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6 Ways to Make Your Apartment More Study-Friendly
Andy Hunziker • Apr 22, 2019
Finals season is upon us and finding the perfect place to study is crucial in helping you feel prepared and confident about your upcoming tests. While some people may prefer studying in libraries with friends or at a coffee shop, some people may want to just buckle down in their own apartment, free from distractions. Here are a few helpful tips from us at Hunziker on ways you can improve your study area in your apartment to help you feel more efficient and focused.

Remove all of Your Potential Distractions

Not many people love studying for tests, so it’s easy to find distractions to pull attention away on what you should be doing. Make an effort to put away or turn off anything that could be distracting like your TV, your phone, etc. Additionally, let your roommates or friends know that you will be spending time in your apartment to study so that you can avoid people interrupting your time.

Create a Dedicated Study Space

Reading a few chapters from your bed or lounging on your couch while working through your study guide may seem harmless at first, but can ultimately prevent you from fully concentrating on your study tasks. It’s important to separate your study space from your sleep, social, and dining spaces. This helps minimize distractions, keeps you focused, and puts your brain into study mode. Choose an area of your apartment that has enough room for you to comfortably sit and lay out all of your study materials. Avoid sitting in areas that can pull your focus away like a living room where you would keep your TV, or near a window with a view out to a busy street.

Declutter and Organize

The last thing you want to have to worry about when you’re studying is finding all of your lost pencils or notebooks. Prepare to study by decluttering and organizing your apartment/study space so that you can be less distracted by mess and find what you’re looking for when you need it. Invest in bookshelves, baskets, or file organizers to help cleanly display your different materials so your space can stay maintained, and you don’t have to waste time hunting down lost items.

Find Furniture That Helps You Focus, Not Relax

It is important to try to use furniture that is comfortable enough to make you feel productive, yet not too comfortable to generate distraction. After all, the goal here is to be productive, not relaxed. Personalize your study space based on your ideal preferences so that it is functional and helps make your study experience a positive one.

Be Selective with Your Background Noise

Putting on some music or white noise while you study is a great way to drown out any other distracting noise so you can put in some productive study time. Be careful about what you choose though. While some music you listen to can help you calm down, relax, boost your mood, etc., your brain may start to focus on the lyrics rather than the study material you have in front of you. Try to stick with classical music, ambient noise, or instrumentals to still get the benefits of nice background noise without the distraction.

Boost Your Lighting

Sometimes, overhead lights do not cut it and when your studying goes into the late hours of the night, you need lighting that can help you concentrate and not fall asleep. Consider a bright desk light or floor lamp to help brighten up your area instead of having to rely solely on the lighting in your apartment.

Find the Perfect Ames Apartment

Whether you’re looking to be right next to campus, or prefer a spot a little farther out near other popular Ames restaurants and shops, Hunziker Property Management has a variety of apartment options for you to choose from. View our property listings and contact us to schedule a tour!
By Alexis Borman 13 Feb, 2024
7 Room Divider Tips to Optimize Your Apartment Space Whether you have a studio apartment or a three-bedroom condo rental, every square foot counts! A simple way to make the most out of your available space is by using strategies to create both physical and visual separation to improve storage and privacy. There are several apartment-friendly solutions to divide space among rooms and create private spaces without compromising flow and your personalized feel . The following decor advice can help guide you toward optimizing your apartment space.
By Alexis Borman 02 Feb, 2024
Transform Your Space: Create A Peaceful Apartment In 2024, we recognize the importance of reducing stress, balancing work and life, and simply trying to worry less. To ease these wants, your place should be calm and filled with easy thoughts. The suggestions below can help bring peaceful energy to your apartment and transform it into a place of rejuvenation. Let's explore practical steps you can take to infuse calmness and serenity into your living space. Clean Up Do not underestimate the value of a deep clean inside your apartment. Obvious build-ups, such as a pile of laundry and dishes, can be overwhelming, but messiness in the nooks and crannies of your apartment can cause unpleasant feelings. A clean space to clear your mind can help promote positivity, and the action of cleaning can provide a sense of accomplishment and productivity. Also, while cleaning up, reflect on your items; your space may have items that do not bring you joy. Removing items associated with painful times, such as photos, trinkets, or clothing, can help clean up your space and mind. The KonMari Philosophy , which has grown in popularity over the years, focuses on the question, “Does this item spark joy?”. It is designed to inspire and help you find what you need in your space. Circulate Air After focusing on a deep cleaning of your home, notice if the airflow is optimized. Check if any large furniture is blocking ventilation and/or windows. Letting air circulate and adding greenery can benefit your health by getting rid of moisture, contaminants, odors, and more while helping clear the brain. Incorporating an air purifier and allowing air to flow can help eliminate unwanted elements and reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels. Add Color And Textures The minimalist, neutral colors trend is in and can help with the simplicity of a clean home, but adding certain colors and soft materials can help inspire your space too. Color psychology recognizes colors can bring different energies into your apartment.  Bright, warm tones (red, oranges, yellows) carry energy and happiness. Muted, softened tones (blues, greens, purples) carry calming and soothing energy. Going back to the KonMari Philosophy, if an art piece brings joy to you, hang it up and allow it to radiate its energy. Besides just art pieces, adding color can be easy through curtains, blankets, and other non-traditional art pieces. Including textures through these items can create the peaceful environment you’re striving for. Refreshing your home with soft blankets and pillows or rugs can help take away the rough hard edges throughout your space. Correctly Utilize Your Space It’s important to create separation between life, work, and school within your apartment. Allowing certain spaces to focus on the quiet and busy moments in your life can help prioritize your mental health. Consider a room’s role, such as the bedroom for relaxation and the kitchen for cooking and school work. By designating certain areas in your home for specific activities, you can move around with ease and avoid being distracted while working or studying. On top of recognizing your room’s role, organize the space correctly. Make sure to scale your rooms correctly and avoid overcrowding or having furniture and accessories that are too small. Prioritize which items you use daily over those used rarely . Consider Music And Aromatherapy The final suggestion to create a peaceful environment in your apartment is to turn on music and light a candle. Adding music is simple but easily forgotten. Music can increase dopamine, reduce anxiety, help focus, and bring a smile to your face. Also, having a pleasant aroma through candles or oil diffusers can bring you to your happy place through a familiar nice scent. Find Your Perfect Rental In The Ames And Ankeny Area! Here at Hunziker Property Management, we offer over 1,000 units around Ames and Ankeny . No matter what type of rental you’re looking for to create your next peaceful place, we’ve got you covered. We provide peace of mind to all our tenants by promptly responding to maintenance requests and noise disturbances. We recognize the importance of having a safe apartment. Call or email today to get connected with a member of our team!
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Strategic Ways To Bring Greenery To Your Apartment As temperatures drop in Iowa and the days are looking grey, adding some greenery into your living space might be just what you need. Many studies have demonstrated that having plants in our homes can create a less stressful environment, boosting mood, productivity, and creativity. Plants contribute to this by absorbing toxins and producing oxygen. While the traditional method of placing plants in pots on windowsills and shelves is always an option, here are some unique and stylish ways to bring greenery into your apartment! Hooks ​​Hanging plants are a fantastic way to save space, and surprisingly, there are several apartment-friendly solutions that don't require drilling or damaging your rental space. The following materials can be safely hung on surfaces allowing you to hang pots or plants from them. Magnetic plant hooks and holders Adhesive hooks Suction cup hooks Tension rods Over-the-door hooks
05 Dec, 2023
After a few months of moving into your new rental property, you might find your kitchen cannot stay organized. It can be a common challenge to maintain once-tidy cabinets and counters in an apartment-sized kitchen, but fear not; it is possible to maximize your space to keep your kitchen clean and organized. These tips can guide you toward a clutter-free kitchen space throughout the rest of your lease! Step 1: Clean And Declutter The first step to setting up an organized kitchen is to clean out your cupboards and cabinets. Lay out all your food, utensils, appliances, etc., to note what you have. This is a great time to realize if you have too much of one item, expired food, or missing lids to Tupperware containers. Once your cupboards and cabinets are empty, it's the perfect time to clean your storage areas and refrigerator. Wipe down any spills or messy areas to create a clean space for putting away items and to enhance visibility for organizing your food and other kitchen items effectively. Step 2: Create A Plan After your kitchen is clean and you have identified the items you have and want to keep, it’s time to create a plan. Answer these common kitchen organization questions to help decide where you want your items to be. Which items do you use daily, and which are less frequently used? Can you place frequently used items in easily accessible areas? Are seasonal items easily accessible when needed but not taking up prime space? Can you store seasonal items in less accessible areas? How can you maximize vertical space and use organizers to increase storage? What storage space is available in your cabinets, drawers, and pantry? Can you create zones for different activities, like a cooking zone, a baking zone, etc.? Are items grouped into categories for easier identification and access? How does your kitchen workflow move from preparation to cooking to cleaning? Can you place items logically based on this workflow? Where are cleaning supplies stored, and are they easily reachable? Can you create a dedicated space for cleaning materials? Where are the outlets, and how does that influence the placement of appliances? Where is the trash and recycling located, and is it convenient for disposal? After answering the questions, you should have a better understanding of where certain items belong in your kitchen based on their frequency of use. For example, did you figure out if you prefer your kitchen silverware to be stored next to a dining area instead of next to the dishwasher? Step 3: Arrange And Store Now you may have a general idea of where you want to store your items, but there’s still room for optimizing your kitchen storage. Consider the following kitchen storage ideas to maximize your kitchen space! Store items and baskets above kitchen cupboards. Use a magnetic strip to store knives. Purchase pull-out drawers to place inside of deep cabinets. Use the back of doors for storage. Such as, over the door and other organizers that aren't permanently affixed to cabinetry. Consider adding a cart on wheels, a stand-alone kitchen island, or thrift small shelf racks if space allows. Place lazy Susans into corner cabinets or large cabinets. Maximize cabinet, cupboard, and countertop space with shelf risers. Keep your eye out for common space-saving kitchen items. Collapsible strainers and dish racks Dual-sided measuring spoons Mixing bowls that stack inside each other Pots with interchangeable lids Organize utensils, cutlery, and junk drawer items with drawer dividers. Capitalize on counter space with stove-top covers to provide more countertop space, but can easily be removed when needed. Separate baking sheets, cutting boards, trays, etc. with small tension rod dividers in cabinets. Remember to prioritize and store the items you use most often in the easy-to-reach areas for an efficient cooking and cleaning experience. Find Your Dream Kitchen Apartment With Hunziker! Hunziker Property Management hopes this kitchen organization advice will help you optimize your space. With over 20 years of experience managing apartments in the Ames and Ankeny area, Hunziker Property Management recognizes the importance of maintaining a clean and stress-free kitchen. Count on Hunziker to find the best-fit apartment, condo, or duplex to rent! Call or email today to get connected with a member of our team!
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