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With rent rising and family sizes decreasing, millennials have started to opt for smaller alternatives when it comes to real estate. Maybe the trend came from IKEA showrooms, the micro-housing wave, or simply from growing accustomed to sharing apartments with one too many people. The fact remains: people may want to pay for smaller, but they still want to live as large as possible.

The goal is to avoid creating a highly congested space. Thankfully, experts like author and real estate professional Matt Parker have done the homework for us. Learn to make the most of your small space by following these tips from Parker:

1. Rooms with high ceilings, 9 ft. or taller, help make small square-footage spaces feel large. In many cases, liking or disliking a home has to do with ceiling height.
2. Add custom bookshelves high on one wall in a room. This creates a spacer for your eye, drawing your glance up and making the room appear larger.
3. Use large paintings in small rooms, one wall only, and you will be amazed how much bigger they feel, says Parker.
4. Follow this rule: If you havent used it in a year, sell or donate it. Parker recently did this, and removed about 25% of his familys clutter.
5. When it comes to clothes, consider quality over quantity. According to Parker, folks in Los Angeles often hire a wardrobe assistant who helps them pick four perfect outfits per quarter. Buy really nice clothes, that are really trendy, in small batches, then immediately get rid of them, he explains. What a win/win from a fashion/lifestyle standpoint!
6. Use a stand-up desk instead of a sit-down desk. Sit-down desks occupy about 100 square feet, explains Parker.
7. In small rooms, install a very large custom mantle. This lends a sense of grandeur to a small space.
8. To make small rooms feel more spacious, decorate with light colors: gray, white, light blues, light yellow, light green, and stick to the same color palette throughout the room.
9. Large floor rugs make rooms feel much bigger.
10. Parker also advises against buying huge wholesale quantities of food. Instead, buy one weeks worth of healthy, fresh food each week. You will feel better, and look better, like your home!

I am recommending people buy nicer things, enjoy them more, and live better lives. I am not indicating to stop consuming or become a hermit. Simply be decisive about what you love and eliminate the rest! You will not believe the sense of peace, and style, adds Parker.

As you can see, the trick to living large in a small space is to not be afraid to let go. Freeing up space usually taken up by clutter allows you to enjoy things you actually like. Thats what makes the transition worth it. Well, that and all the extra cash youll be saving!

Matt Parker is the author of Real Estate Smart: The New Home Buying Guide and Real Estate Agent Talks. Parker works entirely paperless and happily lives in a 560 square-foot home with his wife, where he prioritizes living, not clutter.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Whether weve decided to go to grad school, have moved to a different country or state for a job, or have simply left our family home for the first thing we could afford, us millennials are usually not living somewhere we expect to stay forever. And while this might sound exciting, the truth is, that lingering sense of instability often causes us to basically live out of a suitcase (something to do with always being prepared to jump ship).

Living in small, shared spaces make us feel like were not allowed to unpack. Yet, unpacking and making yourself at home is of the utmost importance. This room, which is at the moment legitimately yours, is the only space youve got to recharge and refocus. At the end of the day, your 20s are a time of high stress levels thanks to anxiety-ridden life decisions. It is imperative to put your best foot forward every day.

In my personal experience, I have cozy dorm rooms to thank for helping me feel like I was ready to take on the world. Now that Ive graduated and live off-campus, Ive found that moving from one residence hall to the next helped me develop transferable skills that I am now using to set up my new closet room. These are some of the things Im glad I learned beforehand:

1. Consider the space: The biggest mistake most college students made was leaving the furniture arrangement as they found it. Dont trip over the same stone in your post-grad life. Setting up your bed horizontally and against the wall will automatically free up usable space in your room. In what could only be described as a wide hallway, I managed to fit a futon, a desk and chair, a bed, and a dresser without obstructing the walk-in closet, the bedroom or the bathroom doors. Most likely, there is really only one way to fit everything. You just have to keep going until you find it.
2. Decorate but dont suffocate: To make a small space a home, follow two cardinal rules when decorating. First, dont accessorize to the point of feeling overwhelmed (you dont want your own bedroom to make you feel stressed). Second, add items that you have an emotional connection with”pictures of family and friends, posters of shows you like, scents that transport you, twinkly lights, etc. If it makes you want to curl up in your bed and stare at it, put it up.
3. Prioritize comfort: Sure, when youre living in a temporary space its hard to invest in maximum comfort furniture. But that doesnt mean you have to sleep on a rigid mattress. Instead of splurging on memory foam, get an egg crate. Buy basic silverware and dinnerware, but invest in a couple of special mugs. Pick and choose which things you use the most and allow yourself to enjoy them.
4. Avoid clutter: This last one hurts, but you might need to put the wallet away when temptation knocks on your door. Sometimes we see furniture or dcor that we think would look fabulous in our ideal home, we forget we dont live in said home, we buy them anyways, and are left with an extra yellow armchair that doesnt fit anywhere. Be mindful of what actually belongs in your current space and what is meant to continue dwelling in dreams.

Your temporary home can be broken in like new shoes, and they will help you walk the walk youre on at the moment. By the time you move out, youll realize that a little extra spending and organizing really went a long way in keeping you saneand maybe even happy. So give it a try, go and really unpack in your little millennial hutch!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When youre buying a home, one of the worst possible scenarios is a dream house that turns out to be a lemon. While the term usually refers to a home that looks great but is hiding some internal, serious flaws, there are actually red flags you can watch out for”that will show up way before you even get to an inspection.

Signs of Mold or Water Damage
Use your eyes and nose to check for these environmental issues. Water damage may reveal itself in stains, in damaged wood or flooring and walls that are collapsing. Obvious mold can also be seen by a simple visual inspection, but your nose can detect it even if its hidden. Mold isnt just unsightly”it can cause health issues like asthma, especially in kids.

Faulty Foundation
This is a classic, surefire deal breaker. Check the basement for large cracks (but small cracks shouldnt pose a problem and can be due to normal settling of the house).

Outdated Electric Systems
Turn lights on and off”are they flickering, buzzing, or generally seem off? In an older house, this could be a sign of needed (and often expensive) electrical work.

A Freshly Painted Wall or Ceiling
Particularly if only one wall or part of a wall has been painted, the owner could be trying to cover something up”like toxic mold (see above).

Of course, any home youre buying will go through a thorough inspection by a professionally qualified inspector. However, unless you really love the home or the neighborhood, you may prefer not to waste your time (and money, through inspection costs) if the home is a potential lemon. If you see any of the four red flags above, weigh the pros and cons with your real estate agent. It may be better to move on to a home that will be less of a headache!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Redoing your kitchen floor on your own is an ambitious undertaking that can be accomplished with the right supplies, tools and know-how. Whether you want to redo your floor by yourself to save money or simply for a sense of accomplishment, there are various ways to get the job done.

Here are several things that youll need in order to complete your DIY kitchen floor project:

Correct Floor Measurements
Your entire project could wind up in chaos if your floor measurements arent correct. The floor measurements will determine the sizes and shapes of the tiles youll need, along with where theyll be placed. If the shape of your floor is square or rectangular, you can calculate its square footage by measuring the floors length and width in feet and multiplying them together. For a floor with a more unusual shape, youll need to divide each section into rectangular units with string or other markers, and then add the square footage of each unit to get the correct total. You should also buy a bit more tile than what would cover your floors square footage, just in case some tiles break or you make mistakes.

The Right Tiles and Caulk
Next, choose the tiles thatll go best in your kitchen. Tiles are available in different shapes, sizes colors and materials, and making the right choice will depend on your specific requirements and personal taste. To set the tiles into place and hold them together, youll need caulk thats formulated to prevent cracks and loose pieces. Be sure to lay tiles down together before you add the caulk so you can ensure they’ll fit in the given space.

Proper Installation Equipment
Some of the tools youll need to complete your project include a notched trowel and a grout float made of rubber along with grout nippers. Masonry saws also work well when sawing tiles that dont fit exactly into a particular space. When using a tile nipper or masonry saw, its always advisable to wear safety glasses and a mask to filter out the particles in the air. Make sure stone or ceramic tiles are wet when cutting them in order to prevent sending dust everywhere that can get into your lungs and eyes. If youre uncomfortable cutting the tiles yourself, many hardware stores offer that service for you.

Cleanup Supplies
Youll likely have a big mess on your hands after youve completed your project, and youll want to have cleanup supplies handy. Sweeping with a broom or using a vacuum to clean up dirt, dust and other debris can eliminate a lot of the clutter. Having trash bags handy for removing spare pieces and supplies that arent needed will also be helpful. Going over your new tiles with a mop and coat of wax will make them look especially attractive. Also, disinfectant spray can be used for a more thorough sanitizing.

Going the DIY route to install a new kitchen floor can be both a challenging and rewarding experience. Getting everything thats needed to complete the project beforehand can save you a lot of time and additional hassle.

Source: Meghan Belnap/RISMedias Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Adding a well-designed skylight to your home comes with a multitude of perks”not just style and value, but possibly energy savings and health benefits, as well. Heres a look at some of the rewards skylights can offer:

Letting Natural Light In
It isnt easy to fill your home with natural lighting. Some rooms have limited (or no) exterior walls for windows. In the rooms that do have windows, you likely use curtains or blinds for privacy. Skylights are an excellent way to bathe your home in sunlight without giving your neighbors a view.

Saving on Heating and Cooling
A poorly planned skylight can wreak havoc on your energy bills, but with proper positioning and design, you can save money on heating and cooling costs. South-facing skylights will increase the temperature of your home year-round because they’ll pick up more of the suns rays than a skylight facing in any other direction.

In the winter, you can use this to your advantage”let the sun shine and heat your home so you can shave money off your heating costs. In the summer, however, uncovered skylights can make rooms uncomfortably hot. The solution to this is to choose a skylight design that features built-in shades so you can block the sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. If your skylight opens, thats a bonus. Heat rises, which means you can open your skylights on summer nights to vent the heat from the day out of your home.

Adding Architectural Interest
Skylights are one of the few home improvements that can upgrade both the interior and the exterior. As such, it can help make your home more attractive to potential buyers. To get beauty and value from a skylight, however, it needs to be an architectural asset. That means balancing it with your homes architectural theme and features. In traditional homes, youre better off installing skylights to the rear of the home or in an area where theyll be out of sight from the street. This is because skylights have a modern aesthetic that contrasts with traditional styles. Prominent placement may take something away from your homes traditional charm.

On the inside, make sure the skylight coordinates with the rest of the room. Rather than placing the skylight wherever it’s most convenient to install, align it with a door or a window, or think of another way to place the skylight so that it makes sense from a geometric standpoint. Lastly, ensure that the skylight is large enough to stand out”smaller skylights tend to be more of a distraction than an asset.

Preventing Seasonal Affective Disorder
According to the Mayo Clinic, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) causes depression, fatigue and irritability. SAD typically occurs during the fall and winter, when youre not exposed to as much sunlight. This not only throws your natural circadian rhythm out of balance, but also causes a decrease in serotonin and melatonin levels. Skylights, because they add so much natural sunlight to a home, are one of the recommended treatments to help you prevent and recover from this disorder.

Because of these advantages and others, skylights are a worthwhile home improvement to consider.

Source: Donald A. Gardner Architects, Inc.

Published with permission from RISMedia.