Memphis Apartments

Clutter can accumulate anywhere a person lives. Memphis apartment living is really no different. If you have trouble staying on top of your cleaning remember that the less stuff you have the easier it is. Don’t be afraid to take control and throw out the trinkets lined up across the television or the old magazines stacked up in the bathroom.

There are two types of cleaning for most people. The general picking things up and vacuum or sweep, and then there is the major cleaning often referred to as “spring cleaning,” Spring cleaning usually happens right after the cold weather is gone and most people have a desire to suddenly open the windows and feel the first warm summer breezes. It’s a way to get control over the dust that has accumulated over the winter months.

When doing major cleaning you should first decide what has to go and what has to stay. Any clothing in the house that has either been out grown, stained, or just not worn anymore can be bagged up and sent to the local charities. They don’t have to be thrown out and you might even check with others in your Memphis apartment building to see if they know someone who can use your outgrown items. Anything that is trash, set aside to go with the big load. This alone could get rid of several bags of clutter.

After you have taken care of the clothing, take note of the condition of bed sheets and curtains. Curtains generally just need a good washing. Any bet sheets that need to be tossed or set aside for camping trips should go now. Get all the high places when you take down the curtains. Remember that dust falls and you should clean up high before you clean down low.

Avoid the temptation to simply toss stuff in closets. Instead, closets should be cleaned out. Old games not used can be donated or thrown away. Next it’s time to move all the furniture so that you can clean underneath. Try to do only one room at a time. If you get too carried away moving furniture out in your Memphis apartment you won’t have any room to put the things you are moving. Get all the dust bunnies and misplaced socks that fell behind the couch, television stand and bed. If needed check with your landlord and see what the rules are about renting a steam cleaner for your carpet.

Now that that is done you have time to move to the kitchen. Most kitchens have a spot where you don’t reach very often. If you take your pots and pans out and assess the situation you may find enough dust in that one corner to ruin your appetite. Clean out your silverware drawer and your cupboards. Remember to set aside anything you don’t want anymore. The kitchen refrigerator and the stove very seldom get moved to clean behind but things often get spilled behind them or under them. If you do move your appliances, make sure you do not damage any lines connecting them to their power supply. If unsure about your appliances, you can ask your landlord or leave them be. It is always better to be cautious.

After you have been through the whole house you should have quite a collection of things going to charities and things being thrown out. Talk to your landlord to find out about getting a truck to haul off any large items you have. If you have a lot of stuff, it may be more cost efficient to get some other tenants to go in with you on this expense.

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A bedroom should be a place where a person can go to relax. Do-it-yourself decorating is easier than ever with a variety of options. Before starting any job let your landlord know what you are planning and get permission.

Once you have gone through the proper channels and can start, you just have to decide what you want to do. There are many different ways to decorate a Memphis apartment bedroom.

Stencils and Calligraphy in Your Memphis Apartments

You’ll want to decide on color and theme for your bedroom, but if you’re having trouble deciding you can always browse through stencils at your local hobby store for inspiration. Pick something that you won’t grow tired of. You don’t have to paint your whole room either. Put a fresh coat of paint on your dresser, side table, mirror frame and bed posts. Put a dark blue gray paint on and get stencils for either lightning bolts or storm clouds. Or do a dark red and paint on your favorite Chinese symbols. If you pick something that doesn’t have to be uniform it leaves room for error or artistic leeway. You can get stencils and the proper calligraphy art brushes at almost any hobby or paint store or online art or home décor store. The wonderful thing about this is that you don’t have to be an artist to make this look good.

Take a Test Run

After you have picked out what you want to do, try it out on something you don’t mind messing up. Go to the flea market and pick out a small birdhouse or small mirror with attractive trim to try your idea out on first. If it works great, and if not you don’t have to sand your dresser off again. You can even test it on a cardboard box.

Expand Your Ideas

If you begin to feel at home with your stencil and or brushes look at your curtains. You can add a touch or two to your curtains with just a bit of fabric paint and you won’t be out the money for new curtains. You can also add tassels or decorative beads to your curtains for just a few dollars if you look at your local fabric store. The same can be done for a cheap rug and table runner for your dresser.

Think Removable

Wall clings are becoming more popular as a way to dress up a wall without paint or even anything permanent. Free-standing photo frames or even tall narrow bookcases can become a focal point without requiring any paint or major renovations.

The Little Things Count Too

The final step to any good room is the little things you find that seem to fit in. If you do a beach theme or ocean, find an ornamental jar with white sand to fill it or sea shells. If you do the silhouette of a woman’s dress, find a small glass statue of a woman’s dress or glass shoe to hold your jewelry. If you do mountains outlined in clouds, find a small calming fountain to sit on your bedside that resembles mountainous rock.

The Way In, The Way Out

In some cases you may want to look at your Memphis apartment doors to decide if you want to do anything to the entry way to complete the look. Remember that whatever you do does need to be approved by the landlord. Chances are you won’t take a door with you when you leave the Memphis apartment. If you take time and look at your local library for ideas you should find something that speaks directly to you. Just make sure it calms you and is something you will be happy with.

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More and more people are operating home businesses and more than ever, companies are realizing the benefits of allowing workers to “telecommute” at least one or two days each week. The end result is that home offices are more popular than ever. Just because you have an Memphis apartment doesn’t mean that your home office has to be any less impressive, comfortable and functional than a traditional office. In fact, the office in your Memphis apartment could become your new favorite job.

Location, Location, Location

The most important aspect real estate is location and the most important decision with regard to the office space within your Memphis apartment is also the location. Start by looking at the necessities. If you have to have a plug-in for your computer and jack for your phone, you have to choose a place within your Memphis apartment where these things are available. If you want to make it all easier, go wireless. Instead of the DSL Internet connection, check into availability of satellite or other wireless options. A cell phone or even wireless home phone may eliminate the need for a phone jack nearby. Each of these will play into your options for the location of your home office.

Attraction vs. Distraction

Yep, that widow would make the perfect backdrop for your home office. It opens onto a park where there are always kids playing with dogs and moms pushing strollers and … too many distractions. By the same token, the desk that faces the kitchen may keep reminding you that you left the breakfast dishes in the sink and you really did want to bake chocolate chip cookies today. Unless you have the most engaging job in the world, choose a place where you can focus.

Light Up Your World

Lighting is important in your workplace and the same is true in your home office. If your space needs a little help, consider seasonal lights, a lava lamp or track lighting, but don’t sacrifice quality lighting sources so that you can see adequately. Light colored walls and ceilings will also help create the light that you must have to work well.

The Separation Between Work and Memphis Apartment

One of the biggest challenges facing those who have home offices within their Memphis apartments is the ability to “leave work.” There has to be a mental decision to do so but it helps to have a physical space that you can literally walk away from at the end of your work time. A totally separate room is the easiest way to accomplish this because at the end of the work day you can simply close the door. If that’s not possible, consider purchasing an inexpensive screen. When the work day is finished, pull the screen across the work area. This creates an “out-of-sight, out-of-mind” situation that could make it easier to forget about work. It may also help you keep files and papers for your work in order if those are behind a screen so that everyone knows those items are off limits.

Coffee Break, Lunch Break

One of the traps of having a home office is the lack of a time clock. If you’re deep in the throes of a business deal, you may be tempted to skip the coffee break or lunch break time. It’s easier just to grab a cup of coffee and take it back to your desk or even to eat a sandwich while continuing work. The law requires employers to provide breaks for a reason. It’s a physical health issue but it’s also a mental health issue. By the same token, you can’t fall into the trap of stepping out of your office and into your Memphis apartment for a quick snack only to get interested in a television show or a good book and “forget” to get back to work.

With a little planning and some continued organization, your home office in your Memphis apartment can be a very profitable - and happy - way to make a living.

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Those who have lived in Memphis apartments for some time say there are advantages - and disadvantages - to living on the top floor, bottom floor or somewhere in the middle. Take a look at some of the pros and cons listed by those who have been there.

The Top Memphis Apartment Floor

Some say the top floor is the place to be simply because it’s quieter. If you think about this, it does make sense because there are no “upstairs neighbor noises” to be heard.

The possibility of a leaky roof is always a threat for the top floor Memphis apartment dweller but that’s offset by the fact that there are no bathtubs above your ceiling that can ever be left to overflow and fewer potential plumbing leaks.

Some people tout the security issue as a reason for selecting a top floor Memphis apartment. In most cases, it would take a cat burglar to find a way into an upper floor Memphis apartment though a determined thief could likely find a way.

Heating may be less expensive on the top floor, depending on insulation of the Memphis apartments below. By the same token, cooling may be more of a problem because heat rises - even in the summer when the heat from cooking and even that entering the front door will eventually find its way up.

Remember that living on the top floor doesn’t come with an elevator guarantee. Even if there is an elevator, mechanical devices break. That means you may find yourself trudging up and down multiple flights of stairs on a daily basis. While you may convince yourself of the positive point of having “gym quality” exercise right in your building, the novelty will quickly wear off when you’re lugging up groceries.

Naturally, one of the biggest downsides is the actual process of moving in. This is especially true if you’re moving yourself and if the Memphis apartment isn’t furnished - try getting some friends to help move a couch up three flights of stairs! And remember that there’s likely to come a day when you’re also moving out, meaning you’ll be carrying all your possessions back down those same stairs.

The Middle Memphis Apartment Floor

One of the chief advantages touted by “middle of the building” Memphis apartment dwellers is that the have plenty of dead air space for insulation above and below them. This actually may make at least a slight difference in heating and cooling bills. In a large building it may also mean that there’s an anonymity not present on the top and bottom floors.

The Bottom Memphis Apartment Floor

Memphis apartment dwellers tout the bottom floor as being the most convenient because there are no stairs to navigate but less desirable in other ways. One of those is that you’re nearer the front door meaning insects are more likely to find their way to your Memphis apartment than to your upstairs neighbors’ homes. There’s really not an answer to this problem unless you want to stand duty at the front door and order your neighbors to keep the front door closed. This same problem is going to let in the outside air as well, meaning you’re going to have more temperature fluctuations battling the differences between indoor and outdoor heat and cold. That could impact your heating and cooling bill.

Moving in and out is absolutely easier with a downstairs Memphis apartment because there are no flights of stairs or elevators to manage.

Some people believe that there’s a greater chance of crime in a downstairs Memphis apartment as thieves and attackers are more likely to choose a ground floor dwelling than to risk being seen going upstairs.

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Your Memphis apartment says a lot about who you are and where you’re going. If you’re just wanting to lean back and have some fun, it may be time to change your Memphis apartment from the fuddy-duddy place it’s become into a “pad.” Okay, so the word “pad” is a bit 60-ish. That might actually be a good place to start.

Think “Hippie”

The 1960s and 1970s were fabulous eras for those who lived through them. Whether you’re looking back on those days with nostalgic longing or know about them only from the movies, there’s no doubt that the era can provide some great inspiration for Memphis apartment décor. Bring in tie-dyed throw pillows, add in some bean bags and you’re off to a good start. Don’t overlook the fads of those days. A hula hoop hung on the wall can make a good boundary for a grouping of old family photos. Use funky frames in a random placement inside the hoop for an incredible focal point. Lava lamps are readily available and are a must for mood lighting. Look for greens, yellows and oranges in your furniture colors, or simply cover what you have with mod slip covers.

Get Modern with your Memphis Apartment

If the styles of almost a half-century ago doesn’t do it for you, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to spruce up your Memphis apartment with a more modern look toward turning it into a Memphis apartment “pad.” LED lighting fixtures are an inexpensive and easy way to add a touch of “funky” to your Memphis apartment. You’ll find them in an array of colors. They use little energy and easy to install. Typically, all you’ll have to do is arrange the lights wherever you want them, and plug them in. Consider trading in your old wooden coffee table for a modern glass one. Wrap strings of lights (Christmas or seasonal lights will do) around the legs of the table. The chord can be covered with a rug so that it’s barely noticeable. When you turn them on, that coffee table will become the instant focal point and center point of the room. Use this idea to add instant color to a dark corner as well. Lights can be wrapped around almost anything in order to achieve this effect.

Do Away With Memphis Apartment Clutter

While you’ve got lots of room for personal choices and ideas when creating a Memphis apartment “pad,” one thing that doesn’t work is clutter. Do away with all but a few of those knick-knacks and doo-dads around the Memphis apartment. Clean lines are vital.

The Top and the Bottom

While mood lighting can be fun, don’t overlook your main lighting sources. That “wagon wheel” fixture over the dining room table can’t stay. There’s nothing that can be done about it. Even if your lighting is slightly less offensive, consider replacing entire fixtures. Remember that you’re going to have to pay for installation unless your building has a maintenance person who can handle this task. Once the top of the Memphis apartment has been transformed, look down. Even if you can’t convince the landlord to do away with the hideous mauve carpet, you can camouflage the floor with throw rugs. Choose large area rugs that complement whatever look you’re after. Funky shags in bright colors will give you an added retro touch or earth tones may work best with your new lighting touches.

Go All the Way - to the Bathroom and Kitchen

Don’t renovate your living room and bedroom and then stop. Remember that most of your guests are going to see the bathroom as well. Again, eliminate the clutter and this time that instruction includes the disposable razors that are typically on the side of the sink. Metal accessories give an impression of the cleaner lines typically associated with the “pad.” In the kitchen, black or stainless appliances will give the room a more modern feel. Eliminate frilly curtains and replace the cabinet knobs with stainless pulls.

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