16 Color Options To Paint The Inside Of Your Front Door

When it comes to decorating the inside of your apartment, your options are usually limited to aesthetic changes that are not permanent. What better way to achieve this than by giving your interior a fresh new look with a pop of color. We put together 16 color options for painting the inside of your front door, but you can use this idea for any door in your apartment!

Check out this step by step guide for painting a door here

Did you find these color options helpful? We hope so! Apartment Experts helps hundreds of people every month find apartments in Austin that meet their wants, needs, and budget. Our apartment locators answer phones 7 days a week and our locating service is free of charge. Call 512 416 8100 today!

7 Ways To Get Your Small Entrance Way To Work For You

When you live in a small apartment, coming home to a large foyer or entrance way is not very common. In fact, you are probably dealing with the opposite and have the challenge of working with a small entrance way or not much of one at all. Well, we’re here to show you that you still have options for a stylish and organized entrance way, one that meets your needs and your budget. Check out the list below.

1. Use two rows of bins, one running across the floor and the other up on a shelf

2. When working with a corner, use a cornered bench and shelf 

3. Place a console table against the wall and add baskets underneath

4. Make your own coat hanging station with towel hangers and hooks

5. Use a storage bench with built in basket slots and add hooks above it 

6. Stack crates strategically or hang them on the wall for shoe storage

7. Use a small dresser with drawers and add hooks above it 

We hope you found these ideas helpful in creating the entrance-way and organization you need for your small apartment. If you are looking for an apartment to call home, we would love to help! Apartment Experts has been leading the way in apartment locating here in Austin for almost 20 years! Our experienced locators answer phones 7 days a week, and our locating service is free of charge. Call 512 339 4411 today! 

10 Ways To Fit A Home Office In A Small Apartment

Living in a small apartment can be met with a few challenges, and let’s be honest, limited space is one of them. When dealing with this challenge it can be easy to think that something as essential as a home office is out of reach. However, just because something is challenging it doesn't mean it is impossible to achieve. Below we show you ten clever and creative ways to fit a home office into a small space. 

1. In a small corner next to the dining room table

2. In a corner next to the fireplace

3. Next to your living room couch

4. In the corner wall next to the end of the bed

5. Next to the bed in the form of a nightstand

6. Inside a cleared out coat closet

7. Inside a hallway corner

8. Behind a sofa as a sofa table

9. Next to an open window

10. Underneath the stairs

We hope you found these ideas helpful to creating a home office in your small apartment. If you or someone you know is looking for an apartment to call home, Apartment Experts would love to help! We have been leading the way in apartment locating in Austin for close to 20 years. Our experienced apartment locators answer phones 7 days a week. Call 512 339 4411 today, our locating service is free of charge.

Apartment Living: Affordable Toy Storage For Small Spaces

If you are a parent to a young child or children, you know the challenges that come with keeping everything organized and in its place, especially toys! Add living in an apartment to the mix and the challenge is doubled, as you most likely have limited storage space to work with. Below we cover the problem of toy storage in small spaces and affordable ideas and solutions that might help. Happy organizing!

Add your own shelves to a corner of the room to create a reading corner - Threshold 23” Picture Ledge - $12.99

Add hooks horizontally to hang matching baskets for toy storage - Cosmos Heavy Duty Coat And Hat Hook 10 pack - $39.95 - Large Round Woven Plastic Storage Basket - $16.99

Add second shower curtain rod with hanging baskets for bath toy storage - Achim Home Furnishings Shower Curtain Rod - $13.00 - Stainless Steel Shower Caddy Shelf Storage - $23.99

Add crate storage to your walls with a simple DIY - Hand Made Modern Wooden Crate $13.99

Check out this DIY on how to create your own crate storage shelves here

We hope you found these tips helpful in getting your apartment organized! If you or someone you know is looking for an apartment to call home, Apartment Experts would love to help! We have been leading the way in apartment locating in Austin for almost 20 years. Our seasoned apartment locators answer phones 7 days a week and our locating service is free of charge. Call today 512 339 4411 today!

How To Decorate Your Patio For The Holidays

We understand that setting up your patio or outside area for the holidays can sound like a daunting task when you are living in an apartment. But just because you are working with limited space, doesn’t mean you can’t add a little holiday cheer to the outside of your home. If you would like to know about some easy and budget friendly options for doing just that, keep reading!

Holiday Plants and Flowers - Bring life and color to the outside of your home with the simple, yet effective, option of holiday themed plants and flowers. Some popular choices are poinsettias, white amaryllis, Christmas cacti, and mistletoe. Most of these options can be purchased at your local grocery store. They can be placed in front, by, or on your door, and are relatively easy to maintain.

Holiday Lights in Old Wine Bottles - Get your patio looking Pinterest worthy by putting Christmas-tree lights into renovated wine bottles. You can line up bottles that are the same color and size for a uniform look, or you can bunch together different sizes and colors. Get creative and have fun with it.

Small Artificial Christmas Tree - Add a small artificial tree to the center of your porch and watch it be the piece you have been missing. There are several options that come with lights that you simply have to set up and plug in. If you have kids, let them join you in adding baubles and ribbons. Make it a family affair. Then, whenever you look out your window, you’ll be reminded of the holiday feel.

Holiday lights on Porch Railing - Finally, grab a couple boxes of Christmas-tree lights and intertwine them up and down your porch railings for an aesthetically pleasing look that will brighten up the outside of your home. You can use traditional colored lights, or switch things up with different colored lights.

Check out our Pinterest Board for decorating on a budget here

We hope you found these tips useful in setting up your patio. If you are looking for a new apartment to call home this holiday season, Apartment Experts would love to help. We have been leading the way in apartment locating in Austin for almost 20 years. Our experienced apartment locators answer phones 7 days a week and the service is free to you! Give us a call today at 512 416 8100.

How To Move And Keep Your Sanity

If you are moving from one apartment to another, even if the move is a short distance, it is still a monumental task. What’s more, hiring a moving company is a luxury most people cannot afford. A quick estimate from www.moving.com shows that the costs for moving a three bedroom apartment, for a distance as small as 3 miles, is almost $6,000 dollars. So, the question is: how can you pack and move from one place to another, and still keep your sanity? Well, we’ve put together a list of the best tips and tricks that will answer this question and alleviate stress during the process.

1. If you don’t want to unpack it, don’t pack it - This first step can be done weeks in advance to your move and will make the actual process of moving and unpacking so much easier. Purge from your closets, appliances, furniture, and anything else that has added up over time that you simply don’t need or want anymore. Make two piles, one for trash and recycle, and one for donating. Only pack and move what you want to unpack later.
2. Get the technical stuff out of the way - The second step is one that you can do in the days before the move, but is often one people don’t think about until the move is over and they are up to their eyeballs with boxes to unpack. Call and change your address on all legal forms. This can include, but is not limited to: credit cards, driver's license, utility bills, insurance and car bills, and bank info such as checkbooks and debit cards etc. Don’t forget to call your local USPS office and leave a forwarding address, as well as switch over your internet and magazine subscriptions to your new address.
3. Order packing boxes ahead of time - This company ships boxes right to your home. As an added benefit, they are boxes made out of recycled material so you are not harming the environment. They come at affordable prices, and you can purchase ‘moving kits’ based on the size of home that you are moving to. Let’s just say, we wish we knew about this sooner.
4. Pack a ‘move-in’ box - How many times have you moved and completely forgotten about the ‘essentials’ that you take for granted at home? We’re talking about the things that would make the first night and day in your new home uncomfortable to go without. Our suggestion is to put together a move-in box that has all the essentials you will need in one place. This could include a toothbrush, toilet paper, shower curtain, towel, clean sheets, coffee maker  etc. Bring this box with you in your car, or keep it easily accessible and separate from the rest of the other boxes so you can easily retrieve it.
5. Pack an item list for each box - Finally, take time to pack your apartment in the most organized way for unpacking it later. You can do this by labeling each box with a number, and a general label of what it contains, and what area of the house it comes from. Then, on a notepad make a list of exactly what is in the box according to the number on the box. This way you won’t create havoc when unpacking, or looking for certain items before you can completely unpack.

We hope you found these suggestions useful for your next move. If you are in the process of looking for a new apartment to call home, Apartment Experts would love to help! Our experienced apartment locators answer phones 7 days a week and are extremely knowledgeable about the Austin apartment market. Call 512 416 8100 today!

Affordable Thanksgiving Decor For Your Apartment

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and we know it can be a challenge to get your apartment looking cozy and festive when you’re working on a budget. That’s why we are here to remind you that you don’t need to spend big bucks to enjoy a holiday themed apartment. Scroll down for a list of our favorite budget-friendly places to shop this holiday season!

Michaels Arts and Crafts - Michaels always dedicates a large section in their store for products that are 40% off the original price. There, you can buy wreaths, artificial Christmas trees, lights, yard and home decor. You can find just about anything you could possibly think of when putting together a holiday look for your home. If you want further discounted prices, download the app for coupons and deals.

The Dollar Tree - If you are the type that loves to put together your own craft station for the holidays, you will love this place! Flowers, vases, candles, beads, and ribbons are a few of the many affordable items that you can do so much with. Plus, everything costs a dollar or less.

Goodwill - Here, you can find beautiful holiday decor in very good condition, with second hand price tags. Each Goodwill carries different items, so the more you check out, the more you will find! There are over 2 dozen stores in Austin alone. If you have the time, and interest, it can be your own personal treasure hunt to find unique, and affordable, items for your apartment.

We hope you have found these suggestions helpful. Apartment Experts has been leading the way in helping individuals in Austin find apartments for almost 20 years. Our experienced apartment locators are available 7 days a week to help you find an apartment that meets your needs, location, and budget. Our service is free, call today at 512 416 8100!

Cedar Park and Leander See Growth and Rising Rents

Austin has had to expand it’s borders to keep up with the influx of newcomers that flood in every year to call the city home. In the last two years Cedar Park and Leander have been prime real estate for new construction and renovation, adding a 20% increase in these two departments in that small amount of time.

Even though Cedar Park and Leander are further from downtown Austin, they have had no problem keeping new and renovated units full, boasting a 96% occupancy rate the last two years running, in comparison to 93% in Austin’s central neighborhoods.  It doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. This is likely due to the rapid expansion of infrastructure, an influx of employers, and a reputation for comfortable homes and excellent schools.

This year newcomers and long time Austinites are willing to spend more for rent to live in Cedar Park and Leander than in years past. In the last year rent has increased 5.6%; 4% of which occurred in the last four months alone.

How long Cedar Park and Leander can continue growing at this rate remains to be seen. Analysts predict a slowdown in the next two quarters.  Regardless, with the area’s new apartments and growing infrastructure it is sure to remain a popular place for renters in the foreseeable future.

If you are new to Austin or a long time resident and are looking for a new apartment to call home, give us a call at 512-339-4411. Our experienced apartment locators can assist you in finding a suitable rental anywhere in the Austin metro area.  Our services are always free to our clients and we are available to assist you seven days a week.