Investing in custom furnishings and artwork for an apartment may not make sense in the long term, but there are plenty of ways that you can decorate your apartment with simple DIY strategies that won’t leave any lasting damage on those rented walls.

Here are a few creative ways that you can decorate your apartment without breaking any of your property manager’s rules:

Paint on canvas.

Painting isn’t always recommended in rental apartments, and a lot of apartment complexes will downright discourage it. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t get color up on those walls. If you have a bit of creative talent, go ahead and paint on canvas to create a masterpiece of your own. But if you don’t feel that you have a lot of creative potential, have no fear. Use a large canvas and paint it as a solid color block in the color that you’d want to paint the wall. Hang up a few canvases in a row, and you’ll have a minimalist and unique art piece that is exactly what you are looking for.

Get creative with textiles.

Bringing a lot of different textiles into your home is a great way to add personality and plenty of color without making any permanent changes to your apartment. Use curtains and drapes to break up the plainness of white walls, get creative with carpeting, and use blankets to add a bit more flair to furniture. This is a great way to add a lot of personality and comfort to your apartment, and it’s easy to set up and break down whenever you are ready to move again.

Finding ways to bring a bit of personality into your home is a great way to make a standard space into a custom and highly personalized space. You don’t need to knock down walls to make your home more your own. Try being a little creative with your decor ideas and see where the creative spirit takes you. Call our office today to learn more about what apartments are available for you.

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Double Closet Rod

Double the space in your closet by hanging a double closet rod. This is just a rod that extends from long arms down from the uppermost rod in your closet. Now you can hang a double row of shirts in the same amount of space. One idea is to hang shirts on the top and shorts on the bottom rod.

Use S-Hooks for Belts and Scarves

Don’t take up valuable drawer space for belts and scarves. Instead, pick up a handful of S-hooks from your local hardware store and attach them to your closet shelves. These hooks are perfect for hanging belts, scarves, handbags and even long necklaces that you don’t want to get tangled inside your jewelry box drawers.

Keep Boots’ Shape

Now that spring is here, it’s time to put away your boots. Keep the shape of your boots by tucking a Styrofoam pool noodle inside each boot. Pool noodles are easy to cut to size with regular scissors. One pool noodle is usually sufficient for two pairs of boots. Pool noodles won't ever go limp and they'll keep your boots upright until you’re ready to wear them again.

Organize by Color

Instead of putting like garments together, consider organizing by color, as some apparel stores do. This is a hack that will let you get dressed faster in the morning since you won’t have to search for matching garments.

Substitute Clothes Pins for Skirt Hangers

When you run out of skirt hangers, you might be tempted to fold your skirt over a regular hanger, where it will likely slide off at the most inconvenient time. Instead, use clothespins. The round part of the pin will fit over the bottom section of the hanger, and the clip will firmly keep your skirt in place.

You’ll have lots of fun organizing your apartment in Chicago. To get an idea of how a model apartment looks, or to see available floor plans, please feel free to contact us at any time!

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Salad dressings purchased in the store generally use low-quality oils like canola, soy, or sunflower oil. These bad fats can be high in calories and preservatives, artificial flavorings, and sugars. Expect these five homemade salad dressings curated from The Food Network to be lower in calories, free of trans-fat, and chemical-free.
 

5 Easy Homemade Salad Dressings

Classic Vinaigrette: Whisk 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste. Gradually whisk in 1/3 to 1/2 cup olive oil.

Mediterranean: First make the Classic Vinaigrette then mash in 1/2 cup crumbled feta, whisk in 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon dried oregano and 1 diced plum tomato.

Lemon Balsamic: Whisk 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 teaspoons dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup olive oil.

Spiced Chutney: Whisk 2 tablespoons each mango chutney and lime juice, and 1/2 teaspoon each ground cumin and kosher salt. Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup vegetable oil.

Roasted Garlic: Slice the top from 1 head garlic; drizzle with olive oil, wrap in aluminum foil and roast at 400 degrees F until tender, 35 minutes. Cool, then squeeze out the cloves. Add the roasted garlic to  Classic Vinaigrette, add to a blender with 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan until creamy.

The 3 Components of a Perfect Dressing

Fashion your own salad dressing creations using the spices and herbs that you love. Simply keep in mind these essential components when creating the perfect salad dressing base:

• Choose the Perfect Oil – Choose quality olive oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, or walnut oil
• The Right Acid – lemon juice, vinegar, citrus fruit, or rice vinegar
• Base Seasoning – Which is 1/4 teaspoon of salt and ground pepper, but can extend to garlic, smoked paprika or an Italian herb mixture.
• Additional Seasoning – Here is where you can be creative with Dijon mustard, shallots, lemon, minced cloves, or pine nuts.
• Adding Balance – If your dressing is too acidic, simply add more oil, and if it's too bland, increase the acid and adjust the seasonings.

For your next Chicago, IL apartment home, visit us at The Belden-Stratford to explore our selection of spacious living spaces with fully equipped kitchens located in the heart of Lincoln Park.

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Try Storage Dividers

Freestanding dividers and screens help break up studio and loft spaces that feature few interior walls. Make these features serve a dual purpose by choosing dividers that include shelves, drawers, and other storage options.

Raise Your Bed Up

The space under your bed is ideal for keeping seasonal items and rarely used tools. For even more space, use risers or a lifting platform bed mechanism to increase your space. Ottoman beds include lifts to tilt the mattress up so you can access hidden items stored inside the frame. Drawers and containers installed on rails under the bed rolls out whenever you need them.

Add Rings and Hooks to Your Closet

A few inexpensive S hooks and shower curtain rings transform your clothing storage in even the smallest closet. Instead of buying specialty hanger systems that hold six to eight hangers in the space of one, order a few steel S hooks and short lengths of metal chain. Hang the length of chain from the S hook and attach as many hangers as you like through the links of the chain. For small and thin items like scarves and tank tops, slip some shower curtain rings on a wooden hanger. Hang items on the rings to store a dozen scarves on a single hanger.

Hang Your Hampers

Floor space is essential in your bedroom, but you also need to keep your dirty clothes organized and ready for laundry day. Look into hanging hampers to free up space on the floor while keeping your laundry at waist or chest height so it's easy to collect.

Consider Mirror Cabinets

Storage mirrors are similar to medicine cabinets, but they're not just for the bathroom. These mirrors reflect light to make an apartment appear bigger. They also help you organize supplies, spices and more out of view.

Ready to upgrade to a larger apartment? Check out our floor plans here at The Belden-Stratford and start planning your move.

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