12 Things You Should Never Get Rid Of

"25/365 - Organization" by Becky Wetherington is licensed under CC BY 2.0

No, we don’t want to turn you into a hoarder, but when downsizing or moving, there are certain things you should keep. Some of these things contain personal information and some are sentimental, and you may not need to keep these items forever, unless they share special value to you. House Beautiful provides us with a list of the essentials:

1. Family heirlooms. “Sterling silver candlesticks from your great, great grandmother should make the cut,” says Professional Organizer, Barbara Reich. “Evaluate these and again, which ones are truly meaningful to you and your family currently?” advises Watson. “Which ones do you truly love and value? These are the ones to keep and take with you to your new home.”

2. Electronics of any sort.  At least until you've completely wiped out all your personal information.  “I can't tell you the number of people who go on massive de-cluttering binges and don't take the time to clear all their personal information,” warns professional organizer and owner of Metropolitan Organizing, Geralin Thomas, who also worked on A&E’s Hoarders.

3. Photographs. “You may need to digitize these, but you don’t want to lose them,” says Reich.

4. Important Papers. “It’s important to let go of as much paper that you have accumulated as possible,” says organizing expert and owner of Supreme Organization, Jodie Watson. “However, you will need to keep the following documents so don’t purge these: Birth & Death Records, Marriage Licenses, Divorce Decrees, SS Cards, Pension Plan Documents, Medical Records, Insurance Policies, Passports, Wills, Trusts, Power of Attorney Documents, Property Deeds, Investment Records, Education Records, Diplomas, Military Service Records and Vehicle Titles.“

5. Landline phones. You never know when you’ll run out of battery or service. “Keep at least one,” says Thomas.

6. Collections.  “You have obviously enjoyed collecting these items, so select your favorite few (3-5) that you love and value above all the rest,” says Watson. Whether it be dolls or vintage cars, it better to display and enjoy a few than to have them boxed away in storage.

7. Fine Jewelry AND the boxes they came in. “Having a piece of jewelry, in it's original box adds value when/if reselling it and keeps the piece of jewelry in mint condition,” says Thomas.

8. Basic kitchen and bathroom supplies. BUT only what you need—Pots and pans, a good quality chef’s knife, spatula, wooden spoon, blender, sheets and towels.  “You have duplicates you can leave behind, but make sure you have the basics with you,” says Reich.  And for the bathroom? “You should bring two sets of sheets per bed (one on the bed, one to change) and 4 towels per person.”

9. Unique, decorative items and sentimental items that bring back precious memories.  “A lock of hair from your child’s first haircut, the medal you won for running a marathon, etc.” says Reich. “These are items that you would not be able to replace and that hold a high sentimental value for you,” says Watson.

10. Emergency supplies. “Radio, landline phone, batteries, flashlight, first aid kit,” should all be on hand advises Reich. “And if you don’t have emergency supplies, now is the time to get them!”

11. Tags from expensive handbags. “When or if  you are consigning this will help prove authenticity and brings a much better price,” explains Thomas.

12. Medication and toiletries that haven’t yet expired. These can be expensive! Most importantly, “medication taken daily should be kept with you during the move,” says Reich

How do you tell what is TRULY meaningful? Watson shares her favorite trick. “In any given category, let’s say artwork that you have hung on the wall, ask this question, ‘If I could only take 3 pieces with me, which 3 would they be?’ With books, the question might be, ‘If I can only take 20 with me, which 20 would they be?’ This will help you discover the ones that are more meaningful than the others. These are the ones to take with you, the rest are negotiable.

Plan a Labor Day Bike Picnic

"Ross Eurosport and a Batavus" by Jason McDowell is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Labor Day may be the unofficial end of summer, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make the most of the day off! Your apartment is located close to a lot of fantastic trails and outdoor areas, so why not plan your traditional Labor Day picnic in a scenic spot, and enjoy the exercise and weather on the way there? The Kitchn offers these useful tips for an enjoyable afternoon bike picnic:

Picnic Food Tips

1. Pick sturdy foods. The key to a good bike picnic is bringing packable foods that can survive a bumpy journey. For example, fragile lemon tarts aren't quite as bike-friendly as a dense chocolate cake.

2. Go with variety. As with any outdoor eating menu, I think smaller is better, and having an assortment of small dishes makes the food easier to pack as well as more entertaining to eat.

3. Think versatility. An assortment of good cheese and a loaf of bread will always go far. Throw in some fresh basil and an avocado and you've got yourself the fixings for a lovely picnic sandwich. I also love bring along easy-to-pack things like olive tapenade, as it works well as a spread or as a dip for vegetables.

4. Protect fragile purchases. For picnics that are based off of market foods - think a bunch of fresh fruit and vegetables - just be sure to take a few reusable containers with you to the market. That way, your purchases are easily transportable and won't get crushed and bruised during your journey.

Don't Forget Drinks

You can't have a good picnic without something fun to drink now can you? Beer and wine are easy, just make sure you have an opener with you. If you're in the mood for cocktails, the easiest is to prepare a mixer at home, which you can bring along in a bottle and finish making your drinks on site.

For colder weather rides and meals, invest in a good thermos. That way, you can fill it with whatever you like: coffee, hot chocolate, or maybe even apple cider with a little bourbon?

Essential Bike Picnic Tools

The first essential thing to remember about a picnic à vélo is that you want to be packing things that are unbreakable. That means investing in good utensils and dishes that are lightweight and reusable but won't get crushed when you pack them.

My personal cycle picnic pack includes:

• Swiss Army knife
• reusable cups
• reusable silverware
• something to eat out of
• tea towel for use as a small tablecloth
• lightweight wooden cheeseboard, perfect for serving and cutting on
• if room allows, a blanket or sheet is always a worthwhile item to bring along

Bicycle picnics are the perfect blend of exercise, fresh air, relaxation, and simple but good food. These tips will make planning and packing for your next picnic ride a snap!

Create a Zen Bedroom

"Bedroom Curtains" by Emily May is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Your bedroom should be a place where you feel relaxed and ready to rest, and your decor will influence your pre-bedtime mindset. Remember as a kid when your mom told you not to study in bed? That was because you would either fall asleep, or not be able to sleep other nights when you didn’t have to study. The same goes for adulthood--your bedroom should be a work-free zone! Here are some other tips from Apartment Therapy on bringing calm to your bedroom.

1. Be natural. Check the tags on your sheets, blankets, pillow covers. Are they of natural fibers? If not, seek out some good, basic sets of natural fiber bedding. Take it a step further with the mattress and your pillows, though this can get pricey. Also consider the materials of your furnishings and rugs. Are there a lot of synthetics like plastic and polystyrene furnishing your bedroom or natural materials like wood and wool?

2. Unplug. Banish electronics from the bedroom. Seriously. That means phones, computers, television. Nothing sucks the lovely out of a bedroom faster than electronic devices. If it plugs in, take it out (except the reading lamps, of course). You'll get better sleep and your room will be a calm respite from digital life.

3. Keep it clean… Furnish and decorate sparely. And clean often. If things are kept simple as far as furnishings and decor, it should be a rather quick job to clean the bedroom. Wash linens at least once weekly and be sure to dust between the head of the bed and the wall.

4. …and serene. Are natural woods and cool colors relaxing to you? Then use them in the decor of your bedroom. Prefer deep, dark black or brown? Incorporate that. Whatever puts you at ease, use it in the decor of your bedroom.

5. Get personal. This is the room for displaying cherished personal possessions. Have an heirloom wedding pic of your ancestors? That could also be well-suited here. If you have personal items you've collected but don't feel comfortable displaying front and center in the living room, make your bedroom the place for these things. The bedroom's a private area of the home and it will make you happy to see things in it that are meaningful to you but perhaps not to everyone.

What do you use to create your bedroom zen? Share your tips with us!

Decorating Myths Debunked

We’ve all heard the famous “no white pants after Labor Day,” but there are plenty of myths floating around about home decor, too. Ultimately, your decor is your choice and should be a reflection of you and what makes you happy. However, if you’re curious about some common interior design fact and fiction, Elle Decor (courtesy of House Beautiful) will give you the truth.

Photo courtesy William Waldron

MYTH: Throw pillows must appear in odd numbers only

REALITY: It's more about what you feel works in the room. Here, in a Long Island home, designer Robert Stilin alternates two pairs of pillows in a similar color scheme for a look that's perfectly serene and symmetrical.

Photo courtesy Simon Upton

MYTH: Trends should be incorporated only in the form of small, replaceable accessories

REALITY: If a trend—say, metallics—speaks to you, you should feel full license to use it with abandon. Here, Jean-Louis Deniot's hammered silver kitchen cabinets show that going big on a trend you love can end up being the most show-stopping part of a home.

Photo courtesy William Abranowicz

MYTH: Collections are only meant to be decorative

REALITY: A collection can be something as simple, beloved, and downright useful as a stack of magazines, as seen here in Eric Hughes and Nathan Turner's Malibu apartment.

Photo courtesy William Waldron

MYTH: Choose one pattern to be the star of the room

REALITY: Through artful pairing you can feature two, three—even five!—fabulous patterns as long as you keep the color scheme similar, and get creative with scale.

Photo courtesy William Waldron

MYTH: Your ceilings must be white

REALITY: A dramatic color can actually draw the eye upward, plus it gives you an extra surface to make a major impression, as Richard Mishaan illustrates in a Westchester home.

Photo courtesy Eric Piasecki

MYTH: All 4 chair legs must be on (or off) the rug

REALITY: It's more important that the space can morph and adapt to however guests configure themselves. In Michael Leva's Manhattan apartment, a flexible seating arrangement is constantly in flux to make room for everything from cocktail to dance parties.

Photo courtesy William Waldron

MYTH: All "ugly" architecture must be hidden

REALITY: Even something like exposed ductwork, as seen here in a D.C. apartment decorated by Nestor Santa Cruz, can be embraced for what it is. "It gives a rhythm and movement that flows through the rooms," says Santa Cruz. Something to consider before taking on a massive cover-up process.

Photo courtesy Richard Powers

MYTH: All artwork must be at eye level

REALITY: Art can live wherever it feels at home—to your eye, at least. In Susan Hable Smith's Georgia home, a piece tucked up at the top corner of the room offers a moment of surprise beauty, while silk screens and drawings add pizzazz even from the floor.

Photo courtesy Richard Powers

MYTH: Once is enough, when it comes to a busy pattern

REALITY: If you truly love a pattern, why limit it to only one surface? In Alex Papachristidis's Manhattan apartment, the same cotton fabric covers the walls, sofa, canopy, and curtains...and still looks fresh and modern thanks to the artfully-chosen prints that balance the entire room.

Photo courtesy William Abranowicz

MYTH: The most expensive piece in a room should get pride of place

REALITY: It's the piece with the most character, not highest price tag, that deserves the spotlight. For example, this chair, in William Abranowicz's entry hall, was found in the dumpster!



What other myths have you heard? Do you believe them to be true?

Light Up Your Apartment

Photos courtesy Kazuho Oku (top) and Liz Lawley (bottom).

Often times when decorating, we get so caught up in the furniture and other accessories, that we forget about incorporating a key element in arranging a room--lighting. Lighting sets the mood and tone of a room. It creates the atmosphere of a room and dictates the type of room it should be. For example, the lighting in a home office should be bright and functional; whereas the lighting in a bedroom should be soft and cozy. Apartment Therapy explains how to determine the type of lighting you should have in your living room.

The first step when lighting any room is to ask yourself: what happens here? Different activities require different types and levels of light. A well-lit living room will have three different types of lighting: general, task and accent. These are used at different times of day and for different purposes, and key to a functional lighting scheme it to know how and when to mix and use them.

General

Not all homes have a ceiling fitting in the living room, and if you have lots of natural light during the day, you might not need overhead light at all. But if you have the fitting, a central pendant or chandelier helps to zone the space and create a focus. Similarly, potlights or angled spotlights will create an even layer of overhead lighting. In the absence of any overhead lights, a large, arced floor lamp will do the trick.

If you watch TV in the living room, choose the surrounding lights carefully to avoid television glare. It can be distracting to have a bright overhead light above or in front of a TV set, so ensure ceiling lights are dimmable, or use offset wall sconces or floor lamps instead.

Task

Specific task lighting, such as reading lamps, are important if you read frequently, have low levels of natural light, and especially if you ever work in your living room. A floor lamp spaced between two armchairs can also count as task lighting, as conversation is a task, too (at least in living room terms).

Accent

Low-level table lamps and floor lamps help to create a cozy atmosphere in the living room, especially at night. Evenly space these throughout the room, usually toward the walls, to create an even, warm glow that bounces inwards. Think creatively about this type of lighting: groups of candles even fairy lights count.

How do you get creative with the lighting in your apartment? Share your photos with us!

Terms of Use: These photos are licensed under a Creative Commons Attributions 2.0 Generic License. They are attributed to Kazuho Oku (top) and Liz Lawley (bottom). 

Hit the Road: 5 Keys to Road Trip Success

Photo courtesy mLu.fotos 

Summer is the season to get out of the apartment and enjoy the outdoors. Why not hit the road and explore new territory? Adventure, the wind in your hair, random roadside monuments...what’s not to love? So gas up the tank, pack for all contingencies and follow these tips from Apartment Therapy for road trip success!

1. Take a few minutes to plan ahead. Check for roadwork, freeway closures (happening almost every weekend in LA now) and try to schedule things so you can avoid rush hour in any urban areas. Should something come up once you are already on the road, apps like Waze can help you find your way around them.

2. Snack healthy and hydrate. While it can be tempting to subsist only on fast food and coffee, when your energy starts to flag, you will only feel worse. Staying well hydrated and sticking to your normal diet will help you power through without an energy crash.

3. Explore a little along the way. While I'm not suggesting you tack hours onto your drive, doing a little planning ahead of time can help you figure out a few interesting points to stop along the way. When you pull over to stretch your legs, it never hurts to be taking in a view or enjoying a local landmark.

4. Multi-task. I try to make the best use of my rest stops so I don't pull over more frequently than I need to. Filling up on gas, walking the dogs, picking up water and snacks, checking in messages, and washing the windows means I can get back on the road and avoid unnecessary stops.

5. Music makes all the difference. When you're traveling alone, it's vital. Putting together a playlist in advance can help get you through radio dead zones. Podcasts are a great way to mix things up.

What is one item you must have when you go on a road trip? Share your road trip stories and pictures with us!

Using Craigslist to Decorate

When it comes to redecorating on a budget, you can find some really reasonably priced pieces to adorn your new space or to spruce up your existing one. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can find pieces to refurbish into something that fits your current décor. Here are some pointers via Apartment Therapy on how to shop with Craigslist.

Know what you want. If you have a specific need then have your parameters clearly defined. One day I decided that a Scandinavian secretary desk would solve all of our entryway problems, but it couldn't be wider than the narrow strip of wall separating my tiny foyer and living room. It took 10 months to find one that fit the bill in terms of size, price, function, and aesthetics.

Figure out your search terms. Searching Craigslist is a skill unto itself. Depending on what you want, your terms may be general or extremely specific. Searching for a particular brand or designer is pretty straightforward (although some sellers will use certain designer's names as tags for items of a similar era or style), but once you get into the realm of unbranded vintage it's an entirely different process. If you have time to kill then broad search terms like "vintage" or "mid-century" could yield great finds, but count on sifting through ads where those terms are synonyms for old and ugly. If you're looking to coordinate with other items in your home then you may want to search by pattern, fabric, or wood. Try common misspellings.

Photo courtesy Upcycle That.

Oftentimes you know what you want but aren't sure what to call it. Stretch your imagination. I needed more chairs for outdoor dining but didn't know what ours were called (Emu Rio), so I would search "white metal chairs," "white patio chairs," "white deck chairs," "white grid chairs," and countless permutations. Eventually I turned up a great deal on a set of four.

It isn't a deal if you spend way more on the back end of the transaction. Those chairs with great bones may be dirt cheap, but ancillary costs can add up quickly. Figure it all out in advance or you'll find yourself reposting the item or putting it out on the curb. Will it fit in your car? Measure and measure again, or face renting a cargo van or truck. Do you plan on getting something reupholstered or refinished? That can get expensive, so it's worth getting a quick estimate before purchasing the item in question.

Know market value and your budget. I'm in the market for a grill, so before I even ventured onto Craigslist I looked at what they cost new. Between Memorial Day and Father's Day, the market is saturated with secondhand grills from sellers who have upgraded, so a quick survey of Craigslist makes it easy to discern typical prices, inflated ones, and screaming deals (like the one I saw last night that sold within three hours of posting). Having a solid sense of my price range and what I want can save me from wasting time on posts that are way off-base.

Figure out your search schedule, parameters, and tools. I tend to obsess about things, so instead of setting up a feed or compulsively searching on my phone all day, I'm a first thing in the morning/late in the evening searcher. If it's something worth a longer drive, I might search nearby cities or use an aggregator (I like adhunt'r and will limit my search by region). If it's not worth a longer trip then I'll winnow down my search by location.

Write a good inquiry. Ask the right questions for the object in question. For kids' gear I always ask if the seller is the first owner, along with the year of manufacture (a quick search can rule out safety recalls). If I'm emailing someone about a grill I'll ask if they are including the cover and propane tank. For upholstered items I will always ask about smoking and pets, as both are non-starters for me. I might ask for more photographs or specifics on condition. I'll also provide my email address and cell number, so that the seller can contact me by email, phone, or text, whichever is most convenient for them.

Let the seller know that you are motivated, nobody wants to waste time with a tire kicker. Complete sentences, please and thank you, and an indication of good faith seem to go a long way; something along the lines of "if this is a good fit for my needs I can pick up at your earliest convenience, cash in hand." If you think their asking price is fair then there's no need to negotiate. Otherwise, start with an initial offer below your target price to leave room for negotiations.

Inspect before handing over the cash. Look everything over, make sure that the item is as described and in the stated condition. If not, be prepared to renegotiate or walk.

Find your Craigslist zen. There will be the perfect fit that sells out from underneath you, the unresponsive seller, the intransigent price inflator, the one who only wants to communicate by carrier pigeon. If it isn't worth it to you, the seller sounds sketchy, or your spidey sense is going off then be prepared to walk. It isn't yours until it's yours, so don't waste time grieving the one that got away.

Have you ever used something you bought on Craigslist to up-cycle and decorate your apartment? What are some of your best Craigslist finds? Post them in the comments below!