Smart Living

Get practical advice and inspiration on organizing, home décor, lifestyle and personal finance for everyday living.

San Diego skyline

Living Large In Small San Diego Homes: Here’s How To Make Every Inch Count

As more people flock to San Diego, the city has been building smaller to make room. In fact, the average single family home has shrunk by 259 square feet since 2010 — one of the steepest drops among the nation’s 20 largest metro areas. And with the average home now priced around $1M, getting ample space without breaking the bank is a tall order.

interior of a cluttered home

Clutter In America: Why We’re Drowning In Stuff And How To Reclaim Our Space

Clutter is taking over American homes. A recent survey found that 44% of Americans feel overwhelmed by clutter either always or often, and another 28% say they sometimes feel the same way. Our tendency toward owning more than we need has long been part of the American cultural fabric, but in recent years, it’s reached new heights. The rise of online shopping, fast fashion, and social media-fueled consumerism have made it easier than ever to accumulate and much harder to let go. Many Americans are literally boxed in by their belongings, struggling to find room for daily living.

Mother with children cleaning the house.

Spring Cleaning With Kids? Here’s How Self Storage Can Save The Day

Spring cleaning season is in full swing — and while the fresh start feels great, let’s be honest: tackling clutter is no small task. Add kids into the mix, and things can go from chaotic to complete meltdown in minutes.

Residential area in Miami Florida

Check Out The Best Places For Moving Supplies In Miami, Florida

Looking for the best moving supplies in Miami? With so many people relocating in, out, and around the city, having the right packing materials is essential for a smooth, stress-free move. From sturdy moving boxes and bubble wrap to specialty supplies for fragile items, quality materials can make all the difference.

DIY-pond-in-a-backyard

11 Backyard Water Features To Spruce Up Your Outdoor Space

Water changes a place. It draws in birds, insects, and the kind of quiet that helps you settle. The air feels cooler. Outside noise fades. And even if you’re just having a coffee in your backyard, there’s something to look at that keeps you there a little longer. So, let’s talk backyard water features.

Happy African American family with Easter eggs at table in kitchen.

Easter Unwrapped: From Bunny Lore To Smart Storage Hacks For Easter Decorations

Easter has long been a cherished celebration, from cotton tails and bunny ears to eggs overflowing in baskets aplenty. Blending rites and rituals into a mélange of special traditions that endure to this day, this celebration has gathered families throughout centuries. But have you ever paused to wonder where your furry neighborhood friend, the Easter Bunny, truly comes from? Or why did people suddenly decide rolling eggs downhill was a thing?

Family in camper.

RV Revamp: Fresh Ideas For A Complete Camper Makeover

RV travel is more popular than ever. More than half of Americans have an RV road trip on their bucket list, dreaming of open roads and unforgettable stops. With RV shipments rising by 9.4% in 2024 compared to the previous year, the RV lifestyle seems to be holding its appeal — especially among millennials craving freedom, flexibility and a deeper connection with nature.

Backyard.

From Ordinary To Extraordinary: How To Create An Enviable Backyard

Your backyard is an extension of your home — a reflection of your personality and your preferences, all woven into pockets of nature. As such, you should approach it with the same care and creativity as you would when transforming the interior of your home, turning it into a personal oasis of your own design. Embracing this mindset will strengthen your bond with the space as you continue to shape it and invest in it.

Couple moving boxes into a self storage unit.

Expert Organization Hacks For Self Storage: What To Store, How To Organize, And When It’s Worth It

Self storage has become more than just a backup plan for people with too much stuff. Its popularity has grown, largely driven by major life events — what we now call the six Ds: dislocation, divorce, death, downsizing, decluttering and distribution. These days, storage units serve as an extension of living spaces, helping people create room for what truly matters while keeping their homes organized and clutter-free.

A cheerful couple is unpacking cardboard boxes in their bright living room. They are enjoying the moment as they organize their new home together

11 Organization Tips For Couples Moving In Together

Moving in together as a couple is an exciting part of your journey together. Besides learning to cohabitate with a new person, merging two households into one is not an easy transition to navigate. You’re sharing a closet, bedroom, kitchen and more while incorporating both of your belongings into these spaces. A happy relationship requires love, compromise and a touch of organization. That’s why we’ve put together these organization tips to help make moving in with your partner a seamless process:

Couple with heart shaped balloon.

Valentine’s Day Weekend Staycation: How To Organize A Perfect Couple’s Getaway At Home

They say home is where the heart is, and on Valentine’s Day, there’s no better place to be than right at home with your loved one. With love in the air and roses dotting the stands with bursts of color, the celebration of adoration is just around the corner.

Where Love Lasts Most In The U.S.: Happily Ever After Thrives In New England And The Midwest

Valentine’s Day comes and goes in a flurry of roses, heart-shaped chocolates, and candlelit dinners – all of which we indulge in wholeheartedly (pun intended). And we’re not just giving love, we’re spending it too – a record-breaking $27.5 billion is expected to be joyfully poured into Valentine’s Day celebrations this year, according to the National Retail Federation, all in honor of the people we hold dear.