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There’s One Kind of “Clutter” It’s Okay to Keep
There are so many kinds of clutter: excess items you think you might need someday, clutter you’re so used to having around that you don’t even notice it anymore, piles of paper you have to go through, and things you feel guilty getting rid of because someone gave them to you or you spent good money on them. But there’s one kind of clutter you should never feel bad hanging on to.
Mar 17, 2019
My Husband Was a Live-In Super. It Opened Our Eyes to a Whole New Side of Renting
When my partner, Devin, got hired on as the on-site manager at our 33-unit apartment building in Seattle, he received a quick demo of the clunky, crash-prone software used to track rent payments, a key to the maintenance closet, a pamphlet from the 1960s explaining how to program the building’s callbox, and a pat on the back from ownership.
Mar 16, 2019
Amazon Is Looking to Hire 3,000 Remote Employees, Some Can Even Get Benefits
Have you ever worked from home? It is pretty convenient if your job is set up to allow you to fully function from the comfort of your own living room or home office. You can even work from your bed if you’re feeling particularly cozy that day. For those who think working from home is just hanging out in your pajamas and occasionally checking your laptop, that isn’t the case. In some studies, remote employees are actually found to be more productive than in-office employees.
Mar 16, 2019
8 Small Ways to Enjoy Cooking and Brighten Your Outlook on Life
When I’m in a bad mood, I do one of two things: I either clean obsessively (I’m talking triple-vacuuming the rugs and dusting behind the appliances) or I get in the kitchen and make something (often while sipping a glass of wine). I’m going to chalk up the first to my German upbringing and I wouldn’t impose that on anyone, but I think the act of cooking is one of the most therapeutic things you can do. It can brighten your day—and your life! Here’s how.
Mar 16, 2019
Here’s the Real Difference Between an IRA, 401(k), Roth IRA, and a Roth 401(k)
You’re set to start saving for your future. You already put money aside for retirement every month, but you’re probably already wondering how you should invest it. Which type of retirement savings account is best for you? Should you start a 401(k), an IRA, a Roth 401(k), or a Roth IRA? What even are the differences? What about if your first home is your savings priority right now?
Mar 16, 2019
Before and After: A Random Catchall Room Gets a Storage-Packed IKEA Upgrade
When Kristina moved into her new home, the lackluster office was of little use to the owners—besides being a place to toss mail, or hang art that didn’t fit with the rest of the home. Kristina decided that, if she was going to use a room as a dumping ground, it was going to look as fabulous as the rest of her home. Instead of a hodgepodge of furniture and decor, it’s now a highly functional mudroom, ready to organize all Kristina’s incoming and outgoing things.
Mar 16, 2019
Buy Your Long-Distance BFF This Lamp and They Will Always Know When You Miss Them
Best friends are the people who get us through life. Whether your best friend is your mom, sister, a grammar school friend, or your old college roommate, they hold a special place in your heart. Our best friends are the people we call after a good day, a bad day, or when we’re cooking and just want a familiar voice to fill the room.
Mar 16, 2019
These Little Dividers Solved the Biggest Problem I Had with My Closet
Anyone who lives in a small studio or teeny, tiny house can tell you that a smart storage system is crucial. After all, nobody has room for a bulky dresser or armoire when square footage is at a premium. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I love my apartment so much. Sure, my studio isn’t perfect—I don’t have a dishwasher and my balcony has a, erm, pigeon problem—but I have plenty of storage for all my stuff.
Mar 16, 2019
These Twitter Reactions to the New Season of “Queer Eye” Will Make You Say “Yass Henny”
You know what weekend it is! “Queer Eye” season three is finally upon us. It has been less than a year since we were granted new episodes, yet it has felt like a millennium. We are so blessed to finally have new episodes of one of the best Netflix programs. Even if it always makes us cry! “Queer Eye” was released as a reboot of the original program and it was a smash hit when it debuted on Netflix in 2018.
Mar 16, 2019
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Asked Twitter For Decorating Advice, And Girl, We Got You
If you follow New York’s freshman congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on social media, you know she’s pretty transparent about navigating the ins and outs of her new role—and new life—in DC. Back in November, she spoke with the New York Times about the realities of her transition from bartender to legislator: “I have three months without a salary before I’m a member of Congress. So, how do I get an apartment? Those little things are very real.
Mar 15, 2019
Why Brass Trunks Are My Favorite Way to Tie a Room Together
Growing up, we had a few trunks in my house from my mom’s and grandma’s childhood days. They were worn-looking and covered in stickers from summer camp and travels, but they didn’t exactly catch my eye. As I grew older and started decorating my own apartment, I began to spot brass trunks all over Pinterest and fell for them, hard. Unlike the black, weathered trunks we’d had in our basement, these were shiny, glam-looking, and much more my style.
Mar 15, 2019
Shop the Best Looks from Interior Define’s Instagram with This Exclusive Discount for AT Readers
Springtime is the season to make big home changes and invest in larger furniture items—it’s that “out with the old, in with the new” vibe in the air. You don’t need a lot to refresh your space in small, subtle ways, but if you’re ready to commit to a piece of quality furniture, allow us to direct you to Interior Define.
Mar 15, 2019
You Probably Don’t Want to Touch These 5 Things in Your Rental Apartment
So you’re moving into a new place—how exciting! Sure, the whole packing and unpacking routine gets old quick, but few things can fill you with a sense of renewal more than rolling out a fresh welcome mat. What’s not nearly as fun, of course, is getting an irate phone call from your landlord somewhere down the line. Or, worse yet, being evicted. Most of us file such a dramatic possibility under the “that could never happen to me” column.
Mar 15, 2019
This Is the Best Local Spring Break Spot in Every State Across the U.S.
By seasonal markers, March is the light at the end of the long, dark winter tunnel. However, while this month brings daylight savings and the official start of spring, it can be just as brutal (if not more so) than its January and February cousins. Breaking out of our winter habitation and traveling somewhere revitalizing can make the world of a difference. The best part? It be done in a long weekend, thanks to spring break destinations that exist in your own backyard.
Mar 15, 2019
What the Most Successful Airbnb and VRBO Hosts Know About Staging Their Home
So you’ve decided to rent out your pad to earn some extra cash. Depending on where you live, you can stand to make a hefty profit by making your home available for rental through services like Airbnb and VRBO. Before you dive in, though, it’s crucial that you come prepared. There’s more to being a successful host on these popular vacation rental sites than meets the eye, and if you want your property to stand out, presentation is key.
Mar 15, 2019
Bazaar Daily Finds: Friday
1950s Shelf/Plant Stand/Dry Bar – $120 or best offer – Red textured enamel covers the all steel construction of this dual shelf “cart.” Made with a handle like a cart, this piece has had its legs modified with modern, non-marking black rubber feet. Perfect as a landing area in the entryway, a bar in the living room, a plant stand in the kitchen, or a dressing table in the bedroom. – SHIPS Dear Readers, What are you looking for?
Mar 15, 2019
4 Ways to Make Your Own Weighted Blanket and Never Leave the House Again
Weighted blankets have been around for awhile, but more and more people are catching onto their benefits these days. If you haven’t tried one, the extra weight provides comfort and mimics the feeling of being hugged. Snuggle under one to help reduce anxiety levels, or even get a better night’s sleep. (If you’re trying one out for medical reasons, you might want to speak to your doctor first.) The blankets are even sometimes used in Occupational Therapy for autism.
Mar 15, 2019
A U.K. Home Brilliantly Blends Leopard Print, Kitsch, Color, and Humor
Name: Siouxsie Crow, husband, and two kids Location: Sussex, United Kingdom Size: 840 square feet Years lived in: 15 months, owned We bought our house in August 2017; it’s number 37 and I was 37 when we moved. It’s our first home, as previously we’ve rented. I live here with my husband Sholto, who is an art director and all-around creative. We have two children: a 5 year old, a 3 year old, and a third on the way.
Mar 15, 2019
This Weekend: Take 30 Minutes to Hide All Evidence of This Ugly Eyesore
99.9% of homes have these particularly annoying things that are both a physical nuisance, and also visually drag our living spaces down. We can’t get rid of them entirely, so instead tuck them away and pray they remain hidden out of sight. But time and time again — despite our silent pleas and crossed fingers— out they come again, creeping into the open. And man do they have a long reach!
Mar 14, 2019
Wallpaper Was the Answer to Maxwell’s Makeover of Two Guest Rooms
I’ve covered kitchen/dining room as well as the entrance/living room, so now we’re going to stroll down the hall on the main floor and visit the two guest rooms down at the other end. There is also a bathroom in between. These rooms sit exactly in the same position as the old house, because I loved the layout. They are easy to get to, but private with their doors at the far end of the hall.
Mar 14, 2019
Makers Spotlight: The Crafter’s Box
I can’t remember how I first heard about Morgan Spenla and the company she’d started just a few years ago, The Crafter’s Box, but something made me stop, check out the site and call her up to find out what she was doing. What she was doing was building a company in her hometown of San Diego around a personal passion and a professional belief that crafting is a true antidote for our web addled world.
Mar 14, 2019
IKEA’s Summer 2019 Collection is Like a Beach Day Come to Life
IKEA is a many-splendored thing. Along with thousands of affordable, Scandi-style home furnishings, the Swedish megastore is known to drop some seriously stylish seasonal collections. The SOMMAR 2019 line is no exception. Filled with colorful table wares and sprightly decor items, IKEA’s latest collection is brimming with inexpensive finds to spruce up your home for summer.
Mar 14, 2019
6 Airlines That Allow Kids to Fly for Cheap (or Even Free!)
To be blunt, flying with little ones can be stressful. You’re constantly on edge about whether they’ll throw a tantrum or get sick, then worry creeps in about how others surrounding the scene will react, plus this stress doesn’t come cheap as children over the age of 2 are usually charged as adults.
Mar 14, 2019
These Modern Tiny Houses Offer a ‘Pay As You Live’ Option for Urban Nomads
Thanks to the evolution of residential spaces, the term “house-hopping” has gained an alternate meaning. Case in point: Berlin startup Cabin Spacey’s prefab tiny houses. Singularly known as the Minimal House, the conservatively-sized structures are designed to accommodate so-called “urban nomads” who are in search of instant housing.
Mar 14, 2019
Bazaar Daily Finds
Grasscloth Desk – $825 – This gorgeous grasscloth desk/vanity is in mint condition and will provide the perfect touch to most any home. Style with a beautiful chair or stool and your favorite accessories and it’s bound to steal the show. – BROOKLYN Dear Readers, What are you looking for?
Mar 14, 2019
Happy Almost Weekend—West Elm Is Having a One-Day Only Sale
Hot take: March is the worst month. It’s almost spring but it’ll feel like winter until April, everything in your wardrobe starts to feel blah, and you really wish that adults could get a built-in spring break. Oh, and Mercury is in retrograde–watch out! In an effort to offset the general blandness of the month, I’m happy to report that West Elm is having a surprise Premier Day sale, which is the perfect excuse to engage in some retail therapy and refresh your home.
Mar 14, 2019
This Was the Most Popular Paint Color the Decade You Were Born
Walk into any recently renovated home today and chances are you’ll see a lot of greige—a neutral color that’s the perfect combination of gray and beige. There’s no denying it’s the paint color du jour. It’s funny how, oftentimes, you can instantly pinpoint how modern (or not) a room is just by looking at the color of the walls. Some day our children might look back and wonder why we all plastered our walls in such a boring color!
Mar 14, 2019
The Latest Farmhouse Modern-Inspired Home Collection Is from an Unexpected Source
Love it or hate it, “Fixer Upper” has left its mark on the design world, fueling a huge surge in the farmhouse decor style. It’s a challenge to find a retailer that hasn’t been affected by this trend–big name brands like Target and Anthropologie have all collaborated with Joanna Gaines to create their own lines of farmhouse-inspired decor.
Mar 14, 2019
The Mug with a Serious Cult Following (& Waitlist) Is Back While Supplies Last
What is it about coffee mugs that makes them so much more meaningful than, say, a dinner plate? I recently moved, and Kondo-ing my mug collection was the hardest part of packing. Perhaps because it’s tied to an important daily ritual (for me, a cup of black coffee as soon as I roll out of bed), it is easy to feel sentimental. Emotionalism aside, there are often other reasons a mug becomes favored: a nice grip, a good size, or just regular ol’ aesthetics.
Mar 14, 2019
The Best Online Mortgage Payment Calculators, According to Experts
Whether you’re a serious buyer or daydreaming to pass the time at work, a common part of buying a home is trying to predict your monthly mortgage payments. Is it going to end up being cheaper than your rent? Are you going to need to downsize a bit? You probably want a ballpark number before you call your mortgage lender and hire a real estate agent, so you plug the numbers into an online mortgage payment calculator.
Mar 14, 2019
Before & After: This $400 Bathroom Redo Has a Genius Way to Cover Textured Walls
Before Ashley put her guest house up on Airbnb, she wanted to give the bathroom a fun update. It was simple and sparse in comparison to the rest of the home, so, even though she was working on a tight budget, she was determined to use her DIY tricks and unique style to make it an exciting space for guests. Ashley carved as much time out of her schedule as she could—during nap times, evenings, and weekends—to work on the bathroom.
Mar 14, 2019
How to Improve Your Credit When You Have None
Establishing credit poses a tricky Catch-22: You need credit to get credit. This can prove to be quite a conundrum if you’re trying to rent an apartment, buy a home, or, heck, simply need car insurance but don’t qualify because of a thin credit file.
Mar 14, 2019
Partner
Spring Refresh: 3 Simple Garden Projects That Work in Small Spaces
Despite any residual chill, it is finally spring! Which means that now is the time to prep your garden. In warmer climates, you can start planting right away. In colder zones, start your plants indoors and transplant them outside when the weather warms up. And regardless of where you live, this is a great weekend to get started on some easy DIYs to pot your plants.
Mar 14, 2019
A Small Boston Studio Apartment Has One of the Best DIY Bedroom Lofts Ever
Name: Graham Gardner, partner Sarah, and dog Murphy Location: Jamaica Plain — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting We are Graham and Sarah—both nearly 30, nearly married, and together for nearly eight years. So far, so good. Sarah is the smart one—thoughtful, sometimes shy, always empathetic, and caring.
Mar 14, 2019
One Smart Click and You’re Scamming Your Way to Lower Monthly Bills
In the age of smart home devices, setting your thermostat and dimming the lights have never been easier. But these purchases have more long-term payoff than convenience alone. A one-time buy like a smart thermostat or home security system may feel pricy upfront, but by potentially lowering other monthly payments, they could pay for themselves over time—and have you feeling like a genius.
Mar 13, 2019
It’s Not All Retirees and Disney: 5 Reasons Why I Keep Moving Back to the Southeast U.S.
There is no shortage of things to see and do in the nine states that make up the Southeast (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia). I’ve loved living here for most of my life, and even decided to move back after a grand three-year adventure living in Alaska.
Mar 13, 2019
Clever Paint Jobs That Make Your Old, Cheap or Thrifted Furniture Look Expensive
We all know about the transformative power of paint for your wall, ceilings, and even floors, but have you thought about updating your furniture? With all the great colors and techniques out there, it’s easy to freshen up an over-loved piece or thrift flip something plain and make it extraordinary. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite paint transformations to get you started. Faux textured furniture can quickly look dated once the original finish gets dinged.
Mar 13, 2019
25 Easy Tips, Strategies, and Ideas for Small Space Living
As we close out our Small Spaces & Simple Living month here on Re-Nest, we’re rounding up a list of tips and ideas provided by YOU via this post. Everyone has a bit of a different take on coping with small spaces: it’s all about purging your stuff. No, it’s all about organizing your stuff. Wait, it’s all about storing your stuff!
Mar 13, 2019
Hot Tip: How To Keep Your Paint Rollers and Brushes Fresh
My fiance and I have spent our last two weekends priming ceilings. It’s hard work, but rewarding. Every night after a few hours’ work, we fastidiously clean out the rollers and brushes, using more water than we’d like—and they’re never up to par the next day. This was our practice until a friend stopped by today and let us in on a painter’s secret.To make the rollers and brushes last much, much longer (and save gallons of water in the meantime!
Mar 13, 2019
This $2.95M Home Used to Be a Library and, Wow, I’ve Never Wanted Anything More
A day ago, if you would have asked me about my dream home, I would have said something very vague and mentioned the words “glass,” “mid-century modern,” and maybe even, “Actually, don’t tell anyone but I kind of loved the house Eleanor lived in on ‘The Good Place?'” But that has all changed now that I have become aware of this house in Rockport, Massachusetts, that is now on the market for $2,950,000.
Mar 13, 2019
Before & After: A Mini $250 Makeover for That Awkward Space Under the Stairs
The little nook at the bottom of these stairs wasn’t really serving a purpose. The steamer trunk is undeniably cool, but it couldn’t do the heavy lifting of filling out the otherwise blank question mark of a space. Suzanne was transitioning into her new life as founder of a design company and really needed a place to work until she could move into an office. She thought about using the basement, but it was dark and sparse.
Mar 13, 2019
6 Stylish Accent Tables You Can Get on Amazon for Less Than $50
Accent tables can do a lot to make a room feel finished, but for such a small piece of your room, they can end up being surprisingly expensive. Fortunately, one of our favorite online retailers, Amazon, offers an impressive assortment of accent tables that are both super stylish and inexpensive. From a pair of nesting end tables to a two-tiered coffee table, here are some of the best accent tables under $50 on Amazon. The only thing better than a sleek and space-savvy end table is two of them.
Mar 13, 2019
Sign Up for Our (Free!) Mood-Based Spring Cleaning Program
As much as I appreciate the calendar nudging me to deep clean every spring, I never can seem to psych myself up for it. It doesn’t matter how vividly I remember the self-assured satisfaction of dusting the ceiling fans or finally digging the gunk out from the window tracks. Some days, I’m just not in the mood. Honestly, making that connection between mood and motivation is what inspired this year’s spring cleaning plan.
Mar 13, 2019
Elbow Grease Made This Small 400-Square-Foot Studio Extremely Livable
Name: Jenii Stewart and two cats, Robin Hood and Will Scarlet Location: Uptown — Chicago, Illinois Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, renting I’m a graphic designer and animator and love plants (I’m slowly growing a green thumb), bugs, and my two cats, Robin Hood and Will Scarlet. They both have an excess of personality and it keeps things interesting. Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Mid-century bohemian nerd chic.
Mar 13, 2019
Bazaar Daily Finds
Mid Century Rattan Hanging Pod Swing Egg Chair – $495 or best offer – Mid Century Modern Rattan Hanging Pod Egg Swing Chair. 33 wide x 39 deep x 70.5 high with a seat height of 20 inches. Great vintage condition. Local delivery available within 25 miles of Countryside, IL, to the Chicagoland area. PayPal, Chase Quickpay, cash and all major credit cards accepted – SHIPS Dear Readers, What are you looking for?
Mar 13, 2019
This Instagram Account Wants to Add ‘Cleaning Brand Designer’ to Your Resume
NBD wants to be the next big cleaning brand. But right now, NBD is literally no big deal—because it doesn’t exist yet. If you search this startup cleaning brand’s name, the first page is all unrelated results like one from Urban Dictionary that defines the internet acronym NBD as “no big deal.
Mar 13, 2019
How To Convert the Dining Table Into a Desk Workspace
After careful deliberation, my girlfriend recently decided to say farewell to hour long bus commutes to pursue some promising freelance opportunities and work from home. The bad news? We only have one home office space between us in our modest sized one bedroom apartment (and in reality it’s only the smallest of converted closet spaces).When space is at a premium, dining tables can easily become serviceable desks. The challenge is keeping it organized for dual duty.
Mar 12, 2019
Household Cleaning Urban Myths: Do They Actually Work?
From freezing your jeans in lieu of washing them to cleaning the toilet with Coca-Cola to the one about magically removing silver tarnish with aluminum foil; I have to admit I feel like I’ve heard it all. These urban myths of household cleaning have been kicking around for a while — we’ve even blogged each of them on Apartment Therapy. But the question is, do any of these actually work?
Mar 12, 2019