One undeniable trend that has hit apartments over the last 20 years is the fact that they all tend to be getting smaller; quite a bit smaller, actually, so what are we supposed to do when we need more storage space? Here are a few general ideas that you can keep in mind when you have too much stuff and not enough space.

Try to go vertical. Stores like Ikea and other popular furniture stores now sell a wide range of hangable storage units that are all the rage. Most of them work like a foldable shoe tree that hangs from a closet bar and can be stuffed with just about anything, including shoes. Make sure you don’t overload them, however, as they aren’t made to hold a full humans weight.

Large, flat plastic storage containers have become extremely popular over the last few years since they not only hold quite a bit of stuff but they can easily be slid under beds and in other lost storage spots. Practically every store from Sears to Wal-Mart sell these types of containers, and although they can be a bit unsightly if left out in the open, if you can hide them, they are a great storage option.

While it can be a pricy option, using a self storage company is a popular choice. Many of these companies feature air-conditioned storage so your belongings won’t get wet or ruined. It probably isn’t a good idea if you don’t have a storage company near you, however, as you would have to drive there and back every time you wanted to remove something.

It is a nightmare scenario that we never want to face: being responsible for a fire that not only destroys our own apartment but also the apartments of other people. The loss of belongings and life would be a burden you would have to carry for the rest of your days and the financial implications would be crippling. Keeping an eye on our apartment fire hazards is a big part in preventing accidents, so let’s look at a few common sense things we can do.

Obviously the biggest fire hazard is from fire itself. Every year, unattended candles start millions of fires thanks to everything from breezes to pets to simple bad luck. To put it simply, candle usage should only be done if directly supervised by an adult. Never leave candles burning in a room alone, even if your power is out.

Candles aren’t the only thing that we light and then sometimes leave unattended. Everything from cigarettes to incense has been known to start fires. It can be temping to light something and then forget about it, but it is only with the proper diligence that we can avoid fires like this for good.

Fires from cooking accidents are also a leading cause of apartment fires. Don’t ever leave your oven or stovetop unattended for more than a minute and don’t use your stove top as counter space since bits of paper and things can fall inside the burner and cause fires.

If you are currently living in a major city or if you are thinking about relocating to a major city some time soon, you know how confusing it can be choosing between the hundreds of apartment complexes in your area. Even a small city with a population under two million has hundreds of apartment complexes and buildings to choose from, so how are you suppose to know which ones are winners and which ones are traps?

Thankfully, the Internet has made this chore much easier. Many national and local apartment hunting websites have areas in which people can leave comments so you’ll know long before you sign a lease if a place is worth staying in. However, as great as these databases are, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

First, many major apartment complexes switch owners on an incredibly frequent basis. For example, when yours truly lived in beautiful Orlando, Florida, the apartment complex I lived in changed owners four times in five years and is now condos! That’s why it is only worth while to pay attention to reviews from the last calendar year. Any older reviews may not reflect the current management group that now controls that property.

Finally, you also need to consider the likelihood that an apartment complexes competition has filled out bad reviews on those websites. Similar things have been detected on restaurant review sites, so it isn’t a leap to think the same thing can happen on apartment sites. Read all reviews with a grain of salt.

For many people, the idea of a shared laundry room brings back nightmares from college in which you forgot you had a load going, went to class, came back to your dorm to find your laundry strewn everywhere and half of it missing. If this scenario didn’t happen to you, it likely happened to someone you know. Now, you’ve just moved into a building that doesn’t allow washers and dryers, and you have to use a public, shared laundry room all over again. Here are a few tips to ensuring that your laundry doesn’t end up all over the floor for a second time.

First, buy a timer. Most machines now have digital read outs that tell you exactly how long it takes for a wash load and then a drying load. When you go to the laundry room, simply take the timer with you and then head back when the timer gets down to a minute or so. If you get there right as it ends, no one will ever mess with your belongings.

Read up on any rules that are posted that tell you how the laundry room works. Most complexes will tell you how long you have to move your laundry before another resident can move it for you. Even if you’re frustrated that there are no available machines, make sure that you follow the rules because you never know when it will be your laundry sitting down there. Try to give the same amount of respect to other people’s laundry as you would to your own, and you will be fine.

With the growing concern over global warming and the movement by many to become environmentally friendly, many people often wonder what they can do to help make their mark in the battle against pollution and waste. While there is no ironclad blueprint of things to do, here is a general list of some things we can all do to make the world a better place to live in.

First, even if your state or territory isn’t that big on recycling, try separating your garbage and recycling yourself. Some states, like Florida, don’t require any kind of deposit on bottles and cans, which means that most of the state doesn’t bother to recycle anything at all. You can help make a difference by recycling bottles, cans and even things like pasta sauce jars or aluminum cans that vegetables come in. Every little bit helps.

Install low flow shower heads in your bathroom to help conserve water every time you bathe. A low flow shower head can make a huge difference over the long term. The same can be said for controlling dripping faucets. If you have a dripping faucet, don’t put off fixing it. Every day you do, you’re wasting water.

Finally, if you have your own washing machine, try to switch to low phosphorus detergents. One of the biggest problems in the environment today is too much soap and phosphorus getting into the water table and making rivers, lakes and streams unusable.

It may sound like common sense, but being a good neighbor is harder than most people think. When you consider the fact that all of us grow up in our own individual way and we are all instilled with individual values, you begin to see how what may be common courtesy to one person might not be for others. Here is a quick checklist of things you can do to be the best neighbor in your building or apartment complex.

First and foremost, try to always be aware of the time. If you’re anything like me, you’re a night owl and enjoy staying up until the wee hours of the night. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this lifestyle, if you enjoy blaring your music at 2 a.m. or if you decide to rearrange your furniture at 3 a.m., you aren’t being a very nice neighbor. If you live in a corporate-run apartment complex, you likely have general “rules” that you can follow that will help you set limits on when you can do things. Many complexes begin to observe “quiet” hours at 9p.m. or 10p.m. Do your best to stick with these assigned times.

If you share an outside area, such as a hallway or stairway, with other residents, do your best to keep the outside areas clear of all personal possessions. Don’t stack shoes or toys or other items that people could trip on outdoors.

Unless you’ve gotten incredibly lucky with your new apartment, you will likely have to deal with noisy neighbors at least once over the next few months. How you do this will often directly impact the final results, so let’s take a look at a few essential do’s and don’ts when it comes to dealing with noisy neighbors.

The first thing every person should keep in mind is the golden rule: treat others as you would want to be treated. That means using common (sense) courtesy in your day to day life. Don’t blare loud music past a certain hour; try not to have loud fights that others could hear and other basic things like this. If you aren’t getting the same level of courtesy back from your neighbors, a good place to start is with a simple knock on the door. It could be that your neighbors simply don’t realize that their behavior is being heard outside of their four walls. Simply knock on their door and politely ask them if they realize that others can hear what their doing. Even if you’re angry, be as polite and kind as possible. If the behavior continues, than it is time to involve your land lord or building manager.

Try to keep a record of the disruptive behavior or even a videotape that shows the noise or disturbance. Present the evidence to those in charge and see if that stops the noise. As a last resort, the police can be called, but make sure that this is absolutely the last option.

It is no secret that living in an apartment, especially if you live by yourself, can be a bit lonely. We work every day and come home to an apartment that is devoid of life, with the exception of a few plants. The problem is that fewer and fewer apartment complexes are allowing pets these days, and the ones that do only allow things like fish, and not birds or cats. Here are a few tips for getting the right pet for your apartment.

First, don’t try to sneak pets into your apartment if they don’t take them. You are running the risk of developing a bond with an animal and then having to toss the pet away. Second, it isn’t a good idea to adopt a pet that is used to going outside every day. It isn’t impossible to have an outdoor cat if you live in an apartment, but unless your door opens right up to the outside world, it becomes a logistical nightmare. Besides, do you really want to risk losing your pet in the concrete jungle outside? Adopt a cat that is either a kitten who will adjust to living indoors or adopt a cat that is already an indoor cat.

Birds and fish can make good apartment pets, but make sure you know how to take care of them before you adopt them. Fish are a lot of work, and birds can be very noisy and ill tempered. Read up on proper care techniques before you make the big decision.

If you have a student going off to college and you’ve decided against the overpriced on-campus dorms, you are likely going to be living in a college apartment. While an off -campus apartment may be a cheaper alternative to living on campus, they can be fraught with problems. Here are some pitfalls you need to watch out for when you start apartment hunting with your soon to be college student.

The stereotypical college apartment is small, unkept and very noisy. While there is nothing that mom and dad can do about partying in the adjoining units, they can make sure that they stay in a building or complex that has on-site security and administration so that when parties go to 2 am and your son or daughter has a test the next day, all it takes is a single phone call and things can get back to normal.

Another common perception of college apartments is that they aren’t made very well. Since these types of apartments are significantly more likely to have reckless and even dangerous occupants, you often see holes in the walls or patches that show serious signs of wear and tear. Try not to rent from a place that looks like it has had wars waged inside of it. It shows poor judgment from the people running the building.

Finally, try to sign a short, six month lease so that if the place turns out to be horrible, you don’t have long to wait until you can find someplace better.

As we age, we begin to go through a series of changes that can directly affect our quality of living. Most of us will own a home some day, but we will eventually decide that cleaning and keeping up that home is too much hassle and we will start to look for other accommodation. Many people would rather die than live in a nursing home, so an apartment becomes a natural choice, but how can we tell if our moms and dads will be happy in their new digs? Let’s take a look at some things we should look for when apartment hunting with mom and dad.

First of all, handicapped accessibility is paramount, even if our parent isn’t in a wheelchair or disabled yet. There is always the chance that an accident could change all that quickly and you don’t want to have to move again once it happens. Living on your own is all about mobility and you need to make sure they can get around with ease.

Finding a quiet apartment is probably the second most important thing, which is why it is probably a good idea to find a complex that has quite a few older residents. Since they will likely be on the same schedule, you won’t have to worry about loud music or rowdy parties. Plus, they will have a better chance to make friends.

Finally, try to choose a place that’s bright and cheery. This transition isn’t the end of the road, it is a new beginning and shouldn’t be treated as a negative if at all possible.