The holidays are here—Thanksgiving just past, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and New Year's on the way—and gift giving is on our minds. If you've just moved into your new Houston apartment, or you're still hunting, adding on holiday obligations can be a bit overwhelming. It may help to think of your new apartment as part of your holiday gifts. One of the best gifts you can give to yourself and your family is a new apartment where you'll really feel at home. And if your friends and family ask what gifts you'd most like this year, let them know what your new Houston apartment needs, or wants, to become a haven of your very own. Here are some things to think about for your apartment's holiday wish list:
Find a great apartment.
Of course, if you haven't found your new Houston apartment yet, the space itself should be the first thing on your list. Think carefully about how much you can afford to spend, what details you really need, and what others you want. Once you have your wish list made out for your apartment, itself, contact Houston Apartment Insiders. We're the Santa Claus of the apartment hunt: Finding the best apartment for you is what we do, and our services are free to you.
Get ideas from our blog.
Our previous posts can help you get your list started. If you're setting up your first apartment, this post will help you figure out what all you'll need. For tips on making the most of small spaces, this post will help you with furniture and décor, and this one will help you plan to entertain guests in a small apartment. Just for this season, we also offer apartment-specific holiday decorating ideas.
Get ideas from other web sites.
Surf the web for ideas. General home design sites, including HGTV.com and Housebeautiful.com, have ideas that will work for apartments. Also enjoy apartment-specific sites, including ApartmentTherapy, Apartment Ideas, and MyFirstApartment.
Share your wish list with friends and family.
Once you know what you wish for, let your gift-shopping loved ones know. Of course Amazon.com connects to almost everything on the web, so you can build a wish list on their site. For artier handmade pieces, check out Etsy, which also lets you create wish lists and collections of sellers you love. For even more options, collect pictures of your dream apartment décor on photo sharing sites like Tumblr and Pinterest.
Buy your own apartment gifts without breaking the bank.
Houston is a city of variety and style, with plenty of creative places to shop for apartment furniture and accessories. Our previous post on furnishing student apartments has inexpensive ideas that would work for any age or taste, including where to shop for both new and secondhand items. If you're a fan of the resale scene, check out this post for more on Houston's vintage, consignment, and thrift shops.
Posted by Melanie Belasco Levy on 12/01/11
