By Sara Gebhardt
Saturday, March 1, 2008

Nobody in multifamily housing is immune to the problems that arise when people with different habits, behaviors and perspectives share close quarters. Not even me.

So I recently decided to look for ways to make my apartment more pleasant. Reinventing my 720-square-foot space in terms of sound and smell, I thought, could help me relax and be more productive.

I focused on changes within my unit rather than expecting my neighbors to overhaul their mostly respectful, if sometimes annoying, behavior.

My first move was to test some sound machines to see whether they could distract me from the footsteps upstairs and the flute-playing next door.

My research turned up a variety of models, producing simple ambient noise to help you sleep as well as sounds mimicking nature, such as waterfalls, heartbeat, thunder, ocean and rainfall. I tried Brookstone's Tranquil Moments Sound Therapy System, which included "white noise," "meditate," "serenity," "ocean surf," "rain" and "stream" options. Marpac's Sleep Mate offered blank, fuzzy noise. HoMedics' models vary from basic nature-sound machines to alarm clocks with nature sounds and iPod compatibility.

The machines cost $20 to $100 and are available at such stores as Bed Bath & Beyond and through online retailers such as http://www.soundmachinesdirect.com.

I enjoyed the sounds of rainfall, ocean, thunder and crickets chirping more than ambient noise, but even the white noise -- once I forgot the machine was on -- helped my home feel more peaceful. Manufactured sounds of rainfall blocked out the crying dog next door and the walking noises above. Strangely, even at full volume, the ocean surf, when it was supposedly crashing on the shore, did not drown out those sounds. All of the noises, however, provided a nice distraction.

"The whole idea is that it creates a white-noise atmosphere," said Herb Conroy, group marketing manager of HoMedics. "I won't say it drowns the noise out, but it kind of pushes it further into the background so you can listen to something that is pleasing, rather than listening to the conversation through the wall."

The machines may not obliterate loud partying, but they will help take your focus off some of the less bothersome noises.

Once I felt more in control of the noise, I looked into ways to improve the way my apartment smelled.

I investigated aromatherapy and candle options and came up with a few I enjoyed. Wary of the many fires caused by candles in apartment buildings, I have always hesitated to use or recommend them.

But then I discovered flameless candles, canisters that you plug in or operate with batteries. Many companies, including Glade, make a scented version.

You can also improve the smell of your home by practicing aromatherapy, which relies on essential oils.

"A lot of people think the essential oils just smell nice, but the brain is actually physically affected by smell, and through inhalation of the oils, we can influence our physical and emotional state," said Joanne Comito, owner of Internet retailer Dreaming Earth Botanicals.

Various inexpensive methods are available to diffuse the oils in your apartment, such as mixing oils and water in a misting bottle and spraying the mixture onto throw pillows, bedding and rugs. You can also add drops to cotton balls and place them inside pillows, drawers and closets. Another option is to buy a electric diffuser.

Some of the most commonly used oils in the home are lavender, lemon, orange, bergamot, rosemary fir and grapefruit.

Marge Clark, president of NaturesGift.com, said that smells of nature and the outdoors -- such as scotch pine, spruce, balsam fir and cypress bring about feelings of freedom and open spaces. She said citrus oils, such as orange, clementine and grapefruit, are "smile-bringers."

I preferred the fruity scents to the outdoorsy ones. The smell of grapefruit enlivened my mood and my space.

And, don't you know, as soon as I improved the smell of my home, I moved on to how it looked, adding some color with an easy craft project. I bought some cheap acrylic paint and a canvas for about $15 and created a simple painting. The process was easy, relaxing and fun.

I found myself, in the middle of my environmental makeover, listening to ocean surf with the smells of orange and grapefruit groves wafting around me. The flameless candle and my amateur modern art project helped me temporarily forget the trials of living and working where I do.

Do you have questions, comments or ideas about apartment life? Contact Sara Gebhardt via e-mail at aptlife@gmail.comor by mail, c/o Real Estate Editor, The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.