Curtains

Let's face it: curtains can be expensive. That's why bed sheets are the perfect way to create new curtains without a major financial investment. Depending on the window size, you can use two twin sheets or a single flat sheet cut down the middle. Most curtains have a natural built-in panel on top that's perfect for sliding through a rod, but if you prefer tab-top curtains, simply sew looped ribbon pieces every few inches across the top. Use solid-white sheets with colored tiebacks for versatility, or add your own embellishments. Sew or glue on ribbons, ruffles, buttons or any kind of textiles that catch your eye.

Clothes Hangers

Every closet seems to have unattractive wire or plastic clothes hangers jangling around. Why not transform them into soft and pretty fabric hangers using well-worn bed sheets. Simply cut the sheets into thin strips and wrap them around the hangers multiple times. Use a hot-glue gun to keep the fabric tightly woven in place, gradually making your way across the entire hangar. Your clothes will stay in place more easily, and the soft cloth will protect them from snags.

Plastic Bag Holder

You've seen plastic-bag holders hanging in many kitchens these days, but there's no reason to purchase a pre-made one. Simply cut an old bed sheet into a small square and sew two sides together. Do a quick hem on the remaining two sides, leaving the ends open for inserting a piece of elastic. Pull the elastic to create a round hole on each end for inserting and removing plastic bags when needed.

It's easy to be creative when making your home in one of our Charlotte, North Carolina, apartments. Stop by today for a personal tour and to hear about move-in specials.

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Baking Soda and Vinegar

One of the ways that you can remove icky smells from your garbage disposal is to use baking soda and vinegar. Pour one cup of baking soda down your garbage disposal. It is best if the disposal is dry and has not been used in a couple of hours. Once the baking soda has settled, pour one to two cups of white vinegar down the drain. The mixture will begin to fizzle, which helps to clean the garbage disposal. Once the fizzing action dies out, rinse your sink with water and the smell should be gone. 

Lemons, Oranges or Grapefruit

In some cases, the smell coming from the garbage disposal may be trapped on the disposal blades. One of the ways to remove this scent is to slice up any type of citrus, including lemons, limes, oranges or grapefruit, turn on cold water and turn on the garbage disposal. The chopped up citrus helps to remove any trapped food particles and the juice helps to remove icky scents and replace them with pleasant ones. 

Bleach

If a smell still is lingering in your garbage disposal, you can pour 1/2 to one cup of bleach down the drain. This will not only help to remove any smells from the garbage disposal but helps to remove scents from the pipes below the garbage disposal. Bleach can be damaging to your garbage disposal and pipes, so it should only be used sparingly and as a last resort for removing unwanted scents. 

If you have a smelly garbage disposal, you may not enjoy spending time in your kitchen. But, this is not the only reason you may not like to spend time in your kitchen. If your kitchen is too small or the layout does not work for you, the kitchen may not be the heart of your home. If you are in the market for apartments in Charlotte, North Carolina and are looking for a beautiful, open kitchen, check us out at Ashford Green. Stop by today to tour our complex. 

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Even in a beautifully designed Charlotte apartment, how you arrange your items can have a major impact on your health and comfort. Let's look at some ways you can improve your apartment ergonomics — and thus your quality of life.

Use Your Breakfast Bar as a Standing Desk

Too much sitting can damage your health, playing a role in everything from diabetes and heart disease to cancer. You can probably think of several places in your apartment that can accommodate a slim, minimalist standing desk — or you can turn to your trusty breakfast bar. These nooks are designed to approximate a comfortable elbow height, making them ideal areas to place a laptop so that you can pursue your daily routine from a standing position.

Plan for Sensible Cabinet Storage

You may love having an apartment with lots of cabinets and built-in shelves — but do you love experiencing shoulder pain or neck pain from reaching up to some of those spaces? The most remote cabinets may compel you to stretch yourself beyond your body's comfortable capacity. Even worse, a heavy item stored on a high shelf invites head injuries or other painful incidents. Always place your heavier and more commonly used everyday items as close to your resting body position as possible. Rarely used items may not merit a position on any of your cabinets or shelves; consider hiding them under your bed, stuffing them away in a closet or even leaving them in the trunk of your car.

Remove Awkward Motions From Your Kitchen Routine

Every time to have to bend, twist or stoop to grab a seasoning or pull a pan off of a wall hook, you're placing your back muscles, tendons, spinal discs and nerves at risk for repetitive motion injuries. Again, ask yourself which items you reach for most frequently when cooking or cleaning up, and position those items so that you can get to them with as little motion as possible. Your back and hips will thank you for it!

Looking for the ideal apartment layout for your needs? Call Ashford Green to schedule a look at our Charlotte apartments!

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Adjust the Water Heater

Water heaters operate around the clock and throughout the year. It takes energy to keep a tank of water hot and setting your water heater temperature too high increases your electric bill. Lowering the temperature by even a few degrees can lower your energy bills considerably across 12 months. If you really need scalding hot showers to get through the winter, consider seasonal adjustments. Any energy saved helps to cut your monthly utility bill.

Use Bright Decorations

Everyone talks about natural lighting to lower electricity bills. This is a great resource, but you aren’t exactly allowed to install an extra skylight in your apartment. Besides, you’re living in an energy-efficient place already. Despite that, a little bit of light decorating can add to your natural lighting. Light-colored curtains, furniture and area rugs can all reflect natural light and further reduce how often you need to flip a light switch.

Install a Smart Thermostat

If you ask your property manager, there’s a good chance they’ll let you get a smart thermostat. If you already have a smart thermostat, you need to actually use it. Take 10 minutes out of your life to schedule it around your daily routines. Once you do, you’ll find that it helps you save considerable energy in the summer and winter, and you can maintain a comfortable indoor temperature while enjoying those savings.

When you break it down, apartments in Charlotte benefit from a lot of the same energy-saving tips as houses in the area. Look at all of your options and you can cut your utility bills down to size in no time. If you want an efficient apartment that already helps you with your goals, call us today!

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There's nothing more relaxing than a day at the spa. Unfortunately, most of us can't book a pricey massage or facial as often as we would like. But, you can turn your bathroom into a spa retreat with a few easy touches.

Declutter

One of the most relaxing things about a high-end spa is the minimalist décor. To create a peaceful bathroom, clear the counters of clutter. Organize drawers and cabinets to neatly store makeup, hair tools, and daily essentials. 

Upgrade storage containers

Even after clearing the clutter, a few items will need to be within easy reach. Place bath bombs and salts into apothecary jars and arrange them near the bathtub. Pour soap out of its eyesore packaging and into a pretty pump.

Decorate in cool colors

To maintain a peaceful vibe, avoid bold shades. Instead, rely on neutral white, gray and wood tones. Add accents in cool, calm colors such as soft blues or mint greens.

Add a bathtub caddy

A long soak gets even better when your favorite relaxation items are close at hand. A wooden caddy that sits across the bathtub is perfect for holding a cup of tea, a glass of wine, a flickering candle, and a good book.

Set the mood with music

Whether you prefer nature sounds or soothing music, the sound is an essential element in a Zen spa experience. Add a small wireless speaker to your bathroom and keep a spa playlist accessible on your phone.

Bring in a relaxing scent

Add a touch of aromatherapy to your bathroom retreat with candles, essential oils and bath products. Opt for a single signature scent that will evoke a sense of calm each time you walk into the room. Lavender, jasmine, and chamomile are all known to promote feelings of tranquility.

Invest in high-quality towels

Nothing ruins a spa day like scratchy terry cloth. Pick up a few fluffy, white towels and a soft robe to wrap yourself in after showers and baths. When doing laundry, keep towels soft by adding distilled white vinegar or baking soda to the wash.  

Apartments in Charlotte, NC are just right for setting up a bathroom spa oasis. Give Ashford Green luxury apartments a call today to explore floor plans with bathrooms that are both peaceful and practical.

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The residents of our Charlotte, NC apartments are busy people, and that often means mornings are rushed and a little more chaotic than they'd like them to be. Fortunately, mornings don't have to begin with a mad dash to the door every day. With these tips, you can make your mornings more efficient so everything falls into place.

1. Lay Out Your Clothes

Your mom might've laid out your clothes before school to avoid a fight in the morning, but that doesn't mean you should stop this ritual now that you're an adult. Laying your clothes out the night before can save you an enormous amount of time in the morning. You don't have to mess around in your closet or look for the left shoe when the right one seems to be the only one available. You won't be surprised by stains or wrinkles you weren't expecting if you have everything ready for the next morning before you go to sleep.

2. Make To-Go Breakfast Food

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so it's important to find ways to work it into your daily routine. These Muffin-Tin Quiches with Smoked Cheddar and Potato are easy to make ahead of time, so you can just pop them into the microwave in the morning and eat them when you're running out the door. Make a big batch on a Sunday when you have free time and freeze the excess so you have ready-made breakfast when your fridge starts running low. 

Smoothies are another great grab-and-go option. To save time, cut the fruit or veggies the night before and have everything ready to dump in your blender so you can just hit the start button while you're brushing your teeth.

3. Commit to Avoiding the Snooze Button

Some people simply aren't morning people. If you're someone who lives by the snooze button, commit to only hitting it once. Move your phone or alarm clock across the room so you'll have to get up and walk to it when it goes off. You'll be amazed at the difference an extra seven or nine minutes can make in the morning!

If you're looking for an apartment where you'll wake up on the right side of the bed every day, you've come to the right place. Stop by our Ashford Green Luxury Apartments so we can show you around!

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Attempting to bring kids into a cozy apartment in Charlotte can be incredibly trying for the adults in the household for this very reason. Many parents quickly give up the hope of having any reserved “adult space,” giving in to the need to let toys cover every open space throughout the home. However, there are better ways to manage a cozy space to find a bit more balance between playroom and showroom.

Here Are a Few Ideas to Help Manage Kids in Smaller Spaces:

Always think about storage. Every piece of furniture in your home has the potential to be a helpful piece of storage. TV stands, benches, coffee tables and shelving in closets are all essential tools for helping to house the many different types of toys and supplies that you’ll need for your children.

Create a healthy rotation. When you have different people in your home sharing a single space, simply creating a household schedule to help you manage who is using the space at certain times of the day can be very helpful. This is especially helpful in managing space with the television. Create boundaries and a strong schedule so that kids know where it is okay to play and when.

Take advantage of the library. Surrounding your child with plenty of books is important for their development, but this doesn’t mean that you need to have a bunch of books in your home all the time. Weekly trips to the library could mean having just a couple of books in the house at any given time while still exposing your child to a wide range of literature.

Limit toys to developmental needs. Kids love to play with toys, and as they grow, their developmental needs will lead you to buy new toys to support their developing intelligence, but many parents are hesitant to get rid of old toys due to their sentimental value. Rotating through toys can help to keep the clutter down in your home and therefore help you manage life with kids in your small space.

Above all, the most important thing to take into consideration when raising kids is consistency. Providing your kids with a comfortable home where they are surrounded by a loving family is essential. Contact our office to learn more about our apartment availability for your love ones.

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Interior decorators call curtains, drapes, blinds and other window coverings "window treatments." The best, energy-saving window treatments include:

Sheers

Linen or voile sheers are nearly transparent curtains that filter sunlight but allow just enough light in to avoid using lamps. Sheers let you keep windows open on pleasant, breezy days, or you can close sheer-treated windows and enjoy bright sunshine while staying cool enough without needing to turn on the AC.

Insulating (Solar) Shades

Made from heat/UV-ray resistant materials that also reduce glare, solar window treatments prevent sunlight from making your Charlotte, NC, apartment too hot but allows enough light in so you don't have to turn on lights to see. In addition, closing insulated shades at night during colder months reduces the amount of heat escaping through your windows.

Reflective Shades

Reflective shades are black on one side and white on the other. The black side absorbs heat and the white side reflects heat. For reflective shades to work toward reducing energy bills, you'll have to keep them down most of the time, especially in rooms where the sun shines in during the afternoon hours.

Heavy Drapes

Jacquard or damask drapes not only add character and beauty to apartments but also provide excellent insulation against outside heat and cold. You can find drapes backed with energy-saving foam materials that reduce sunlight and help rooms stay cooler to reduce AC use.

Honeycomb Shades

Honeycomb shades resemble their name. With air pocket "shells" inserted in the polyester fabric used to make this window treatment, honeycomb shades insulate apartments from cold during winter but reflect hot sunlight in the summer. They are also effective filters of sunlight to maximize light energy efficiency in your apartment.

Now that you know all about window treatments, are you ready to start decorating your new, fabulous Charlotte, NC, apartment? Call Ashford Green Apartments today. Your new home is waiting for you!

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Preparing in Advance for Power Loss

Generators are usually impractical during floods and tornados because homes and apartments in Charlotte, NC, are either heavily damaged by a tornado or flooded by high water. Preparing for power outages caused by floods and tornadoes involves storing necessities in waterproof containers and keeping at least one cupboard stocked with the following items:

• Lanterns, flashlights, candles
• Extra batteries
• Utility knife, utility lighter and duct tape
• First aid kit
• Radio – battery-operated or crank-style
• Either a corded landline phone or a crank charger for your cellphone
• Fuel for heating and cooking ‒ never use outdoor grills in the house. They are extreme fire hazards when used in enclosed places
• Manual can opener

Don’t Panic During Loss of Power Events

Practicing safe methods of living through an extended power outage means keeping a clear head if you have been told the power outage may last for a few days. Keep plenty of blankets, clean clothes, ready-to-eat food and entertainment devices such as board games and playing cards available to pass the time. Also, stop to think about what you are doing to generate heat (if necessary). Never light a lot of candles just to warm up your apartment. You might think it’s safe to use candles as long as you are there monitoring them, but fires caused by candles during power outages occur frequently. One candle knocked onto a couch or carpet is enough to start an uncontrollable fire, especially when people panic and try to put out the fire themselves.

Are you looking for a new place to call home? Call Ashford Green Apts. today to speak to our manager about apartments available for rent.

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Instant Mashed Potatoes

They may look innocuous enough, but those tiny dehydrated potato flakes were meant to do one thing when mixed with water — and that is to blossom into a thick, gooey pile. That's fine if they're on a plate, but send those flakes down a drain with just enough water to hydrate them, and they will form a thick cement-like clog. 

Grease and Oil

Warm grease easily washes off of your dishes and pans and flows down your drain. But if you don't use enough water to push the grease through your pipes, it will eventually settle and harden. Over time, the grease will accumulate and also trap other waste, which will eventually create an impenetrable ball of goo. 

Rice and Pasta

It may be hard to imagine that tiny grains of rice and skinny pasta can wreak absolute havoc on your pipes, but they absolutely can. These starchy products continue to expand when wet and, thus, can form a huge roadblock in your pipes. 

To prevent clogs, it's always best to throw your food waste into your trash rather than down your drain. Of course, that means you'll have more trash to deal with than before. Our apartment community understands that this can be a pain, so we offer a valet trash removal service to make your life a little easier. In addition, our apartments in Charlotte also offers other highly desirable amenities, including a pool and a fitness center. 

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