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During the fall months, many people decorate in and around their homes using hay bales, scarecrows, pumpkins, apples, and burlap. If you're decorating for fall, you may be looking for items that are still associated with the season, but not as traditionally used. Here are a few of the more unique ways to decorate your space for fall.
Use Lesser-Known Fall Fruits
When people think of decorating for the fall, they often reach for items such as pumpkins, apples, Indian corn, and squash. But these are not the only fruits and vegetables that are commonly found during the fall months, or that you can use to decorate. Fruits such as pomegranates, pears, figs, and cranberries are all in season. You can fill a tall cylinder vase with these fruits to create a centerpiece or slice up, dry out and string them to make a fall garland or wreath.
Decorate With Copper Accents
People also commonly use a lot of orange and cream colors when they're decorating for the fall months. If you want to change things up and like a little sparkle in your life, consider using copper accents instead. You can use copper rings around fabric napkins, use copper chargers on your dinner table, or spray paint pumpkins, pine cones or leaves using copper paint to create one-of-a-kind decorations for your home.
Bring in the Plaid
Another way to decorate for fall using non-traditional decorations is to bring in plaid. The aforementioned orange and cream are also used quite a bit for throw pillows or throw blankets in the fall. However, plaid blankets and pillows can help to make your home cozy, while also feeling fall-like. Best of all, many plaid color schemes can also be used during the winter months, helping you carry your decor from one season to the next.
Decorating a space can only go so far at transforming it. If you're unhappy with your current place, you may be looking for new apartments in Chicago, Illinois. Here at Presidential Towers, we offer beautiful and spacious apartment homes that anyone would love to call home. Visit our complex today to learn more about our floor plans, availability, and pricing.
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With fall in full swing, residents of our Chicago apartments have been preparing for the season by swapping their T-shirts and flip-flops for sweaters and boots. With the arrival of cooler temperatures, we're turning up our thermostats and spending more time inside. That leads many of us to look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint — not to mention our utility bills. Here are some energy-saving (and cost-saving) tips for fall.
Invite the Sunlight In
Open the blinds during the day to let the sunlight warm your apartment home. Close them at night to retain that warmth.
Use a Humidifier
Running the furnace for extended time periods can dry out the air in your home. Using a humidifier adds moisture to the air so it can hold heat better. Plus, a little humidity can actually make you feel warmer. With a humidifier on hand, you can lower the thermostat and still be comfortable.
Lower the Thermostat
The US Department of Energy reports that you can save up to 10 percent on energy costs if you lower the thermostat by 10 to15 degrees for at least eight hours at a time. You can do this before going to sleep or leaving for work.
Make Your Surroundings Cozy
Adding insulation to your surroundings is easier than you might think. Placing a few pillows and throws on your couch and laying some rugs on the floor can go a long way toward helping you feel warm and cozy in your apartment home.
Dress Up for Warmth
While it's second-nature to bundle up before going outside on a cold day, most of us don't think about doing it indoors. That doesn't mean you have to wear gloves and a scarf in your own home, but layering up with an extra sweater and warm socks can help you stay warm without turning up the heat.
Use LED Lights
If you like to put up strings of lights for the holiday season, using LED lights will help you use less energy.
Our Chicago, IL apartments are equipped with energy-efficient appliances and heating and cooling systems to help keep utility costs reasonable. Contact us today to learn more about floor plans and amenities.
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Whether it's your parents or your best friend from college, out-of-town guests in your home can be equal parts pleasure and work. You are thrilled to spend time with them and to show off your apartment in Chicago, but there are some preparations you need to make. Try these tips to ensure your guests have a pleasant stay, without overworking yourself.
Decorate the Guest Room
If your apartment has a spare bedroom, it may feel like the lowest priority when it comes to decorating. However, guests will feel more at home in a room that is well decorated and furnished. Keep things simple, but be sure to include bedside lamps and a few pieces of framed art.
Clear Closet Space
Short-term guests won't need an entire closet, but they will need a bit of space to hang clothing and stow their suitcase. Even if you typically use the guest room closet for storage, clear out enough space to hang several outfits and provide ample floor space to open a bag.
Make the Bed
Clean sheets are the bare minimum you will need to provide in terms of bedding, but you will want to go a few steps further to welcome your guests. Cloud-like white linens make guests want to sink into bed and showcase how clean the room is. To keep both hot- and cold-natured sleepers comfortable, layer linens with a top sheet, duvet and lightweight throw.
Know How They Take Their Coffee
Mornings are smoother when everyone has a cup of coffee just the way they like it. Before your guests arrive, ask how they prefer their morning beverage. While stocking up on meals and snacks for your guests, be sure to pick up whatever creamers or sweeteners they like in their coffee.
Provide Some Local Flavor
Welcome your guests to the city with a few local touches. As a treat, place a small box of local chocolate by the bed or a few craft brews in the fridge. On a more practical side, provide a guidebook to the city, along with lists of your favorite restaurants, sights, and shops.
When you live in the heart of a trendy neighborhood, your family and friends are sure to want to visit. If you are looking for convenient apartments in Chicago, IL, to host out-of-town guests, call Presidential Towers today to schedule a tour.
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Our community at Presidential Towers knows they live in one of the most walkable areas in Chicago — the West Loop. But, you may not know that walking 30 minutes every day is one of the best ways to exercise your heart, muscles, and brain. According to the CDC, even persons with diabetes, high blood pressure, or depression can benefit from walking at a fast pace for 2 and 1/2 hours (or 150 minutes) per week.
The CDC also states that a lifestyle with limited activity may lead to a higher risk for early death, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers. Also, walking is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy weight.
Safe Places to Walk
People that live in neighborhoods that are pedestrian-friendly are more likely to walk more often because they don't fear falling from surfaces that are not maintained. When choosing your walking routes, always select places that are near communities or frequently visited commercial areas. Also, areas that are safe from crime and protected from traffic are safe places to walk. Next time, instead of taking a bus, train, or trolley a few stops over, consider walking that route for your daily cardio.
Ways to Walk More
One of the best ways to get walking more is to start or join a walking group. The American Heart Association has good resources for how to start or find a walking group here. Other ways to walk more include:
- Walk after lunch or dinner
- Track yourself with a pedometer
- Walk when you run errands
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator
- Park a distance away from businesses you visit
- Take public transportation instead of driving
- Window shop at the mall and walk from end to end
- Find interesting places to walk near you
- Listen to music as you walk
- Meet friends for a walk instead of coffee
- Walk on a treadmill in the fitness center
If you're looking for apartments in Chicago, IL that are not only walkable but have plenty of lively entertainment and unique shopping opportunities, contact us at Presidential Towers to discuss our floor plans and availability. Our apartment homes feature ultra-fast, fiber-connected Internet access, breakfast bars in select units and 37,000 square feet comprises our Fitness Formula Health Club.
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These seasonal allergies typically hit in late summer and early fall. If you’re prone to these allergies, now is the time to start preparing for them, so you won’t spend the season feeling snuffly. Use these seasonal allergy tips to get ready!
Take Allergy Medication Early
You don’t need to wait until allergy symptoms hit to take medication. In fact, taking allergy medication about two weeks before ragweed allergy season starts can help prevent symptoms from occurring. Talk to your doctor about the type of medication you should be taking for your allergies.
Start Checking Pollen Counts
Knowing the ragweed pollen counts for certain days can help you plan accordingly. On days when pollen counts are expected to be high, try staying indoors as much as possible. Keep in mind that ragweed pollen counts are usually higher in the morning.
Keep Windows Closed
Ragweed pollen isn’t just an outdoor problem for those with allergies. Pollen can get into your apartment when you have your windows open. Plan on keeping them closed during this season and use your central air conditioning to keep your apartment cool rather than letting outdoor air inside.
Vacuum More Often
During ragweed season, pollen can get into your apartment from your shoes and clothes. Your pets can also bring pollen indoors on their fur. Plan on vacuuming your floors and furniture more often to get rid of pollen in your apartment.
Our apartments in Chicago, offer great amenities to combat seasonal allergies and make you feel right at home! Contact us for more details on our community.
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Are you having an overnight guest in your Chicago apartments? Being thoughtful about making up a bedroom for friends or family to stay over ensures they feel welcome in your apartment home. Here are some ideas to consider!
Prepare in Advance
A few days in advance, begin to prepare the room to make sure it is ready for your company's arrival. You should vacuum the carpet or floor, making sure to vacuum under the bed and under the bedroom furniture. Change or launder the sheets and covers of the bed, too.
Keep Convenience in Mind
Keep convenience for the guest in mind. Make sure your guest has easy access to the bathroom, with clean towels and washcloths available. If it makes sense, place a mini-flashlight on the nightstand so your guest can find their way easily. Stop in at a local store and pick up some mini bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and soap, as well as toothpaste and a toothbrush for your guest to use. Place the items in a pretty basket on the bedroom nightstand for your guests to find.
Offer Slippers
Light slippers are very affordable, and they make a nice touch for an overnight guest. Buy a pair and place them at the foot of the bed as a welcome gift for your overnight guest to use and keep.
Decorate
Decorate the room with either fresh or dried flowers. Be sure to find out whether your guest has allergies before putting fresh flowers in the room. Another option would be to add a pretty potted plant in the room just to give it that added fresh look.
Add Scent
Finally, just a few hours before your guest retires for the evening, spray a scented aroma in the bedroom and on the sheets. This will make the room even more welcoming.
Making people feel at home is an important part of hosting an overnight guest. For a personal tour of the bedrooms in Chicago apartments, please contact us!
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Over time, dust and light debris may accumulate in your living space, dulling an otherwise impressive space. Often, it only takes a simple cleaning exercise to take your apartments interior appeal to the next level.
Reinvent your living space ahead of the upcoming holidays with these easy cleaning tips.
Plan Your Cleaning
Start by evaluating the task at hand, seeing what needs to be done and devising a strategy to accomplish the chores. You can do this by consolidating a list of achievable tasks in preferential order. You can also pretend to be a guest and look at your space with a visitor’s eye, identifying what needs to be cleaned.
Start by Cleaning the Windows and Entry
As a pro tip, stick to your list prepared in the earlier step. Paying attention to distractions such as an untidy drawer derails your progress. Begin by washing the windows and getting rid of cobwebs that give windows a dingy feel. Next, get to the glass on your front door, and clear any debris that may have accumulated over time. Finally, toss the window and shower curtains in the laundry and take some time to press them.
Cleaning the Bathroom
The bathroom is arguably the most used space in every home. As such, as you gear up for the holidays, it is vital to have it sparkling. Start by scrubbing the toilet using a brush and an effective disinfectant. Next, clean the tub or shower and neatly arrange the essentials in an organizer.
Handling the Guest Areas
For the guest areas, prepare a list of the fragile or irreplaceable items and put them on high shelves to avoid breakage. Next, use an empty laundry basket to clear any clutter in the living room, for example, stray clothes, books, toys, and magazines. Label all the baskets you use for easier rearrangement.
While the above list is not exhaustive, it is an ideal place to start while cleaning up for the holidays.
Discover your perfect home today at Presidential Towers. Our apartments in Chicago, IL, are tailor-made to afford you comfort and convenience at a go. Get in touch with our office to see which floor plans are currently available.
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While you’ve probably been enjoying days relaxing in your Chicago apartment and taking time to head to the pool to cool off, the lazy days of summer are nearly gone. Before you know it, the kids will be back in school, and the relaxed summer schedule is about to change for the hectic, fast-paced schedule that comes with the school year. The good news — you can start preparing for school now.
Tips for Making the Back-to-School Transition Easier
Sometimes the transition from summer fun to school can be a bit harsh. Use the following tips to make the back-to-school transition a bit easier this year.
Tip #1 – Prepare for the New Schedule
The school-time schedule is going to be far different from the looser schedule that comes with summer, so come up with the schedule for the new school year and start preparing now. Begin moving bedtimes and wake-up times slowly toward what they’ll need to be during the school year. Put the school schedule on a calendar so everyone is familiar with holidays, important events, etc.
Tip #2 – Get Workspaces and Supplies Organized
You or your child is going to need an organized work area for studying and doing homework. Get a workspace organized now, making sure it’s a distraction-free, quiet place. Start stocking up supplies for the workspace and for school so you’re ready before the worst of back-to-school shopping begins. It’s also a good time to deal with any paperwork needed for the start of the school year, such as medical appointments to get medical forms and immunization records filled out.
Tip #3 – Get in the Back-to-School Mindset
The new school year gives your kids a chance to start anew, but it’s easy for kids to still have swimming and sleepovers on the brain. To get kids in the back-to-school mindset, spend some time with your children reviewing their past achievements and coming up with some goals for the upcoming school year that will help them succeed.
A little preparation can go a long way as you and your kids get ready for the first day of school. Use these tips to make the transition as painless as possible. If you know of anyone on the hunt for apartments in Chicago, have them call our office today to find out more about our available floor plans.
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