Smart Living
Get practical advice and inspiration on organizing, home décor, lifestyle and personal finance for everyday living.
Divorce Moving Out Checklist: A Practical Guide To Packing, Dividing And Starting Fresh
Going through a divorce can feel like carrying the weight of a thousand decisions that need to be made in a relatively short span of time. Among them, one of the heaviest tasks is figuring out what to do with shared belongings. That’s why creating a clear divorce moving out checklist can be a lifeline. It helps you navigate what stays, what goes, and what gets stored as you move into your next chapter.
The KonMari Method: How To Re-organize And Declutter Your Home
Professional organizer Marie Kondo took the world by storm with her tidying-up philosophy. More than a simple decluttering method, Marie Kondo’s technique, known as the KonMari method, teaches a different approach toward curating your belongings and, by extension, toward improving your life.
Minimalist Home Organization: From Strategy To Storage
Before you give your home the minimalist organization treatment, let’s start with a question: What makes you enjoy life? Is it what you own or what you do? Because at its best, minimalism gives you the clarity of mind to make the most out of the things you love. Put simply, in freeing your home of clutter, you just might find the freedom you’re looking for.
7 Tips and Tricks For Windowsill Gardening In A Small Apartment
If you’re an apartment renter, you’ve probably dabbled in keeping houseplants, especially if your living space was roomier and you could bring in the large potted plants. And it’s no wonder you did – studies show indoor gardening can be beneficial to your well-being as you gather a sense of accomplishment tending to your little corner of greenery and seeing it thrive. With apartment sizes shrinking, it’s more difficult to enjoy this hobby when a rental’s square footage is more limited.
11 Fabric Storage Ideas For Small Places
You can’t get the most out of a fabric without knowing how to store it. If your fabric stash is starting to outgrow your space, you’re in the right place. Here are 11 fabric storage ideas that’ll help you get organized, feel inspired and get back to creating.
Cities With 70-Degree Year-Round Weather (And What to Do Once You Move There)
If you’re thinking about relocating, weather isn’t just small talk—it’s a key part of your lifestyle. Whether you’re planning to retire somewhere peaceful, escape extreme seasons, or embrace an active lifestyle with more sunny days outdoors, finding a place with mild, steady temperatures can make all the difference.
What You Need To Know About Apartment Renovation Projects If You’re A Renter
Renting an apartment doesn’t mean you have to settle for a space that doesn’t feel like home. With a few renter-friendly renovation ideas, you can elevate your apartment’s look and functionality while staying within the bounds of your lease agreement. From simple cosmetic upgrades to creative solutions for maximizing space, there are plenty of ways to make your rental truly feel like your own.
Car Storage Insurance Explained: Costs, Laws & Storage
Car storage insurance is a modified auto policy that removes driving-related coverage, like liability and collision, and keeps only comprehensive coverage, protecting a parked vehicle from fire, theft, weather damage, vandalism, and animals. Keeping your vehicle in a car storage facility works well with a comprehensive-only policy, especially when the unit offers strong security. Just make sure your insurer knows where the vehicle is kept, as location can affect coverage and cost.
Micro-Housing In Newark: Best Neighborhoods For Affordable Urban Living
For many renters, living small is smart, especially in a city with deep historic roots and big-city amenities like Newark. Micro-units, defined as apartments measuring around 415 square feet or less in the state of New Jersey, make up about 4.5% of Newark’s rental stock today. That’s a clear sign of Newark’s long-standing relationship with compact urban living, similar to other historic East Coast cities like NYC and Philadelphia.
Basement Storage Ideas to Maximize Your Home’s Living Space
When your home just doesn’t feel big enough to hold all the pieces of your busy life, the basement can become your secret weapon, a go-to spot that solves a lot of problems at once.
8 Key Factors to Consider Before Moving Into A Tiny Home
Who could blame you if you suddenly decided you want to try living in a tiny house? They’re cozy, cute and a one-way ticket to a minimalist lifestyle. Moreover, housing prices aren’t making traditional homes attractive, so going small could be good for your wallet too. However, living in a fraction of the space you’re used to can be a challenge – you need to rethink how you organize your household and even adjust your lifestyle if you’re going for this type of house.
How To Store VHS Tapes: All Your Questions Answered
VHS tapes are quietly making the comeback they’ve always deserved. Chasing the authentic grainy feel that new media can only mimic, “tapeheads” are turning back to VHS movies and their warm, organic color (you haven’t seen Evil Dead until you’ve experienced it on tape). And with a VHS player at hand, it’s that much easier to revisit old family recordings, from back when capturing the good times meant more than turning on your mobile camera.