Smart Living

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

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 Tips for Self Storage: How and What to Store

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.

Woman putting clothes away.

How To Keep Your Home Clean And Clutter-Free

While we all strive for a clutter-free home, limited space can sometimes make that challenging. This is how clutter is born, with small items accumulating and taking over precious space, making every room feel cramped and chaotic.

Family Together Christmas Celebration

There’s More Than Turkey On The Table: Top Dishes From Around The World To Try This Christmas

The turkey is often the queen of the Christmas table, but while Christmas without one is almost unthinkable in the United States, Canada or the UK, it’s not really the top choice in most countries around the world.

House decorated with Christmas lights

How To Spruce Up Your Holiday Décor: A Guide To Picking The Right Christmas Lights

The holiday season truly comes to life when you plug in the Christmas lights for a wondrous décor. It’s an exciting time of the year, but it’s equally difficult to pick the right lights for your home. Which style and size could best fit your home? Ask yourself a few basic questions starting with your holiday budget, the type of Christmas lights best suited for your display design, theme and your energy requirements.

Happy women friends are shopping for presents at Christmas

StorageCafe’s Best Lifestyle Stories of 2024

The real estate market is often all about numbers and trends, but the way those big-picture stats affect our everyday lives is huge. It’s fascinating to see how we’ve adapted to major events—like the health crisis—and how those changes have influenced our lifestyle and housing choices.

a girl with her own hands makes a Christmas decor for the house. Merry Christmas and happy new year concept. Girl packing Christmas gift box.

Unleash Your Creativity With 5 DIY Christmas Decorations For 2024

’Tis the season to be jolly and crafty! DIY Christmas decorations aren’t just trinkets — they’re memory keepers, guardians of cherished traditions and carriers of family tales passed down through the years. When crafted with love and a sprinkle of magic, these festive homemade Christmas decorations become timeless treasures, ready to twinkle with the spirit of the season year after year.

modern house decorated for Halloween with carved pumpkins, bats and spiders

Happy Scarily Thrifty Halloween! How To Save On Costumes, Candy, Décor And More

There’s no denying that Halloween is a well-loved holiday. Dressing up in your favorite costume and eating candy guilt-free while getting a good scare sounds like a good time you don’t want to pass up. But how much you end up spending doesn’t have to give you a scare. In 2023 alone, Americans spent about $12B on Halloween or about $100 per person for costumes, candy, decorations and greeting cards combined. If spending less this Halloween is on your wish list, we have some tips and tricks for you to do just that below.