Mini Storage Solutions For Apartment Dwellers
Posted on November 28, 2007
Filed Under Apartment Living | 9 Comments
Living in an apartment can be a great way to take advantage of many opportunities than can only be found in association with apartments. Some of these advantages include access to the club house, fitness room and swimming pool; all of which are included in the cost of your rent. Apartment living is a great way to experience the privacy of your own place to stay without the maintenance of outside upkeep such as cutting the grass, landscaping or snow removal where applicable. This makes an apartment a nice place to live for those who don’t mind having neighbors on the other side of the wall.
Although there are quite a few advantages to living in an apartment, one of the major disadvantages for apartment dwellers is a lack of storage. Even for some of the largest apartments available on the market today, there is still the issue of having storage for those things that you can’t and don’t want to keep in your apartment. Some apartment buildings have stipulations in the rental agreement that very specifically indicate that you cannot store certain items in your apartment, even if your apartment has enough square footage to keep them there.
When this happens, apartment dwellers are forced to find other places to store their things. Some apartment buildings offer a small or mini storage solution to their tenants in the basement of the building. This area often amounts to a small cage that can hold items such as a few suitcases and storage bins and little more and must be locked with a pad lock which is not provided by management.
If you are an apartment dweller who is looking for mini storage solutions, there are a few options you have available to you. The first thing you need to do is determine what must be stored. Make your first consideration storage within your apartment. This will be cost efficient and if you do it right, it won’t make your apartment look cluttered. For example, perhaps you have seasonal crafts that you like to work on. Chances are you can purchase storage containers of all sizes that will help you store these items away neatly when the season is over. For small craft items such as beads, you can find storage containers with small drawers that will keep your beads and other mini craft items neatly organized in their own drawer. These plastic storage containers are great for storing items because they are heat and water resistant.
If you use larger storage bins, you can easily store them in your apartment decoratively by placing a colorfully coordinated table cloth over the bin and gathering a matching ribbon around the bin then tying it in a bow. Not only will you have your items storage away but you’ll have created a decorated space that can be used as a table top for flowers, a picture or any other lightweight item.
When you have storage items that are too large to go in your apartment but are too small to merit renting an entire storage room in a public storage place, there are mini storage options still available to you. The same public storage places often have mini storage units that are a fraction of the cost of a storage room and are the perfect size for those items you don’t have room for in your apartment.
If the mini storage is too large at public storage buildings, consider renting a smaller storage space from places that offer mail boxes and similar size mini storage spaces. You can find large box sized units that rent for a very low price and will hold a considerable amount of items. No matter where you decide to go for your mini storage space, make sure that your items are insured in case of fire or other damage. Also be sure to know the hours that you are allowed to go into your boxes. Many storage facilities do not allow you to go into the area after a certain time to prevent theft and secure the entire area with gated access only.
Having mini storage solutions avoids clutter and confusion about where to try and fit everything in your apartment. It also provides a safe way to store valuables in a protected unit that you can access during the proper hours. When you use rental storage solutions, make sure that you keep your rental fees current to avoid losing your items.
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definitely. Nick: What? Why? Kevin: Nick dont be rude. Sarah: Really you dont have to do that. Kevin: No, I insist Sarah: O…..K. Next thing I know were at my apartment. Kevin: Wow this is pretty cool. Sarah: Thanks. It took a while to decorate. Nick: You decorated this by yourself? Sarah: Yep. Joe: Wow. Kevin: Your really good at decorating. Sarah: Thanks but I want to be a fashion designer not a interior designer. Kevin: Do you have any sketches? Sarah: Yea hold on. I ran to my room and …
Help answer the question about apartment living decorating
Apartment decorating for a 1st timer?Don't know if this will help- I am a 24yo mom to a 4yo boy…
This is my apt…
Enter…
At the end of the hallway is the entry to the living room
at the right of the hallway is the kitchen entry
The kitchen has two entries…one of which leads to the living room as well.
All my walls in the entire apartment are white (so dull)
My entire floor is hardwood (except for the kitchen and bathroom..which are tiled)
I have a couch, pc and tv in the living room
A table of 4 in the kitchen as well as other kitchen appliances.
I am not into decorating or fashion like that. I need some simple, not too expensive, yet elegant ideas.
This is my 1st apartment and I am completely lost in how to set it up. Sometimes I feel I have too much space, so it's looks empty to me.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!
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Simply Self Storage – What Could be Easier than Simply?
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http://www.betterbudgeting.com
on the left are links,one is a link for decorating.
Check out fabric stores for remnants. For bedroom furniture, just look at an LL Bean catalog with all their painted white and pastel furniture. Any amateur can recreate that look with furniture from the junk store or flea market with a few cans of Krylon white spray paint.
Also check out the discount stores for "bed in a bag' type comforter sets and throw rugs.
Also check out eBay and http://www.overstock.com for all sorts of cool stuff.
Enjoy.
I've been married for 14 years. My advice is to approach the light issue with kindness and honesty. Otherwise, your dislike of the light may come out at the wrong time and tone.
As to who does the decorating, we both agree. And there is definitely give and take on both our parts, as we have pretty different tastes.
If you want to tie the two themes together, and Asian theme can work well. Use bamboo picture frames, furniture, whatever, you can get some Bonsai trees or live bamboo plants. Using plant life is a good way to bring the outdoors in, without having wildlife everywhere. In the bamboo picture frames you could buy some modern art for them, making a more modern motif. Using reds and blacks go really well with that theme as well. If the living room is large enough for a divider, you could get a Shoji screen divider. Some of thoe come with small shelves as well. Hope this helps! Look at the links for some ideas.
if u'r looking for artwork.. like prints… try http://www.art.com
for decor… try http://www.overstock.com OR
http://www.target.com
if u'r looking for ideas try http://www.hgtv.com OR http://www.diynetwork.com
Hit up the re-sale stores first and check out Craigslist. You'd be surprised what you can find there for not much money. Then visit the discount furniture stores. I know of a store that sells nothing but new returns and display furniture. The prices are knocked way down. There might be a little damage, but usually not much, just be sure to look it over before you buy it. You'll find modern furniture everywhere. It's just got straight and simple lines. You can always paint wood black for a very modern look.
Go to Target and check out their chrome racks. Make sure you get the one withe zig-zag line running through it. A four shelf unit is around $40 or less.
The shelves adjust to whatever height you need. I use one and I have my photo albums on top with bookends.
My XM radio and Apple Hi-Fi on the next shelf.
My television on the next shelf.
And finally my DVR/Cable Box/DVD units on the bottom.
To hide the wires I just bundled them up along the post and held them there with zip ties (just make sure you clip the long ends off). You can't even see them. But if I need to check wires it is much easier.
Here are some of the advantages:
Cheap
You can by smaller units to hold books or DVDs.
My friend bought a flat screen and hung it on a wall, now they have a entertainment center down in their basement.
If you do the same in the future or move to a bigger house you can just use the shelves as storage in your garage or basement. No damage done.
walgreens has sales all the time on photo prints. you can get like 50 for $5. & you can get frames from the thrift store or the dollar store. & you can paint them if you want. it doesn't matter what size the frames are because if they're too big, you can put a mat around the photo. it looks really nice with a mat too – more professional. hang them all over the place! you can put themes of pictures together or have them go up your stairs.
curtains help places look more homey. & lamps. so many of my friends just leave the blinds & overhead lights that came with the place. you can find lamps at yard sales or thrift stores. & curtains are a little expensive but you can be creative. put one on & pull it to the side or just add a valance.
pillows are easy to make & you can make them coordinate with your frames & curtains. old t-shirts work or old sweaters. then get the stuffing at the craft dept. it's like $2!
if you want to paint, get a kind like kilz that only takes one coat to cover. & you can just choose focal point walls to color. so you don't have to go all out & take a long time getting your place homey. just make one wall beige or something & you can paint doors & stuff too.
good luck