Change to lighter window treatments.

Bringing in as much natural light as possible always makes it feel just a bit more like summer. If you currently have some heavier drapes, blinds, or shades on your apartment windows, consider swapping them out for some window treatments that are a bit more lightweight. For example, you will get a lot of nice natural light with a basic white shade and some sheer curtains. 

Swap out darker area rugs for lighter or more vibrant colors.

Area rugs are an awesome addition to your apartment's interior, but even these can really affect the overall atmosphere. If you are using darker area rugs, it can change the brightness of the entire space, even if you are allowing in a lot of natural light. Try a nice lightweight woven rug in lighter colors to really brighten up a room. For instance, try a cream and white area rug with a low-pile construction in your living room, and it will instantly feel a lot more like summer. 

Bring in some summertime flora.

Not every apartment dweller is a big fan of plants, but plants don't have to be living to induce the same kind of summer atmosphere as real ones do. It can really help to highlight the season if you track down either live or faux plants similar to those that grow naturally in the Flagstaff area. 

Find a Flagstaff Apartment Perfect for Your Summer Decorating Ideas 

When you have a comfortable apartment where you can be happy, it is so much more fun to get prepared for every new season by tweaking your interior style elements. To take a look at the floor plans we have available at our Flagstaff apartment community, reach out to us today!

The post 3 Ways to Brighten Your Apartment for the Summer Season appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

Photos & Decorations

One of the easiest ways to feel more at home is to bring in pictures of your loved ones and friends. Whether you are displaying pictures in frames or more creatively on string with clothespins, you can look at the smiles, laughter, and memories from back home every time you enter your room. 

Another way to easily create a warm, homey feeling is to bring in decorations to your room. You can bring posters and knick-knacks from your childhood room, or you can go find new items that fit your current taste. If you’re on a budget, try out thrift shops. You never know what you might find! 

Soft, Comfy Bedding & Seating

The transition from a spacious, comforting home to a college apartment may be challenging. You don’t have your loved ones to turn to whenever an overwhelming day hits. It’s common to feel a surge of emotions. One way to make your apartment feel more like home when a bad day strikes is to surround yourself with pillows and blankets. You can curl up and talk on the phone for hours. While they won’t replace hugs and one-on-one time, you can still feel surrounded by warmth. 

The Perfect Student Housing Community

With so many students in the area, Flagstaff apartments are easy to find. However, we are the best community for students because we are incredibly inclusive and make the transition from home to college simple. Contact our front desk staff today to see what floor plans are available! 

The post Steps to Creating Your Home Away From Home appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

Add Pops of Color Everywhere

Look for brightly colored throw pillows at your favorite flea markets or discount stores and add them to your sofas. Find some fun new dishes for your kitchen in your favorite summer colors.

Make the room appear fresher by finding some inexpensive art prints. We recommend using your furniture to lean them against the wall to avoid any damage.

Put Some Plants Around the Room

Flowers and hanging greenery do wonders for changing the look of an apartment. Add a centerpiece to your coffee table or place them along the edges of the room. If you don’t have much of a green thumb or aren’t home enough to care for plants properly, going with some nice fakes is fine.

Change Up Your Rugs

When’s the last time you added new rugs to the room? Go with vivid colors or different textures with fun designs embedded to switch up the look of your rooms. Place a few in your living room or down your hallways to add some summer pizzazz to your apartment.

Other Ideas for Rug Placement

• Straw mats to your front and patio doors
• Beneath your living room furniture
• Next to your bed for your feet to enjoy

Try Some Sea Shell Flair

Look in your favorite thrift stores or other decorating shops for different seashell designs if you don’t get the chance to travel to the beach. Leave them as is or decorate them to place around your apartment.

We hope residents of our Flagstaff, AZ Highland Village apartments have a great time this summer. Reach out to the staff anytime by calling (844) 819-1677.

The post 4 Great Decorating Ideas for Summer appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

1. Add Textiles

Textiles like pillows, area rugs, throws and even wall hangings have a warming effect on acoustics. If you want to instantly make your apartment more cozy, add textiles throughout your apartment home.

2. Burn Fragrant Candles

Scented jar candles in fragrances like cinnamon make the apartment feel like home. Burn fragrant candles for an instant cozy and relaxing atmosphere.

3. Bake Goodies

Nothing makes an apartment home feel and smell more cozy than a fresh baked pie, homemade bread or a batch of warm cookies straight out of the oven. Get out your favorite family recipes and bake away.

4.  Hang Cozy Paintings

Paintings can add to the cozy ambience in your Flagstaff apartment at Highland. Choose artists that you enjoy who paint beautiful landscapes or seascapes, and hang them where you can enjoy them throughout your apartment.

5. Create a Nesting Nook

Somewhere in your Highland apartment, create a nesting nook that might be the perfect spot to have a cup of tea or read a book. Fill the nook with comfortable seating, a small table and a warm blanket where you can sit and enjoy your apartment.

6. Play Music

Music can have a dramatic calming effect on you, making you feel cozy. Choose ambient music that doesn’t distract you from activities that you’re doing in your Highland apartment in Flagstaff.

7. Place Plants

When you place potted plants around your Highland apartment, you will instantly add to the coziness feeling. Plants are known for making people feel better because they give off oxygen and help to keep the air clean.

These seven tips for making your apartment even more cozy are easy to do and can be completed in an afternoon. For more ideas about enjoying life at Highland apartments in Flagstaff, contact us today.

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DON’T try to declutter your entire apartment in one day. It takes time, and it takes consistency.

DO break up your decluttering sessions into smaller pieces. Work on one room at a time. You can even break the room down into smaller sections: the closet, the dresser, the bed, etc.

DON’T be clingy. Yes, you used to love that sweater/album/book/coffee maker, but if you haven’t used it in the past year … it’s time to let it go.

DO donate! Instead of just throwing away the things you no longer need, head on over to the local thrift shop and make your “trash” someone else’s treasure.

DON’T go overboard. We love those colorful decorative storage bins as much as anybody, but try to avoid heading to the store and investing in a ton of new storage items before you even know what you’ll be storing. That said …

DO make use of cabinets, bins, and boxes. You might have a hard time keeping all your magazines in order, but sticking them into a bin makes them look tidy instantly! The same goes for crafting supplies and knick-knacks that might not exactly have a “place” of their own.

DON’T stress yourself out. Trying to declutter your apartment can be stressful, especially if you get overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of STUFF surrounding you!

DO make it fun! Give yourself 15 minutes to clean one spot in your apartment. Have a reward planned if you get it done. Put on some upbeat music and do a little dance as you declutter. Cleaning may be a chore, but that doesn’t mean it also has to be a bore!

The post The Do’s and Dont’s of Decluttering! appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

Formal Dining Rooms

The traditional six chair dining table has been making a strong comeback. Most people believed that the age of the dining table and room has been phasing out, however, the newer generation seems to be realizing traditional values of family bonding and the formal family dining room and table has made it to the list.

Statement Mirrors

An often overlooked and monotonous aspect of home décor is the kind of mirrors used on dressing tables and in bathrooms. The statement mirror has outdone that. For instance, people now place vanity mirrors in bathrooms. Be on the lookout for a larger, and more decorative mirror to add to your living room, mantle, or master bedroom.

Rustic Lighting

Industrial and rustic lighting accents to any room are a popular trend for any interior. Using bulbed lights, mason jar lanterns, steel-wire ledges, and subtle lamps are a great way to add both light and style to a room. Experiment with string lights, end table lamps, and other rustic lighting that will evenly disperse light throughout your rooms.

Less is More

 Getting back to the basics and approaching your interior design with a more minimalistic goal in mind is a modern way to make a statement. Keeping colors neutral, adding pops of color with natural accents like plants and flowers, furniture made of repurposed wood, and glass materials are just a few of the ways to implement these styles. Less is more, and focusing on the simple and classic beauty of interior design rather than overdressing your interior will go a long way.

Mixing Textures

Combining textures is another amazing trend that can be applied to many different areas of your apartment. To give you some examples, try adding a fuzzy throw blanket over your smooth, down comforter in the bedroom. Place a furry, asymmetric rug overtop an even, pattern rug. Or, add both suede and silk pillows to your living room sofa. Mixing and matching textures is a great way to combine more than one style preference to a room. 

The post 5 Interior Decorating Trends in 2016 appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

1. Prints! 

The style world has been all about solid shades of color for a while, which is understandable after the chaotic kaleidoscope of prints that the 80s and 90s threw onto the scene. This year, experts predict that prints will dominate.

2. Minimalism (With a Twist) 

When you think "minimalism," do you think of a space that feels as sterile as an operating room? Today's minimalism looks brighter and a lot more fun than that. Keeping only a few of your very favorite things in a space allows you to make it feel livable and make it yours while keeping that open, airy feel that minimalism is all about. 

3. Custom Eclecticism 

The pendulum traveled from antique love to midcentury modern worship, but in 2016 it's all about making a space reflect your personality. By investing in object you love that reflect your own personality, you'll create a refuge that bears your own trademark. Apartment living lends itself to that eclectic spirit beautifully. 

4. Neutrals

After a few years of color everywhere, some people are ready for a break. Neutrals like ivory, taupe, bone and eggshell create a spa-like atmosphere that makes you want to kick your feet up and sip a cup of chai tea. This trend is particularly great for apartment dwellers who want up-to-date style without painting. 

5. Black Metals

Accents featuring black metal or steel add to the simple, straightforward feel that minimalists love and tend to make small apartment spaces feel more open and airy. Designers expect to see more pieces featuring black metal this year. 

Have ideas for the perfect space, but not sure where to make it work? Feel free to contact us to see what Highland Village apartments have to offer, and start dreaming about your ideal interior. 

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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!

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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