About Today: Moving Into Your New (or First!) Apartment

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Today It's early summer and you know what that means: it's time to start apartment hunting! Historically, New York City's Moving Day—the day when every lease in the city expired and renters had to pack up and ship out—was on the first of May. (I'm sure you can imagine the chaos of thousands of NYC residents dragging their stuff through the streets.) These days, many leases end during the summer months, when college students are looking for their first apartments, making competition higher than usual. Plus, those 90-degree days make moving even less fun. We can't keep you from sweating as you drag your sofa up a high-floor walk-up, but we can offer plenty of tips, tricks and advice to make your apartment hunt and move a little bit easier on your sanity ... and your back. Finding the Right Apartment As a renter who has changed apartments five times in four years—and in NYC, no less—I can say this with complete confidence: apartment hunting can be a total nightmare. Not only does it raise soul-searching questions like, Which neighborhood do I want to live in? Do I need one bathroom or two? How much rent can I afford? Does my cat really love me?, but it's totally stressful—and expensive—too. But fear not, my fellow renters! We've got plenty of tips and tricks to make your apartment search as simple as possible. Should I Get a Studio or One Bedroom? Apartment Searching for Pet Owners How to Break a Lease Search Related Topics:  finding an apartment  lowering stress  leasing issues Furnishing Your New Apartment So, you've found the perfect apartment in the perfect location, with an awesome landlord who allows your pets. And, just FYI, you are now a legend among renters. Now you need to furnish the place! Check out apartment-sized sofas and stylish accent furniture for space-saving seating options; define spaces with area rugs or creative room dividers; and look for furniture with sneaky storage, like coffee tables, ottomans or bedframes with drawers. How to Make a Room Feel Bigger Smart Furniture Arrangement Why We Love IKEA's PS 2014 Collection Fun Home Accessories I've said it before and I'll say it ten million more times: home accessories are the absolute easiest way to dress up your space. Plus, they're completely reversible, so you know you'll get your security deposit back at the end of your lease. Toss some bold, DIY throw pillows on your sofa, blend antique treasures with modern accents on your mantle or amazing, DIY coffee table or mix different fabrics for an eclectic, homey vibe. And hey, if you're not in love with the results, remember: you can undo your decor in mere seconds. How Style Open Shelving like a Pro Mixing His and Her Style How to Choose Patterns Search Related Topics:  decorating accessories  displaying collections  books on decorating Renter-Friendly Wall Decor Whether your landlord doesn't allow painting or you just don't feel like painting (hey, I hear you—it's a lot of work!), there are plenty of ways for renters to add color to their walls. Try arranging a huge gallery wall with your favorite artwork and photos or, if you're feeling really ambitious, hang temporary wallpaper. I personally love these colorful, abstract art DIYs How to Make Three-Dimensional Wall Art Turn a Greeting Card into Wall Art Simple Ways to Dress Up Boring Walls Search Related Topics:  diy projects  decorating with color  flea market decorating Related Searches NYC Apartment Apartment or Rent Apartment Search Apartment Moving Apartment Rentals In Featured Articles Um, Why Is It Raining Frogs? Understanding the Science of Home Decor 8 Common Types of Identity Theft 15 Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes Why We Love Using Bar Carts as Home Decor 9 Outrageously Opulent Resort Suites   More from About.com Sign-up for Shareables! An every-morning rundown of the day in history, headlines and trends produced by your pals at About.com. Please sign up it's free (of course), we think you will like it! Want More From About.com Check out our social page tailored to your interest!   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Today newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. If you would like to unsubscribe from all newsletters sent from About.com, please send an email to optout@about.com with "Unsubscribe" as the subject line. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2014 About.com     Follow us on: Advertisement