Apartment Living

Fortunately, it's hard to think of a situation in which you would be forced to choose between moving into your dream apartment and meeting your perfect love.

But when asked which option they would choose, nearly a third of American renters told Rent.com they would sooner embrace brick and mortar.

In additional, the survey, which was aimed at better understanding renters' relationship habits, revealed that nearly a quarter of respondents have delayed (even a year or more) breaking up with someone they were living with so they could put off having to look for new digs. A similar percentage admitted that they would date someone because they liked the person's home.

(Photo © Hill Street Studios / Getty Images)

Freshome believes that "adding color in your home is the answer to many of life's little worries."

If you think there might be some truth to that statement, check out Freshome's online collection of 15 colorful apartments featured in 2011.

In each case, as you'll see, the apartment decorators placed high importance on the use of color. How much of a role does color play in your apartment?

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(Photo © Hill Street Studios / Getty Images)

If someone were to ask you how your home decor should make you feel, you might answer with such adjectives as warm, inspired, welcome, comfortable, and so on.

Certainly you wouldn't want to buy something decorative for your apartment that would make you -- or anyone else -- feel ill just by looking at it.

Apparently, there's a rug out there that does just that. The mere sight of it makes people sick, according to a report from the scholarly journal Perception.

The couple who bought this high-contrast, black-and-white rug for their home realized they had to get rid of it to put an end to their queasiness.

You can view a photo of the offending rug courtesy of The Body Odd at MSNBC.com. What do you think?

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(Photo © Hill Street Studios / Getty Images)

In November, I blogged about a new Facebook campaign aimed at helping people who can't afford a place to call home.

Through the campaign, dubbed "Raising Awareness. Taking Action: A Campaign to Help End Homelessness," Apartments.com promised to donate $1 to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless for every new "Like" it received on Facebook throughout November and December.

Thanks to the many people who participated, Apartments.com was able to present the Coalition with a check Wednesday in the amount of $15,000.

Headquartered in Chicago, Apartments.com launched this inaugural campaign with the aim of bringing greater attention to homelessness in the United States, where an estimated 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness each year, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless.

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Many people think of wall decor as being decorative. It's true that what you hang on your wall is usually motivated by a desire to adorn your apartment to your own taste, but there are additional reasons behind why you might decide to add something to your wall.

Taking a moment to go over the secondary purposes of wall decor may give you ideas and inspiration to help you decorate your apartment and make it your own.

(Photo © Compassionate Eye Foundation/Andrew Olney/OJO Images Ltd / Getty Images)

If you live in an apartment building, you probably get rid of your apartment trash and recyclables by talking a walk to a drop-off location in the hallway or other part of the common area.

But before you have enough garbage to warrant such a trip, you need suitable places inside your rental to keep it.

Handling garbage and recycling in your apartment can be clean, easy, and efficient if you know the right number and type of receptacles to buy and where to put them.

Here are some helpful guidelines.

(Image © Alex Wilson / Getty Images)

If you like to cook in your apartment and you have an iPhone or iPod touch, check out Real Recipes, About.com's first mobile app. You can download Real Recipes for free via this link or by searching for it in the App Store.

Real Recipes gives you access to About.com's rich collection of over 20,000 recipes in a new, convenient way. Use the Recipe Spinner to choose a main ingredient, prep method, and course, or simply type in your search (basic or advanced).

Once you find a recipe page, you can rate and review the recipe, and upload your own photo of the finished product. You can also save recipes in your personalized Recipe Box and share them with friends via Facebook, Twitter, and email.

Looking for tips on how to be a better cook? The Food Guides' best tips and tricks are a tap away in the Learn to Cook section.

You can also create customized egg timers to help you manage multiple dishes or remember your favorite ones.

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(Image courtesy of About.com)

You may be surprised to learn that federal law protects you against discrimination if you've got children under 18 living with you. These rights kick in as soon as you begin an apartment search and run through your tenancy.

As is often the case, more rights accompanies increased responsibility.

As a parent or legal guardian, you're charged with keeping children safe at your apartment building while under your care. Helping kids identify and avoid common safety hazards can protect them from serious injury and perhaps even save lives.

Check out this review of your rights and responsibilities when living with children in your apartment.

(Photo © Neils Timmer / SXC)

If you believe you qualify to live in a senior community, you might prefer not having children living around you.

Or, you might want just the opposite, especially if you're the legal guardian of one or more children.

Before you start a search for senior housing, find out what to expect when it comes to the issue of children. Check out this summary of when and how children can live in senior communities.

(Photo © Steve Mason / Getty Images)

Did you know that senior housing has a specific legal meaning? If you're thinking of looking for an apartment in a senior community, it's helpful to know what to expect.

For example, you might discover you qualify for one type of senior housing and not another. Or you might learn that senior housing is more lenient -- or restrictive -- than you thought.

Here's what you need to know to begin your senior housing search with confidence.

(Photo © Comstock Images / Getty Images)