You don't have to own a home to make a home your own. Apartment living is a way of life for millennials and baby boomers alike, says Amy Groff, senior vice president of industry operations for the National Apartment Association in Arlington, Virginia. The NAA is an 80-year-old organization that represents more than 82,000 members, with 9.7 million rental housing units internationally.

"People in all stages of life are choosing to live in rental units because of their way of life," Groff says. "People want to live a lower-maintenance lifestyle that comes with renting."

According to second-quarter 2019 census data, the nationwide rental-unit vacancy rate is at 6.8%. While some urban areas may be implementing procedures to regulate short-term rental properties, the NAA projects a need for 4.6 million more rental units by 2030 to keep up with increased demand.

"Today's renters are craving amenities that create community through a shared lifestyle," Groff says. "Customer service should be a priority in rental communities, because an apartment is still a person's home."

Communication between renter and the property manager is key to creating room-and-board bliss, says Kimberly Ramsey, vice president of operations at Kettler, a property management company of 20,000 multifamily units, founded in 1977 and based in McLean, Virginia.

"In general, people are thinking differently about renting. Instead of considering renting an apartment as a temporary step on the road to home ownership, more people are choosing to rent," Ramsey says. "The 2008 recession really wasn't that long ago, and some are still apprehensive when it comes to home ownership."

Before signing any lease, whether short- or long-term, read the fine print. "Make sure pets are part of your lease agreement if you have them, because eventually, they will be discovered," Ramsey says. "In general, an apartment should be left in the same condition as the first day you moved into it."

The persons' space -- rented or not -- reflects who they are, and must fit their lifestyle. "Quality property management companies have an eye toward providing luxury amenities with finer finishes, landscaping and common spaces," Ramsey says. "Because today's workforce can be a lot more transient and not necessarily tied to a home base, apartment living can be right for people who may need to move frequently."

Moving should be seen as an opportunity to clear away clutter, keeping only items that mean something and also fit a personal sense of style. Even though persons pay rent, they can "own" a space by strategically placing their personality into it.

Light Treatment

Enliven a rented space by infusing it with light and color, Ramsey says.

"As property managers, we are constantly upgrading our apartments by watching trends and, in some places, creating an accent wall with a bold paint color," she says. "A renter can also paint walls -- making sure to return the walls to a neutral color when moving out -- or hanging dynamic artwork on a white wall to make a statement."

A bright tip to set the mood is to pay attention to light fixtures. Ramsey says good property managers have higher-end fixtures in apartments already, and renters can illuminate good design with decorative lamps and task lighting.

For the ultimate enlivened accessory, decorate a space with live plants, such as an orchid, low-maintenance succulent plants or a bouquet of cut flowers. Allow a sentimental item to be a show-stopping accessory in a room, and use a well-honed selection of books and meaningful photos to personalize a place.

Soft Touches

A layering effect can also begin on ground level with colorful or graphically dynamic rugs. "With popular plank flooring throughout an apartment's open floor plan, a rug can define a space," Ramsey says. "It can also be the basis for a design and absorb sound, which is important when living in an apartment."

Soft window treatments can add interest and privacy, as a renter mixes fabrics and different styles of coverings -- such as Roman shades or draperies -- with existing standard-issue blinds.

Investing in a neutral-colored, sleek sofa will impart a timeless appeal in your apartment, and the higher the quality of the sofa, the longer you will own it.

Colored and patterned pillows that complement the window coverings and rug can be easily swapped out no matter where you live, and can be the jewels that tie together an apartment's design.

Added Amenities

For many, renting a space to live can also mean a new lease on life. "The goal for apartment buildings should be to create a sense of community among its residents," Ramsey says. "When possible, augmenting apartment life with amenities that enhance the quality of life is great for everyone."

-- Storage space in an apartment can be minimal, but having a separate, secure storage space for seasonal or large items available to residents can free up living space.

-- Pet places, such as on-site doggie day care, are high-end solutions that tend to the furry, four-legged residents.

-- Common gathering places, such as conference rooms with Wi-Fi or comfy larger living room setups, are great places to office from home or watch the big game with other residents, respectively.

-- Fitness centers, such as a workout room or pool, can be a way to actively meet other residents or just relax and recharge yourself.

"There's a rational value to an apartment in that you know you're renting a two-bedroom, one-bath space, or whatever the particulars are," Ramsey says. "But there should also be an emotional value to where you live and a sense of community. It's important that you feel at home, no matter where you live."

Crib Tips

-- KETTLER.com is a company that manages about 20,000 apartments in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the United States.

-- National Apartment Association (NAA) is America's leading advocate for quality rental housing. Go to: NAAHQ.org.

Little houses pack a big design punch. The trend toward small stick-frame homes can yield great rewards, says John Kernohan, founder and chairperson of the United Tiny House Association, based near Eatonton, Georgia. Started in 2015, the Association touts 34,000 international members affiliated with the tiny house movement.

"Our Association helps recognize tiny houses as viable structures and as an option for affordable homes," he says. "We define a 'tiny house' as any home that is 400 square-feet and under, whether it's on wheels or not."

One of the original obstacles in the tiny house movement was finding a place to build one, since many zoning regulations specified a higher minimum square footage for new home construction on a foundation. To circumnavigate this regulation, some tiny houses are built on trailers with wheels, and, like a recreational vehicle, can be moved easily.

When considering whether to make a big move into a tiny house, it's important to check local codes within a municipality and/or homeowner's association for allowances. Before planning to permanently park a tiny home built on a trailer on an approved property, it's important that the trailer rests on a relatively level and dry spot, and that -- for most homes -- there is access to electrical, water and septic hookups.

In 2014, the first "tiny house-friendly town" was declared in Spur, Texas, with subdivisions dedicated to tiny homes built on a foundation. Kernohan and his wife, Fin, have been living in their off-grid 304 square-foot tiny house, known as Beloved Cabin, since 2011. They homestead in the woods of Putnam County, Georgia, and have embraced solar energy, rainwater collection, raising chickens and growing their own food.

"Since the housing market crash in 2008, we see more people trading stuff for experiences and living a minimalistic lifestyle," Kernohan says. "These tiny houses are in direct contrast to the McMansion."

In a tiny home, a smaller space should still be big in style and substance, says Dan Louche, owner of Tiny Home Builders in Atlanta since 2009. "There is no space that's wasted in a tiny home," he says. "Choosing to live in a tiny home doesn't need to be a permanent lifestyle choice, either."

Based on Louche's experience, a majority of those investing in tiny home living are doing so based on financial considerations. While others are choosing to live in tiny homes for a simpler and greener lifestyle, the financial advantages to owning a tiny home are huge.

"Our most popular home -- measuring 24 feet long by 8 feet wide -- costs $65,000 for us to build on a trailer," Louche says. "This home can accommodate a couch, washer and dryer and a king mattress in the loft."

Tiny Home Builders also sells detailed home plans for littler living quarters, should a homeowner want to build on an approved location with a foundation. Louche says if homeowners want to build a tiny home themselves, they may be able to save up to 30 percent off the company's constructed homes.

Before making the move to littler living quarters, consider the bigger implications of a simpler lifestyle:

Declutter Before Downsizing

One of the tenets of tiny home living is to clear away things you don't use, because there simply isn't space to store unnecessary items. So before making a move from a large family house to a tiny home, it's important to clear away the clutter.

"Giving items away to others who will treasure them, or just getting rid of things you no longer need, is a great way to cut down on housekeeping, too," Louche says. "With less stuff to maintain, people find they have more time to pursue other things they find interesting."

Clean Design

If homeowners are investing in tiny houses, they want to utilize every square inch of space in it.

"When I break down the most important places in a house, one needs to have a bathroom, a place to cook, a place to sit comfortably and a place to sleep," Louche says. "A tiny house layout can be any number of configurations with a kitchen, bathroom, laundry, common sitting area, and, most often, a loft that houses a mattress."

Louche also says it's important to establish if your tiny home is going to be on- or off-grid for power; decide whether to use sewer hookups or house a composting toilet; and determine a water supply source before construction begins. "While the allocation of space in a tiny home is important," he says, "it's the inner-workings of a house that truly make it a functional home."

Bringing the Outside Indoors

Creating a tiny home environment that encourages outdoor living also increases a house's livable space, Kernohan says. "Our tiny home has a large overhang, so we can sit a spell on the porch," he says. "While we're comfortable inside, gatherings can just spill outside into the yard with our chickens."

Design Driven

-- United Tiny House Association: To attend a Tiny Living Festival in the United States, go to: UnitedTinyHouse.com.

-- Tiny Home Builders: To attend a tiny house-building workshop or to view layout designs, go to: TinyHomeBuilders.com.

Homeowners are pumped to create a space in which they stay in and work out. If you're warming up to having a workout space at home, you're not alone. Retail sales of exercise equipment in America topped $7 billion in 2018, according to the Sporting Goods Market report released by the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) in Mount Prospect, Illinois.

While those retail dollars are enough to get hearts racing, impulsively buying expensive equipment for a home gym doesn't guarantee fitness -- either physically or financially. Los Angeles-based certified instructor Cassey Ho is a fitness phenom with more than 4.6 million worldwide subscribers to her workouts posted on her YouTube channel, Blogilates.

Ho says the first step to creating a personalized workout space is to make a commitment to working out and making it a priority. "My philosophy toward fitness is that it shouldn't feel like a chore," she says. "Fitness is a part of life that should bring you joy."

Specializing in equipment-free Pilates interval training, Ho says a healthy workout environment first starts with the individual. Ho's fitness philosophy is to keep it simple in her home workout studio, which features a large-screen television in a spacious room decorated with live plants. "Creating an inviting, open place in which you have space to move around is important if you want to have a workout center inside your home," she says. "Plenty of floor space for a yoga mat and access to a screen with internet service is all you need to work out with me."

Being dedicated to an exercise plan means dedicating space in your home to exercise, whether you're converting a first-floor playroom or creating a space in the basement, says Bryan Sebring, owner of Sebring Design Build in Naperville, Illinois. For 20 years, Sebring has designed hundreds of home gyms for clients through his home construction and design business.

"When designing a space for a home gym, it should ideally be located away from areas where people sleep," Sebring says. "We will often add soundproofing to a home gym's walls, so those using the exercise equipment won't disrupt others in the home."

The workout space should be highly personal and created to accommodate specific exercise equipment or a fitness routine. "No two home gyms are exactly alike," Sebring says. "Before you move anything into the room, you need to create a floorplan to know exactly where each piece of equipment goes."

Motorized treadmills are the most popular piece of exercise equipment, with sales of $3.7 billion in 2018, according to Nick Rigitano, NSGA research and information manager. Retail sales in stationary exercise bicycles, yoga mats and free weights/weight sets also increased from the previous year.

Sebring says a workout space should feel open and bright, with natural light and high ceilings when possible. "The home gym should be a place that is inviting and a space that motivates you to spend time in it," he says. "When designing your home gym, you should not only look at what machines go on the floor, but take into account vertical measurements, to ensure there's enough head space for a taller person using the exercise equipment."

-- Design From Ground Up

The type of flooring sets the stage for a good workout. A home gym requires a durable surface that can withstand repetitive wear and tear from exercise equipment, but is forgiving enough to cushion a floor routine.

"You want a flooring that is hygienic and easy to clean," Sebring says. "A rubber flooring or mats can ensure the floor is also nonslip."

Luxury vinyl tiles are also an option, with a thick, textured wear-layer that simulates hand-scraped woods or a weathered stone floor. These tiles can be installed in below-grade spaces and can have the appearance of a hard floor, but are soft with a cushion underneath.

-- Support System

A home gym's lighting, air quality and climate control all play supporting roles in a successful workout. When planning the space, make sure there are targets for technology usage, including electrical outlets for exercise equipment, Wi-Fi-connected television/computer and sound system.

"Many people are doing workouts that involve being connected to the internet," Sebring says. "That means your home gym should be both high-tech and high-touch."

Large mirrors can ensure a person's form is correct and also create a feeling of light in the space. Windows provide the best form of illumination -- natural light -- and can also open to fresh air outside.

-- Equipped for Exercise

While the treadmill is the most popular piece of exercise equipment, other contenders include the stationary bike, elliptical cross-trainer and multipurpose equipment, which can include bands for resistance or weights for strength training.

Today's exercise equipment can be programmed to calculate pulse rates and the number of calories burned as you step, pedal or stride. Staying connected through the internet is essential as those working out live-stream classes and fitness routines.

Most exercise machines will allow you to modify the weights and difficulty, but choose equipment that isn't too complicated to alter. Before buying, make sure you understand the equipment's setup, guarantees and maintenance requirements.

-- A Healthy Lifestyle

Sebring says a home gym and spa-like bathroom go hand-in-glove and are often adjacent to each other. "After a good workout, you want to cool off and pamper yourself a bit," he says. "The person who invests in a home gym is often self-motivated and leads a busy lifestyle."

Fitness Business

Subscribe to Cassey Ho's YouTube channel, Blogilates, or go to Blogilates.com.

Contact SebringDesignBuild.com or call 630-369-6829.