Archives for 2018

Decorating a small home or a small apartment is definitely tricky compared to decorating a larger home. You have to be much more selective when you’re decorating a small home, because you’ll have to buy stuff that will fit in small spaces. You’ll have to get creative, you’ll have to be strategic, and you’ll have to de-clutter. Decorating a larger home where there’s a lot of space for all of your belongings and all of your kids’ belongings is easier. It doesn’t require nearly as much thought or as much creativity.

Luckily, getting creative can be fun. When you’re decorating a small home, you’ll want to find furniture that doubles as storage, and hang big mirrors to make your space appear larger. When choosing your décor, you’ll want to think about dual-purpose items that help you make the most of the limited space you have. If you can hide all of your kids’ toys in a stylish hollow ottoman, that’s the best of both worlds. Below are some tips for decorating a small home:

1. Buy Dual-Purpose Furniture

Dual-purpose furniture includes things like storage beds or a wall-mounted, foldable table that transforms into wall art when it’s folded up. When you’re decorating a small home, you know that visible clutter will ruin the aesthetic. Storage furniture will save you in this regard. There are hollow ottomans that double as hidden storage. There are storage bed frames that have concealed drawers built in. You can find coffee tables that have slide-out storage that remains completely hidden. This type of thing is great for hiding your home work-out gear, kids’ toys, books and blankets. When it comes to sizing, many furniture stores specialize in selling condo-sized or smaller furniture, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding nice furniture that fits.

Going back to the idea of a wall-mounted, foldable table – this is perfect for moms or dads who sometimes have to take work home with them. When it’s not being used as a table, it looks like wall art. But whenever you need a desk, you can fold it down into a table, and wooden art work is now your desk, only taking up space temporarily.

2. De-Clutter

Clutter in a small home looks terrible. Too much stuff in a small space looks messy, and that’s why becoming more of a minimalist is crucial if you’re trying to make your small home look nice. If you’re having a hard time parting with certain belongings, get a storage unit. Some storage facilities offer pick-up and delivery services, which makes storing items a hassle-free experience. Livable, an on-demand storage facility based out of Boston, says: “We come to your location, pick up your items and move them to our secure storage facility. Want something back from your Boston storage unit? Schedule your next day delivery online or with our mobile app.” There may be non-essential items you don’t need in your home, but if you don’t want to part with those items, a storage space is the perfect solution.

3. Use Floating Shelves

A regular bookshelf takes up a lot of space. Floating shelves, on the other hand, can be placed above something that’s already taking up floor space, like your dresser. This makes a lot of sense since there’s open, unused space above your dresser and floating shelves look chic while still providing you with an area to store stuff. Mirrored or triangle-shaped floating shelves add a stylish look to your home, and you can place your kids’ trophies on there or other items that need a home. Floating shelves can even be used in the kitchen to save kitchen space. Install some floating shelves in your kitchen to store jars, mugs, and other kitchen items.

In general, identifying and making good use of dead space is a smart move when you’re decorating a small apartment. Blank walls that beckon some shelving, empty corners that would welcome a corner shelving unit, and space under a bed or under a couch can all be used rather than leaving it as unused space.

4. Use Mirrors

Invest in some big and beautiful mirrors to mount on your walls and open up your space. Mirrors make your small home appear larger, and mirrors also reflect light which helps make your space look brighter. A statement mirror will act as wall art while also making your home look bigger and brighter. Statement mirrors are often embellished with beautiful frames, geometric in shape, or designed to look like a window.

Getting away for the winter is the perfect opportunity to escape the cold weather and bond with your children. You’ll have a much better experience and a more successful trip when you take the time to plan ahead.

Use this trip as a way to spend quality time with your kids and also to relax yourself. Keep in mind that it’s important to remain flexible both in the preparation stages and as you depart to your final destination. While it can be fun to have your children come along with you on vacation, keep in mind that it will be extra work on your part. It’s important to remain optimistic that all will go smoothly based on your preplanning and to simply be glad you’re all together.

Create A Budget

Your vacation will get off to a much better start when you take the time to create a budget in advance. Check out a company such as Bonsai Finance to help you get the financial tools and resources you need so that you can make your trip a reality. It’s a smart idea to figure out how much money you’ll require all together, so you can not only cover the costs of travel and hotel, but also any other miscellaneous or food expenses you’ll need once you’re at your destination. Use this budget as a guideline for helping you to select where you might want to go and what you might want to do.

Research Destinations

Where you decide to travel to on your winter vacation with your children is a major deciding factor in determining how much fun you’ll have as a group. It’s in your best interest to take the time to do your homework and research a lot of different destinations. You should plan to decide early on if you want to get away to someplace warm and be on a beach or rent a cabin in the snow somewhere and enjoy the season. Jump online and start scoping out the hot spots and what’s affordable so that you can begin to narrow down where you want to go. Also, read the reviews from other travelers to help you decide if it’s a destination worth checking out.

Confirm there are Children’s Activities to do

Since you’re traveling with your children, it makes sense you’d want to have a good idea ahead of time regarding what there is to do for people of all ages. As you figure out where you’re going to travel to, confirm there are children’s activities to do that will keep you all engaged on your vacation. The last situation you want is to head someplace that’s made for adults and have your kids feeling bored the entire time. Make sure your search criteria includes this detail so that wherever you’re going ends up being an excellent place for children and families to hang out. You want to confirm there are plenty of entertaining options available and at your fingertips before committing to a destination.

Shop for Appropriate Clothing

Packing is all part of the process when you decide to go on a vacation, especially with your children. Rummage through all of your closets and figure out what you already own and what you may need to purchase before you depart. Try to pack light, so you’re not all having to carry around heavy bags and assist your children as well as keeping an eye on your own belongings. Find out what the expected weather and temperature is going to be while you’re there and shop for appropriate clothing accordingly. Make it a point to only pack the necessities and what you need, instead of bringing along too much as to avoid unwanted headaches and frustration. Also, pack sunscreen if you’ll be out in the sunshine and warm clothes if you’re going someplace with colder temperatures to help protect everyone’s skin.

Outline Your Trip

You’ll have a much more pleasant and successful winter vacation with your children when you proactively outline your trip well in advance. Have a good idea of what you’ll be doing and a loose schedule you can all follow once you arrive. Your vacation will feel more organized and less chaotic when you all know what to expect and are sticking to an outlined plan. Remember to also pencil in some alone and downtime for your family to rest and relax without having to be anywhere in specific. Figure out where you’ll be staying, which attractions you want to see and book your reservations early for any activities you know you want to do.

Plan Ahead for Work & School

It’s possible you’ll need to take little extra time off or away from work and school as you plan out your winter vacation with your children. Make sure you all get the approval from the teachers and your boss before you invest the money in your trip. Also, it’s a wise idea to work ahead and get any tasks or assignments completed and out of the way before you all leave. This way, you can simply sit back and enjoy your time together without having to worry about your obligations back home. If you do need to check in to work while you’re away, set limitations, so you don’t become a distraction on your family vacation. Help your kids in advance as well, so they’re not feeling stressed out while on your trip thinking about schoolwork.

Conclusion

Follow these tips, and you’ll have a much easier time planning the perfect winter vacation for you and your children. Quit worrying about all that could go wrong and focus your attention on what you can do ahead of time to guarantee a seamless getaway for you and the ones you love. Start the planning process early on, so you’re not feeling pressured or rushed into making decisions at the last minute. Involve your family in the preparation process, so everyone feels like they have a voice, are looking forward to the vacation and know what to expect.