There are tons of things to do with friends in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Northshore. From beautiful city parks to the rambunctious nightlife scene, the options seem endless.
But, sometimes it’s more fun to stay in and have fun with your buddies at home. That’s what game nights are for!
In this post, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to host a great game night in your 1st Lake apartment. Pour yourself a glass of wine, grab those board games off the shelf, and read on to learn more!
First things first. Before hosting a game night, it’s important to make sure your apartment is in good condition.
Start by cleaning all the surfaces you’ll be using, like coffee tables, counters, and dining tables. Remember that in addition to games, you’ll need room for food and drinks.
Make sure your bathrooms are clean and fully stocked. Avoid the awkwardness of running out of toilet paper or hand soap.
Provide ample seating for your guests. De-clutter and organize your living area to maximize couch and chair space, as well as space for walking.
Wash your dishes and drinking glasses, and check to see if you have enough ice. If you’re running low, make a quick trip to the gas station or supermarket and buy a bag or two.
Overall, the lesson here is that your apartment should be tidy and fully stocked with the bare necessities.
If you want to liven up your apartment’s atmosphere, a few simple decorations go a long way. It just takes a little creativity. Try one of these fun suggestions by apartment therapy: “Make a banner out of Monopoly money, bingo cards or playing cards. Hang vintage board games on the wall or use a Twister mat as a tablecloth.”
When you host a game night, it’s important to have some snacks on hand. There’s no need to provide entire meals for your guests, but consider providing a few of the suggestions below:
It’s important to choose a game that all of your guests want to play. So, we suggest having a few options available to pick from.
Provide options that range from the classic to the contemporary. Twister, Monopoly, Life, Balderdash, and even charades are tried and true games that most people are familiar with.
Newer games like Cards Against Humanity, Settlers of Catan, and Code Names are super fun games that aren’t very hard to learn.
For more options, check out this list by Hobby Lark.
Contact us today for information on our private residential communities.
Create instant warmth in your home by streaming our cozy, crackling fireplace on your TV, iPad, or smart phone. You can stream directly from our blog or head to our Youtube channel.
Let’s get crackling!
Want your own apartment with a fireplace? See our list of apartments here: http://bit.ly/1stlakefireplaceapts.
Whether you’re entertaining guests or just having a relaxing night watching Netflix, it’s important to feel like you’ve got space to breathe.
Even though 1st Lake’s apartments are quite spacious, there are plenty of ways to creatively and elegantly “open up” your home. Read on for a few tips on how to add depth and space to your apartment!
Implementing a monochromatic color scheme in your living space will immediately give it a sense of increased space and depth. According to Apartment Therapy, “Monochromatic schemes are more peaceful as a rule, as the eye can move easily around the room without abrupt interruption by other colors.”
Adding glass to doors and walls will create the sensation of added space by disrupting the continuity of wallpaper and paint, and mirrors create the perception that your space is twice as large as it actually is. Glass also adds a sense of delicacy to your living room or bathroom.
Studies have shown that the more furniture you put in a room, the smaller it appears. Try to limit your use of big furniture pieces, such as ornate couches, coffee tables, and chairs.
Try instead using open-framed chairs and tables to maximize visibility within your living spaces. Also, “fitted” furniture designed to hug walls and corners are preferable to pieces that aren’t suited to maximize movement within your living space. Mounted televisions and speakers free up lots of space compared to stand-alone units.
Make use of natural light by using light-colored fabrics and sheers for curtains, because they will pleasantly diffuse light.
Brighter color schemes in your living space will be more reflective of natural or indirect light, giving your room a sense of spaciousness and fluidity.
Take advantage of the spaces underneath your counters and inside your cabinets. Freshome says, “Don’t forget space on top of your cabinets, refrigerator, and back of the bathroom door. In the bedroom, take advantage of space under the bed, and over doorways.”
Also, finding ways to hang miscellaneous items within cabinets as well as using vertical bookshelves is a simple and extremely effective way of creating space.
Contact us today for information on our private residential communities.
In this post, we’ll give you some tips on how to create a warm atmosphere in your apartment. Soon enough, your home will be the coziest place around.
You can look forward to game nights, large dinners, or relaxing movie nights with friends and family.
There are several ways to use light to your advantage when creating a warm atmosphere in your apartment.
Flameless candles, stringed lights or wax burners are great alternatives for creating a warm ambiance because they provide a sense of calm and a source of indirect light. Still want a cozy winter scent? Essential oil and stick diffusers can also add to the atmosphere — think lavender, pine, or other smells that evoke a warm haven from the cold weather.
Purchase window curtains that are slightly transparent, allowing some natural light to seep in and brighten your living area.
If you have a fireplace, use it when you have guests over. Fireplaces are especially useful during the coldest days of the year — you and your guests can bond by warming your hands and feet in the warm glow of the fire.
Finally, try to use lamps rather than overhead lights as much as possible. Lamps radiate soft light while overhead lighting can be harsh and uncomfortable for intimate gatherings.
Keeping lots of cozy, soft blankets around your living room will give your guests easy access to quick warmth, and will make people feel at home. Plus, you can choose blankets that visually complement your apartment’s interior.
Well-placed, warmly-colored flowers and other plants add feelings of life and vitality to your living space. Reds, yellows, and oranges make your space seem vibrant and lived-in, rather than sterile and dull.
In addition to blankets, use other fabrics and textures to your advantage. Cover cold wood floors and bathroom tiles with plush rugs.
According to Kenmore Development, rugs help rooms look larger while also providing texture and color to your living areas.
If there are any parts of your apartment that get drafty or particularly cold, strategically place space heaters. A small, portable heater will work just fine — there’s no need for anything large and difficult to move.
Make sure you use a space heater that will automatically shut off if it gets too hot.
Contact us today for information on our private residential communities.
This year, designers everywhere are calling 2019 the “year of maximalism.” But before we go out and buy anything, we thought we’d ask our own 1st Lake interior designer what trends she thinks we should take on! Here are her thoughts on the year ahead!
It’s definitely the year of color, but we don’t need to go overboard. The rule: 90% white and 10% color. By keeping your walls and ceilings neutral, you have more versatility with how you want to accent your space. Think of your white walls as a blank canvas that you can recreate over and over again. When choosing color, think rich. Rich color palettes with deep hues will add pleasantly unexpected pops in your room. We’ll talk more about what pieces you can use to pull that color into your home.
Canopy four poster beds are coming back home. This style bed creates a sensation of being protected and elevated from the rest of the world. The four posts can feel like comfy walls beckoning you back to the safety of your cozy bed. “To make one [a canopy bed] work in your bedroom, follow suit and source a canopy bed that is quiet and slim to ensure that it won’t take up too much space or ever go out of style”-Decoraid.com.
Now back to our pops of color: there’s no stronger way to make a statement than with a brightly colored sofa. Bold, rich hues are in for 2019, and many of these loud sofas come in velvet and satin finishes, which gives them an extra level of shine. But if you don’t want to make such a bold purchase, opt for an inexpensive rug or pillows that contain the color spectrum you desire!
Image via Murals Wallpaper
Patterns are another way to accent your space! Take a look at our accent rug in our Bella Ridge model. The multi-color, crushed triangular slices add interest and flare to the room, plus it complements the velvet blue couch.
If shape patterns aren’t really your thing, floral patterns are here to stay. You can incorporate any pattern you want in small ways like on your shower curtain or your headboard, or even your place mats!
For more funky finds, visit one of these local furniture thrift stores on our blog to find inexpensive pieces for your space.
This year’s spotlight plants: Mother in Law’s Tongue and Money Tree! Plants are a great way to bring nature inside, and their air purifying capabilities create a healthy living environment without the need for unsightly equipment. To learn more about what plants are just right for you, read our Ultimate Guide for Indoor Plants! Tips for Herb gardens are also great to incorporate into your home-cooked meals.
Check out our recipe blogs for ways to incorporate your herb garden’s bounty this year.
Did we miss a trend you’ve embraced for the new year? Have you already decorated with some of these trends and tips? Share your tips and interior looks with us on Instagram so we can see how you’ve transitioned in 2019!
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | [email protected]
