1. Seal the Leaks

Your windows and doors might be the sneakiest culprits when it comes to letting in the cold. Grab some weatherstripping or draft stoppers to seal those gaps and keep the warmth in. It’s like giving your apartment a cozy sweater!

2. Layer Up with Rugs

Bare floors can be icy on the toes. Add some warmth (both visually and literally) by throwing down a few rugs.

Not only do they make your space feel more inviting, but they also act as insulation to keep the heat from escaping through the floor.

3. Curtain Call for Warmth

Heavy curtains aren’t just for dramatic flair; they’re also fantastic at keeping the cold out. Invest in some thermal curtains to trap the warmth inside during those chilly winter nights. Plus, they add a touch of elegance to your humble abode.

4. Bedding Bonanza

Swap out your summer sheets for flannel or fleece. Layer on the blankets, and don’t be shy about piling on a couple of extra throws. Your bed is ground zero for comfort, so make it a warm and inviting sanctuary.

5. Let the Sun Shine In

When the sun graces you with its presence, open those curtains wide and let the natural warmth flood in. It’s the oldest trick in the book, but it works like a charm. Just be sure to close them once the sun bids adieu to keep the heat locked in.

6. Snuggle Up with Draft Snakes

Draft snakes might sound like a quirky DIY project, but they’re a game-changer.

Place them along the bottoms of doors and windows to keep the cold drafts from sneaking in. You can get creative and make your own or find one that matches your decor.

7. Space Heater Love

Sometimes, your apartment’s heating system just needs a little backup. Invest in a portable space heater to target specific areas that need an extra dose of warmth. Just remember to follow safety guidelines and keep it away from flammable materials.

8. Warm Up Your Colors

Believe it or not, the colors in your apartment can influence the perceived temperature.

Opt for warm tones like reds, oranges, and yellows in your decor to create a visual sense of coziness. It’s like wrapping your space in a virtual blanket.

9. Soup’s On

Channel your inner chef and whip up some hearty soups or stews. Not only will they warm your insides, but the cooking process will also add a touch of warmth to your kitchen. It’s a win-win!

10. Layer Your Lighting

Swap out harsh, cool-toned light bulbs for warm, soft ones. Adding lamps strategically throughout your apartment not only creates a more inviting atmosphere but also contributes a bit of extra warmth.

Remember, turning your rented apartment into a winter wonderland doesn’t have to be a complicated affair. With a few simple tweaks and a dash of creativity, you can make your space a cozy retreat from the winter chill. So, grab a blanket, snuggle up, and let the warmth of the season fill your home!

The post Staying Warm in Your Apartment This Winter appeared first on Morgenson Realty Company Inc.

If you are currently in this tight situation and looking for ways to maximize the space in your apartment, then this post is for you. Here are some quick and easy tips to help you save more space without compromising your comfort and functionality.

Look for Size-Appropriate Furniture

Bulky and over-sized furniture pieces look nice and comfy until you bring them home and realize they occupy all the space that you have. That’s why if you are trying to make your apartment appear wider, then look for pieces that are multi-purpose. An ottoman with a storage underneath but can also serve as a stool? Count me in!

This is also the time to evaluate your current furniture situation and replace any bulky pieces that are taking over your space. Find smaller and more functional pieces like convertible futon or a foldable table that you can stow away when not in use.

Time to Declutter

We’ve all accumulated some stuff that we might’ve forgotten throughout the years. Remember that cute jacket you said you would wear everyday when you bought it? And then you forgot it existed?

Start doing an inventory of the things that you don’t use anymore. Anything you haven’t used or worn in the past 6 months should either be sold or donated to charity. Use your earnings from this sale and buy more worthy space-saving storage organizers.

Find Ways to Add More Storage

To save space in your apartment, create more storage! There are a lot of creative ways to add more storage without compromising your space. Try mounting floating shelves or installing extra clothing rods to your bedroom. You can also add some racks on the back of your door for extra storage.

You can also try to customize baskets and bins to store more items, at the same time serving as décor to beautify your place.

These tips are really easy to do but will definitely help you save space in your apartment. Improve your space with determination, creativity, and by following the tips mentioned here. Stop sacrificing your space and start organizing your place!

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A Mini Garden

Taking care of houseplants can be therapeutic and can help contribute to our overall wellness. Plus, they give us as a brief escape from our busy lives. Whether you are working at home or in the office, taking care of plants allows you to take a moment and recharge with nature.

You can also plant herbs that you can use in your own meals. Start with small pots with holes at the bottom, fill them with soil, and plant your chosen herbs.

If you think you don’t have enough space, go for hanging pots! Not only are they space savers, they can also add some color to your décor. However, before you get excited with all the planting, you have to make sure this doesn’t violate any of your apartment policies.

A Reading Zone

Having a quiet reading nook is the perfect place for a quick getaway from all your daily activities. And it’s very simple to assemble. Just get your comfy chair, fluffy cushions, and your favorite blanket.

Don’t forget to add your personal touch, like a stack of your favorite magazines or some scented candles, to make it feel more homey. This setup is ideal especially if your apartment balcony is facing away from major roads.

A Tea Place

There’s nothing like a nice view while enjoying a cup of tea with friends, right? Your apartment balcony could  be the perfect place to have your own tea room and invite guests over. Take out some comfy chairs, some pillows, a small table, and call your friends over.

And don’t forget to serve your favorite cup of tea and other refreshments! Arrange your plants around the space to have a little tea party or maybe small work meetings.

A Cozy Nap Area

If you love taking naps in the afternoon, then you’re going to love napping on your balcony. You can either install a hammock or place some cushions and blanket at the floor. You can also hang some fairy lights for a cozy feel and make it a perfect place for stargazing! Lastly, take out your rug and put lots of comfy pillows to start a great nap.

An Outdoor Barbeque

Barbeque weekends are not just for people with backyards, you can also do it on your apartment balcony! Start by getting some barbeque grills that you can attach to your balcony railing and invite your friends over for barbeque weekends! Of course, like the mini garden idea, make sure this doesn’t violate any of your apartment policies.

A Personal Place

Your apartment balcony can also be a private personal space just for you to enjoy. Use it to stretch in the morning, or for afternoon yoga. Make it look magical by adding candles to small glass jars, and watch as they light up your small space. Add your favorite scented candles, and get a glass of wine or beer.

After a long and tiring day, you deserve to just chill and relax in your own cozy place. And whatever you decide to do with it, as long as it has your personal touch, it will surely improve your overall lifestyle and create lasting memories.

The post Enjoy Your Apartment Balcony With These Easy Tips appeared first on Morgenson Realty Company Inc.

Storage Decor

The perfect piece of furniture for loft-styles and ranch floor plans alike is the coffee table with hidden storage. Round, square or even rectangular in shape, these gems are the best way to hide items you want close by but out of sight. Things like throw blankets, pillows, television remotes, gaming controllers, and more!

Storage ottomans are also great options for similar reasons. These can be used in place of a coffee table, side table, or at the end of your bed. We find residents love to utilize them in our spiral loft floor plans especially. Amazing space savers, plus they add a homey element to any room. Win win!

Mirrors

Using mirrors is another fantastic way to create faux space in an apartment. They give the illusion that the room is much bigger and brighter. Picking one the suits your vibe adds both function and a pop of personal decor to your walls.

Floating Furniture

Pick pieces that are a little higher off the ground and have open bottoms. The gap between the floor and furniture will make any room seem more spacious. Pair a light colored area rug to create perimeters that section off the space, as well. We highly suggest this combo to our renters in ranch layouts. Since the apartment home is already one level, breaking up the square footage into sections creates a more natural warm and inviting living space.

C-Tables

These space savers come in a range of different designs, patterns, and materials. You can even build your own – like seen here. Why are they so convenient? They can be tucked under a coffee table, hugging your arm rest, or as a dinner tray. They are the new and improved side table! Plus, they’re extremely light weight and can be moved around several times daily without being a nuisance.

Want more inspo? There are tons of resources for furniture inspiration to be found just a few clicks away on your smart phone or laptop. Search Pinterest or even hashtags on Instagram for versatile options to fit your apartment home. Be sure to check back here for more blogs on apartment decorating ideas and more!

The post Furniture Ideas For Your Franklin Apartment appeared first on Morgenson Realty Company Inc.

Snake Plant (aka Mother-In-Laws Tongue)

Effortless, eye-catching, and almost indestructible. What else could we ask for? Oh, add that it’s a plant chosen by NASA to be studied for its air purification properties. No big deal.

When it comes to light, it can tolerate a variety, but prefers indirect. Water this hardy species when the soil becomes dry. Too much water is a snake plants kryptonite, hence the almost indestructible description.

Pro-tip: How do you know if your plant needs water? Using your fingers, push down into the soil an inch. If the soil is wet, check back again in a day or two. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water! 

Air Plant

No soil, no pots, no plants, right? Wrong! Air plants don’t require either!

These light green beauties are perfect for terrariums and can give a room a modern look. To take care of your air plant, put it in an area with direct sunlight. A simple spray 2-3 times weekly is all it needs. Perfect for shelf decor and hanging geometric plant holders, air plants are an apartment dwelling dream come true!

Peace Lily (aka Closet Plants) 

This unique plant is a powerful air purifier. The peace lily breaks down toxic gases like formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, and benzene. This beloved houseplant is forgiving and known for its wide dark green leaves with white hoods that blossom every spring.

Look for the peace lilies telltale signs of thirst by its drooping. Watering once a week and spritzing the leaves will keep this eye-catching plant hydrated and happy. The full shade of a bedroom corner or partial shade on a plant stand in your living room are both good choices for the low-light loving peace lily.

Haworthia (aka Zebra Plant)

The zebra plant is a striking succulent known to be resilient and one of the easiest to grow. These miniature plants range in color and texture leaving a variety to choose from. They also thrive in both direct and indirect sunlight. Over watering haworthia can lead to root rot. It’s important to match your watering habits with the amount of sunlight your plant receives. Typically, these leafy clusters only need water every 3 weeks or so. Check on them around the 2 week mark if you’ve made its home an area that exposes it to constant, direct sunlight.

All of these factors make them a versatile option to move around your apartment with ease.

Bonus: Plants you can eat!

If you live at a community with a patio or balcony, consider growing plants you can eat too! Herbs like basil, cilantro and parsley make for pretty greenery, plus they’re found in tons of everyday recipes. A quick-growing veggie like green onions or scallions, takes minimal effort and seedlings sprout within 7-14 days. Chili peppers are another easy option. Along with zucchini and eggplants, these are the most common fruits eaten like vegetables and they’re super simple to grow! Extend your apartment by experimenting with different kinds of plants for your patio or balcony.

Living in an apartment doesn’t mean you have to forgo the outdoors. As Wisconsin heads into fall and winter, it’s important to try and make your surroundings as bright and inviting as possible. Use our list of plants to purify the air, add some color, and amplify your unique style.

The post Low Maintenance Plants Perfect For Apartments appeared first on Morgenson Realty Company Inc.

Studio Space

Fitting your entire life into 450 square feet could present some challenges. So it’s important to find a studio apartment with features that give you the experience of a larger floor plan. Spacious kitchens with full-size appliances allow you to cook, clean and dine without frustration.

Dishwashers keep your counter-top space clean, avoiding dirty dishes sitting out and making a small space seem even more crowded. Tons of cabinets and drawers help you to stay organized and keep clutter from view. While an over-the-range microwave gives you more room for food prep or decorating. Speaking of range, we can all agree that tiny stoves or ovens are silly, right? Efficiency does not always mean the loss of functionality. Full-size stoves only, please!

So we’ve covered the cook and clean portions, what about the dining option? The idea of eating, sleeping and relaxing in one singular space can be down right discouraging. Enter, the breakfast bar! A large breakfast bar is the perfect place for enjoying meals, entertaining guests or even keeping a work space. All without losing precious square footage. If the studio you’re considering does not offer a breakfast bar, you should look at other options. Crumbs in your bed that is also considered your couch, that’s also your office, will only make you dream of the day your lease is over.

Practical Perks

Amenities are a priority. Parking, storage, and recreation are all important things to keep in mind while apartment hunting. Bonuses like washer and dryer being on-site, having an underground parking space and fitness center access are at the top of the list too. Overall, amenities seem to be more and more influential for the studio renter specifically.

Dealing with that singular space can include the joys of redecorating the same day you moved in, or the frustration of realizing you can’t fit everything you’d hoped. Storage is vital with small space living. To keep things neat, opt for a community that allows you store those collectibles and extras near, but outside of your apartment.

Add to your living area with a large patio or balcony and create a secondary nook to enjoy outside of your living/bedroom. Potted plants, cafe dining sets, and outdoor lighting can create a peaceful, fresh extension to enjoy alone or with guests all year long!

Floor Plan/Layout

When someone says studio apartment, the first thought that comes to mind is space or the lack of it. Creating the illusion of more space is key for any studio layout, and easier than you may think. Using the right furniture and decor to section off or sometimes open up your combined living and bedroom, can make your studio feel much larger.

Start by separating your space with an area rug. This will help break up the big rectangle and spice it up with some different texture. Next, you should think of the floor as prime real estate. Sure, that bed with drawers built into the bottom seems like a smart idea, but having furniture with legs shows more of the floor and will make your apartment seem much more open. A glass coffee table or any other see through piece of furniture could also do the trick!

When everything is in one place, it’s important to multipurpose.  Think about what can be used as a place to hold your TV but also your clothes, for example. Mounting shelves, using a cube shelf, placing your dresser inside your closet – all great ideas to think about before move in day.

If you need more inspiration or just a place to start, try searching for studio layouts on Pinterest. You’ll find all sorts of innovative ways to design a studio floor plan that fits your needs perfectly!

Most of our amazing communities offer the popular studio floor plan.

Check out the virtual tour here!

The post Apartment Layouts: Studio appeared first on Morgenson Realty Company Inc.

Layers on Layers

Like layering up before a Packer game at Lambeau Field or any outdoor activity here in Southeastern Wisconsin – layers in your bedroom will guarantee you keep that toasty feeling during the coldest of nights.

From fuzzy faux-fur throws (say that 3 times fast) to a creative use of curtains, there are endless ways to “thicken” the depth of your master bedroom and transform your rental apartment into a heavenly escape. Our favorites are found with a quick Pinterest search, check them out here –

DIY Canopy Curtains  —  Tapestry Bedroom Ideas  — Layering Rugs

Say Goodbye to Mattress Problems 

Mattresses can be expensive and picking the perfect one is stressful, especially for all the couples out there. Agreeing on the best combination of softness and firmness is almost impossible, even if you’re only having that debate with yourself.

Solution?  – Skip buying an entirely new mattress and have a plush memory foam mattress topper, delivered right to your door. There are tons of options for these toppers too – Temperature regulated, hypoallergenic, pressure point relief and much more! Check out the reviews prior to purchasing and dodge the trouble of returning an entire mattress – with easy returns when you order through Amazon. Get started here with the Gel Swirl Memory Foam Topper  – displaying over 1,900 reviews and photos from customers online.

Keep it Personally Inviting 

Everyone should walk into their master bedroom and feel a certain level of enchantment. This is the area of your home that is specifically created for YOU/YOU BOTH as a couple, to unwind and rest. No decorating for guests required!

Don’t allow anything that reminds you of your daily stresses into this room. No laptops or daily schedules/calendars allowed! As a couple, attempt to get out all your work-related stories before snuggling up in bed with your significant other. Keep the photos with friends and family to a minimum here too and add lightly scented plug-ins that promote peace of mind – like lavender, jasmine, rose, and sandalwood. Really commit to creating and reminding yourself that you deserve a space that prioritizes relaxation and an overall sense of comfort.

The post 3 Tips for the Coziest Master Bedroom Ever appeared first on Morgenson Realty Company Inc.

Your windows are cracked open, the crisp scent of fall air breezes throughout your apartment, and the only things on your agenda are getting chili started in the crockpot, watching football, and enjoying pumpkin flavored everything. Southeastern Wisconsin is the one of the most beautiful places to live this time of year. Leaves of various colors and cozy weather makes the desire of staying home truly enjoyable.

Check out our top 3 reasons why apartment living is so fitting for fall below!

1. “DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY”

When living in an apartment, the worry of maintaining a yard or house is non-existent. Raking leaves? Nope! Preparing for the first snowfall? I don’t think so! You have all the time needed to make pecan pie, visit Cozy Nook Farm in Waukesha to pick out a huge pumpkin, and enjoy all autumn has to offer in Wisconsin. Apartment living certainly provides tenants with more time to enjoy the things that really matter.

Where else to go for perfect pumpkin pick’n & early holiday cheer?

The Elegant Farmer – Mukwonago, WI   |    Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival – Milwaukee, WI

2. COMMUNITY

Morgenson Realty likes to keep a strong sense of community within our company, as well as our properties. Whether it’s a costume contest, door decorating competition or food drive for charity, celebrating the holiday’s at work and at home always creates the comradery and community that truly unify our priorities.

Get Inspired!

Decorating for the holiday’s is always something to look forward to. Save yourself hours of Pinterest pinning or wandering the aisles of Hobby Lobby (not that BOTH of those options aren’t insanely fun) by gaining and sharing the perfect fall vision from your neighbors! Seeing a couples unique pumpkin decorating skills, cute kids in costumes or the prettiest homemade wreath you’ve ever seen, really keeps to the tight-knit community feel that living in a rental apartment provides.

3. THAT COMFY LIFE

Overpaying for heat, water, etc. is old news! Your home should be a place where you relax, decompress and enjoy the tranquility of knowing somebody “has your back”. The perfect sized apartment offers a cozy setting without the burdens of home ownership and a peace of mind you don’t have to overpay for. Apartments offer a ton of inclusive features and amenities at top locations and all for a reasonable price. We support prioritizing “that comfy life” and will always focus our attention on the importance of “home”, at each of our communities.

Guess What?

Our communities throughout Sussex, Menomonee Falls, Pewaukee, Waukesha, Franklin, Jefferson and Wauwatosa are all surrounded with the best Autumn festivities! Plus, it’s easier than ever to follow updates and upcoming events from your apartment community via Facebook! GO SHARE YOUR FAVORITE APARTMENT DECORATING IDEAS OR FALL GO-TO’S WITH US & YOUR NEIGHBORS! Like and Follow your property today! Simply visit your properties page and click the Facebook icon to get started.

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