When you first move into your apartment, you focus on setting up your belongings. You plug in your router wherever you can, find a spot for laundry baskets and place bathroom items without much thought. However, all these little household items can create visual clutter. [10 Tips for De-Cluttering Your Home] Try these decorating tips for hiding eyesores in order to design an organized and beautiful space: Thermostats, light switches that don’t actually turn on a light, and nicks and dents all don’t look very appealing in your apartment. Fortunately, you can cover them up with wall art. Paintings (or prints stretched on canvas) will be your #1 easy tool for finishing an apartment makeover. [The Top 4 Toolbox Essentials] Go to the hardware store and purchase hinges. You can then drill the hinges first into the painting’s frame, and into the wall. Your art will act as a little door, covering up the eyesore when you want it to, but allowing you easy access (which is especially nice for things you actually have to use).

Routers aren’t too bad to look at, but why display a black box when you can spruce it up? Start by getting cute boxes made of cardboard and covered in some fabulous design. These types of boxes are generally used for folders or photos and have that little metal piece on the front to hold a label. buy wall mounted air conditioning unitsThey also have lids.ac units for rvs [Clutter Control: Organizing and Hiding Cords]air conditioning unit without vent Cut a hole in the back of the box through which you’ll run the router’s cord. Put the router inside, thread the cord through the hole and place the lid on top. Now you have a pretty box on your desk instead of a plain old router. Consider getting another box to stack on top (this is great if you have a router/modem combo), and perhaps a vase to make the still life look like a decorating statement.

Stainless steel appliances and countertops are super trendy right now. Unfortunately, your apartment might not be up to date on the latest home decor styles. Whether you have a vintage avocado stove or faux wood countertops, you can still get the stainless steel look. Stainless steam film comes in a roll and can be applied to just about any of your household items. It’s super easy to use: Simply peel the coating on the back and stick the sheet to the appliance (spread it carefully to avoid air bubbles). However, you should definitely talk to your landlord before using this product, as the film doesn’t come off once it’s been stuck. Window air conditioning units aren’t the prettiest, but you don’t have to live with the sight of these gadgets. Make or buy half curtains (or cafe-style) to hide the appliance. If you plan on making the curtain yourself, get fabric and a tension rod. Sew a curtain that’s tall and wide enough to conceal the air conditioner, then run the rod through the top hem and stick it in your window frame.

Doing this project yourself is fun because you can pick fabric that matches your decor. For most homes in warm climates, air conditioning uses more electricity than any other use — up to 70 percent of a summer electric bill, according to some estimates. However, there are ways for most people to reduce this load by changing their air conditioning habits. Here are the biggest air conditioning mistakes people make, and how to reduce usage and electric bills.Mistake No. 1: Buying Too Big an Air ConditionerBigger isn’t always better. Many people are inclined to get a bigger air conditioner, assuming it will make the home colder faster. However, an oversized air conditioner won’t generate uniform temperatures or reduce humidity. It will also run inefficiently by cycling on and off quickly. Of course, a unit may also be too small to properly cool the space. To properly size a new air conditioning guide, start with this Consumer Reports worksheet.Mistake No. 2: Putting the Air Conditioner in a Hot SpotIt may seem convenient to put air conditioners in an unused spot on the southwest side of the house.

However, such placement will make the unit work too hard. Instead, install the air conditioner in a shady spot on the east or north side of the house, where it will receive less direct sunlight.Mistake No. 3: Hiding the Air ConditionerThe air conditioner may not be pretty, but neither are excessive summer electric bills. Don’t try to hide air conditioners behind shrubs or other plants. It will hinder ventilation, clog condenser coils and make the air conditioner run less efficiently. Mistake No. 4: Ignoring MaintenanceAir conditioners are deceptively self-sufficient. Many homeowners ignore basic A/C maintenance that can improve efficiency and comfort, and extend the life of the air conditioner.Clean or replace filters at least every two months. If it is used constantly or filters a lot of dust and pet hair, check the filters more often. Also check and clean the evaporator coil once a year. Run a stiff wire through the air conditioner’s drain channels regularly, and check the window seals around room air conditioners each year.

Mistake No. 5: Leaving the Air Conditioner Running All DayUse a programmable thermostat or individual unit timer to start cooling off the house before you get home from work. This is cheaper and more efficient than leaving the air conditioner running all day, despite rumors to the contrary.Mistake No. 6: Blindly Closing Unused VentsOpinions vary on the efficiency of closing vents and doors to unused rooms. In many cases, this can decrease the efficiency of a central air conditioning system. Consult an expert before closing off any parts of the house for the summer. Also be careful about closing off any rooms that may have a thermostat.Mistake No. 7: Turning the Temperature Way DownIf you are comfortable at 78 degrees, don’t come home and turn the thermostat down to 70 degrees. It will not get you to 78 any faster. It will just skip past 78 and waste ever more energy getting to excessively low temperatures.Mistake No. 8: Heating Up the ThermostatMake sure lamps, televisions, stereos or other heat-generators are not close enough to the thermostat to accidentally drive up the temperature reading and overwork the air conditioner.