! Maybe they could use them to show how great and fun their apartments can be Just a thought.

There are two ways of having this event.

1) Got Digital? - Have each of your guests bring their own digital camera and the cables or card readers they’ll need to transfer any pics to your computer. Schedule some board games or other fun activities as well as place a number of fun, cool looking objects around the apartment. Of course, you will want to have a few snacks and refreshments available. (Remember adult beverages should be for adults only and handled responsibly)

Alternatives to Candles in your Apartment

In most (if not all) apartment communities, burning candles is actually against the rules. Naturally so, because if you are burning candles, you may be putting an entire building and not to mention several people’s lives at stake. Sound severe? It’s not. Fires caused by candles happen more often then you’d think.

All it takes is a small gust of wind, a cat, or your uncoordinated-clumsy boyfriend to knock over that pretty smelling yankee candle and make the whole building go up in flames. That reminds me….did you sign up for renters insurance yet?

If candles aren’t an option you are definitely still in luck. There are several great alternatives to having yourself a little burning wick with melting wax. Check it out:

If it’s a fine scent that you’re after, try Glade® PlugIns®. They come in a ton of different smells that keep your place smelling way better than a measly apple cinnamon candle. Lamp oils or incense are also great options for spreading a little scented love around your apartment. The best part of all of these: none of them use an open flame!

Willow Bend Apartments Provide Sophisticated Plano Living

Looking for a new apartment community to call home? There are thousands of apartments in the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex for prospective renters to choose from. Location is typically the most important factor for most renters when looking for their next apartment home. Fortunately for the renters that are checking out the apartment market in the Plano area, Willow Bend offers luxurious living, convenient location, and popular shopping venues to residents lucky enough to call this great place home.

Willow Bend is a prominent neighborhood located along the western border of Plano, TX. For renters looking for an upscale suburban location with access to the best the city has to offer to call home, the Willow Bend area is sure not to disappoint. The trendy neighborhood is characterized by well-maintained homes and beautifully landscaped lawns and streets. Willow Bend is an attractive area for the young, and young-at-heart, professional due to its convenient location to many area employers and businesses. The neighborhood is also close in proximity to over 100 shopping centers and 500 restaurants. In addition, Willow Bend boasts a healthy number of sports and recreational clubs including the Willow Bend Polo and Hunt Club and the Gleneagles Country Club. Even more, there are numerous neighborhood playgrounds, greenbelts, parks, fishing lakes, and walking or jogging trails that provide residents with a variety of options for recreational pastimes and outdoor activities. There are also several golf clubs that have found a home in the Willow Bend area. Additionally, many residents also find enjoyment in the luxury shopping opportunities afforded by the Shops of Willow Bend, a premier shopping mall with over 100 department and specialty stores.