You may not own it, but it’s your home. Treat it that way and an apartment can easily be transformed from a place to crash to a comfortable haven at the end of a long day. Whether you’re just making a temporary stop as an apartment dweller during college or you’re in it for the long haul, renting has many advantages over buying. But, to truly make your apartment your home, it needs to reflect your personality, be functional and offer you a sense of inner peace when you enter its confines. ... more.

Let’s face it, most of us aren’t rich and moving into a new place costs a lot of money. There’s first and last month’s rent to pay, a deposit, utilities and more. Doesn’t leave much for decorating, does it? Don’t worry. You don’t have to write a blank check to a decorator to turn an ordinary apartment into an extraordinary home. Money does not have to be a huge issue. There are ways to make every dollar stretch a long way. All it takes is a little patience, a lot of imagination and a sense of adventure. ... more.

Decorating on a budget doesn’t mean you have to cut corners. One of the most effective ways to set a tone for any room in a home is to use colors smartly. The cheapest route to go here is by picking great colors for painting walls. After all, who can handle stark white in every room? It has its place, but it doesn’t have to be throughout an entire home. ... more.

Whether you’re a master gardener or you’d just like to try your hand at the pursuit, apartment living can present some challenges. Don’t table the idea, however, as there are ways to get around a lack of wide open spaces when it comes to gardening. ... more.

While some rooms in your home require absolute functionality, there are others where mood can make a huge difference in a decorating scheme. ... more.

No single article could possibly cover all the philosophy behind the ancient Chinese art of feng shui, so we’re not going to try here. What we will address, however, is some of the common sense behind the ancient school of thought and how you can apply some of its principles in your own apartment or rental home. In a nutshell, feng shui is the art of creating balance and harmony in life. This applies to work, relationships, pursuits for money, health and even decorating. When there is a harmony and balance, things work correctly and you work correctly. ... more.

It’s hard to be a neat freak while living in a small apartment. If you want to turn your tiny space into something more functional so you can truly feel at home instead of feeling like you’re trapped in a tiny box, there are simple tips and tricks to assist you along the way. ... more.

Whether you live in the big city or on the outskirts, the hustle and bustle of a rental community can make a tenant long for the serenity of nature. The problem is finding it in an apartment community. There are ways, however, that you can make your apartment home a natural oasis. ... more.

The average person spends at least one third of their life sleeping and resting. So, why do it in a room that’s Spartan in design? Your bedroom should speak to your inner senses, offering a refuge from the world outside.Whether the space you have is a small 10 by 10 or you have a spacious room just right for some serious decorator accents, there are ways you can ensure the four walls that house your bed also provide you comfort at the end of a long day. ... more.

You’ve just moved in to your new apartment, the furniture’s arranged and the boxes are empty. Everything’s perfect, but wait. What about those four blank walls? Yuck! Now here’s the real problem – the budget’s so tight artwork will never fit into it. Scrimp and save as you might, precious pennies just can’t be spent on an original oil or even a framed print. ... more.

Whether you’re living on your own for the first time, or you’ve been doing it for years, there’s one thing about the prospect that holds true for almost everyone: it can get lonely. There are things you can do, however, to make your rental feel like home and take away from those feelings of loneliness. ... more.