Sharing rent with a roommate is a pretty tempting arrangement at many points in your life. From young adults in their first apartment to professionals relocating for a job, taking on a roommate means lower rent for more home. If you and your roommate get along, it could be a rewarding friendship in a great place. Or it could be the other thing. When you’re looking for a new place or your circumstances have just changed, to roommate or not to roommate becomes the important question.

To help you make the right decision, let’s take a closer look at roommates and how to choose them.

When Roommates Go Right

A good roommate is someone whose lifestyle, cleaning standards, and financial responsibility match your own. They might be someone you barely see, but they always leave their plates rinsed, and half of the rent is paid on time. Or they might become your best friend, sharing dinners and movie nights and staying in touch for years after you make new living arrangements. Not every roommate will be your bestie (and not every best friend makes a great roommate) but when the fit is right, it can create unforgettable years of friendship and co-living.

Roommate Pros:

• Lowered rent
• Lowered bills
• Chore sharing
• Companionship
• Shared friends and networks
• Potentially:
  • Shared groceries and meals
  • Shared transport
  • Close friendship

When Roommates Go Wrong

It’s also important to be aware of the risks of a bad roommate. Everyone’s heard a few horror stories and the potential is all too real. A casually bad roommate is someone who leaves dirty plates in the sink, wet towels on the floor, and watches action movies when you’re trying to sleep.

A terrible roommate is someone who doesn’t pay rent or bills, brings strangers into the house at all hours, steals your possessions, and causes damage they don’t intend to pay for. This is why it’s so important to choose your roommate carefully. When it goes wrong, it can go very, very wrong.

Roommate Cons:

• Different lifestyles and personalities
• Less privacy
• Compromise/ Give and take
• Different cleaning standards
• Potentially:
  • Clashing schedules
  • Bad match and conflict
  • Unpaid roommate bills/rent
  • Unwanted guests

A Matter of Privacy

You may also want to consider your own nature in terms of being a roommate. Some people just aren’t suited to sharing a house. If you can’t stand having someone else in your house, compromising on kitchen drawers, or sharing a bathroom with another person, that’s OK. In fact, it’s good to know about yourself before you accidentally inflict your discomfort on both you and a potential roommate.

The Right Apartment for Roommates

One of the most important factors of a harmonious roommate arrangement is actually the floorplan. The right apartment can make all the difference. If your two bedrooms don’t share a wall, that’s a plus. If there’s a bathroom for each of you, another plus. If the kitchen is open-plan or has tons of cabinet space for shared/separate dishes, another plus. If the walls are thick so you can’t each other at reasonable volumes, that’s another point toward harmony. In an apartment building, amenities that make it easy to give each other space like a fitness center or lounge can also improve your shared lifestyle.

You’ll find a great selection of roommate-ready apartment floorplans and building amenities at Station A in Denver.

Finding the Right Roommate

• Financially Reliable
  • Pays their share of rent, bills, and groceries
• Personality Match
  • You get along and enjoy each other’s company
• Standards of Living
  • You mesh on cleanliness, chores, and organization
  • Agree on house rules and guest rules

Most importantly, you need to find the right person to share with. These three factors are more important than being friends, sharing meals, or even decorating the same way. If you have the same standards of respect for each other, agree on how to do chores, and always pay rent on time, you can work everything else out. It also helps if you are on a similar schedule – or have a system that works for not disturbing each other’s sleep.

Your Bestie May or May Not Be the Best

Best friends are sometimes perfect roommates, but sometimes can’t stand to share a lifestyle. Be careful when selecting from existing friends that your lifestyles meet your optimistic expectations of harmony.

Roommate Matching Services

There are several reasonably good roommate matching services online to help you meet strangers who share those critical traits like cleanliness, schedule, and favorite movies. You can also network through social media. Just be sure to really vet a stranger before moving in together.

Initial Interviews

Interviews are crucial. Zoom now makes it easy to get a read on personality mesh, but you may want someone over as a guest – even for a few nights – before you really decide to sign a year lease together. Spend more than one interview getting to know a potential roommate and take time to get into those little details like respect, guest policies, and lifestyle differences that will matter when you’re living in close quarters.

To Roommate or Not to Roommate?

Is pairing with a roommate the right answer for you? The benefits of splitting rent, utilities, and securing a more spacious apartment to share is pretty tempting. With the right roommate, you could forge some unforgettable memories with a new friend, or even help each other with the next steps in your careers. At Station A in Denver, you can find both excellent roommate-style apartments with distant bedrooms in each floorplan or elegant private floorplans if you choose to live solo. Contact us today to explore apartment options with or without a roommate in mind.

Apartments are great living spaces. However, they are not always the best of places in terms of storage spaces. This doesn’t mean that you should not stay in an apartment. With a bit of creativity, you can optimize your apartment’s storage capacity.

This article is for you if you are an apartment dweller and looking for better ways to save space. It contains several actionable ideas you can implement today to help you maximize space in your apartment. Keep reading!

5 Space Saving Ideas You Should Try Today

1. Maximize Vertical Space

One of the mistakes you might be committing is focusing more on horizontal storage. While horizontal storage might appear to be enough in a home setting, it creates clutter in an apartment. Instead, consider the vertical storage option.

Storing your possessions vertically leaves you with much spaces on the ground. This way, you have less clutter in your apartment and extra space to store more items. You can facilitate vertical storage using racks, shelves, hooks, or wall-mounted storage compartments.

2. Unique Storage Locations

Your apartment has more unique storage locations than you may be using. For example, did you know that you can store items under the bed and still have more space for other things?

Most apartment dwellers miss this storage opportunity by not having a bed but sleeping on their mattress flat on the floor. Whereas such an approach has nothing to do with the mattress’s quality or sleep, it eliminates a valuable storage space.

Use a bed frame, and you will be surprised how much storage space you create with such an arrangement. Keep items – small and big – that you don’t often use under the bed.

3. Kitchen Space Savers

The kitchen is one of the areas where every apartment dweller has challenges with storage and space. While you may want to store all your items in cabinets, you won’t have enough of those.

With a bit of organization, you can create enough storage space in the kitchen. Kitchen space savers such as the use of magnetic strips are a creative way to display your items. Magnetic spice racks will help you store most of your kitchen utensils without worrying about consuming a lot of space.

4. Wall Mounted (disappearing) Kitchen Tables / Desks

Wall-mounted desks and tables can help you save a lot of space in your apartment. Floating desks and tables give you enough space in your kitchen or living area, depending on your needs.

Your wall-mounted desk or table can be a sleek model, which you can fold down from the wall after use, or a small option, which is deep enough such that it doesn’t take much of your floor space. Nevertheless, it is advisable to go for the option that suits your floor space and storage needs.

5. Use Shelves

Shelves are considered an ideal option in vertical storage. They are best for holding both small and large items, allowing you to have a number of your items off the ground.

You take advantage of shelves in two ways – use a shelving rack or have wall-mounted shelves in different areas within your apartment. You will then use the shelving racks for your heavy items like kitchen appliances and the wall-mounted racks for small items such as soap and vases.

Final Thoughts

It can be hard to find an apartment with enough storage space to accommodate all your items. You have to create the space yourself. The above apartment storage ideas should set you off in the right direction. All you need is to be a little creative with your storage options, and you will be surprised how much more space you can create in your apartment.

Now that you know how to maximum space in a home, have you gotten yourself an apartment yet? Station A offers you classic 1-bedroom apartments in Denver. Call us today for an exclusive tour of premier apartments that blend style and comfort.

You don’t have to wait until summer to enjoy a fresh Caprese salad if you have the tools and skills to grow your own beautiful and productive garden indoors. Building a window garden is quick and easy, and you can have one regardless of your limited space. This piece provides all the knowledge to help you establish a thriving garden no matter the year’s season.

Benefits of a Window Garden

There is a good reason why window gardening still enjoys a surge in popularity. Establishing one comes with more benefits beyond the convenience of having your popular ingredients at an arms’ length:

Add Style and Decoration 

Your new window garden will ultimately add style to the interior and exterior of your home. Adding lush green and healthy crops enhances the garden window’s design and makes it quite beautiful to look at. Establishing a window garden can be an effective way to add character to your home and improve its resale value.

Improves the Quality of Indoor Air

Apart from enhancing your home décor efforts, an indoor garden can also help control indoor pollution in your home. Plants typically produce fresher air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen in a process called photosynthesis. Bringing your favorite garden plants indoors can actually improve the quality and health of the air that surrounds you and your loved ones.

Convenience

It is pretty easy to water window garden crops because they are right by the sink. Besides, when you are planting indoors, you can get various vegetable plants at your fingertips for a quick meal. More importantly, because you don’t have to go to the store for your ingredients, you save more time and money when you grow vegetables in your window garden.

No Pesticides

The fruits and vegetables you buy at the grocery stores could be loaded with pesticides and fertilizers that harm your health. However, when you grow your vegetables in your home, you are guaranteed fresh and organic food that is safe to consume.

Therapeutic Benefits

Gardening goes beyond being just a hobby; it’s therapy for most people. Establishing a window garden helps brings peace to your soul while enhancing your mental health. In a nutshell, indoor gardening is a perfect form of therapy for your mind, body, and soul.

What Can You Grow in a Window Garden?

The types of crops to grow in your garden depend on the growing condition and your personal preferences. If the indoor conditions are more on a cooler side and the light conditions feature primarily cloudy days, go for leafy greens. However, if you are experiencing more light, grow winter vegetables.

Summer crops such as tomatoes typically do well in summer conditions or warm places that experience lots of sunshine. The trick is to experiment with various crops and grow what you see growing. Some of the ideal crops to get you started to include:

• Microgreens: Microgreens are little plants that are quite nutritious and delicious. They will also look great in your kitchen window, especially if you place them on an ornamental pot. They don’t need good soil and thrive in limited space.
• Herbs: Having a herb garden right in your kitchen window can be fun and rewarding. The list of herbs to get you started is quite inexhaustive. It can include rosemary, thyme, cilantro, parsley, celery, dill, stevia, and basil.
• Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera does well indoors if you grow them in pots with excellent drainage. The crop doesn’t like it wet, and you should grow it in a sunny window. Utilize the crop to make your favorite juice is such as the aloe vera orange drink.
• Other crops that do well indoors include lettuce, winter greens, strawberries, root vegetables, winter vegetables, broccoli, and cauliflower.

What Are the Different Types of Garden Windows?

Garden windows feature many styles specifically designed to help your plants reach and capture more sunlight. They are also made to conserve resources, such as lighting and space heating, that some plants need to grow. Most garden windows use the same technology as a greenhouse, only that the garden is right inside your house.

Depending on the design of your garden window, you can establish different types of gardens to grow many kinds of crops. Some of the popular options include hanging gardens, countertop gardens, windowsill gardens, self-watering gardens, hydroponic gardens, and vertical gardens.

Contact Station A for Outstanding Home Solutions

There is no doubt adding a garden window in your home is an excellent investment when looking to upgrade your property. As home improvements go, an indoor garden is less costly with more benefits. Whether you will purchase a fully kitted window garden or DIY will depend on your budget, skills, and time. If you are planning to brighten up your home with a window garden, contact Station A today. At Station A, we provide a fantastic amenity package that makes a home feel more like a getaway.

If you’re considering moving, you may want to consider choosing a condo, townhome, or apartment. But choosing between these property types may not be a simple matter of looking at their price tags, or getting the nearest option. You need to understand what each stands for, and how each fits into your housing needs.

Here is a run-down of each of the three property types:

What’s a condo?

A condo or condominium refers to a privately-owned housing property within a community of other similar units. Before you move into a condo, you need to know you only take care of the interior — the rest is the responsibility of the homeowners’ association.

As a condo owner, your own the interior, but share all the exterior amenities with the rest of the community. The homeowners’ association manages these facilities and oversees any conditions, covenants, and restrictions applying to the property.

Condos are also relatively cheaper compared to sing-family homes. They appreciated at a slower rate in 2020, costing up to 17% less than single-family homes. They are cheaper when it comes to taxation: smaller spaces translate to smaller bills from the county.

What’s a townhouse?

A townhouse forms part of multi-floor homes sharing one or two walls with other properties, but with their own entrances. They may be uniform, as is the case for suburban townhouses, and have their own homeowners association.

But newer ones in cities have a more traditional outlook with no affiliation to the homeowners association or have less restrictive homeowners’ association — for those that have them. Because of this, they may be more appropriate for a large family compared to condos.

Despite a recent decline in the number of new townhouses, they have a long history spanning centuries. This doesn’t mean their supply will come up short any time soon. If you enjoy living close to your neighbors, they would be a great fit.

What’s an apartment?

What sets this property type apart from the others is the concept of renting. You can’t own an apartment, but you rent it and decide how long you would be there, or the frequency of payment. You can pay monthly, or for several months, or even a year. The rental lease options are flexible, quite appropriate if you don’t intend to stay in an area for a long time.

Like their condo counterparts, apartment renters have access to common spaces and facilities such as gym, trash disposal, covered parking, and pool, among others. If you prefer to own an apartment, rather than rent it, you’ll have to find out if you can meet the price. Many people prefer to rent because apartments in some cities, such as New York, are quite expensive.

Condo vs. Townhouse vs. Apartment

If you’re trying to find out which between a condo, townhouse, apartment, would be the best for you, you’re likely weighing the strengths of each property type. But all three have a point of convergence: all require a down payment, as well as a monthly mortgage payment. Condos and townhouses also attract homeowners association fees.

Condos are best for first-time homebuyers, and seniors on a downsizing trend, while townhouses would do well for those who need more. Go for an apartment if you want the flexibility to relocate, or are saving for a down payment.

Another important factor in the differentiation of the three major property types is ownership. You have no ownership in an apartment because it doesn’t require a down payment, but you do need to make a security deposit in addition to the monthly rent. But you have ownership of the unit if you choose the condo, or both the unit and the property it sits on if you go for the townhouse.

If you’re still wondering which to choose between a condo, townhouse, and apartment, we at Station A can help you. We look at your budget and housing needs to determine the best choice of a home for you. Contact us today and get the conversation started.

Though you love apartment living, you miss having an outdoor space that you can enjoy the great weather and non-stop sunshine.  That’s why having your own balcony is the perfect solution.  But sometimes it’s a struggle to decide how to use and decorate your balcony for the most enjoyment and the biggest statement.

Extend Your Living Space

Instead of creating an outdoor look that feels separate from the rest of the apartment, why not carry your style outdoors? Find furniture that fits your indoor aesthetic, but it made for outdoor living.  Instead of sitting on rigid wrought iron or rattan, soften the space with cushions, pillows and throws.  Most items can be found made from fabric that is mold and mildew resistant and is made specifically for outdoor use.  And if you are all about relaxing, consider a hammock, or a pair of hammocks for the ultimate chill.

Drink that Morning Coffee

If you enjoy starting each morning with a cup of coffee, a balcony is perfect.  Bistro sets that are made for the outdoors are the perfect way to make a small balcony feel comfortable and inviting.  You will be looking forward to the morning cup of Joe (or tea) so you can sit on the balcony and enjoy the beautiful view.

Bring on the Party

If you are the type who likes to entertain, don’t just throw a grill on the balcony.  In addition to your grill, you can easily turn the balcony into an outdoor bar or lounge.  Comfortable seating or bar height stools are perfect for parties, overflow, or even an intimate evening in.  Floor pillows offer impromptu casual seating and can be easily stored or moved when not in use.

Go Organic

If you love growing your own herbs or flowers, your balcony can be a great place to garden.  Plants are so versatile, since they can be in an assortment of containers, grow on the floor, tables, shelves or even hang from the ceiling.  They come in a variety of colors, so you never get bored.  And if you love the look but lack the green thumb, high quality silk plants are often mistaken for the real thing.  Try balcony rail planters to save space for seating (or more plants!)

Love that Color!

If you are in love with that bright shade of yellow but just cannot incorporate it into your apartment, try using it on the balcony.  It is your chance to be brave with bright colors or combinations that you might not normally use.  If you don’t like it tomorrow, you can change it up for that shade of fuchsia.

Light the Night

There are so many types of lights to choose from for your balcony.  Hanging lights, floor lamps, and string lights add ambience to a small space and accent your style subtlety.  Just be sure that your lights are rated for outdoor use.

Look Down

You don’t have to be content with a plain balcony floor.  Tiles and planks that snap together over your floor are perfect to bring interest to a formerly drab floor.  And don’t forget rugs!  Outdoor carpet and rugs are washable, hold up to the elements, and bring a huge dose of class to your balcony.  They are available in nearly any color or pattern you can think of, so have some fun with your floor!

Go Vertical

You have walls on your balcony, so be sure to make use of that space.   Garden shops have a huge assortment of outdoor decorating items to choose from.  Hang your plants from the ceiling, a mirror on the wall, or even a drape to soften the space.  Outdoor shelving can add storage and interest to an otherwise plain wall.

Your balcony can be an extension of your apartment.  It can showcase your interests, hobbies, and style and is relatively inexpensive to change up.  Don’t just decorate for the holidays.  Decorate for every day.  If you are looking for a premier apartment in Denver, give us a look.  You will love our beautiful apartments, our extensive amenities and features, and yes, our balconies.  Contact us today to set up an appointment and find out more.

When searching for an apartment, there are several considerations to keep in mind. Location, amenities, and price can all be a determining factor in finding the apartment just right for you. Once you decide on the ideal apartment complex, you may ask yourself if you would prefer a studio or 1-bedroom apartment. While they may seem similar at first glance, there are key differences between a studio and a 1-bedroom apartment. Read on to learn what may be the best fit for your lifestyle and budget.

What is a Studio Apartment?

A studio apartment usually features everything in a single room with only a separate bathroom. A studio apartment has an open floor plan that combines the living room, kitchen/dining area, and bedroom. While a studio may provide a wall or divider for the bedroom, it does not give the full privacy of having a defined separate space for sleeping. Studio apartments are functional and concise. Here at Station A we also offer Urban 1 Bedroom Apartments. These are studio apartments with a half wall creating separate living room and bedroom areas while keeping an open layout.

What is a 1-Bedroom Apartment?

A 1-bedroom apartment offers a separate bedroom space closed off from the living room and kitchen area and a separate bathroom. With more space and privacy than studios, 1-bedroom apartments are thoughtfully designed with entertaining and comfort in mind. Depending on the layout, 1-bedroom apartments have a defined dining room or a functional eat-in area combined with the kitchen.

Key Differences Between a Studio and 1-Bedroom

• Price: The cost of renting a studio vs. a 1-bedroom apartment varies by location. A studio apartment closer to a city often costs more, while it is a more affordable option in the suburbs or locations further out from a city.
• Location: While the price can vary by location, sometimes the location is the most important factor when apartment hunting. If it is the most important factor, size does not always matter. Finding a studio may be the most feasible option for a rental close to all the city’s amenities.
• Occupancy: Studios are usually best for a single occupant with its limited square footage. If you are planning to share the apartment with a roommate or significant other, a 1-bedroom provides more space, storage, and comfort than sharing a studio with someone else.
• Lifestyle: Depending on your lifestyle, you’ll want space to accommodate your routine. Whether you enjoy hosting guests or work from home, you want to ensure you have the room to continue your routine in comfort. Since a studio does not offer a defined bedroom area, it can be more difficult to entertain or make it difficult to obtain a healthy work-life balance. When planning to gather with friends or family often, it is usually more desirable to rent a 1-bedroom apartment. While working from home in a studio apartment is possible, some people may find it hard to work, eat, sleep, and relax in the same space day after day. Opting for a 1-bedroom apartment will allow space to set up a home office space in your apartment without compromising relaxation time.

While apartment hunting can be a time-consuming process, understanding the different apartment types equips you with the knowledge to find the one that fits your needs best. Depending on your priorities, a studio or 1-bedroom could check all the boxes on your list. Now that you have the key differences between the two in hand, you can determine the best one for you.

When looking for contemporary studios or 1-bedroom apartments in Denver, Station A offers move-in ready apartments that blend comfort and style. Contact us for a tour to see if Station A’s premier apartments are the right fit for you.