Guest Post - How to Downsize from a House and Get Adjusted to Apartment Living

While owning a large house might be a dream for many Americans, having so much square footage can be incredibly challenging as well. From empty rooms and high monthly bills to constant household maintenance, large homes can come with quite steep costs. 

For that reason, an increasing number of homeowners are deciding to downsize, but aren’t quite sure how to navigate this drastic and often overwhelming change. If you’re having similar issues as well, here are some helpful tips that will allow you to downsize from a house and easily get adjusted to apartment living:

Begin by decluttering your belongings

Downsizing to an apartment will inevitably mean you’ll have to learn how to live with less and get rid of some of your belongings in an effort to fit into a smaller space. For that reason, planning and preparing for a household move in advance, even before starting an apartment search, is always advised. Begin by decluttering your entire home, and then immediately throw out, donate, or sell anything you don’t need or use anymore. 

Whether it’s clothing items or unutilized equipment, removing unnecessary items from your home will allow you to realize that you don’t really need all that living space when it’s not filled up with clutter and chaos.

Prepare for the move in advance

In an effort to make moving houses easy, it might also be helpful to downsize ahead of time. Apart from throwing out any unnecessary belongings, this could also mean letting go of any large pieces of furniture or otherwise big and bulky items that aren’t likely to fit inside an apartment. This will allow you to adjust to smaller living before you move out, and it might even make the final move that much quicker and easier, knowing you have significantly fewer large and heavy items to transport.

Consider whether you wish to buy or rent

Once you’ve done the initial preparations, the next step would be to decide whether you want to buy or rent your apartment. While owning a home might be a dream for many, apartments can come at surprisingly high costs, including mortgage, insurance, and maintenance rates, all of which can be particularly daunting if you don’t own the house you currently live in, and can’t put the sales money towards your new home. 

In places like Texas, where the prices of apartments are currently on the rise, many people tend to look for beautiful Brownsville apartments for rent in order to overcome this hurdle. Coming in stunning complexes, convenient locations, and no additional homeowner costs, such apartments are truly the perfect solution for downsizing.

Think about the necessary requirements

In case you’re looking for a condo in larger cities like New York or Los Angeles, on the other hand, there are a number of additional aspects you might want to consider when searching for the perfect home. For example, if having outdoor space and access to a pool is something you don’t want to compromise on when downsizing, you need to include these amenities in your search in order to find the right apartment, as such complexes can be difficult to come across. 

Similarly, if you need additional personal, office, and storage space, or you even plan on expanding your family in the future, these are all important details to keep in mind when choosing the most appropriate apartment size and floor plan.

Finalize the move to your new place

After you’ve found your dream apartment, it will be time to sign the lease. But before you do so, it’s recommended to carefully review the documents and pay special attention to aspects such as the rent price, security deposit, and utilities, as well as any maintenance and damages policies, to ensure everything is as agreed. When you’re finally ready to move in, a professional moving company could be of great help, but you also might be able to complete the move by yourself, especially if your decluttering efforts were successful.

Make your apartment feel like home

Whether you are renting or even buying your new condo, making the space feel comfortable and inviting, without being overly stuffed, could be one of the biggest challenges you face when downsizing. When it comes to furnishing and decorating an apartment, size should be your main priority. Simply carefully measuring the rooms and potential furniture will be enough to help you select the ideal pieces for a smaller space. 

To make your apartment feel homier, personalization will be key. From bright wall colors and printed cushions to natural materials and textured rugs, there are many ways you could add more interest and dimension to your new space, easily making it feel like home.

Wrapping up

Even though downsizing could present a challenge for many homeowners, living in an apartment can actually give you newfound happiness and freedom, without mortgages and house maintenance weighing you down. And as long as you utilize the helpful tips mentioned above, downsizing might actually be a less stressful and more enjoyable experience as well.

About the author: Mike Johnston is an experienced blogger and editor with a background in creative writing and digital media. He’s a regular contributor to the ‘Smooth Decorator’ blog and numerous other online publications where he writes primarily about home improvement, interior design, and sustainable living.

Essential Bedroom Organization Tips and Tricks

It seems like as soon as you clean your bedroom, it’s back to being a mess. Fortunately, you can use several effective methods to keep everything tidy for an extended period. Look below to discover some essential bedroom organization tips and tricks.

Install Corner Shelves

Do you have nooks and crannies in your bedroom, such as a corner area that isn’t large enough to hold a dresser or chair? Install shelving units inside to optimize vertical space while displaying books, keepsakes, decorations, and other items.

Store Seasonal Fits

Depending on the climate where you live, you can’t wear particular shoes or boots for several months at a time. Therefore, you can use rolling storage bins to stow seasonal footwear beneath your bed until you need them. You can also use pool noodles to organize your attire in many surprising ways, including keeping your boots upright during the winter when you need them.

Clear Out Your Closet

Many people have a habit of stuffing a lot of junk into their closets and leaving it there until they forget about it. Stuff can quickly accumulate and spiral out of control, resulting in a chaotic disaster in your closet. Furthermore, a crowded closet can make your morning preparations take longer and overpower any tranquility that the rest of the bedroom may have.

Any successful organizing endeavor should start by cleaning out the clutter and rearranging this space. Put everything you won’t need right away in storage containers labeled by category. Also, look through your closet for any articles of clothing that you no longer wear and donate or discard them.

Take It One Section at a Time

Trying to organize everything at the same time can quickly prove daunting. Instead, divide duties based on the responsibilities that each section of your bedroom plays. Begin with your closet, then move to your wardrobe and dressers.

Then, clear away and rearrange flat surfaces of dressers, nightstands, and shelving. Save the underneath area of your bed for last, so you know what you need to keep there.

Give Yourself a Designated Place for Dirty Clothing

Tossing your dirty clothes on the floor can become a bad habit when you finish wearing them. If you don’t already have one, purchase a hamper that you can place in or near your closet to prevent clothing from overflowing into the rest of your bedroom. You can choose a hamper that matches the rest of your décor or a neutral and practical one.

Applying these essential bedroom organization tips and tricks in your life can help you radically change your living environment. You’ll find that you’re calmer and less stressed when you don’t see clutter and dysfunction.

Guest Post - 9 Strategies to Get Organized at Home

Your home is probably your most important possession. It's where you live, raise your family, and store all your belongings. That's why it's so imperative to keep it organized. An organized home is a happy home. When everything has its place, you can find what you need quickly and easily. Plus, an orderly house is less cluttered and more inviting. 

For some people, arranging your home is a challenging chore. It's a continuous process with several parts and phases to keep track of. This is in order to ensure that everything is completed correctly, from clearing out clutter to quickly setting updated products.

People regularly create Youtube videos about how to keep their homes clean and organized. If you are also looking for tips on how to clean your home, these strategies will help you. So take a deep breath, put on some inspiring music, and get to work!

Here are nine secrets that will help you stay organized.

1. Get rid of anything you don't need. 

One of the easy ways to organize your house is to get rid of anything you don't need. It's not easy to keep your house neat when you have a lot of stuff but it's worth it in the end. And, it can be tough to get free of anything, especially if you're attached to it. But getting rid of anything you don't need will help you organize your house and make it more functional. 

Take some time to go through each room in your house and get rid of everything that you don't use or need. You'll be surprised at how much space you'll free up.  You might also want to consider holding a garage sale if you're feeling overwhelmed with the items you want to get rid of.  You can use some of the earnings to buy organizational supplies for your home.

2. Create zones for different activities in each room.

If you don't have designated zones for different activities, it's very tricky to keep your house clean and organized. That's why it's helpful to create zones in your house for different purposes. This way, you'll be able to use every inch of space more efficiently. In addition, you'll be able to find what you need much more easily when you know where everything is located. You can create zones for things like work, play, sleep, and eating. Try to make each zone as functional as possible so that you can use them to their fullest potential. 

3. Use storage containers to organize your belongings.

It's challenging to keep track of everything when your stuff is scattered all over the house. A storage container is a handy way to organize your belongings and keep them all in one place. You can find them in a variety of sizes and shapes, so you can find one that fits your needs. They're also easy to move around, so you can rearrange your furniture without having to worry about moving your boxes and shelves. Plus, they make your home look neater and more organized. 

4. Hang organizers on the walls to maximize space.

There are many ways to maximize the space at home, and hanging organizers on the walls is one of them. This can be a very effective way to organize your belongings and make use of every available space. It is also a practical solution for small apartments or homes with limited square footage. Plus, it's a great way to add some personality to your home décor. There are many different types of organizers that can be hung on the walls, so you can find the most suitable one for your needs. 

5. Keep a clean and tidy kitchen.

Keeping a clean and tidy kitchen can help you to organize the rest of your home. Kitchen counters tend to be the central hub of activity in most homes. Consequently, messy and chaotic kitchen space can make it difficult to keep the rest of your house organized. A clean and tidy kitchen can also make cooking and baking easier because you'll have more counter space to work with. 

6. Install shelving in closets to declutter them.

Closets are a great place to organize your belongings, but often they can become cluttered very quickly. Installing shelves in your closets is a great way to declutter them and make it easy to find what you're looking for. It is possible to set up designated spaces for clothes, shoes, or even accessories by using different types of shelves. Not only will this make your closets more functional, but it will also give you a place to put everything away so that your home stays tidy. 

7. Utilize multiple labeling systems.

It can be tough to keep your home organized, especially if you have a lot of things. One way to make it a little bit easier is to create labels to help you know where everything belongs. This can be especially helpful if you have a limited amount of space. By using labels, you can be sure that everything has its own place and that everything is simple to find. You can use labels for almost anything, from storage containers to drawers to shelves. Just make sure that the labels are clear and easy to read so that you can find what you need quickly and easily.

8. Keep items in their proper places after each use.

Whether it's your kitchen, office, or bedroom, creating and sticking to a routine for putting things back in their place after use will make your life easier. It sounds simple, but when you're constantly looking for that missing pen or having to clean up a mess every time you cook, it's easy to see how this can be a challenge. By taking a few minutes each day to put everything back where it belongs, you'll save yourself time and energy in the long run. 

9. Set aside time each day (or week). 

You may think that the only way to get your home clean is to spend hours on your hands and knees, scrubbing every surface. But if you break down cleaning into small, manageable tasks, it can be easy to keep your house looking tidy. Set aside a specific time each day, even just a few minutes to do a bit of cleaning, and you'll be able to avoid feeling overwhelmed by messes. Plus, you'll be less likely to put off chores when they pile up. Whether you prefer to tackle one room at a time or take on a variety of tasks throughout the house, you can make progress towards having a clutter-free space. 

CONCLUSION

Your home is a reflection of you. It's where you come to relax and escape the everyday stresses of life. But if your home is cluttered and messy, it can be difficult to find that sense of peace and calm. That's why it's helpful to organize your home in a way that works for you. 

There are a lot of different ways to organize your home. But no matter what system you choose, the most important thing is to be consistent. By creating and following a specific system, you can make sure that everything has its place and is easily accessible when you need it. By keeping your home organized, you'll be able to live a more productive and stress-free life!

BIO:

Hannah is a VEED content marketer who appreciates partnering with high-quality websites and sharing her creative work. During her hectic days as a skilled content creator, she doesn't skip a sip of espresso.

How to declutter your home in 2022

We have been stuck in our homes more than ever, using it as an office, a school, a place to relax and play. The result? A whole load of clutter slowly closes in on you and the family. At the start of 2022, when we are still advised to work from home, we should start to clear a way through the objects in our way.

Here we look at some of the best hints and tips for decluttering your home and making room for the life you want to lead.

Take small steps

While it might be emotionally cathartic to whizz through your home in one go, it will be easier and more productive if you start small. Knowing that you have to declutter and leaving it in the corner of your mind as something you need to do won’t work. You will likely be reading an article in a year asking how to declutter your home in 2023.

Consequently, the best way forward is to start with a five minute declutter every day. Choose an area, sort through some of your stuff, and then move on. Alternatively, work at a rate of one item a day or one bin bag at a time. Choose a way that makes the job feel possible to you and get into a habit of doing it every day. One great tip is to set a reminder on your smart speaker to prompt you to do it at a set time in the day. 

Do it for charity

Doing something because it needs to be done is hard, and we can come up with a million reasons why it can wait until tomorrow. Yet, when one of those bags comes through the door from a charity, you can use this to motivate you to act. The small crying child or the hurt animal needs you to act, and you will do it for them, as you are a good person. External motivation is more often a powerful influence than our internal voices.

A good place to start your decluttering for charity is in the wardrobe. Think, when was the last time I wore this? And if you remember a time three years ago, this item should probably go to the charity.

Another way to trigger that motivation is by taking up a challenge. So, try the 12-12-12 challenge. You and your family each have to find 12 objects to recycle, 12 to donate and 12 that need to be returned to the rightful owner. Offer a prize to the person who does this most efficiently and effectively… you will be surprised how quickly your home becomes decluttered!

View your home as though you are visiting it for the first time

The problem might not be your levels of motivation. The issue might be that you don’t know what clutter is and your life. Everything in your home might feel like it has a role and history, and each thing is precious.

Here, you will have to separate yourself from the place in front of you. Taking away that subjective point of view is hard, but when you can do it, you will find it much easier to say, “I don’t need this anymore; it is just cluttering up my life.”

So, look around your home as though seeing it for the first time. Choose someone you just met and make up a story of inviting them into your house. What would they see? You will soon start to see the places in your home that need your attention. 

Learn about the Japanese of decluttering and organizing

In the KonMari method, Marie Kondo offers a powerful mindset to tidying. There are two pieces of advice from this method that are a good place to start. First, declutter by category, not location. In other words, start with books, move on papers, work through your clothes. In this method, you leave the sentimental items until last. Then, hold them in your hands as you sort through these items. Does this item spark joy in you? If yes, keep it; if not, discard it. 

This method is so helpful because it recognizes that our home is an extension of who we are. Therefore, decluttering is more than just tidying up; it explores what is important to you now. 

Start your declutter now

These are all powerful approaches to decluttering. Really, if you listen carefully, the problem is one of procrastination. Therefore, if you are reading this article, you are likely putting off this job you already know you need to get done. The answer? Do it now.