Closet Organization Tips for Large Families

Having a large family is wonderful, and being a member of such means that there is never a dull moment at home. You don't know what being alone is as you are constantly surrounded by people who understand you, support you, care for you, people who love you. And while big households are great for our well-being, not all homes are equipped to deal with so many souls in one place. More precisely, not all of them come with enough closet space for everyone. Luckily, this problem can be solved by turning to certain closet organization tips, the biggest of which is replacing individual wardrobes with one big family closet.

What exactly is a family closet, and how can it make organizing easier?

The idea behind it is quite simple, actually. It involves saying goodbye to ordinary, tiny wardrobes and switching them for a room designed for the whole family to store their garments. Depending on the home's layout and size, the room could even function as a laundry room. Of course, in some instances, the latter isn't possible. If so, setting up a walk-in family closet close by it is highly recommended for added convenience.

But what benefits are there to it? Well, for starters:

• They make putting away clothes a piece of cake as everyone's things are in one place

• Individual clothing items are easier to spot since everything is on display

• It's easy to stay on track with the wardrobe you and your children no longer need

• You can lay out the outfits for tomorrow without making clutter

• The old closets can serve as storage space for other things

With so many advantages to having a one-for-all clothing area, it's no wonder why more and more families are beginning to utilize them. There are various ways to make them work for you, some of which are covered in the following closet organization tips.

Purge first, organize later

Before you begin working on the right organizing system for your closet, get rid of the things you and your loved ones no longer need. Maternity dresses, kids' outgrown clothes, and faded jeans all fit the bill. However, instead of throwing them all away, consider that those less fortunate could benefit from what you consider old rags. With that in mind, a smart way to deal with unnecessary clothes is to divide them into two piles. The first being things you will donate, and the second those you'll dispose of.

Decluttering is definitely one of the simple ways to get more precious space in both the individual closets you'll soon no longer need and the brand-new family one. Additionally, by transferring your clothes into the shared closet, you allow the previous ones to be used as storage for, let's say, toys or appliances.

For better closet organization, switch from racks to shelves

Some moms would say that keeping a large family's closet well organized is a nightmare. But it doesn't have to be. One way to sort out a messy wardrobe and provide room for all the garments is to replace the clothing racks with shelves. Combined with neat folding, these allow you to store a lot more items than you would if you were to hang them on a rack.

Think about the kids while arranging clothes

As far as family closet organization tips go, this one is golden. Before you come up with a system that works for you, bear in mind that you must also develop a system that works for your little ones. Shelves alone will make it easier for children to spot their clothes, especially if you commit to arranging them by color and labeling compartments with your kids' names. Also, you must make sure your kids can actually reach their outfits, so keeping them on lower levels is advisable. Higher shelves should be reserved for you, your significant other, or the things your family uses only on rare occasions.

Find a place for all the particular items

Your shared closet can only remain neat if you find a place for absolutely everything. It's not only clothes that require storing, but also things like shoes, bags, hats, and jewelry. To keep your footwear in check, you can introduce a shoe organizer to the area. You can keep bags on shelves, but, as far as hats and jewelry go, wall-mounted hooks are just the place for them! They'll stay on display, as well as be easy to grab on the go.

Keep the laundry basket in the family closet

This is one of those commonly suggested closet organization tips that are all about convenience. By keeping the laundry basket in the same room as your loved ones' clothes, you simplify the process of doing laundry. Just think about how time-consuming it is to go from room to room to check everybody's drawers (or floor) for dirty garments. With one closet for all, this scenario is a thing of the past. Thanks to it, you'll save both precious time and energy. Plus, if your washer and dryer happen to be nearby, removing the clothing items from them and putting them back in their place will turn into a breeze.

Decorate the shared area for a feel-good vibe

It's not all about creating a clever organizing system for your family home wardrobe but also keeping the room pretty. The goal is to transform it into an area that makes you feel good. Or rather, decorate it with a boutique kind of vibe in mind. This can be accomplished by sprucing up the walls with wallpapers, adding ambient lighting, a comfortable couch, and a full-length mirror. Either way, feel free to experiment in any way you like. Just don't forget to involve the kids in the process!

Final words

While initially meant for large families, these closet organization tips aren't only applicable to them. In fact, it's quite the contrary! Every family can make use of a one-for-all wardrobe. Not only will it provide the additional storage space they may need, but it will also allow for the area to remain tidy. Plus, keeping everything in one place will make finding particular clothing items more manageable than ever before. Sounds good, doesn't it?

How to Decorate a Bedroom on a Budget

Decorating your bedroom to suit your ideal aesthetic is a must for your happiness and mental health, but it can be prohibitively costly. 

No matter the budget, you can achieve your ideal sanctuary by understanding which elements are worth spending money on. Check out our inspirational list below of budget-friendly ways to decorate your bedroom!

1. Make the Wall Decor Yourself

Original artwork and prints for above your bed can run you anywhere from fifty dollars to thousands of dollars, making it one of the least affordable bedroom embellishments you can purchase. If you’re on a tight budget, the solution lies in making your wall decor yourself. 

Canvases of any size can be purchased from your local art supplies store. If you’re artistically inclined, you can hang your latest masterpiece or paint something new with your space’s color scheme in mind. You can also macramé wall art or craft a hanging wall quilt, both of which are relatively simple DIY projects.

Making your decor yourself isn’t just cost-effective—it’s also more meaningful and personal than a canvas print of the Eiffel Tower. It makes your room a little bit more “you,” even if it’s a far cry from professional quality.

2. Put Up Pictures

Posters and collages aren’t just for college dorms. If you truly shudder at the thought of producing artwork, print out or gather some of your favorite photos! 

Make any picture, print, or poster look instantly classier by framing it. Even something as inexpensive as a magazine poster gets a leg up when it has a well-fitting frame with thoughtful positioning in your room. Again, choosing wall imagery that speaks to your personality is what makes your room truly yours. Don’t just hang up any old poster, map, or paper on your wall.

3. Shop Reused or Refurbished Furniture

New furniture is an expensive investment that will eat up your bedroom budget. In the days of fast fashion and brand-new everything, we tend to consider used furniture as a final resort, but that’s neither realistic nor sustainable. 

Truthfully, a well-made piece of furniture can and should last a lifetime. Opting for used furniture helps keep pieces that have plenty of life left out of the landfill, making it a more environmentally-friendly choice. Buying unwanted used furniture can also cost you mere pennies and look far better than the expensive, average-quality furniture you find at big retailers. Plus, combing through online shops or thrift stores for a hidden gem can be fun and rewarding in and of itself.

4. Add Greenery

Never underestimate the power of plants when it comes to transforming your home or bedroom! When you’re struggling to figure out how to fill a space, add greenery. 

There are so many easy indoor plants to choose from. Cacti, including the useful aloe vera plant, are low-maintenance and gorgeous options. Peace lilies need relatively little sunshine and an average amount of watering, and they’re great for air quality. Spider plants are also good for air quality, and they also look beautiful when hanging from your ceiling. All of these plants and more are both budget-friendly and will keep your space looking lively.

5. Choose Lasting Bedding

Yes, you’re on a budget, but if there’s one thing you shouldn’t skimp on, it’s quality bedding. This isn’t to say you have to choose silk sheets made for royalty, but selecting bedding that lasts is going to be the thing that saves you a lot of money in the long run.

If you opt for cheap polyester sheets, you’ll most likely notice a difference in your sleep quality. You’re also going to have to replace the sheets and duvet when they’re inevitably damaged or torn in just a few years. 

The cost may seem like a lot now, but purchasing a duvet and sheet set designed to last for at least ten to twenty years means you have one upfront cost and that’s it. Your bed set will wash easily and look wonderful many years later. 

6. Clean Up Clutter

The number one thing you can do to make your space look neat and decorated is by organizing it. Interior organization skills are what can take a space from “dorm room” to “adult bedroom” in a flash. 

Just remember: everything needs a place. Having piles of clothes or clutter lying around will undo any hard work you’ve done decorating and contribute to a stressful environment. Do your research and consult gurus like Marie Kondo who kindly help you organize by keeping what’s important and tossing what isn’t.

Why You Should Embrace Concrete In Your Next Home Renovation

The next time you’re scrolling through Pinterest on ideas for your next DIY home renovation project, pay attention to how much concrete you see. It’s everywhere! Instead of sidelining concrete as a construction material that’s just for roads and bridges, interior designers have embraced concrete as the perfect aesthetic for the modern age.

But using concrete in your home has many more benefits than simply being visually appealing. Concrete as a construction material provides homeowners lots of benefits. Here are six reasons why you should incorporate concrete everywhere in your home. 

1. It’s Strong… And Gets Stronger

Compared to traditional building materials like wood or bricks, concrete is able to hold much more weight without breaking. And the best part? As concrete hardens (often referred to as curing) up to several years after it was created, the bonds between the materials actually get up to 10 percent stronger. This makes your home even stronger with age, and who doesn’t want that?

2. It’s Durable

If you’re looking for a building material that will hold up no matter what you throw at it—whether that’s a natural disaster, dropping something heavy on it, or just years of kids running around wreaking havoc on your home—concrete’s durability makes it an attractive choice for homeowners. 

Since the bonds between all of the materials within the concrete are so strong if properly mixed, the final product is surprisingly resistant to weather, impact, stains, and time. If you’re still not convinced, consider that the roads the Roman Empire built out of concrete are still around—and being used! 

3. It’s Better For The Environment

Lowering your environmental impact is very important for a growing number of homeowners. For people who want their home renovations to be environmentally friendly while still being aesthetically attractive, concrete checks off both of those boxes. 

At its core, concrete only has five ingredients: cement, water, sand, gravel, and air. These are all-natural ingredients that can easily be recycled and reused for other projects. When you compare that to wood—a building material that more and more people are avoiding due to deforestation, concrete is a great alternative for sustainability.

4. It’ll Save You Money

For homeowners who want to make their home more energy-efficient, incorporating concrete into your home’s foundations, walls, or floor can lead to substantial energy savings over time. Compared to wood-framed homes, the high mass of concrete slows down the movement of heat inside your home. This keeps your home warmer for longer—lowering your home’s energy bills while also lowering your environmental footprint. 

5. It’s Safe

Traditional homes built with wood are constantly in danger of burning down—even an unattended candle can cause a home to easily go up in flames. Since concrete isn’t flammable, it’s a safer option for home construction and gives homeowners more protection against accidents.

Houses with wooden frames also pose a danger of rot and mildew building up and making the entire structure unsound. Concrete has a low water permeability, which means it’s much harder for water to get inside. This makes it more resistant to bad weather than other materials, keeping everyone inside the home safe and warm no matter what’s going on outside. 

6. It’s Trending

The industrial design aesthetic isn’t going anywhere anytime soon—it’s a timeless design choice that gives homeowners and designers the perfect base to make their home look and feel the way they want. 

Concrete can have a variety of aesthetic looks to fit every home style. Whether you like the matt, brutalist concrete vibe you see in parking structures, or the smooth and polished look that’s everywhere in modern designs these days, concrete’s versatility makes it perfect for any design preference. 

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re looking to build your next home from the ground up or are simply looking for your next DIY home renovation project, concrete is a great addition to any home. Since it’s the most widely used building material in the world, there are lots of great resources out there to help you get started on your next concrete project. For some of the larger builds, you may have to bring in contractors who are familiar with handling large-scale concrete needs—but don’t be afraid to try out some smaller DIY home improvements yourself.

6 Tips to Decorate Yoga Room at Home

Peace of mind means a relaxed body and soul. When relaxed, you are capable of getting a lot done. Yoga is one of the oldest body and mind practices currently practiced across the world, designed to help the body relax. There are various yoga postures any person can try out to help with meditation and relaxation. Just the way people have been investing in home gyms, others are designing their homes with space yoga. Previously people depended on yoga instructors to fully benefit from this ancient practice. However, due to tech advancement, people can find various tutorials and publications on yoga for beginners, as well as the basic requirements for a yoga room. Here are a few decorative features you can consider for your yoga room to get it in shape for yoga practice.

1. Carefully Select the Yoga Room Essentials.

The most basic thing you will need for the room is a yoga mat. Choose a mat that fits your needs and complements the décor of your choice, from the paint on the walls to the curtain on the window. Other things you can consider adding include yoga blocks that will help lengthen your reach when working on flexibility. For yoga wear, you can go for yoga straps to increase the challenge when you take on certain postures. Fit in a bolster to help with restorative poses while transforming the room into a meditation haven.

2. Set the Mood with Warm Lighting and Soothing Hues

Yoga combines various methods such as meditation, physical postures, and breathing techniques to bring out the best results. All these are practices that need to de practice in a safe space with the right lighting and toning to support peace of mind. Most yoga spaces are bathed in the soft cream shade to bring out a calm and comforting feeling with a subtle and warm feeling to rule out a dullness. Install dimming bulbs that can be controlled either through a switch or control panel to your specific lighting needs.

3. Plants and Terrariums

Being close to nature is one of the most calming experiences, according to various therapists and experts. Getting an indoor plant you can nurture to grow good for emotional stability and mental health, things you need to maximize your yoga routine. A yoga room is definitely a safe space. You need to make it purposeful, a place where you can relate and unwind. If natural plants are a no-go for you, opt for the plastic ones.

4. Install Mirrors

Aside from complementing the beauty of your space, mirrors are a practical addition when you are trying out yoga for beginners. Yoga, most of the time, aims to increase your self-esteem, make you feel comfortable in your skin. However, it does not hurt to look at yourself as you do your routines. Other people may find full-size mirrors distracting when practicing. When you find yourself in this position, go for a smaller and decorative option that appeals to your taste.

5. Crystals

There is a lot of chatter when it comes to crystals and yoga practice. In yoga, people use crystals to control the energies in them, amplify their intentions and promote their inner strength. At least, that is what most people in the yoga community believe. Regardless of your opinion on crystals, these gems are beautiful and decorative and could just be what you need to boost the ambiance of your yoga room. Set them strategically across the room to complement the rest of the décor and bring your desired look.

6. Inspirational and Educational Posters

Like any other exercise or workout routine, practicing yoga needs a little boost of confidence and words of encouragement. Seeing the right words at the right moment can give just enough push to get to where you want to be. A few words of encouragement on the walls can help remind you and inspire you to concentrate and believe in your efforts.

Aside from inspiration, the educational posters can help with a guideline on how to do some moves or techniques to get the best out of practice. They also come in handy when you forget a few moves, especially if you’re at the beginner level.

One thing you should keep in mind is less can be more. You do not have to fill the room with decorations to get the best out of it. Keep the room simple with a few essential decorations that help set the mood.