Book Review - Cozy

In Denmark they call it  Hygee (pronounced Hoo-ga) Hygee is experiences with the people you love, being together in a safe comforting environment. Along the same theme, Isabel Gilles has written COZY The Art of Arranging YOURSELF in the WORLD. 

 When we think of the word cozy we think of a warm blanket, favorite slippers, a special chair or hot cup of tea/coffee. Ms. Gillies explains that being cozy goes beyond objects. According to the author, “cozy is an attitude, not a thing- a shortcut to bringing the most essential parts of ourselves with us where ever we go.” 

For example, the author suggests that making the bed can be cozy. As professional organizers we always suggest to our clients to make the bed daily. Making the bed brings order to the day. You have completed a morning task which will encourage you to do other tasks on your to-do list. Also, a clean made bed encourages you to keep the rest of your bedroom organized as well. While you make the bed, you can use the time to set priorities and plan. Of course, in the evening there is nothing like heading to the bedroom and seeing a clean room and well-made bed after a hectic day. 

Another room that people find cozy is the kitchen. The smells, the people, the heat from the oven or stove all can be cozy. Many times our cozy childhood memories are the family gathered for meals or watching parents cook. The author states, “kitchens are full of stories as anthologies-if spatulas could talk.” Of course an organized kitchen is always helpful. Here is the note Ms. Gilles leaves for her children, “Turn off all appliances, put food away, clean dirty dishes, wipe down counters, does the kitchen look tidy?” 

The book is divided into five parts and we are shown that coziness can be found in many places such as  our travels, in our hobbies, in our alone time, in what we drink and even at our workplace. The book ends with family recipes which adds to the coziness of just reading the book.

What the reader learns is that cozy is not just objects in our home but a way of life. If we can dig deep and look beyond our stuff we can find cozy/safety in our daily life, no matter where we are. As the author states, “Cozy isn’t something that just exists. You have to make cozy happen.” By reading COZY, we have the power to make our lives fuller and happier just by acknowledging the coziness of our surroundings.

Isabel Gillies is a New York Times bestselling author of Happens Every Day, A  Year and Six Seconds and Starry Night.

Cozy: The Art of Arranging Yourself in the World

By Gillies, Isabel

Buy on Amazon

Saving Space: 3 Effective Storage Techniques for a Nursery

Building your baby’s nursery is one of the most exciting milestones you’ll experience on your way to becoming a new parent. But as eager as you are to get the room painted and decorated, it’s important that you don’t forget about an essential aspect—storage. Nurseries tend to be very small, and newborns require a lot of supplies to be comfortable in this room. It’s up to you to find ways to incorporate more storage into this area and keep everything your child needs within reach. Learn these effective storage techniques for a nursery to start off on the right track.

Utilize the Space Under the Crib

The crib may feature up to a foot of space between the frame and the floor, depending on the model. This is the perfect place to store any items you won’t use frequently—like extra clothing or blankets. If you don’t want this area to look unsightly, you can even hide the things underneath with the addition of a cute crib skirt.

Buy a Spacious Dresser

You can also incorporate more storage by choosing the right dresser. While it might seem like these items take up precious floor space, you can do a lot with them. The drawers can be deeper than they appear. This allows you to hide any items you don’t need and protect them from damage. Their compact design also makes it possible to fit more objects without taking up more floor space.

Install Plenty of Shelves

Another effective storage technique for a nursery is to utilize the space along the walls as much as possible. It’s common for new parents to get so caught up in arranging the furniture pieces on the ground that they forget the walls. With the installation of a few shelves, you can store everything from toys and games to books and beloved stuffed animals. This will get these items out of the way while keeping them nice and organized.

Alternatives To Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring exudes class and elegance and is the preferred flooring choice for many. They also happen to be very expensive. So, let us take a look at some of the alternatives to hardwood flooring.

For those of you who are familiar with the topic, you realize that hardwood flooring is a top pick, yet hardwood doesn't work for all conditions nor all budgets. In this way, I needed to give my main 3 options in contrast to hardwood flooring. A part of these alternatives will settle issues or concerns you may have with hardwood (for example water/dampness) and a few areas, and some will save you a lot of money… and some will do both. 

Likewise, in the event that you are a good DIY-er, you might have the option to set aside cash by installing these items yourself. 

Low Cost Alternatives to Hardwood Flooring 

There are numerous reasons that hardwood may not work for you. It could basically be that you need a more affordable other option, or an item that you can install yourself so you can get a good deal. Or on the other hand, you may require an item that is waterproof or impervious to humidity. Or on the other hand, you might be installing in an area where strong hardwood isn't exactly supported, or there may not be sufficient tallness for strong hardwood. Or then again, you may have a solid subfloor and simply need an item that can go straightforwardly on top of it. 

Along these lines, below are 3 flooring choices you can utilize. Furthermore, practically every one of them can look like hardwood, and most are more affordable. 

1. Luxury vinyl plank flooring (or designed vinyl planks) 

This is quite possibly the most imaginative item this decade, and I totally love it as it looks so acceptable and is so adaptable. Luxury vinyl planks (at times called Engineered vinyl planks or luxury vinyl) are planks that closely resemble genuine hardwood, yet they are WATERPROOF! Indeed, waterproof! Thus, they are extraordinary for zones in the house that may get humid or somewhat wet (for example kitchens, cellars, powder rooms). 

2. Wood look tiles 

These have been around for some time and are an incredible alternative on the off chance that you need a wood look, yet in addition need something waterproof. They've gotten very famous, so they are currently around in an assortment of shades, surfaces and styles. Some even look rusty or handscraped. 

They are a top choice for some in kitchens, gateways, mudrooms, restrooms and cellars. They are particularly well known in warm atmospheres as they keep your space cooler in the hotter months. In cooler atmospheres, they can be cold on your feet, so these tiles are normally installed in more modest territories or over radiant heat. 

In case you're searching for grays or white washes, these tiles furnish incredible alternatives as they start with a white base, so they can get a genuine clean white or dark look (contrasted with hardwood floors which are additionally testing to restore gray given the yellow and pinkish tones in genuine hardwood). 

In the event that you have a solid subfloor that is even, tiles are moderately simple to install as they can go straightforwardly on top of cement. Also, in case you're keen on introducing a lot of  warmth, tiles are the best flooring surface for this as they lead the warmth best (and accordingly are generally effective). 

3. Laminate flooring 

Laminate floors benefits are more affordable than hardwood, so in case you're truly going for "inexpensive," this is the best approach. Laminate flooring is interactive (so it's a drifting floor) and can be installed effectively on top of tile or solid flooring (as long as you add an underlayment). 

If you don't mind, note that laminate floorings are NOT waterproof. Truth be told, they quickly retain dampness – like a wipe or cardboard. They also range vastly in quality and costs. The more costly ones look better and are more solid, yet they do cost more… and by then, you are presumably better moving up to an item like luxury vinyl planks which are waterproof… or genuine hardwood flooring. 

Yet, most laminate flooring that you'll see, particularly in big retail stores, are on the lower end, and they don't hold up so well (they regularly delaminate), and they look and sound more phony. Be that as it may, as I stated, in case you're searching for the least expensive alternative, this is the best approach. In case you're searching for the best worth alternative and can spend somewhat more, I'd urge you to think about other different choices.

How to Easily Organize Your Closet Like a Pro

We partnered with a clothing company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

Tired of messing up your closet looking for clothing or shoes in the morning? Annoyed at all the social media posts of pretty, organized closets? “But they make it look so easy.” Yes, and you can too! Here are some solid tips to organize your closet like you were born to do it. 

1. Declutter your clothes by category

Never declutter all your clothes at once. The piles and piles of clothing can overwhelm you. When you hit that point, you might just give up too early. Here are some ways to declutter your clothes that will keep you sane at the same time. 

Have a decluttering calendar. Even if you go by category, doing everything on the same day can still overwhelm you. Split the clothes by category and declutter them one category per day. For example: week 1, shirts. Week 2, pants. Week 3, formal wear. That way, the work becomes bite-sized.

Take out all the clothes in one category. Wait until after laundry day to declutter, and then take out everything in the one category. For example, if you are doing dresses, take out all your dresses and lay them out. This way, you can see everything at a glance. 

2. Empty and clean your closet

In between your decluttering days, you need a hard reset to help you take your closet by storm. Do this by giving your closet a thorough overhaul and cleaning. Yes—your whole closet. Lay them in neat piles on clean sheets on the floor or on the bed. 

The next step: Clean the closet. Wipe it down, get even the dust mites out of the corners. You’ll be surprised at how satisfying it feels, a little like looking at a house you’re about to move into. By listing your dresses on The Volte, people can effortlessly declutter their wardrobe while also turning their dresses into a source of income, as this platform provides a convenient way to rent out their stylish attire. Lastly, don’t put everything back at once. Visualize the closet you want to have. If there is something you want to add, like shelves or box organizers, plan where to put them. Grab a sketchbook and make crazy drawings of your dream closet.

3. Design your ideal closet space

Jumping off from emptying and cleaning your closet, it’s time to take those drawings to the next level. Here are some tips to create the closet you want. 

Put hanging clothes at waist level. Why do you need to overextend your shoulders just to pull out a shirt? Department stores have the right idea: everything at waist level. On the higher sections, put shelves and accessories that you don’t wear every day.

Don’t put everything in the closet. It’s tempting to toss everything we don’t want to see into the deep, dark corners of our closets. But they take up space—space you could otherwise use for clothing. Try using your closets exclusively for hung clothing, shoes, and accessories. 

Put your shoes in drawers. You’ll be surprised at how much space that saves. Your shoes will look elegant and arranged, be easy to find, and most importantly, they won’t take up clothing space!

4. Store your clothes by category

One good way to keep your closet neat is to keep it categorized. That way you don’t fumble around your pile of clothes for the dressier blouse among all the t-shirts. 

Start by separating all your tops from your bottoms and then separating full-body clothing like jumpers and dresses from those. Underthings, workout wear, and accessories like scarves and ties should be in their own category. 

It's a good idea to separate your everyday wear from your special occasion clothing. This will make it easier to find the perfect outfit for any occasion. Like this comfy USA-made underwear, which is perfect for everyday wear and travel. In some countries, this may be called a "wardrobe" or "wardrobe system.

Split those into further categories. Now, take a good long look at everything you have. Do you have redundant pieces in your closet? Just what is the recommended number of bras, or ties, or belts anyway? If you find redundancy, consider donating or selling what you don’t need. 

Finally, put them back in the closet according to category. It might take you a little time to remember where they are, but it will pay off in the long run. 

5. Use coordinating hangers

Since you already know exactly what you want your closet to look like, it’s time to dress it up. Yes, even closets have accessories! And your closet’s accessories are called “hangers.” 

Coordinating hangers keep your clothing at the same height. This is important especially for collared shirts and dresses, which can crinkle and fold against each other if they are not at the same height. It also means that when you reach up for a hanger, you don’t bump against the others because they’re wider. You also don’t miss seeing others because they’re thinner.

Finally, coordinating hangers dress up your closet. Any closet can look neater and more organized with an impressive array of matched hangers. So when you know the color scheme and hanger style you want, buy all of your hangers in that set. 

Done right, organizing your closet can be therapeutic and not just productive. And you can easily do it just like a pro.