Guest Post - Getting the Most Out of Your Small Space

The average house size in the U.S. is growing. In the early 1970s, the average size was 1,660 square feet. As of 2015, that had jumped to 2,687 square feet for newly-constructed homes. But, many people are still moving into smaller, pre-existing homes. Some are even downsizing and jumping on the tiny house trend. 

If you’re one of those people, getting the most out of your small space is important. Living a minimalistic-yet-functional lifestyle is completely possible, even if you’re short on space. 

To make the most of your space, there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind. Thankfully, you don’t have to be a design expert to bring these tricks to life. With a bit of time, effort, and creativity, you can get more out of your small space – and may even make it feel bigger. 

So, what can you do to maximize your minimal space?

Making Your Space Functional 

To get the most out of your space, it needs to be both a functional and stylish reflection of your personality. This means choosing the right way to arrange your furniture and decorate. One of the best ways to do that is to consider the natural flow of each room. 

Consider practicing Feng Shui for your small rooms. The principle of this practice focuses on the connections between people and their spaces. The idea is that the way you arrange a room can affect things like: 

• Your relationships

• Creativity

• Prosperity

• Wealth

Some people don’t necessarily believe in those principles, but the practice of Feng Shui can make a room more functional. For example, putting your dining table in the center of the room can add a more open, flowing feel. Turning the backs of the chairs in your living room away from doors can allow people to see a bigger space with more open opportunities when they walk in. 

In addition to organizing your furniture and decor the right way, the colors and designs you choose for each room can make a difference. Using different shades of the same color in a room can make it seem bigger. Painting your ceiling a darker color will draw people’s attention upward and make the room feel higher. 

When you allow your design preferences to mesh with functionality, you can create more inviting, open spaces throughout your home – even if some of those “tricks” only provide the illusion of more space. 

Setting Up a Successful Storage Space

The last thing you want is a small space that is cluttered and disorganized. Having things on the floor or out of place can make any room seem smaller and doesn’t allow you to utilize it to its full potential. Even your basement can quickly become a more functional area of your home if you choose to rethink the way you store things. 

When you know how to store things the right way, you can continue to make smart purchases that bring you joy. You don’t have to give up everything just because you’re dealing with a small space. Instead, consider where you’ll put new items and how they’ll contribute to your existing space. Practice mindfulness with your purchases, especially if you are a collector, and ask yourself a few questions, including: 

• Am I getting a good deal?

• Will this item increase in value?

• Will it bring me joy?

• Where will I put it?

• What will I have to get rid of to make room for it?

By purchasing things that are valuable to you in some way, you’re more likely to store them practically. That might include building shelves or cupboards. You might even have an organization system somewhere with bins and boxes that are neatly hidden away to free up more space. It’s also a good idea to think outside the box – literally. When you don’t have much space, getting creative with your storage solutions can be a lifesaver. Try things like: 

• Hanging items on walls

• Making vertical cabinets

• Using “hidden storage” furniture

• Sliding things under furniture

You don’t have to give up a certain lifestyle or things that you want just because you have a small space. When you’re willing to make a few changes and be creative about your storage, decor, and design, you can get the most out of your small space and be perfectly content with what you have. 

Author Bio: Noah Rue is a freelance writer.

Guest Post - 9 Small Changes to Improve Your Daily Routine

Improving your daily routine is something many people find difficult. Between housework, a full-time job, and other responsibilities, there never seems to be enough time in the day. While everyone gets the same 24 hours in a day, some people are much more productive than others, thanks to their daily routines. 

Your daily routine doesn't have to be daunting, but it can improve how you use your time to make you more productive and fulfilled throughout the day. It does take some willpower, but with these small changes, you can improve your daily routine starting right now. 

1. Become More Efficient At Work

This one is easier said than done, especially if your work tasks are determined by someone else. However, if you're someone who struggles to determine which tasks should take priority and easily get distracted switching from task to task, you could benefit from becoming more organized to help you become more productive. You can use an online tool like Trello or a notebook to write down your work tasks for the day in order of priority and importance. 

You may also want to consider working on the tasks or projects that you want to do the least first. While it's never fun starting your day off with something you don't want to do, you can improve the rest of your day by getting the boring or irritating tasks out of the way. 

2. Stick to a Schedule

Whether you wake up at the same time every day or have a more flexible routine, it's important that you stick to the same schedule even when you have nowhere to go. Yes, even on weekends. For example:

• 8 am - Wake up (don’t snooze you alarm

• 8:15 am - Get ready for work (brush your teeth, wash your face, use your acne treatment or other skin care routine, and get dressed)

• 8:45 am - Leave for work

• 12 pm - Lunch

• 5 pm - Leave work 

• 5:30 pm - Go to the gym 

• 7:00 pm - Eat dinner 

• 10:00 pm - Get into bed (Note that maintaining a healthy sleep cycle can help you jumpstart your day and make you feel more awake.)

Your schedule might also include certain times when you don't use your electronics. For example, if you're working from 9-5, you may tell yourself not to check your texts unless it's an emergency so that you can focus on the tasks at hand. You may also want to stop using your cell phone before bed so that you can fall asleep easier. 

3. Get More Exercise 

Once you begin sticking to a schedule, making time for fitness will be easier as you get used to it. Set aside at least 30 minutes to one hour every single day to get in some exercise so that you can maintain your schedule and stay healthy. 

Simply put, physical exercise is good for you, but your workouts should be regular, if not daily. If you want to improve your mood and overall health, you should aim to exercise for 30 minutes to an hour every single day. 

4. Maintain Your Productivity

Whether you work in an office or at home, something as simple as a defined workspace can help you improve and maintain your productivity. Establish an area where you do your work and nothing else. Working from bed every day may trick you into thinking it's time to sleep, not time to work, which can negatively impact your overall productivity.

5. Eat Well

Just like exercise, food impacts your mood and overall feeling of wellness. A balanced diet can improve your brain function and memory, helping you remain productive throughout the day and elevating your mood. If you're someone who doesn't have time to eat breakfast every morning, try making a breakfast smoothie to jumpstart your day and provide you with an extra boost of energy and nutrients. 

6. Start Relaxing

We live in a fast-paced world, which may make you feel like you're constantly on the go. Taking a break to relax can help improve your daily routine by providing you with time for yourself. Whether you take an hour at lunch to eat a healthy meal or meditate, you won't regret it. Making time for yourself can help you feel refreshed so that you can get back to your day in a better mood. 

7. Reward Yourself

When you finish a big project or simply get through an especially stressful day, make sure to reward yourself. Rewarding yourself gives you something to always look forward to. You can even plan your rewards so that you know exactly what you need to do to achieve your goals. Your rewards don't have to be lavish; Instead, try treating yourself with a good meal or buying something small you’ve been wanting.

Make sure the rewards fit the achievements. If you finished a large project, you might want to reward yourself with a spa day during the weekend so that you can focus on yourself after working so hard for so long. 

8. Drink More Water

Most of us drink caffeinated beverages to help us get through the day. Whether it's starting your day with an espresso or using soda as a pick-me-up after lunch, we typically replace our water with caffeinated and dehydrating beverages. If you've ever experienced brain fog, you likely haven't had enough water, or you haven't been eating balanced meals. 

Drinking water in the morning before work, throughout the day, and at night can help you feel more awake and alert, no matter how busy you are. 

9. Learn How To Multitask

By multitasking, we don't mean that you have to take care of three children while working a full-time job and cleaning your house. Instead, learn which tasks that you can do all at once so that you can save yourself some time. 

Multitasking doesn't have to be complicated; Start with simple tasks throughout the day until you get the hang of it. For example, you can eat breakfast at your desk while reading your emails every morning. The more often you multitask, the better you'll get at it, allowing you to save more time throughout the day. 

Final Thoughts

Your daily routine should lift you up so that you wake up feeling refreshed and can keep a positive attitude all day long. There’s no standard daily routine that works for everyone, but you can craft one that works for your circumstances. No matter what your daily routine, make sure that you stick with a schedule and make healthy choices morning, noon, and night. Once you get into the swing of it, you’ll see just how worthwhile the commitment is!

Matt Casadona

Matt Casadona has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. He is currently a contributing editor for 365 Business Tips. Matt is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys the San Diego life, traveling and music. 

Book Review - Unf*ck Your Habitat: You're Better Than Your Mess

Ever go visit a friend and walk into a spotless house? Everything is dust free, counters free from dishes, papers filed neatly away, no cat or dog hair anywhere. You leave feeling depressed and anxious about your own home. How do people have time to clean? Rachel Hoffman has written UnF*CK Your Habitat – You’re Better Than Your Mess. Cleaning and organizing tips for real people with busy and complicated lives. A simple and easy guide on how to house clean without anxiety.

Ms. Hoffman writes in a friendly and easy to read style. She recognizes that everyone has different family situations and different limitations. She mentions that people deal with depression, ADHD, mental illness and some live in chronic pain. Her suggestions are realistic, adaptable and attainable.

To start, the author recognizes that traditional housekeeping systems with rigid
structures and routines do not necessarily fit into the world in 2018. She suggests
that we should fit our cleaning routines around our lives instead of vice versa.
Traditional gender roles of cleaning and organizing have typically been a women’s
role. She says “bullsh*t” to that idea. Now that men and women all work outside
the home, “it’s time for us to change the way we look at domestic work and the
people who perform it. By seeing and acknowledging the amount of labor
involved, we can start to realize that a more equal division of labor in our own
homes is inherently fairer than expecting it all to fall under the umbrella of
women’s work,” writes the author.
                                                                                                                                                           UFYH, discuss why “marathon cleaning,” cleaning non-stop for a few days will
not work. Marathon cleaning will not help you build habits you need to maintain
your home. They key focus of the book is learning the 20/10’s. “A 20/10 is twenty
minutes of cleaning followed by a 10 minute break. The break is not optional,”
says Ms. Hoffman. You may ask how can I get all my cleaning done in 20
minutes? Well, you probably can’t. Larger projects may need a few 20/10’s.
However, the author points out that a lot can be accomplished in 20 minutes. By
following the 20/10’s, you will be able to keep the house up to speed without ever
falling into the marathon cleaning rut. You will be happier because you won’t feel
as if you are spending all your free time cleaning and organizing. Some people may wonder, do I have 20 minutes? UFYH points out that most people have 20 minutes to spend on social media or Netflix. Certainly, if one prioritizes wisely we all can find 20 minutes to clean.

Multi-tasking is also mentioned. “There are a million little things we can do while we are waiting on other things,” says the author. While the coffee is brewing unload the dishwasher. Dinner in the oven, wash your prep dishes. Something heating in the microwave, wipe down your surfaces. By using your time wisely, you can accomplish quite a bit.

At House to Home Organizing, one of our main tenants is “a place for everything with everything in its place.” The book stresses to put things where they belong instead of leaving them on the counter, on the hallway floor or hidden in closets. This will keep chaos from escalating and most importantly keep your surfaces clean.

Make your bed! A messy bed makes a room messier. A made bed helps you to start
the day fresh, and will keep you from getting back in! At night try to prep for the
morning. “Doing 20 minutes’ worth of work before bed can save you endless
aggravation in the morning,” says the author. Layout your clothes, clean the sink,
prep for breakfast and lunch, prep your vitamins, are a few of the suggestions for
preparing for the next day.

Take photos. At H2H, we always take before/after photos of our work.
You should too! Many times people are so exhausted by cleaning they can’t
remember what it looked like before they started. By taking photos you will see
proof in what you have accomplished. When things get messy and dirty again you
can look at the after photo and know you did it once before so certainly you can do
it again!

Oh no, your parents or best friend will be stopping by tomorrow. Your home is a
mess! Ms. Hoffman delves into emergency cleaning with gusto. She suggests put
on great music, get a non-alcoholic beverage of your choice and put the laptop and
tablets away as you don’t want any distractions. Make you bed, get your cleaning
supplies together and away you go! There is a step by step guide as to cleaners to
use, and a how to guide as to where to start and finish.

In addition there is an entire section on moving tips, unf*cking your digital habitat
and how to use the 20/10’s for school work and your real work. This book is a font
of information for the average person who needs some support and guidance trying
to maintain a clean and clutter free home. There are lots of practical
housecleaning/organizing books on the market. What really makes UFYH stand
apart from the others is that it is written for a multitude of people with different
lifestyles. Men, women, single people, people with roommates, people with physical and mental limitations and people who never learned how to clean can all benefit and learn easy and doable cleaning/organizing strategies.

Unf*ck Your Habitat: You're Better Than Your Mess

By Rachel Hoffman

Buy on Amazon

Please note: If you choose to purchase the book using our Amazon link, H2H receives a small commission designed to help keep our rates affordable.

Interview - Fit4Mom of Fairfield

Many of our clients come to House to Home because they not only want to take back control of their space, but they often want to take back control of their lives. Exercise and staying healthy can be hard for busy people and when you add kids to the equation forget about it. We spoke with Courtney at Fit4Mom for one possible solution to finding the right balance.

For the busy parent, what is Fit4Mom?

FIT4MOM is one stop shopping for the mom looking for a workout, a network of friends for her and her little ones and a supportive village to lean on through all stages of motherhood. As the nation’s leading provider of fitness programs for Moms (Fit4Baby, Stroller Strides, Stroller Barre, Body Back and Run Club) we are dedicated to Strength in Motherhood. Here, women have the opportunity to have a workout and support that is flexible around motherhood! 

How did you get started with company?

I discovered FIT4MOM right after I had my first child in 2011. As a brand new (and slightly terrified) mom, a colleague of mine encouraged me to meet her one morning at the Stamford Town Center for a class for moms and their babies called Stroller Strides. Being slightly skeptical and very nervous, I ventured out with my then 6 week old son. I mean was I really going to get a workout? What if my baby cried or was hungry? Do I need a jogging stroller? I had ALL the questions. And no sooner than the first five minutes of class did I know I found my lifeline as a new mom!

The women were kind, engaging, approachable, knowledgeable, authentic. There were moms with brand new babies like me, pregnant moms and veteran moms who had two or more children. The moms were of all fitness levels (and the workout was accessible for everyone) but most importantly, they were a wealth of mom knowledge and an instant village that I needed as a new mom! Our days and routines began to revolve around getting to Stroller Strides. It gave my baby and I a routine, something to look forward to, a great way to stay active without leaving my him and a place for me to connect with other women.  Four months into this whole motherhood gig, an opportunity to get certified and start teaching Stroller Strides classes arose and I knew I had found a way to extend my maternity leave from my teaching and coaching career.

Fast forward to my son’s first birthday and we moved from Stamford to Fairfield and my biggest concern, “what was I going to do without Stroller Strides down the street?" For a while, I continued to drive down to Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk (during rush hour) to attend and teach classes and then I got pregnant with my second. As much as I loved my village down in Stamford and Greenwich, I knew I needed one in my own town. We loved Fairfield but the one thing that was missing was Stroller Strides. So at 8 months pregnant with baby #2, I took a huge leap and purchased a FIT4MOM franchise. And this Spring, we are celebrating our 4 Year Anniversary!

Where are the classes held?

We currently have classes 6 days a week at various locations in Fairfield and Trumbull. During the warmer months (typically mid-April through mid-November) you can spot us at Veterans Park or Owen Fish Park in Fairfield and Twin Brooks park in Trumbull. During the colder weather months we hold classes at the Trumbull Mall before it opens (9am – 10am) and the Field House at Sportsplex in Fairfield. 

How does it work with the babies and kids?

During our Stroller Strides and Stroller Barre classes, the babies and kids (ranging anywhere from 6 weeks to typically 4 or 5 years of age) are buckled into their strollers. Each 60-minute workout is comprised of strength training, cardio and core restoration, all while entertaining little ones with songs, activities and fun! You will see the moms lunging and tickling toes, sprinting towards excited little ones ready to give high 5’s and kisses, planking for the duration of “Brown Bear, Brown Bear”, moms singing nursery rhymes as they use their resistance bands and more! Our instructors arrive each day with a functional, total-body conditioning workout designed for moms with kids in tow which means an arsenal of puppets, bubbles, games and songs which allow the moms to leave class feeling connected, successful and energized! No more mama guilt! This class is all about self care in a supportive and encouraging environment. After all of our classes it’s the kids turn to play!  We host weekly themed playgroups for the little ones and when we are outside the kids head to the playground. The moms with little ones get to hang out on the mats and blankets and connect and really make it a full outing each morning.

Which class is the most popular?

Our Stroller Strides and Stroller Barre classes are definitely the most popular as they are the backbone to FIT4MOM.  However, our Body Back program which is our moms only 8 week results based high intensity interval program and our Run Club provide great opportunities for moms who have returned to work or no longer have stroller aged children to take their fitness level to the next level and stay connected to our FIT4MOM Village!

Any interesting tales from the trenches mixing young ones and exercise?

I love this question because no class is ever the same, just like parenting young kiddos! A Stroller Strides or Stroller Barre class is never complete without spilled snacks, a fussy baby, a tired toddler, a sleep deprived mama, a mom who needs to pause their workout to nurse or feed their baby, some spit up or the occasional tears, you name it, we’ve seen it. Beyond the tough moments, you will see kids imitating the exercises and stretches that we did in class, an instructor rocking a fussy baby so that mama can get her workout in, little ones cheering their moms on (or telling them to run faster), little ones meeting and looking forward to seeing their best buddy, and some genuine mom and baby bonding! That’s what makes our classes so unique and special! Motherhood is hard! We are all moms (instructors included) and we get it! We pride ourselves on creating a safe space for all moms and their little ones to come together, support one another and truly provide the strength for motherhood all while knowing that #themotherhoodisreal.