Leaving for the Holidays, Decorating Your Apartment, or Preparing for Cold Mid-Missouri Weather? The Lofts of Columbia Has Your Official Guide to Apartment Life During the Holidays 

Winter break is the most wonderful time of the year, but can also be chaotic if you’re living in an apartment in Columbia, MO. When going on vacation, there’s a lot of little things you need to remember before you leave your apartment unattended for an extended period of time. Or, if you’re staying during the holiday season, you may want to decorate the place but aren’t sure how to do it. And of course, there’s the challenge of keeping your apartment warm through the mid-Missouri winter. As our gift to you, The Lofts of Columbia has tips for all of these scenarios wrapped in one big bow with this official holiday apartment checklist.

Prepping an apartment before you leave Columbia, MO for a period of time 

Clean out the space: Nobody wants to come home from a relaxing vacation to a messy apartment. Future-you will be thankful if you clean your Columbia, MO apartment ahead of time. First, catch up on laundry and dishes. If your vacation is a week or longer, go through your refrigerator and throw out perishable products like fruits, veggies and milk. Make sure the trash is taken out so your apartment doesn’t develop an odor, then sweep and vacuum the floors. Lastly, tidy up and make any other little changes until you feel your apartment is ready to leave alone. 

Unplug appliances & electronics: If you’re going away for several days, you want to keep your apartment in Columbia, MO safe. Before going on your vacation for the winter, it is super important to unplug televisions, kitchen appliances, fans, and other electronics or devices. You can also save energy by turning off all the lights before leaving. 

Notify the landlord: Before leaving, it’s a good idea to contact your landlord and let them know how long you will be gone. Some apartments in Columbia, MO have conditions in their lease in which you must notify them if you will be absent for a period of time. Either way, it is good to give a heads up to your landlord so they can keep an eye out for any apartment problems while you’re gone. 

How to prepare your apartment for the winter in mid-Missouri 

Tweak the thermostat: Whether you’re leaving for vacation or staying in your mid-Missouri apartment for the winter, you need to make sure your heating is functional. Do a little test run to make sure everything is running smoothly, and if it isn’t, you need to call maintenance right away. When leaving for a trip, adjust the temperature to a lower heat of about 65 to 68 degrees to prevent freezing pipes. 

Water sources: Speaking of frozen pipes, you want to prevent them from bursting when the temperatures drop below 32 degrees. When this happens, turn your faucets to a slow drip from time to time so water can continuously flow and keep the pipes from freezing. 

For winter storms: It’s always better to be safe than sorry! In the event of a snow storm in Columbia, MO, your apartment should be prepared for power outages. It’s good to keep a flashlight with batteries handy, as well as a portable charger to keep your phone charged. You should also store bottled water and non-perishable food in your kitchen. 

Let’s get festive! Apartment decor tips for the holiday season 

Find decorations for kitchen & living room: When you have the time, take a day for yourself to go shopping for apartment decor that matches your holiday spirit! You can go with a Christmas theme with reds and greens, or you can decorate the place for a general winter theme: think tones of blue, gold, and silver. Add little trinkets and signs to place in your living room that reflect the holiday season.  You can incorporate the winter vibes into your kitchen with fun utensils, holiday-themed hand towels, and other subtle details.

Check apartment guidelines before hanging items: Before hanging up a cute sign or a new shelf for decorations, make sure you’re hanging them in accordance with your Columbia, MO apartment’s decor rules. Different wall materials have different requirements, and you don’t want to face the costs of wall damage later on. Check with your landlord or look back to any handbooks you were given when you first moved in. 

Adjust apartment decor to the weather: You can prepare for the cold and also be trendy by using furniture and miscellaneous items to your advantage. For example, putting up a new coat rack in your apartment can add some extra decorum while also having a functional purpose. You can also give your couch some new throw pillows and soft blankets to keep the place warm (and stylish!). 

Lease With The Lofts of Columbia Now & Stay With Us for the Next Holiday Season in Columbia, MO 

Looking for a place to stay warm next winter in mid-Missouri? The Lofts of Columbia offers four beautiful one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment complexes to professionals and college students in Columbia, MO. Apply to one of our apartments today and learn more about leases for 2023.