Archive for ‘Home Design’
5 Tips for Better, Happier Spring Cleaning
I personally love a good cleaning session. The kind that happen on the first day of spring are the best, offering the perfect chance for a fresh start and a new attitude for the new season. Following are a few of my tips, which will hopefully help even reluctant maids embrace the joy of spring cleaning.
Go on a cleaning frenzy when the mood strikes
Clean when you want to, even if the urge hits at 2am! Spring cleaning when you have the energy and desire is more fun, less stressful, and you’ll likely do a much better job. I typically clean in the early afternoon, although I’ve been known to wash my floors on hands & knees in the middle of the night. When I’m finished, I drag my filthy self into a hot shower, and emerge out into an apartment that feels brand new. There’s no better feeling!
Wipe up all the dust, preferably while running around like a crazy person
A good cleaning game for kids is to give each child a damp white rag, have them run around dusting and see who can collect the most grime. This is a great cleaning tip for you as well – Don’t put that cloth down or into the bin until it’s completely spent! After you wipe down windrows or tables, take that rag and tackle neglected windowsills (the ones hidden behind blinds all winter) and light fixtures. Swipe that barely-there spot on the wall on your way to drop your rag in the hamper. By running around spot-cleaning small areas, you’ll feel like you’re getting more done faster, motivating you to keep moving!
I know that some people like to tackle one full room at a time, but I much prefer to do all of the tidying, then all of the dusting, followed by all of the sweeping/vacuuming… You get my point. It really keeps things from getting monotonous. For dusting, always use a damp cloth — It captures more, keeping dirt and toxins from being dispersed into the air. My favorite cloths for cleaning are our cloth wipes from Kissaluvs. Prefold diapers also make great rags (and/or cloth napkins).
Making Cleaning Day Laundry Day
All of your dusting sweeping vacuuming is going to send crap (for lack of a better word) flying into the air and all over your stuff. As you begin your cleaning, start your first load of laundry as well. Wash all bedding, furniture slipcovers, the dog’s bed. Furniture that can’t be washed may be steam cleaned – I highly recommend the Shark Pocket Steam Cleaner; it’s worth every penny. Adding laundry to your spring cleaning to-do list may seem like too much to take on but trust me, you’ll be glad you did it when you’re climbing into fresh clean sheets after all of your hard work.
Try to get your spring cleaning done on a day that’s warm enough to throw open as many windows as possible. Ideally, you should always dust and vacuum with open windows or doors. A breezy day is ideal, letting the air sweep through and carry out toxins in the air. A nice breeze will also help keep you cool as you’re working up a sweat whilst cleaning like a maniac!
Use safe products
Ditch the Windex and opt for cleaning solutions from Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, or ecoSTORE USA. (Mrs. Meyers is one of the spendier options, but the scents are ahh-mazing.) Don’t think you can afford to make a switch? Pop for a gallon of white vinegar and a box of baking soda instead. (You can even buy those ones of food stamps – Ain’t no shame in it!) Not only are these products better for the environment and your family in general, but you can use them while kids and pets are around. My toddler runs around “spraying” everything as I clean and I don’t have to worry about him putting his hands in his mouth afterwards. Even if you don’t have children, it’s worth sticking to non-toxic cleaners – Those poisons aren’t good for anyone! We stopped using Swiffer solution (*shudder*) and other similar products when we brought home our puppy a few years ago. Pets spend all of their time down there on the floor.
I personally don’t believe in disinfectants unless you live in an operating room or someone in your household has a severely weakened immune system. Otherwise, killing “99% of germs” isn’t doing your body any favors. Forget that marketing scheme! Germs are natural, mostly good, and keeping things clean but not sterile will ensure that your family stays healthy as well as sane. 
Reward yourself with creature comforts
Enhance your new clean environment with something soft or pretty. Bold throw pillows to change up the look of a room, or a lighter throw to replace the winter blanket on your couch. If those are out of budget, pick up some scented candles from Bed Bath & Beyond or even the dollar store. Small indoor plants add coziness and improve air quality, and you can find them for just a few dollars at Ikea or The Home Depot. Rearranging furniture can also give an instant (and free) pick-me-up, and help signal a fresh start to your brain and mood.
Easy apartment decorating with light fixtures
One of my biggest missions for 2012 is to give my apartment a full makeover. We moved from our townhouse into a flat (one level) in November, and there is nothing like a fresh start to give you motivation & inspiration. Unfortunately, those things can start to die off once you’re properly settled in. Although it’s likely we will stay in this space until we buy our first house, the longer we are in one place the more temporary it begins to feel. Living in a space that you don’t own can make decorating feel overly complicated and even pointless. A good remedy is to design your apartment around items that can move with you.
One chic & easy way to give your space personality is with light fixtures that can be uninstalled and packed up fairly easily. Desk and table lamps allow you to set the mood with varying amounts of light, using just one or several at a time. If you are like me and have a baby or toddler who is fixated with switches, wall lighting or wall sconces might be a better option as they can be installed safely out of reach. Having lighting sources at different points in your home – up high, on tabletops, maybe even track lighting – gives you full control over the feel of your space. Decorative lampshades, chandeliers, and other unique lighting pieces will give your home even more personality. We strung a rope light above our living room windows as part of our holiday decor and liked it so much that we never bothered to take it down.
As you play around with lighting fixtures, be sure to switch your bulbs over as well. Low-energy fixtures will save you money in the long run as they use less power and need to replaced less often. We were in our last apartment for just under two years and I don’t believe we ever had to switch out our low-energy light bulbs!
How to give your apartment swagger on the cheap
Five simple ways to give your space more style without breaking the bank or your lease agreement
Swap your mismatched glasses for mason jars. Surely I am not the only adult who could never keep a set of matching glassware. We started using only mason jars (before Pinterest BTW!) and I love that certain something that they add to our cupboards. We also use mason jars to store things like straws and colored pencils. Our collection is made up of jars in different sizes and designs. They are fun for entertaining too – Tie or hot glue a ribbon or other decoration to mason jars for parties and holidays.
Hang mirrors and tapestries. This tip comes from one of my best friends who makes any living situation look amazing. She had a place in low-income housing for awhile that was more stylish and inviting than anyone else’s home I’ve been to. We were actually bummed when she upgraded to a better place! (I did end up with a lot of her hand-me-down furniture though.) One of her tips for adding warmth and interest, especially to bedrooms, is lots of fabric. Hung straight vertically on the walls and pinned to the ceiling in gathers, lots of fabric can turn any space into a romantic haven. It is also a great way to bring color to an apartment where you aren’t allowed to paint the walls.
Most people know that mirrors make a space look bigger and brighter by reflecting light. Mirrors can be expensive, but you are likely to find a deal at yard sales and some thrift shops. Cheaper small mirrors can be tiled for a fun effect. Door mirrors from Target look more style, less dorm when arranged horizontally on the wall instead.
Create focal points with candles, flowers and figurines. Showcasing small collections is a great way to add personality to your space and flowers are an instant mood-booster. And well, I just like candles. Keep shiny objects polished and it will create the illusion that your entire home is cleaner.
Protip: If you have kids, consider keeping an arrangement of candles and knick knacks on a pretty serving tray. You can keep the tray up and out of reach while the kids are around and bring it down before guests come over, or just as something nice to look at after the children have gone to bed.
Just add curtains. Every apartment I have ever lived in has had the same sterile-looking white blinds. Installing your own curtains is fairly easy (just pin them up if you have to) and makes a big impact. You can sew your own or keep an eye out at outlet stores like Ross or TJ Maxx. Nothing has to match perfectly – In fact, sometimes it’s better if they don’t.
Choose everyday items with care. Our plaid dog bed was the perfect complement to our holiday decor this year, and I still love the warmth it brings to our living room. Toothbrush holders, coffee makers, that hook that you hang your keys on everyday… Those are your life, and choosing ones that you LOVE will make your life better. If you touch something every day, you shouldn’t feel bad splurging on it. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to splurge. My favorite places to shop for cheap housewares are Ross and IKEA, and I always take a stroll through the housewares aisles at thrift stores. It really is the little things.
Got your own thrifty apartment-decorating tips? Please share in the comments!
Slightly MIA & planning our new space!
I have been MIA on this blog for a awhile, which bums me out because I felt like I was getting back into the groove. I am working to narrow down this blog’s niche into creating & maintaining great lifestyle on a limited budget (and with kids) and the response has been great – Even the more personal bits have gone over better than expected. The reason for the recent slump in posts has been due to more time spent working, and mainly on tending to my relationship. I feel like my marriage is finally better than ever, and right now we are excited to be planning a move!
Alright, so we are actually just moving a few yards down to a different apartment within our complex. We are currently in a townhouse apartment that I love but next month we are relocating to a one-story flat that should suit our lifestyle better. It will make daily life easier with Sebastian and give him more freedom. We will have an actual dining area. (Our current kitchen is small and the dining space is carpeted.) We will also have a front and back door, with a patio facing the MAX (lightrail) line – I can’t wait to drink coffee on my porch while Sebastian watches the train go by!
So lately I am obsessed with planning out our new space. I have been wanting to revamp this apartment for months but re-imagining an already-decorated space is a lot harder, and more work to move it all around. (I imagine those little puzzles with one empty slot, allowing you to shift only one piece at a time.) For brand new interior design ideas I am of course stalking Pinterest, and keeping my eye open at thrift shops, Walmart and Ikea. Just for fun I am plotting out spaces based on a bagua grid via Gala Darling. (I also really want goldfish – so pretty, and I know that Sebastian would find them completely enthralling.)
Do you have any tips for decorating apartments or other small spaces? (We’ll have just over 900 square feet.) How about melding a family-friendly environment with great style? I’d love to hear your ideas!
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