Smart Living

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

Dreaming of Restoring an Old House to Its Former Glory? Discover Where to Find Historic Homes Along with Valuable Restoration Tips

Modernity and convenience often take center stage in today’s architectural trends, but there’s an enduring charm to historic homes. The creak of weathered floorboards, the intricate detailing of ornate moldings, and the tales that seem to linger in every nook and cranny — these are the hallmarks of homes that have stood witness to generations of lives lived within their walls. While some people don’t envision themselves living in a house with many decades or even centuries of history, others would jump at the opportunity.

12 Spooky And Cute Moving Superstitions, The Truth Behind Them And Their Origins

With Halloween approaching fast, we decided it’s the perfect moment to explore the spookiest, funniest and most intriguing superstitions related to moving and to new homes.

Modern living room in black and white with dining zone

How To Choose Art Pairings For Every Room In Your Home (Plus Expert Tips On Art Care And Storage)

One of the best ways to infuse personality and add substance to any room is through art. A captivating work of art has the power to transform the ambiance of a room and add to the story of the person living in that space.

halloween decor

Best Places For Halloween Fun: DC Tops The Spooky Spirit List, While Mississippi Lags Behind In Halloween Thrills

Americans are brewing more than pumpkin spice lattes this fall – in fact, there’s a huge cauldron of Halloween spending that’s about to spill over. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are planning to go all in for Halloween and spend a record $12.2 billion dollars on costumes, decorations and candy, exceeding both last year’s spending and pre-pandemic levels.

Ready To Organize? Follow These 5 Top Influencers For Practical Organizing Wisdom

Are you tired of the endless clutter, the never-ending battle of home organizing, and the feeling that your home is more chaos than comfort? Well, you’re not alone. Getting organized at home can sometimes feel like an impossible dream, especially since our homes have so many roles to fill.

13 Creative Tips For Newlyweds: Here’s How To Merge Your Household With Your Partner’s

The newlyweds stage of your life should be enjoyable — and you can make it even better if you have a good strategy in place for merging your two households after getting married. This process can be challenging, particularly for partners who lived a long time on their own, or for those who are blending not just households but existing families as well.

Woman with stacks of clean clothes at home

Gifts That Spark Joy: Home Organizing Presents For Your Friends

Do you have a friend who is obsessed with cleanliness? You can tell by their immaculate home, their orderly surroundings, and their uncanny ability to locate any item in a flash. They are so organized that they could guide you to the red screwdriver’s exact location, even in their sleep.

young woman working from home on a laptop lying on the sofa in the room

5 Room Organizing Tips For Gen Z from A Gen Z-er

In the digital age, where self-expression and functionality intertwine, organizing a room becomes an art form worthy of exploration. As a fellow Gen Zer, here are five tips that will not only elevate the style of your space but also maximize storage solutions. Whether you’re a college student seeking ingenious ways to optimize a compact dorm room or entering adulthood and “real life” (it’s a canon event) yearning for your own sanctuary, these hacks will turn your living space into a reflection of your distinctive personality. Let’s give your space that main character energy!

Diy woman painting, renewing chair at home

How To Turn Your Home From Dull To Dazzling With DIY Projects

Doing home improvement projects by yourself is a popular trend. Over the last year, more than half of the Americans who improved their homes did so on their own, with Gen Xers being the most likely to go for DIY. Indeed, hiring a contractor can be both intimidating and expensive. But with a little bit of time and creativity, you yourself can make it sparkle.

Furniture With Flair: How Much Does It Cost To Furnish Your Home With Handcrafted Pieces?

There’s nothing like the feeling of getting home after a hectic day out and about. And having a cozy residence, styled to suit your own preferences, can only add to that feeling. Decorations and furnishings do in fact have a deep impact on mental health and wellbeing. Clean, airy spaces are known to spur creativity and induce a good mood in residents. Incorporating wood in our built environment, in particular, can reduce stress and improve health and focus.

Packed household goods for moving into new house

How Much Stuff Is In The Average American House?

In 1951, Lewis Fry Richardson had a problem. While studying the length of the border between Spain and Portugal, he found that the two countries were reporting different results. This was due to differences in measuring standards employed – the smaller the ruler, the greater the overall length. This phenomenon is called “the coastline paradox,” and it centers on the idea that measurement is subjective. That might also be the case if we’re starting to wonder how much stuff does the American household have. What some might consider a lot might be the norm for others. The same can be said about the things inside our homes.

Collection of die-cast model cars displayed on shelves (courtesy of Karen Vardazaryan and Unsplash)

How To Organize Your Collection: Tips & Tricks For Displaying & Storing Your Treasures

If you’re like many people and have a collection of items you truly adore, you want to keep it safe. Whether it’s comic books, stamps, video games or anything in between, we all want to protect and treasure the items that have taken us so long to acquire. Regardless of your collection’s value, keeping it protected is essential, either when displaying it or moving it to another location.