10 Drawer Hacks That Will Change the Way You Organize Your Entire Wardrobe
Rethinking the way you use your drawers—along with a little help from some clever products and DIYs like these—can make your dresser totally manageable.
Jun 16, 2017
How the World Does Laundry
No matter where you live, laundry is probably a big part of your routine. In fact, according to a new study by Nielsen, globally 67 percent of people said they do laundry at least twice per week, and another 31 percent said they do laundry every day. But despite similarities in how often people around the world clean their clothes, there are some differences in how they do their laundry (if they even do it themselves at all).
Jun 9, 2017
5 Tiny Homes Under $80,000 That Will Totally Make You Want to Downsize
Have you ever dreamed of what it’s like to live in a tiny home? I hadn’t before, because living in a cramped Brooklyn apartment feels challenging enough. But, after combing through listings to see what the tiny house market is like, I feel like I get the tiny homes thing now. These houses are the cutest, plus they seem totally functional in terms of space and storage, and they’re way more affordable than a regular home.
Jun 9, 2017
New Yorkers Share What Downsizing Was Really Like for Them
If you’ve ever moved from one home to another, smaller home, you know the realities of trying to make your new space work and having to get rid of some—or a lot—of your possessions. And in New York, a city known for its expensive-but-tiny apartments, downsizing can be an especially big challenge.
Jun 5, 2017
Is Your Landlord Overcharging You? Legal Limits on Security Deposits
As a renter, you know what your price range is and what you’re looking for in an apartment, but do you know your rights? Last year when I was apartment hunting in Brooklyn, I was shocked to learn that it was possible that a potential new landlord might ask for 6 months’ rent up front for my security deposit (luckily that didn’t end up being the case, but still!).
May 29, 2017
What Your Coffee Table Says About You
Your coffee table is basically the centerpiece of your living area. Guests gather around it, you lounge in front of it to watch Netflix, maybe you even you push it out of the way to exercise at home—and if you live in a tiny space, you almost definitely use it as a place to eat meals, too (I know I definitely do). And how you keep your coffee table—how you decorate it, if you keep it organized or whether you use coasters or don’t—shows a lot about your personality.
May 27, 2017
We Tested 5 Grocery Delivery Services; Here’s What We Found
There are so many grocery delivery services available now, which makes it almost impossible to choose—especially if you’re totally new to them. I am for sure a procrastinator when it comes to physically going to the store, but I’m also big into planning my meals in advance, so switching to a delivery service seemed ideal to me.
May 25, 2017
Schedule a “Suck it Up Sunday” & Enjoy a Happy Home
Sundays are for sleeping in, relaxing with Netflix and only changing out of your pajamas for brunch dates with friends, right? But sometimes—especially when you’ve got a particularly stressful week ahead—your usual chill Sunday can be better spent being productive. Sunday is also a great day to take care of all the things that usually plague you, from cleaning and cooking to getting ahead at work.
May 20, 2017
Here’s What $300,000 Buys You In Manhattan
Finding an affordable rental anywhere in New York City is a struggle, so it may feel like buying a home in the Big Apple for less than a fortune is near-impossible, if not completely. The truth is, you can find apartments in the city that are more on the affordable side, you just have to do a bit of searching to find them. These apartments are all $300,000 (or just below in price) and give you a taste of what’s out there and what buying in New York City is really like.
May 19, 2017
What It’s Like to Date in 2017, As Explained by Furniture Shopping
Dating can be a weird experience. Meeting people is a challenge, sometimes dates you’re excited for turn out to be duds, and every once in a while you meet someone and it’s love at first sight. Not unlike shopping for the perfect furniture for your home—sometimes you have to search the internet for your dream sofa, and other times you walk into a store and it’s right there waiting for you.
May 11, 2017
New Orleans Shotguns for Sale: 5 Affordable & Charming Homes
You might rent an apartment in a big city and you love it, but that doesn’t bar you from imagining yourself in all sorts of alternate timelines. Maybe there’s one where you’re living abroad, one where you’re living in a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere, one living on a your own private island — big and small, you’ve entertained thoughts about all of them.
May 8, 2017
What it Costs to Live in the World’s Highest Penthouse
Think about it: if you had an unlimited budget and could live anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would your dream home be like? For a little taste of opulence, we looked through listings for apartments and penthouses in Burj Khalifa, which stands at 160 stories, making it the world’s tallest building (maybe in your dreams you’re not afraid of heights either?) located in Downtown Dubai.
May 8, 2017
Study: Millennials’ Home-Buying Habits Are Surprisingly Similar to Their Grandparents
Older generations always seem to think millennials are doing it all wrong, but the truth is, millennials aren’t all that different from their grandparents—especially when it comes to buying their first homes.
May 4, 2017
Use “The Minimalists’” 90/90 Rule to Help You Declutter
No matter how much you want to live more simply, it can be hard to part with your things. First of all, if you have a lot of stuff, where do you even begin? And what if you need these things again for some unforeseen hypothetical situation in the future? Will you be kicking yourself for throwing them out now? One simple system might help you sort it out: the 90/90 rule from Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, the duo behind The Minimalists.
May 4, 2017
9 Pro Organizers Share Their Best Tips for Maintaining Order in Under 500 Square Feet
When you live in a small space, you face two major challenges: First, how do you make all your stuff work in such a tiny home? And second, how do you keep it from getting messy the second you use any of your stuff? For some—looking at you, minimalists—this is an easy task. But for others, learning to adapt to a tiny apartment can be a struggle. If you’re the latter, how do you deal?
Apr 28, 2017
I Tried It: Goodbye Gross Disposables, Hello Silicone Sponge
Can a silicone sponge replace your basic disposable kitchen sponge for life, or does it sound too good to be true?
Apr 26, 2017
5 Things To Do In Your 20s So You Can Buy a Home In Your 30s
Twenty-somethings are often under the impression that they’ll never be able to own a home, but, of course, that’s not always the case. A lot can change in a few years, so while you may not be in the market to buy a home this year or next, the (slightly) more distant future is still a possibility if homeownership is what you want. If you’re hoping to be a buy down the road, here are a few things you can do now to make the process easier when the time comes.
Apr 24, 2017
Making a Case for Taking an Extra Day Off at The End of a Vacation
Taking a vacation is a surefire way to get in some serious relaxation time, but what about when you come back from your trip? If your return consists of meandering home from the airport, lugging in your suitcases and trying to get yourself together to go into the office the next day—and just the thought of it is already stressing you out—you might want to consider tacking an extra day off onto the end of your vacation, when you can.
Apr 13, 2017
Inspiring Workspaces That Will Make You Ready To Take On Even the Worst Monday
When you work from home (whether full-time or even just the occasional catch up day) it’s important to have a space carved out that’s just for getting things done. Not only because it’s hard to be productive and creative when you’re sitting in bed with a laptop, but because it’s hard to separate work and life when you spend half your time working in spaces that aren’t really designed for it.
Mar 26, 2017
The First-Time International Traveler’s Survival Guide
So, you’ve never left the country before, but your sense of wanderlust is strong. Going abroad can feel super intimidating and the process might seem overwhelming, but it’s totally worth it to get to experience the world and finally visit the places you’ve been dreaming about. If you’re a first time international traveler, here’s what you need to know.
Mar 26, 2017
Clever Ways To Store (and Use) Your Luggage at Home
Luggage is just one of those things that tends to take up a lot of space, and when you live in a small home, you know how hard it is to find a place for small trinkets, let alone huge trunks and suitcases. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or just take a trip once or twice a year, you probably own at least a suitcase or two, so here’s how to make use of them when you’re not on-the-go and where to hide (or display!) them when you’re settled in.
Mar 23, 2017
Spilled Nail Polish On The Carpet? Here’s What You Need To Do (Like Right Now)
There you are, minding your business and painting your nails, when suddenly you make one false move and your favorite shade is splattered on the rug. Nothing like a big, crunchy, tangerine-colored spill in the middle of your white carpet to really pull the room together, huh? Good news: You might still be able to get your carpet back to normal—it’ll just take a bit of elbow grease. Don’t panic, just follow these steps.
Mar 18, 2017
20 Creative Date Ideas That Cost Less Than $20 (But Aren’t Any Less Fun)
Date night doesn't need to break the bank—with these ideas, you can spend quality time together without actually spending much of anything, and there's something for everyone.
Mar 12, 2017
The 5 Stages of Cleaning After a Breakup
No matter how long you’ve been dating someone, the ending is never fun. It can leave you feeling sad, confused and angry — and frankly, sometimes you just don’t know what to do with yourself. Often our post-breakup instincts fall somewhere between wallowing, wanting payback or finding something productive to focus on instead.
Mar 6, 2017
11 Things Every Solo Traveler Should Take With Them
Dreaming of taking your first solo trip? Traveling in general can be an amazing experience, but going it alone can also be incredibly freeing. You can do whatever you want when you want to, and you don’t have to worry about appeasing anyone else with your plans. It can also push you out of your comfort zone and help you grow as a person.
Mar 4, 2017
The Thing You Use Everyday that You Should Probably Throw Away (Or At Least De-Grossify)
You probably do the dishes often—even more so if you lack the luxury of a dishwasher—but how often do you clean or replace your kitchen sponge? (Or any sponges in your home, for that matter?). The dirt on sponges (pun intended) is that they can get really gross, really quickly—more gross than you might realize. According to Huffington Post, it’s the dirtiest thing in your home, even worse than toilet seats and garbage cans.
Mar 2, 2017
7 Real Homes that Master the Art of Organization
It’s easy to spend an entire day clicking through photos of gorgeous houses and apartments and finding decor inspiration, but what about when it comes to organizing? There are beautiful, clever ways to store your things that you may not have even thought of yet.
Feb 26, 2017
How Real Couples Spend Their Sundays
Every week, it feels like Monday through Friday takes forever. Then when the weekend gets here, it whizzes by so fast it’s like it never even happened. You spend the whole week working, maybe go out on Saturday night, and then before you know it, it’s Sunday evening and it’s time to go to sleep and do it all over again. That’s why, for many people, it’s important to make every Sunday a good one—whether that means doing something fun, or being super productive.
Feb 25, 2017
So, What’s a Pre-War Apartment?
If you’ve ever searched for an apartment in New York City, you’ve probably heard the term “pre-war” before, but are you familiar with what it means? Pre-war apartments refer to buildings that were constructed before 1939 (AKA those that were built before World War II began). Pre-war style came about during a population boom in the city in the 1880s, according to Street Easy.
Feb 20, 2017
Just Do It: Start a “No Pressure” Book Club (& See Your Friends More)
Book clubs are great because they make you read more and hold you accountable for doing so (no one wants to show up to a book club meeting when they haven’t actually read the book up for discussion) and they also give you an excuse to see friends more often (and for something meaningful, too). But if you lead a busy life and don’t have time to devote to reading novels all the time, a book club can be a lot to handle on top of all your work and other activities and responsibilities.
Feb 13, 2017
Netflix Can Wait: 10 Other Things to Do With Your Time Tonight
So… it’s not date night and you don’t have any major plans, but that doesn’t mean you have to be relegated to a night of watching Netflix on the couch. If you and your partner are bored of the same TV routine, there are plenty of little ways to switch it up without leaving—or straying far from—home, or putting in too much effort when you’re already tired from a long day. Need some suggestions? Here are 10 you can try tonight.
Feb 11, 2017
The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Laundry Master (So You Never Shrink Another Anything)
So, you accidentally shrunk your favorite sweater. You’ve mourned its loss—and searched desperately for an identical replacement to no avail—and now it’s time to make sure you never make the same laundry mistakes again. In order to become a true laundry master, there are some major things to know—like what those weird symbols on your clothing labels mean, what settings to use, and why you should never ever overstuff your machines.
Feb 2, 2017
Quick Fixes: Nail Polish to the Rescue
A few coats of nail lacquer can polish off your personal style, but aside from adorning your fingers, nail polish can actually come in really handy around the house. You probably already know that a little dab of clear polish can stop a run in a pair of stockings, but did you know it can fix broken tile and keep screws from coming loose?
Jan 30, 2017
The One Thing You’re Probably Not Doing When You Move (But Definitely Should!)
Find boxes? Check. Pack your entire life into said boxes? Check. Hire movers to get said boxes to your new home? Check. You’ve got everything for your upcoming move totally covered, but there’s one small-but-important step you might be forgetting: Take photos!
Jan 26, 2017
10 Roommate Dealbreakers to Discuss Before You Sign Anything
Moving in with strangers can be a nerve-wracking experience, but sometimes a necessary one; you need people to split the rent with, after all, and you might not know anyone in town or have local friends who are also looking for a new place to live. You need to know, then, that the key to turning strangers-you-live-with into close friends (or at least amicable roommates) is simple communication.
Jan 17, 2017
6 Hobbies You Can Pick Up in Just 30 Days (and Kick Butt at Them)
You know that feeling when you’re on a first date or you’re meeting someone new and they ask you what your hobbies are? Unless you’re proudly dedicated to something like painting or playing a sport or an instrument, there’s this moment where you wonder “What are my hobbies?” as if you’ve suddenly forgotten all the things you like to do in your spare time. The good news is, you can change that.
Jan 15, 2017
Cleaning Secret Weapon: 6 Ways to Use Hydrogen Peroxide
You already know hydrogen peroxide comes in handy for cleaning up cuts and scrapes and even for whitening your teeth, but there’s a lot more to it than that—it’s also great to have on hand for cleaning your home. It’s inexpensive, you can find it at just about any pharmacy and grocery store, and it can do just about anything. From disinfecting toys and countertops to keeping your shower mold and mildew free, H2O2 has your back.
Jan 15, 2017
5 Ways to Organize a Desk Without Drawers
In a small space, it’s hard enough to find room for a desk, let alone a big desk with drawers and tons of storage space. The good news is, you don’t need a cabinet full of drawers attached to your desk to store all your things—just use the space you do have to your advantage. These tips and tricks can help you make the most of your desk, drawers not included. 7 Ways to Organize a Bathroom Without a Medicine Cabinet or Drawers 9 Ways to Organize a Kitchen Without Many (or Any!
Jan 13, 2017
Why You Should (Always) Have a Separate Savings Account for Your Down Payment
Saving up money for a down payment is no easy feat—but a separate savings account can help.
Jan 11, 2017
5 Ways You Can Organize with Toilet Paper Rolls (Really!)
Stop right there! Before you throw away your next empty toilet paper roll, consider this: with a little effort, you can probably get so much more use out of it (and keep it out of a landfill). From keeping unruly cords at bay to organizing your favorite makeup tools and jewelry, those cardboard tubes can come in incredibly handy. So, sure, you could toss it in the trash, or, you could use it to make your home a more beautiful, organized place with these projects—you decide.
Jan 7, 2017
From the Credit Check to Getting the Keys: Answers for the Big First-Time Homebuying Questions
New to the home-buying process? If you’re ready to start looking for your dream home—or if you’re just looking to learn more about how buying a home works for the future—there’s a lot you’ll need to know. The process is long and can be as stressful and confusing as it is exciting.
Jan 5, 2017
Don’t Worry About Failing at “Resolutions” This New Year (Just Set Better Goals)
I’ve never been a person who’s good at New Year’s resolutions. I’d always set my sights on a bunch of lofty aspirations and then wind up dropping off after a few months or a few weeks, never getting to exactly where I’d hoped I would by the time the next December 31st rolled around. And it always felt terrible, because I thought I was failing. In 2016, I decided to try something new.
Jan 4, 2017
15 Home Organizing Mini-Tasks You Can Tackle in 15 Minutes
Okay, so you’ve got a few minutes before the newest episode of your favorite show comes on—how do you spend it? You could flip through the channels to find something random to watch until it starts, or, you could work towards making your home a more beautiful, organized place (and make your life a little bit easier). Need inspiration? Try one of these quick tasks… Are your books actually organized, or do you just place them wherever you have room on a shelf?
Jan 2, 2017
Everything You Need to Know About Not Going Broke When Using an Apartment Broker
If you’re new to the apartment hunt, the idea of using a broker might be a very confusing concept—especially so if you’re moving from a lower-demand rental market to a bustling (and crowded) one like those in NYC or San Francisco.
Dec 20, 2016
The Joy of “Usmas”: Real Couples Share Stories of a Holiday Just for Two
With all the hustle and bustle of the season, it can be hard to actually enjoy the holidays. Between traveling, seeing family, gift shopping, hosting and attending dinners and parties and more, there’s so much potential for stress to bog you down. It can be especially difficult when you’re part of a couple, because that usually means doubling everything—double the travel and family visits, double the dinners and parties to attend, and of course, more gifts to buy.
Dec 19, 2016
How to Survive Holiday Party Burnout
Floating from party to party isn't easy when you're not a social butterfly.
Dec 19, 2016
Kill the Confusion: The Real Lowdown on Loans, Mortgages & Down Payments
Thinking about buying a home? If you’re not familiar with how mortgages and down payments work—and how many different types there are—you could be missing out on choosing one that works perfectly for you. Here is a breakdown of 11 different types of mortgages, from the most common to the mostly rare, and a rundown on how down payments work.
Dec 12, 2016
The Safest Conversation Starters for Any Social Situation
Meeting new people should be a fun experience, but making small talk feels more like a chore than anything. Going to parties, seeing distant family over the holidays, talking to new people at bars—they all can become daunting and super emotionally draining after a while. Sometimes it’s so hard to know what to say, you just don’t want to say anything.
Dec 8, 2016