Have you ever entered someone’s home and immediately felt relaxed and comfortable? What is it that makes the difference between homes that exude an immediate sense of welcome and hospitality, and those that reinforce the feeling that you’re not in Kansas anymore? Is it the home environment, or the hostess? In my experience, both play …
To meet the demand of young adults and downsizing Baby Boomers crowding into cities to be within walking distance of jobs, transportation, and other daily needs, developers are creating increasingly tinier, space-efficient apartments. In addition to the convenience of city living, being willing to sacrifice space for up to 30% lower rent allows many singles to …
Clothes can be overwhelming. Between choosing what to wear and trying to find things in an unorganized, tiny closet, your day can quickly get off to the wrong start with this frustrating and draining experience. Even after implementing a few closet organizational tools, your real problem remains — too many clothes you don’t even wear. …
Fall is setting in, and those chilly nights, although refreshing, are a reminder that it will soon be time to turn on the heat. Unless you live in a newly renovated apartment, there are at least a few ways you’ll be likely to lose some of this expensive commodity. Renting presents a few challenges to …
Tiny living makes space a commodity. If you’ve ever moved from a larger home into a small apartment, you’ll quickly learn there’s simply not enough room for certain things. Liquidating, consolidating, and rethinking unpractical, space-hogging possessions is an immediate concern — obvious things like a large couch that won’t fit through the door, or exercise …
The demand and matching availability of apartments has continued to increase. In the U.S., the average vacancy is around 8% — the highest in 40 years. With space at a premium and more people choosing to live closer to city jobs for shorter commutes, builders are providing the ideal solution for this demographic. Whatever reason …
Coffee mugs have a way of accumulating, especially since they make easy gifts, and we gravitate to them as functional souvenirs and personalized keepsakes. However they multiply, you’ve probably never had to say “I need to buy some new coffee mugs.” On the contrary, coffee mugs become one of the first items purged in an …
As much of a habit it is for me to take reusable canvas bags when I go grocery shopping, there are still times I forget them and reluctantly accept plastic bags at the register. When this happens enough to accumulate a sizable collection (i.e., I can’t stuff them inside one bag any more), I return …
Unless you travel for a living, suitcases fall in the category of necessary but infrequently used items that take up space — probably in a closet or under the bed. Perhaps you even have vintage pieces you just can’t bear to part with, but never use. Whatever the reason you have them, suitcases don’t have …
When you think of composting, what is the first image that comes to mind? I’ve always pictured a large pile of scraps and leaves and a fruitful, sprawling garden in the heart of farmland (or at least the suburbs). Composting is often seen as a practice limited to people who are serious about growing their …