4 Steps To Take To Reduce Your Heating Use and Costs

Put On More Clothes

This one sounds simple, but it really works. Even if you have to buy a few comfortable pairs of sweats to wear around the house, you can still save money on heating costs. Dressing warmer is the best way to avoid the cold without heating the entire apartment.

Use More Blankets At Night

Some people really like to sleep in warmth, so they keep the heat blowing at night.  The truth is, however, overnight is the best opportunity to save money.  Turn the heat down as low as possible, and invest in more blankets.  Again, no reason to heat the entire apartment when an extra covering can keep you toasty.

Consider A Couch Blanket

Never underestimate the great convenience of a couch or home office blanket. If you get really cold in certain areas, consider a designated blanket for that room.  You might find that if you can keep yourself warm in that space, you don't need extra heat everywhere else.

Open & Close Vents According To Where You Spend Your Time

If you work all day near a computer and want to stay warm, make sure that the heating vent in that area remains open.  Meanwhile, you may be able to get away with closing the bedroom vents if you won't be back for a few hours. Also, if you cook frequently in the kitchen, you may be able to close the vent in that room as well.

These simple actions can reduce energy usage and save you money. If you're looking for a cozy new space to call home, contact the staff at our apartments in Flagstaff today.

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3 Tips to Discover Your Personal Decorating Style

1. Use an Online Designer Service

Online designers can take your room and give you ideas on how to decorate it, all without you leaving the comfort of your apartment home. If you choose one such as Havenly, you can get a choice of three different styles. Once you decide which one you like best, you’ll have a better idea of what kind of interior design looks you most connect with.

2. Create a Mood Board

Whenever you’re browsing through magazines, clip images of things that you especially like. They don’t have to be pictures of furniture; they can be landscape images, fashion pictures or even food images. Tack the images up on a bulletin board to create a mood board. A mood board gives you an overall view of what kinds of images you like to see, as well as what colors you’re drawn to. This is a great idea to figure out what kind of “scene” you’d enjoy in your apartment home.

3. Visit Showrooms

Furniture showrooms almost always have mock room setups so customers can get a sense of how different pieces work together. Visit some of these showrooms in your area. Browse around and spend some time in each mock setup. Which ones make you feel most at home? Those are the ones with decorating styles that will best match your personal style!

These three tips will make decorating your Flagstaff apartment much more straightforward. To get a personal tour of available Flagstaff, AZ apartments, please contact us or drop by in person.

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Natural light opens up a space and makes it feel more expansive — maybe even more cheerful. Check out these nifty ways to enhance natural light in your Flagstaff apartment. 

Ways to Enhance Natural Light in Your Apartment

1. Utilize lighter interior paint colors

Dark paint colors almost absorb light, but lighter paint colors tend to reflect it. Remember this when you are picking paint colors for the walls or even if you are picking certain paint colors for your furnishings. 

2. Make use of reflective surfaces throughout the apartment 

Reflective surfaces help encourage natural light flow throughout an apartment no matter where that surface may be. A few examples of utilizing reflective surfaces to help with natural light would include: 

• Using a glossy paint to coat a dining table. 
• Installing a shiny piece of artwork in the bedroom.
• Implementing a slick-surfaced backsplash in the bathroom.

Glossy surfaces can be found in home decor items from large to small, and the more you have, the more light distribution you will see around the apartment. 

3. Ditch the heavy window treatments 

If you are partial to heavy shades and drapes, you are dispelling any chance of natural light getting into your apartment. Get rid of these window treatments and opt for lighter weight materials that give you privacy but still allow in light. For example, white curtain panels allow light through but still conceal the view. 

4. Use mirrors to your advantage 

If you have a mirror situated adjacent to a window, the light from that window doesn't just come into the room; it also gets reflected out further by the mirror. Therefore, strategically placing mirrors in certain points of the apartment can drastically amp up the level of natural light you have in any given place. 

Natural light is good for design, makes an apartment feel more open and inviting, and can even enhance your mood. Check out our floor plans at Butterfield to find the living quarters that will give you the most natural light. 

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How to Plant a Balcony Succulent Garden

What Is a Succulent?

Succulents are very small plants that are related to cacti. They grow close to the ground and store water in their thick leaves. Because succulents are so hardy, they make excellent potted plants. Even if you never thought you had a green thumb, you’ll probably do very well with succulents. 

There are many different kinds of succulents. When you visit the plant nursery, choose a wide variety. This will ensure that you can create a very interesting balcony succulent garden when you get back to your apartment home. Pick up some small pots to hold your new succulents. If you have some favorite antique teacups, you can even use those! You could also plant all your succulents in one large container, such as a pretty window box.

Soil and Drainage Needs

Succulents need to have good drainage to thrive. Poke some holes in the bottom of your succulent containers to let water flow through. The soil should be a mixture of sand, pebbles, gravel, and perlite. You can purchase these separately and blend them together at home. 

How to Plant Succulents

Succulents should be planted very shallow in the pots. Don’t worry about digging deep for the roots. The succulent will acclimate over time. Water your balcony succulent garden very infrequently. You’ll be able to tell when they need water; the leaves will become thinner and less “puffy.”

Having a balcony succulent garden will make your Flagstaff apartment feel even more like Arizona. For more ideas about Southwestern décor or to view available floor plans, please contact us.

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Everyone loves decorating for the holidays, but not everyone wants to change everything in their home or apartment just for a month or two. There are a lot of ways that you can actually decorate for the holidays without making a lot of changes. These are just a few that you can try this holiday season in your apartment home!

Decor Tips for the Holidays

Use Scents to Add Holiday Spirit

You can change the entire feel of your home with some scented candles. If you go get some candles that have scents that remind you of the holidays, just having one or two in your home and lit can change the whole atmosphere. 

Bring the Outdoors Inside

Around this time of year, there are so many options outdoors that you can use to really bring in the holidays. This can be as simple as bringing in some firewood to place next to the fireplace. You do not have to even light the fireplace, but it would make it feel even more like the holidays if you were to do so. 

Use Decorative Pillows

If you do not want to put up a lot of decorations, you can easily change the look of a room with some decorative pillows. You can do this with your couch or even the bedrooms to add a bit of holiday flair. All it takes is one or two pillows to change up the look of the room, so you don't need to cover up the space with pillows unless you want to!

Decorate Your Kitchen and Dining Room Table

There are some simple things you can do in the kitchen and with your dining room table. You can add in a few towels that are holiday-themed and even add in some placemats or a nice tablecloth to tie in everything for the holiday look. 

With these tips, it is easy to change the entire look of your home. If you are looking for a place to call home this holiday season, be sure to check out our Flagstaff apartments.

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Fall Arts & Crafts Projects 

Leaf Garland

If you’re looking for a fun way to utilize your fabric scraps, this leaf garland could offer your apartment the perfect DIY accessory as fall settles in. If you have old T-shirts, blankets, and towels lying around, dye them, so they reflect fall-inspired shades and cut them into the shapes of leaves. You can also easily find leftover material at any fabric store that is too small for big projects, but perfect for this type of DIY design.

Painted Acorns

Trying to find the perfect centerpiece for your dining room table? Painted acorns quickly transition boring clear glass bowls into brightly colored creations that scream autumn. Head to the thrift store to find unique containers that come in autumn-inspired shapes to maximize the impact of this craft.

Bedazzled Gourds

If bland browns and earthy tones aren’t really your thing, you can still incorporate this season’s most notable decorative pieces while adding a stylish flair that people without big personalities simply wouldn’t dare. Bedazzled gourds put bling into everyday garden veggies. You can create intricate patterns, or just go nuts with the glitter and glue. There is no wrong way to make a pumpkin look pretty.

Mason Jar Fall Luminary

As daylight starts to become more scarce, fall welcomes the soft light that comes from Mason jar luminaries. This simple idea can be used for any occasion, and the end result makes for a beautiful gift, too.

Falling into the right apartment is no easy task, but when you tour Butterfield Apartment Homes, we’re sure you’ll feel right at home. Stop by to take a tour of our community today!

The post Fall Arts & Crafts Projects That Will Make Your Apartment Feel Like Autumn appeared first on Butterfield Apartments Blog.

How to Clear Out Clutter in Your Apartment

Get Rid of Trash First

Go around your apartment, and sort and throw out any trash that’s lying around. This includes items such as receipts, empty bottles of lotions and shampoos, and anything else you don’t need to sort through and decide whether or not to keep. This gives you a simple way to get started on clearing away clutter.

Pick a Room

Don’t plan on eliminating clutter all at once. Trying to tackle your entire home in one day can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Instead, choose one room to start with. Go through everything in the room, including every drawer and pile of clutter. Decide whether you’re going to keep each item, give it away or toss it. Put items you’re giving away in one box and items you’re tossing in another box or in a large garbage bag. When you’ve finished one room, plan on doing the same in another room the next day.

Eliminate Extras

When you’re going through the items in your home, get rid of extras. For example, you only need one of certain kitchen items, such as a potato peeler. You might be surprised to find that you have more than one of these kinds of items. Plan on giving those extras away as long as they’re in good shape, and you’ll have a much more organized home before you know it.

Our apartments in Flagstaff, AZ, offer additional storage for those items that you need to keep around. Contact us for more information on our community.

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Plants Anyone Can Grow

Peace Lily

Peace lilies have dark green, glossy leaves and elegant white blooms. They require very little natural light — in fact, their leaves burn easily when the plants are placed in direct sunlight. Research by NASA has concluded that peace lilies are one of the best indoor plants for improving indoor air quality. 

Jade

You'd have to try pretty hard to kill a jade plant. They can go long periods without water, and they don't require any special attention. Because of its upright growth habit, jade is a great choice for planting in decorative pots. 

Snake Plant

Snake plants are another easy-to-grow option that features an upright growth pattern. Because they can literally go months without being watered, they're an ideal choice for very busy people. Their dramatic outline adds a stunning design element to any room. 

Ficus

Otherwise known as fig trees, ficus is a small tree that asks for little more than a bright spot in your home and soil that's kept evenly moist. Make sure you place your ficus in an area where it has plenty of room to grow — these plants grow relatively fast and can easily reach a height of five feet or more in a matter of several years. 

We offer studios as well as one or two bedroom apartments. Amenities include an onsite fitness center, a swimming pool and picnic areas with outdoor grills. Please call us at your convenience for more information. 

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On those beautiful days, it can sometimes be extra hard to find the motivation to hit the gym. Tempting sunshine and pleasant breezes make doing anything but enjoying the outdoors seem like a terrible idea. But you can still get all the benefits of a workout without actually having to hit the gym, and all while you reap the additional benefits of spending time outside, like increased Vitamin D.

Great Fitness Ideas You Can Do Outdoors

1. Create an Outdoor Cardio Routine: Just using your own body weight and a simple prop like a towel or mat, you can create a monster workout that's perfect for taking outside. Check out this one called Outdoor Cardio Meltdown from an Equinox trainer. Or look into the 7-minute workout. It's fast and can be done anywhere with just a park bench. Hard to beat that. 
2. Make a Game Out of Getting Fit: What sport have you always loved most? Shooting hoops, playing softball, hitting the tennis courts, or a retro throwback to childhood kickball games? All of them are great ways to burn off energy and extra calories while having a great time. So grab some friends and form an informal team or look for community groups that offer a team you can join up with. 
3. Trail Running (or Walking): Get the mental boost of getting out to enjoy nature while also getting a great workout. Whether you choose to walk, run or jog, the uneven surface a trail provides increases the quality of the workout you're getting. 
4. Shopping: Wait, what? Yep, window shopping can burn 238 calories/hour. So when you really can't motivate to exercise, how about motivating to go downtown and look into your favorite shops around Flagstaff, Arizona.
5. Go for a Swim: There are few forms of exercise more effective than swimming. It burns a whopping 476 calories/hour while also providing a full body workout, toning all the muscle groups in the body. All of that and it's low impact because by working out in the water you're minimizing stress put on joints and ligaments. 

And fortunately, our Flagstaff apartments offer a beautiful pool for one of the best outdoor forms of exercise, and when the weather isn't really cooperating with an outdoor workout, we also offer a great fitness center. Check out our many other amenities and to learn more about why "Life is Better at Butterfield," get in touch to schedule a tour.

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Looking to eat better on a budget? Eating great on a dime can be tough, but with these meal prep ideas, you’ll be rocking steady and eating like a king!

Buy Only What You Need

Especially if you live alone, don’t buy in bulk unless you’re sure you’ll eat everything before it goes bad. You might think that buying in bulk saves you money, and it does. But this is true only if you don’t waste it.

Try “Meatless Monday”

Going meatless at least one day of the week isn’t just good for the environment. It’s also good for your bank account. Of all food groups, meat tends to be most expensive, so taking a break from it can save you some cash.

Purchase Seasonal Fruits and Veggies

Avoid buying watermelons in winter and blueberries in spring and you may just save yourself some dough. Seasonal fruits and veggies are not only cheaper; they taste better too!

Learn How to Freeze, Pickle, and Preserve Your Foods

Speaking of seasonal fare, if you can buy in bulk and somehow preserve it, you’ll really be saving money. Pickling preserving, canning, and other techniques for saving food long-term usually only require a small investment in some containers and tools upfront. From there, you’ll have delicious food for a long time to come and save tons of money in the process.

Take Your Lunch to School or Work

Finally, eat out less. Avoid at-school or at-work lunch purchases, and you’ll save a boatload with this tip alone.

Why Not Prep Meals in Your Own New Apartment?

Organize your kitchen just the way you like it when you move into your very own, new apartment in Flagstaff, AZ. Butterfield Apartments in Elk Run offers country club living and stylish, finely-designed Flagstaff apartments to meet all your needs. Find one of our available floor plans that works for you today by giving us a call!

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