One-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom…or more? What about dens, enclosed balconies and extra bathrooms? With so many apartment sizes to choose from these days, it can be difficult to determine which one is best for you. But with our handy guide, you will be able to choose the perfect apartment to suit your lifestyle.

Number of Residents

This seems like a no-brainer, but you first have to determine exactly how many people will be staying in the apartment on a regular basis. Yes, you may be living alone, but will you often have guests? Does family come to visit you? If yes, you will want to ensure you have a one-bedroom with a den or a two-bedroom. This gives you that extra bit of room to ensure comfort for everyone – and that you don’t end up breathing down each other’s necks.

Expanding Your Family

Perhaps you are a recently married couple and think that a one-bedroom is all you need. But do you have any plans to expand your family to include a little bundle of joy? If the answer is yes, and you don’t want to worry about moving while pregnant, invest in a two-bedroom suite now. This will save you the headache of having to find a new place to live when all you want to do is prepare your home for your little one.

Burning the Candle at Both Ends

Do you live by yourself but find that you are so busy you are hardly at home? Does spending a lot of money on an apartment you really only sleep in seem frivolous? Then a studio apartment would be a perfect fit for you. You’ll get all of the amenities you require to live comfortably, but at a reduced price (AND the upkeep is much easier to maintain).

Fido’s Comfort

If you have a dog, particularly a large dog, you’ll need to factor in their needs for your apartment search. If Fido needs room to stretch his legs, you’ll want to get an apartment with higher square footage than usual. This may mean a one or two-bedroom plus a den, or even a penthouse suite. Remember that the comfort of your pet will not only affect you, but it will affect your neighbours. If your dog is unhappy, he will let you know about it (and alert everyone else, too!).

Making a list of your needs will help you when deciding what apartment type to rent. Keep this list handy when you are looking at rental listings online and when you go to view any suites. You want to be happy in your new home so you won’t have to worry about moving again when you realize that the size just isn’t right for you.

The RentSeeker.ca Team

Don’t let a smaller space stop you from getting into the holiday spirit!

No Tree? No Problem!

Due to the fire hazard of a dried out Christmas tree, many apartment buildings will not allow their tenants to use real Christmas trees.

While this may seem disappointing at first, real Christmas trees are far more difficult to care for (monitoring water levels, cleaning up the inevitable messes).

Going with the more economical option – a fake tree – allows you to follow your apartment’s rules and find a tree that fits your home perfectly.

If you don’t have the room for a tree at all, why not get a small tabletop version? You can purchase one from a store like Canadian Tire or Wal-Mart for under $40 and they make your home feel festive without the clutter.

Safety First: While it may be tempting to unleash hordes of tinsel and garland all over your home, keep in mind that these items pose a hazard to children and animals.

Keep them out of reach by placing them on the upper-tier of your tree or on top of mantles. The shiny tinsel is enticing to small children and our animal friends and it poses a significant choking hazard to both.

Twinkle, Twinkle

Lights are the one item that will make your home feel holiday-ready immediately.

Before making your purchase, read the box thoroughly.

Are the lights you are buying indoor or outdoor? Are they waterproof? What is the wattage?

Lights on a tree can get very hot, so use the most appropriate light and wattage for your tree.

As with tinsel and garlands, ensure your lights are high enough to be out of reach. You don’t want a National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation-style cat mishap!

Candles are another wonderful item for the holidays that can fill your home with light and scents of baking.

Ensure your candles are in sight at all times when they are burning and give them plenty of space.

Put Away Other Seasons’ Decorating Leftovers

Are any Easter eggs still hanging about? Some spooky decorations a few weeks after Halloween? What about Canada Day banners?

Put away any decorative items that are out of season.

It can be extra helpful to put away other decorative items that are brightly coloured.

Fall and holiday decorating are all about reds, greens, oranges, silver and gold.

Embrace this by putting aside any bright pink vases you enjoyed during the summertime.

Coffee Table Decoration

Clear off the usual coffee table books and add a snow globe or cluster of holiday-coloured candles.

Even holiday-coloured candy placed in a nice bowl will add festivity to your coffee table.

Christmas Stockings, but No Mantle?

Ideally, stockings will be hung from the fireplace mantle, but many of us don’t have this living room focal point to use for decorating.

In this case, stockings can be hung from a blank wall with 3M removable Command Hooks, or from the doorknob of the bedroom door.

Hanging the stocking from the bedroom door is a great way to decorate the hallway as well, as the hallway often gets left out of the holiday decoration.

Use Ornaments Everywhere

Hang ornaments from every place in the house where they will not be in the way.

Hang them from the chandelier in the dining room. Hang them from houseplants or coat racks. String them on ribbons and hang them around the bathroom mirror.

When hanging them from a Christmas tree, use ribbon to string them instead of metal hooks to add a higher level of elegance to Christmas tree decorating.

Don’t Forget the Front Door

Hang a wreath or a dried bouquet of holiday-themed plants from the front door.

Adding bells to the wreath or bouquet will add a musical jingling greeting. Adding a poinsettia just outside the front door will add a holiday welcome to you and your guests as they come to your front door.

Finally, check with your landlord or apartment management team to see what their plans are for decorating the common areas of the building.

If you are unable to have a large tree in your own apartment, your landlord may be planning to put one up in the lobby.

Organize a building-wide decorating day and go all out – tree decorations, paper snowflakes and even icicle lights will make your building a winter wonderland.

However you celebrate, have a happy and safe holiday season!

The RentSeeker.ca Team