I am, of course, talking about the Eames Chair & Ottoman from Herman Miller, which is described as being “one of the most significant designs of the 20th century”.

The chair has gone viral because of its design, as it combines soft leather or mohair with molded wood. 

It has a very 70s look to it, in my opinion, and it can work with many decor styles: Scandinavian, industrial, modern, and many more.

It is one of the trendiest pieces of furniture on the market and I’m sure there are a lot of people who are looking for Eames chair dupes on the internet, because, let’s be honest, most of us can’t afford to cash out over 6 grand on a lounge chair.

At the moment of writing this article, the original Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman from Herman Miller goes for $6495*. Wow! 

*if you’re lucky, you can catch it on sale for $5521, but that rarely happens

So, if you’ve caught the bug and are looking for a similar one at a decent price, below you will find two Eames Chair Dupes, both from Amazon. 

• The first one comes extremely close to the original. 
• The second one is pretty similar, but has different design details and an even cheaper price range. 

I hope you’ll find at least one to your liking. Check out the Herman Miller Eames chair and ottoman dupes below:

Genniyz Store Mid Century Lounge Chair and Ottoman from Amazon

This is the closest dupe I could find of the infamous Eames Chair. It’s the best, not only in terms of appearance, but also in terms of price. At the moment, it retails for $649.99 on Amazon. 

Made out of Alloy Steel and Leather, this piece would be a great addition to any office. 

Mcombo Swiveling Recliner Chair from Amazon

I know, I know. This one is a stretch. Well, actually, on the first look-over, it looks very similar. But at a closer look, you can notice this one is swiveling. 

I chose to include it in the list of Eames chair dupes because of the similarities, and also because it’s even lower in price: right now, it retails on Amazon for $389 (-15% off from $459.99). 

It doesn’t seem to have the same qualities and features as the previous one, but if you’re really on a budget or don’t particularly care, this one will do the trick.

Conclusion

I could include more options, but I found these two Eames Chair dupes from Amazon to be the best in terms of design and price range, compared to the original one from Herman Miller. Let me know in the comments which one you like the most!

P.S. If you’re looking for more home & decor / furniture dupes, check out these articles on Anthropologie Mirror Amazon Dupes and Cloud Couch Amazon Dupes. 

The post Best Eames Chair & Ottoman Dupes On The Market Right Now appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Organizing pots and pans can be tricky and it requires a lot of patience. But with the correct methods and pot and pan organizers, you will not have to worry. These cooking essentials require a prime position in your kitchen, trust me.
Organizing your pots and pans in the kitchen storage saves you a lot of effort in the long run and your time while cooking. Here is a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to organize pans and pots, with a lot of tips mixed in.

First Step: What To Do Before Actually Organizing

Here is what you need to do before you start organizing your pots and pans.

1- Access the Previous Storage

The first thing you will have to do during the organization process is to go through the previous storage of the pots and pans. Take out everything and decide what type of storage you will need for a better organization or a practical kitchen.

2- Get rid of items you don’t need

If you are not a professional chef, having a big cookware collection or multiple pots and pans of different sizes is useless. Even if you have a pull-out organizer for pots and pans, you will not be able to store everything and make it look organized. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the collection small and take out the pots and pans you don’t need regularly.

Get To Organizing: Top Organization Items for Pots & Pans

Now that you have taken out all your unnecessary cookware and have realized what you need and don’t need, it is time to decide between some of the most efficient and considerable pots and pans organizing methods. So go through all of the options below and just the right one for your space:

1- Hang them from Pot Rails

You don’t need cabinets to store your pots and pans. The easiest and cheapest way is to install rails on the wall, across the window, or ceiling. Wherever you find it most convenient. These rails make the whole organization a lot easier as you can hang pots and pans from the rails. You can get a good quality pot and pans rail from Amazon.

2- Use a Pots & Lids Organizer

Another way of storing pots and pans is to stack all similar-shaped pots and pans onto one another. This will only be possible if you store the lids separately. You can store these lids at the back of the cabinet door or on the pantry wall.

Or you can use a pots and pans organizer.

3- Use Vertical Pot Rack

A vertical pan organizer is always a great option to store your pots and pans if you don’t have cabinets or enough storage space. You can get a variety of unique and stylish vertical pot racks that can make the whole pots and pans process a lot easier and more convenient.

4- Nest your Pots and Pans with Pot Protectors

While organizing your pots and pans, you must not forget to nest them with protectors, so all the hustle and bustle around the kitchen doesn’t ruin your cookware.

There are different types of protectors that you can get on Amazon or even from your nearest store. Here are some cookware protectors that caught my eye.

5- Set them on Rolling Cart

Most think a rolling cart is not practical when organizing pots and pans. But it is a great option, especially if you have a spacious kitchen. You can arrange your pots and pans, alongside other kitchen items, on the pots and pans rolling cart and put them in a corner. Whenever you need it, you can move it however you want.

6- Hang the Pots and Pans on a Kitchen Pegboard

This is one of the simplest DIY options for organizing your pots and pans. If you don’t want to use a rail on your wall, you can utilize your wall by installing a pegboard and then hanging all your pots and pans on it. You can get creative with the accessories you use on this board, and you will be good. The one I recommend (see below) also comes in a lot of colors, so win-win.

In Conclusion

I personally know the struggles of getting pots and pans organized, especially because I have a small kitchen. But with the right tips and the right organizers, you can make your space as practical as it gets.

The various organizers and storage ideas I provided will hopefully help you organize your pots and pans in the best possible way, without taking considerable space. Make sure not to crowd your kitchen too much and keep your frequently used pots and pans near your cooking space or stove.

p.s. If you want to learn more Kitchen hacks, check out this blog post on 7 Kitchen Cleaning Hacks For Things You Aren’t Cleaning Often Enough and How to keep produce fresh longer

The post How to Organize Pots and Pans: 6 Practical Options appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Whether you’re new to parenthood or a seasoned veteran, parents can all agree that one of the biggest obstacles is figuring out how to organize kids’ toys. You start with just a few kids’ toys in a decorative basket in the corner and before you know it your children’s toys are the main focal point and have transformed your home into a toy-filled jungle.

So, if you’re trying to regain control of this toy-nado, let me help you! Ahead are some organizational strategies and toy storage recommendations to help you stay organized and in control of your kids’ toys.

Toy Organization – The Plan

Let’s start with an attack plan for how to organize your kids’ toys.

1.      Take inventory of your toy stock: Doing this will give you an overhead visualization of what you have, and it’ll help set you up for success when moving through the following steps.

2.      It’s time to part ways: Go through all the toys and see if there’s anything you and your kids can get rid of (either by throwing away or by donating). This is a great opportunity to declutter!

3.      Determine toy priority: It’s time to sort through all the “keepers” and determine which toys are high-demand toys and which are low-demand toys. Just because the toys exist doesn’t mean they all need to be front and center. Which makes sense, right? It’s just like seasonal clothing. Not every toy is “in-season” at every point in the year. This priority grouping method allows you to have a better idea when planning for organizational storage space and products.

Now that we have an organizational plan in place, it’s time to talk about some toy storage ideas!

Storage Ideas For The Front And Center Toys

Now don’t let this title fool you, all I mean is that these are the toys you’ve determined are high-demand. High-demand toys are those that your kids always seem to gravitate towards. These are the toys you want front and center. That being said, the goal is to have these toys both easily accessible while being organized and neatly stored away. Easy access is the name of the game. If the toys are too difficult to access, they’ll get taken out and likely not get put back. And, you want to make it as easy as possible to put toys back.

If you have some available shelving space, clear bins with handles and open-tops may be the product for you. This type of bin is helpful because it allows you and your children to see exactly what toys are where. The handles make the bins easy to grab and the open-tops allow for both easy access and easy clean up.

If clear bins aren’t for you, consider simple photo labels and a unit with open cubbies for pull-out cubes. Having these simple photo labels takes the guesswork out of toy grabbing and makes clean up easy. Whether you choose a furniture piece with built-in drawers or one that allows for boxes and bins to be included where needed, the pictures will make the toy search and clean up seamless. Ideally, you’ll find pictures that help you group similar toys, such as a puzzle piece picture to indicate the home for puzzles or a picture of a car to indicate the place for toy cars.             

These are both alternatives to the classic large storage box that would house all your children’s toys. While it succeeds in hiding all the toys, you inevitably must dump out all its contents each time to find that one toy. Let’s avoid that mess!

For The Tucked-Away Toys

In this case, we are working with those less-used toys such as niche crafting supplies, board games, a holiday-themed train track set, or those toys you’re saving for your next child. These types of toys can be easily stored under a bed, sofa, or cabinet. There’s no reason to waste the space beneath your already existing furniture, and with the right toy storage products these less-used toys will have a perfect home. Depending on the size of the underneath space, you can use a variety of different items with handles or wheels so they’re easy to grab, such as storage containers or sliding racks.

When choosing a storage container that’s going underneath a piece of furniture, like a bed, I’d suggest investing in one which either has a clear top or one that’s fully clear. I make this recommendation because you want it to be as easy as possible to spot the toy needed. This leads to less work, less mess, and makes sticking to a toy organization system a bit easier. If you decide on a sliding rack, I’d recommend placing a non-slip mat down to avoid toys sliding when the rack moves.

I hope this article on how to organize kids’ toys has been helpful! Do you use any of these products or organizational strategies? Do you know of  a “must-have” storage product or technique that isn’t on my list? I’d love to know what works and what doesn’t work for you when it comes to organizing kids’ toys—let me know in the comments below!

p.s. If you’re in the process of organizing and decluttering other areas in your home, check out these posts about How I Declutter My Closet Twice a Year and How To Declutter Your Books.

The post How to organize kids’ toys appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Decluttering can also help you

• Tidy up your house;
• Organize your space better;
• Make room for other things;
• Get rid of things you don’t need or want anymore.

Not only that, but decluttering can also save you money, but more on that later. 

The most important thing you can do now is to plan and execute a decluttering process in your home. 

Trust me, it will make a huge difference in your environment and it will be beneficial for your mental state, as well. Less stuff, less things to clean / put away / wash, and so on.

Here we go!

How to declutter your home – the process

I actually have an entire dedicated post on How to declutter your home, which you can find the link for it here.

But here are the main principles and actions you need to take so you can best declutter your space:

• Start by writing down each room of your house. 
• Then write at least one area that can be decluttered in each room. 
• Step 3 is to add the decluttering process in your daily schedule, by scheduling one room at a time. Today, the bedroom. Tomorrow, the pantry. And so on.
• Start with room 1. Make sure to tidy the room so you have enough space to move around and organize. 
• Choose a small area or corner and start getting things out. 
• After the area is cleared, wipe the surface down and put back in the things you are keeping. 
• Then go through the separate pile and put away the things you don’t want anymore in dedicated bags (donate, throw away, sell). 
• Then start with area or room 2, and continue the process.

In order for this to work and for you to finish the process, you need to

• Be patient and thorough when decluttering each area. Go through each item and really think about it: do you actually need to keep it?
• Have dedicated bags ready for the things you will be decluttering, so you can easily organize and dispose of them after you’re done decluttering. In this case, a bag for trash, one for donations, and for the things you will sell. 

Where to sell your stuff

You’ve done it! The decluttering process is over and you’ve probably accumulated multiple bags of stuff to sell (or donate / throw away). 

Now it’s time to figure out where to sell your items for the best return on investment. Here are the top online places, and one offline spot, where you can get rid of your stuff and make some money out of it:

1. Sell clothes on Poshmark / Mercari 

This is the perfect place to sell new and used items in good condition. Think shirts, sweaters, skirts, dresses, even handbags and shoes. Some sites also accept beauty, home decor and electronics.

The process is pretty straight-forward: create an account, create a product page, put all the info, like pictures, sizes, price, etc. The “hardest part” will probably be to find time to go to the post office and mail the products when they are bought. 

Win-win! You get rid of an item you don’t want or need, and get some money back, and the buyer gets the item he/she wants, at a lower price.

Click now for more info on selling on Poshmark and selling on Mercari. 

2. Sell luxury items on Vestiaire Collective 

If you want to get rid of expensive or luxury clothing items, Vestiaire Collective is the place to go. 

There are so many people worldwide who hunt for bargains and second hand luxury items on it, and who will pay a good price for them. 

So if you have a Chloe bag, or Balenciaga shoes, this is the website for you. 

Here is more info on how to sell on Vestiaire Collective. 

3. Sell other items on Facebook marketplace on Craigslist (like furniture, books, etc)

For me, Facebook marketplace is the perfect place to declutter and sell stuff, specifically miscellaneous items, so things like furniture and/or books.

Especially furniture! I’ve heard so many people buy home decor and home items from it, so if you want to sell your old couch or dining room table, definitely check out Facebook Marketplace. 

The platform is pretty easy to use, you just need a Facebook account, and pictures of your products. 

4. Sell things in yard sales 

I love this method because it’s the best when you need to declutter and sell your stuff fast. 

Instead of listing each item online and dealing with shipping things multiple times, you can organize a yard sale and sell everything in one go. Less hassle overall, more time for you.

Here is a great guide on what to sell at a yard sale. 

How to save money by decluttering

And now for the best part of the article. You know you can declutter and sell stuff, but did you know you can also declutter and SAVE money? Let me show you how!

This solution is great for people who

• Decluttered too many items that cannot be sold;
• Don’t have clothes or miscellaneous items to declutter;
• Have a fully stocked pantry;

The last part is important, because the way to declutter and save money involves your pantry. 

Here is the gist: One weekend / month, eat and cook with ONLY what you already have in the pantry and freezer. So that means you won’t need to go spend money on groceries and take-out. 

This is a great idea, because not only it will stop you from spending more money, but it will also encourage you to use up your pantry items that you might have forgotten about. 

And that’s important because the pantry items do end expiring and you don’t want to waste money by waiting until after their expiration date to use them, right? 

So go now and take an inventory of your pantry and freezer, and see what you can use up. Look for meat, frozen vegetables, canned vegetables, sauces and grains like rice and quinoa. Now it’s time to use them. 

If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s called Shelf cooking! Jordan Page on YouTube does it! 

Conclusion

If you want to make money and save money, it’s time to declutter and sell stuff! The 4 options mentioned above (Poshmark, Vestiaire Collective, Facebook Marketplace and yard sales) are great places for you to get rid of your unwanted items. And shelf cooking will help you save tens and hundreds of dollars a month. 

Let me know in the comments which works for you best!

The post Declutter and sell your stuff NOW: How decluttering can make (and save) you money appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

If you’re wondering that, then you desperately need to find space for your travel bags. Those bags that kept you company during your vacation, but now occupy your hallway or bedroom floor space. 

I’ve been in that situation, trust me, so I’m here to help you out with at least 6 spaces you can try to fit your luggage in. 

You might not physically have some of the spaces I mention (garage, attic), but I’m sure you can definitely find a spot out of the remaining suggestions, some are pretty innovative…or at least, you definitely didn’t think of them first hand. 

So let’s find out how to store luggage and tips & tricks on how to organize luggage. 

1. Under the bed

This is applicable, of course, if your bed has space underneath it. 

Which most do, but some beds are very low, and others are closed off, so it doesn’t allow space for other stuff. 

So if you do have a bed and you can store luggage under the bed, definitely go for this option.

I recommend this place if your house is really small and you need the rest of the suggestions (closet, stairs) for other items. 

If you want to use it to its maximum potential, you could store other bags or clothes in them, while you’re at it, but more on that later. 

2. In the closet

Out of all the options of how to store luggage that are mentioned in this post, this is ideal, in my opinion. It’s close by (not all the way in the garage) and you don’t need to make an effort to get it out (attic). 

If you have a walk-in closet, you can store the luggage underneath a high rack of hangers. Or somewhere in a corner. Or on top of the racks. Anyway you can and it doesn’t interfere with your daily activities. 

If you have a simple closet, you can, similarly, put it below some high racks of hangers, or in a dedicated space, if you have it. 

3. In the attic

This is one of the suggestions I was unsure of. Do people still have attics? Do they still use it? I know there are still houses out there with attics, so I decided to add it, in the end. 

Storing your luggage in the attic is great because it doesn’t occupy any house spaces that you could use for other items. Plus, it’s out of mind, out of sight. 

It is put in a designated spot and it doesn’t bother anymore.

The downside of putting things in the attics is that it’s harder to get there and maneuver things around. It’s not as easy as opening a door and getting the bags. You will probably need to climb some stairs, duck under ceilings, and so on. But overall it does save space inside your actual house in which you live. 

4. In the garage

Another place not a lot of people might own, but that is very handy to have, including for luggage storage, is the garage. 

This would be ideal because you are not occupying actual home space. So the house is not as crowded, and you have more space for other things. 

Just make sure you store the luggage correctly, but more on that later, in the tips & tricks section. 

5. Underneath the stairs

If you have a house with more than one floor, then you definitely have stairs. Considering how they are built, there is, in most cases, free space underneath the stairs. 

The problem is people don’t usually know what to put there. Well, here’s an option: store luggage. 

The bags usually fit under the stairs, and you will probably still have space left for other boxes or items. 

This storage option is my second favorite of the list (after closet), because it’s still in the house, but in a space you don’t usually use, therefore it doesn’t feel like it’s occupying too much space. 

6. Behind the couch (or other furniture items)

People with small homes completely understand when I say storage spaces are extremely important and knowing how to organize items in them is definitely a valuable skill. 

If this is your issue, then let me present to you another storing option for luggage: behind a couch or other big furniture piece. 

I saw this at my aunt’s house when I was younger, and I thought it was genius. The shape of the couch was a key factor in this arrangement, because it had a deeper, more inclined backrest section. And since it was positioned against a wall, they just pushed a bit farther from it, so they had more space to work with (and hide things behind).

You should consider this option in your home, too, especially if you have a large living room. 

Tips & Tricks On How to Store Luggage

• Ideally, get a dust bag for luggage. A dust bag (or even just a large garbage bag) will help the bag stay clean and not collect any dust that you will have to wipe off every time you go on vacation. 
• Smaller bag in bigger bag. This is a great trick I actually thought of when I took my first transatlantic trip. I put my 20lb carry-on bag, full with all my clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc, in my big 50lb bag and checked it in. That way I didn’t have to carry around the airports an empty bag, but I had space for my new purchases when I returned. Similarly, you can do the same with your empty luggage. Put the smaller one in the bigger one, so this way, you only have to store one bag, not two. 

Conclusion

If you were wondering how to store luggage, I hope this article was useful to you and you got at least 1 new spot idea to work with.

For more decluttering and organizing solutions, check out these blog posts:

• How to declutter your home to clear up space
• How to keep a tidy house
• How to declutter books
• How to do a wardrobe declutter
• How to declutter and organize makeup
• Makeup Storage & Organization

The post How To Store Luggage: 6 Spots In Your Home To Store Bags appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Let me give you a spoiler. “How to clean jewelry at home” 101. You just need some warm water and, in most cases, some dish soap. But we’ll get into the details a bit later. 

What you need to know is that there are ways to clean your jewelry at home, easy and fast, without having to go to a professional jewelry cleaner. (Although sometimes it’s better to do that, especially for very expensive items)

So if you’re looking for how to clean jewelry at home, I’m here to help with easy to follow steps. Read more below:

How to clean jewelry at home – suitable for most types of jewelry

The easiest and simplest way to clean jewelry is to use a mix of lukewarm water and mild dish soap. Try to get a very mild detergent, don’t go for the powerful one. And grab an old toothbrush, you’ll need it.

Here’s how to clean jewelry at home:

• Pour some lukewarm water into a bowl and add 1-2 drops of dish soap.
• Soak the jewelry in the water for a minute
• Then gently use a toothbrush to clear away any dirt 
• If there is dirt stuck in small places that a toothbrush can’t reach, you can use a toothpick
• Pat the jewelry dry on a kitchen towel (or face towel) and allow it to completely dry before putting it away

How to clean jewelry at home – Gold

• Using the same mix of lukewarm water and dish soap, put it in a big bowl and leave your gold bracelets, chains and earrings for 3-5 minutes. 
• Swish them around, then take them out and place them on a kitchen or bath towel. 
• Use a soft toothbrush to clear out dirt from crevices and chain links. Finish by buffing dry the gold jewelry with a soft cloth.

How to clean jewelry at home – Silver

If you want to know how to clean jewelry at home, well, when it comes to silver pieces, things a bit more complicated….but nothing too scary, relax. 

The easy way out is to use silver polish from Amazon, for example. 

But if you don’t want to spend money, then use the method below for how to clean silver at home:

• Make sure you have tinfoil, baking soda, salt, water and a disposable pan. 
• Line the bottom of the pan with the aluminum foil, putting the shiny side up.
• Put the silver jewelry pieces in it, making sure it touches foil.
• Pour a bit of baking soda on top and sprinkle some salt, too. To calculate the right amount, use one tablespoon of each for every cup of water.
• Then pour boiling water into the pan until the jewelry is covered.
• Let the silver jewelry pieces sit in the DIY mix until the dirt and tarnish begin to disappear. 
• Then carefully remove them from the water (using some tongs, for example) and put them on a lint-free cloth, with which you can pat them dry. 

BONUS TIP: If there is still some tarnish left on the pieces, apply a dab of toothpaste (white) on them, and rub them gently with a finger. Then rinse well with lukewarm water and buff it out to make it shiny again. 

How to clean jewelry at home – Pearls

Pearls are very special to begin with, so they are also harder to take care of. That is because they have pores and can easily lose their shine. So you have to regularly clean them. 

First and most important rule of cleaning pearls is: never soak them in water (or any other substance). 

If you want to clean pearls, start by laying them on a cloth / kitchen towel. Dip a small, clean, soft toothbrush or, better yet, makeup brush, into a mixture of lukewarm water and a dollop of shampoo. Then carefully and slowly go over each pearl. Rinse them with a clean damp cloth, and then lay them to dry flat on a surface (preferably a clean towel). 

The easy way out – Professional Jewelry Cleaners you can find on Amazon

• Magnasonic Professional Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner 
• Weiman Jewelry Cleaner Liquid
• Connoisseurs Precious Jewelry Cleaner 

What NOT to clean jewelry with? 

Knowing how to clean jewelry at home is knowing how to avoid using harsh ingredients such as:

• Alcohol
• Lemon juice
• Acids 

Conclusion

You’ve made the first step into knowing how to clean jewelry at home. I hope the information above was useful. I also hope your jewelry pieces will soon be shiny and fresh. Take care!

p.s. Speaking of cleaning, check out the articles below about similar topics:

• How to clean shoelaces
• Cleaning schedules for busy couples
• Essential Laundry Hacks You Need To Know
• How to remove coffee stains from carpet

The post How To Clean Jewelry At Home – Silver, Gold, Pearls & More appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Especially if you have to prepare it for your whole family. 

When you reach that point, you need to make sure everyone has presents, that there is food on the table and that the house looks nice enough for Christmas (and sometimes, for guests, too). Among other things. 

I’m here today to help you with that. 

I’ve always been the planning type. I always made sure to buy Christmas presents in November, for example. And when I met my boyfriend, those tasks doubled. And then tripled, because I had to make sure the house looks nice, has a Christmas tree, and is able to receive guests. 

So in the last few years I’ve had to up my game and become a Christmas planner expert. And I’m happy I got these skills now, because they will be very useful when we decide to have kids. 

That being said, I really want to share with you my process and tips & tricks on how to prepare for Christmas, so you don’t get overwhelmed during the last month of the year. 

Here are the main areas you need to consider when preparing for Christmas:

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS: PRESENTS

This is one of, if not THE most important part of Christmas: the presents. 

I suggest the following plan; it’s been working for me for the last 6-7 years, at least. 

• Start a Christmas Presents list in October. 
• Write down all the people you need to buy presents for.
• Start brainstorming gift ideas. For example, this year I’m thinking about getting my mom a cozy bathrobe, and my dad some cool new winter boots. 
• And from then on, you start looking out for those gift ideas in stores and buy them when you find sales, or the right time to get them. 
• I suggest starting buying presents early November, so you don’t need to spend all your money in a couple days, all from the same paycheck. Heck, if you’re really sure about what to get for people, you can start buying in September or October. 

A few tips & tricks for buying cool presents that your loved one will appreciate:

• For kids & teenagers, ask them or their parents what they want / what is on their Christmas present list; 
• If you’re stuck on what to get parents & grandparents, I usually go for clothes & accessories. And if they are homebodies (like my parents, for example), try cozy slippers or cozy loungewear sets from Amazon. If they’re more adventurous, you can get them new activewear. 
• For partners (girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife), I recommend getting them what they need and/or want. Or something you know for sure they will love. 

My boyfriend, for example, is a huge board game fan, so I will definitely get him a board game for Christmas, plus one other item. If your partner is the same, check out this Gift Guide for Board Game Lovers right here. 

I also have this great blog post with many Gift Ideas for Men, if you’re having trouble choosing what to get them. 

• Another great tip is to save all the gift bags you’ve received so far (Christmas specific and simple ones), and reuse them for this year’s presents. This way, you won’t have to go out and buy new ones. Money saved!

• I also try to get as many presents as I can on Black Friday sales, that helps me save a lot of money. It also takes off the pressure of buying everything in December. 

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS: HOME DECOR

I have to admit, I’ve developed my Christmas home decoration skills pretty recently. And that’s because I was single for a long time, and I didn’t feel the need to decorate only for myself. 

But now that I am in a relationship, and about to get married and have kids, I’ve started putting more effort into this. 

So I’ve learned that the main things you need to have for home decorating are the following:

• Christmas tree
• Tree decorations
• House decorations (other lights, candles, etc)
• Front door decorations (mainly wreath, but whatever else you want, too)

1. Christmas tree

When it comes to trees, to each his own. Get a fake one. Go buy a fresh, new one from the market. 

Do it on the 1st of November or the Eve of Christmas. 

Either way, you need a Christmas tree. 

I, personally, have a fake Christmas tree that I get out every beginning of December. 

(Yes, I’m the weird one who decorates in December, around the 6th or 7th.)

2. Tree decorations

You also need Christmas tree decorations. 

Some people use the same things every year. Others buy new tree decorations for every Christmas. 

I’m somewhere in the middle. I always try to mix it up every year and change up the colors or the actual decorations in it, so I don’t end up with the same tree every time. That means that I sometimes need to buy new items, like globes of a certain color. But not everything is new.

Last year we went for a gold and purple theme. This year, we’re thinking of gold and red. 

3. House decorations

This is the area where I’ve seen certain people go all out. I mean, their house is literally a Christmas store. A great example of this is Angie Bellemare’s house (from YouTube). 

You don’t have to do all of that. But you can add small touches around the house to remind you and your family & guests of Christmas, like:

• Throw Pillows with Christmas designs;
• Winter smelling candles;
• Extra fairly lights hanging on the stairway or cabinet;
• Cute Christmas-y table runner of the dining room table;
• …and the list goes on. 

I usually have 2 cute red throw pillows for my living room couch and an extra set of fairy lights for the library.

In the “House decorations” category we can also include front door Christmas wreaths, too. Check out what you can find on Amazon here. 

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS: MEAL PLANNING

This section of “how to prepare for Christmas” is tricky. Because it’s not always up to you. 

What I mean by that, is that you don’t usually have to cook only for your home. You will also have to prepare or buy something to take to your parents and in-laws house, if you celebrate Christmas at their place, too.

That’s what we do every year. On the evening of the 24th we go to my parents’ place, and the 25th of December is reserved for my in-laws. 

Now, luckily for me, I don’t have to cook all the food. But I do have to prepare a cake or a side dish for both places. Especially since we usually come back home with leftovers from both families. (Lucky us!)

And I bet you have to do the same. If not for two Christmas gatherings, at least for one. So you need to get ready for it. Here is how:

• Ask beforehand the host what you have to bring to the Christmas party. Even if they say nothing, it is nice to contribute with something, so at least bring a dessert or a bottle of wine.
• Make your own Christmas meal plan list. Think about what you want and need to cook before, during and after Christmas. Write down the meals and their main ingredients. 
• Then make sure the groceries are done before the 24th of December. This way, you don’t have to run out to get ingredients in the middle of the night. 
• Try to prepare everything on the 23th and the 24th of December, so you have everything ready on the day, but don’t do it earlier than that, because the food won’t be as fresh anymore. 

CONCLUSION

I know there are many more things to say on how to prepare for Christmas, but I wanted to cover the 3 main areas you need to focus on. Presents, decor and meal planning usually take up the most amount of time. I hope it was useful for you and I hope you get prepared for Christmas on time this year, so you don’t get stressed. Enjoy the holidays!

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

The post How to prepare for Christmas: Decor! Presents! Meal Planning! appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Why? Because you use your nightstand every night, and it usually holds your most necessary items, like a phone or water bottles. It also somehow attracts attention when you enter the room, so more reasons to make sure it looks nice.

Now, I know there are people who don’t use one at all, or only to hold a phone (*ahem* my boyfriend), but they’re not the target audience for this post 🙂 

So if you’re here, looking for nightstand decor ideas and how to style a nightstand, you’ve come to the right place. 

I’m here to help you with 5 core items / ideas you can easily implement today in your space. You probably have all of them, and if you don’t, you can find them for pretty cheap in many stores. 

These nightstand decor ideas will help you, not only efficiently use the space, but also create a warmer, more inviting, and cool space in your bedroom. 

So let’s see how to style a nightstand!

Nightstand Decor Idea #1: Framed Art or Photos

This is a decor hack I’ve recently learned and I absolutely love it. I’ve already implemented it on my nightstand. 

FRAMED ART or PHOTOS.

A large, framed poster / painting / picture, ideally that matches the color palette of the rest of the room, looks amazing and gives the space a bit of personality. And god knows my bedroom definitely needs a bit of spicing up, it’s very basic right now. 

I’ve added a framed picture from a classic movie and I love the way it looks.

Nightstand Decor Idea #2: Book stacking

When researching the topic of “How to style a nightstand”, the book stacking was probably the most used nightstand decor ideas out there. 

Similarly to a coffee table, stacking table books one on top of eachother can help fill up a larger space. They also add an interesting, extra surface to decorate. 

For the bedroom, though, I suggest limiting yourself to 2-5 books. Any more, and it would look crowded. 

Here’s my take on it. I stacked 2-3 books, and in later photos, I added a fake succulent on top. It gives character to the space and elongates the visual area. 

Nightstand Decor Idea #3: Light Source

Can we really do a nightstand decor ideas list without adding a lamp? Or a light source of any kind? I think not. 

Most people go for bedside lamps, and I agree. There are so many cool designs out there from which you can choose. You just have to know your style. 

Alternatively, you can have a night light, or a new fancy digital clock that gives light. Or a 2-in-1, like this Bedside Table Lamp with Touch Control and USB Charging Port, that can also act as an alarm clock.

I, personally, have a classic, very boring bedside lamp from IKEA. Which reminds me, I should really change it soon, it doesn’t match my vibe.

Nightstand Decor Idea #4: Flowers and/or Plants

Plants are always a good idea, no matter the room of the house. But for a bedroom, I recommend a smaller pot / plant or a small vase with flowers. 

I think less is more, especially in the bedroom. No need to crowd the place with a lot of plants, or big ones. So that’s why a smaller pot or vase would look great on a nightstand. 

I’ve had this small fake succulent for years and it looks so nice, stacked up on books, or next to the light source. 

Nightstand Decor Idea #5: Storage Solutions (trays, baskets, etc.)

Number one on my nightstand decor ideas, even higher than the light source, is storage. I, for one, desperately need storage solutions for all my stuff. 

In any given day, I have the following in or on my nightstand:

• Part of my skincare routine (I like to apply certain things right before bed)
• Hand cream
• Lip Balm
• Lavender roll-on
• A place to put my engagement ring and/or my earrings
• My phone charger
• Glass of water
• …and so on.

That’s why I chose a nightstand with a drawer, so I can hide most of the stuff in it. But some things still need to be on the nightstand.

If you’re like me, I recommend two types of storage units:

• A bin for your selfcare / beauty items, like lip balms and creams. Something like this Plastic Stackable Storage Box with Pull-Out Drawer from Amazon.

P.s. More Makeup and Beauty Organization Ideas & Storage Options here!

• Or something more elegant / fancy, like this jewelry tray from Amazon:

Here is my jewelry tray. I got it from a trip to the UK years ago, it’s from Primark. The other one is from IKEA.

Nightstand Decor Idea #6: Mix and match #1 – #5

Now comes the interesting part- mixing them all together. I suggest going with 3, maximum 4 of the 5 nightstand decor ideas listed above. 

Here is one of my favorites: framed picture, plants, jewelry tray and stacked books. 

CONCLUSION

Styling a nightstand doesn’t have to be complicated. You just need a few essential items and know how to mix and match them. I hope my post above helped you find cool new nightstand decor ideas to implement asap. 

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

The post How To Style a Nightstand: Cozy Nightstand Decor Ideas You Can Easily Implement appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Any way you go around it, it’s bad. You need to make sure your washing machine is in top condition, especially since you use it multiple times a week. And you want to keep using it many more times from now on. 

You might think that cleaning your washing machine is hard or complicated, but it’s really not. All you need is a cleaning cloth, or disinfectant wipes, maybe a small brush, and some vinegar. No need to buy extra products! It’s as simple as that. 

Below I’ll tell you how to clean a washing machine, but first let’s see why you should do it:

WHY YOU SHOULD CLEAN YOUR WASHING MACHINE RIGHT NOW

No matter how much you use it, or what detergent you use, the machine will likely accumulate dirt and grim over time. It usually gets stuck behind the crevices, and because of it, bacteria, mold and mildew start to grow. And that’s a big no-no for you and your family’s well being. 

There is also the build up of water deposits from your water and your laundry detergent. That can make your washing machine wear out faster, because it has to work harder. 

Either way, you have to know and consider the fact that washing machines need to be cleaned at least once a year, if not more. Below you’ll find out how to clean a washing machine. 

HOW TO CLEAN A WASHING MACHINE

First thing you need to do is to CLEAN THE EXTERIOR. 

• Take a wet cleaning cloth and start wiping down the door of the washer. 
• Next, scrub and wipe the inside of the washer seal, ideally with a small brush (an old toothbrush will work fine). This will help get rid of the sludge and gunk you will, most likely, find on the door and between the seal and the washer. 
• Use a small brush to clean the rubber seal. TIP: Pull back the washer rubber seal and clean there, too, you will be surprised what you can find there.  

Second area you need to focus on is the DETERGENT DISPENSER. Open it and wipe it down with a wet, warm cleaning cloth, and some vinegar. There is usually some build up there, too.

Finally, and most importantly, CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE WASHING MACHINE.

To do that, you need to do a wash cycle with vinegar. Add 2 cups of white vinegar in the interior compartment, then run a normal cycle.

If you want to clean a top loader washing machine, then fill it up with hot water and add 1 quart of white vinegar. Let it soak for another hour, then run a normal washing cycle.

After the cycle is done, use your cleaning cloth again, with a bit of vinegar, to scrub away any gunk around the detergent and fabric softener dispensers, and the door. 

ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR MAINTAINING A CLEAN WASHING MACHINE

TIP 1 – Keep the door of the washing machine open after a cycle. This helps prevent bacteria growth, because after a cycle, the interior is damp, and can create nasty stuff. 

TIP 2 – Remove laundry from the machine as soon as the cycle is done. This will help prevent bad smells. It will also decrease dampness, so no more grounds for bacteria growth.  Check out this link for more Laundry Hacks!

CONCLUSION

This is how to clean a washing machine. Start from the exterior and work yourself inside the actual machine. No extra products needed, just water, a cloth and vinegar.

The post How to clean a washing machine – No extra products needed! appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

I chose it because, for me, having a cozy, warm inviting place to call home is important. It’s what I like to spend my time in, and what I like to offer to my guests. 

That’s why I want to help everyone create a cozy home for themselves, in which they feel safe and at peace. 

This post is designed to offer exactly that: tips & tricks that will help make a home feel cozy. Some were learned from interior design experts, others were personally implemented by me in my own house, and I think they definitely did the trick. 

Before we start, I have to say that these cozy home hacks below are simple suggestions and recommendations based on previous experiences. While most people would feel good in these types of spaces, I’m sure there are some who feel at ease in dark places, or in minimalist, very clean houses. So take this advice and adapt it to your needs and preferences. The most important thing is for you to feel good in that space. And that could look differently from case to case. 

Let’s go! Here are 15 cozy home hacks to help you make your home feel cozy:

1. Declutter your home

During the pandemic I realized I had to create a more relaxed, peaceful environment for me and my partner to live in. And the first thing I did was to declutter my home. (it didn’t hurt I suddenly had all the time in the world, but that’s another topic)

I wrote down all the areas I wanted to declutter or felt were too crowded, then I made a plan to tackle one at a time. One day I tackled my kitchen cabinets, another day, the closet, and so on. 

You can definitely go even smaller, and do one drawer at a time. Whatever moves the needle, like a girl on YouTube always says. 

The goal here is to declutter all the things you don’t need or want anymore, so you can create space – for yourself, your guests…or other things 🙂 Also, the decluttering process also helps make the room seem brighter and more inviting, therefore cozier. 

2. Use warm tones (wood, yellow, orange, red, beige)

This is an interior design recommendation I see everywhere and I have to agree with it: use warm tones in your decor, because it helps create a warmer space. 

I have a lot of beige, warm yellow, and some reds and oranges in my living room and I love it. I also go for wood when it comes to furniture, in bright or slightly darker colors. 

These warm tones can also be found (and used) in couch colors, throw pillows, blankets or even wall art. 

3. Add throw pillows to the mix

Throw pillows always make a room better. Just kidding, not always, but they do help give a pop of color and / or personality to a specific area of your house. 

For example, I love adding throw pillows with geometric design to my living room couch. For my bedroom, I go for yellows, oranges, beiges, you name it. 

This is probably one of the easiest cozy home hacks to implement: just make sure you have at least 2-3 throw pillows in any lounging, sit down area in your house!

4. Make the house smell nice

When it comes to creating an inviting environment for guests, one of the best ways to do it is to make the space smell nice. 

There are so many ways to go about it. You can have candles or oil diffusers. Or use wall plug-ins. You can even create a simmer pot, especially during fall or winter. Check out my post on How to make your house smell like fall for more ideas. 

Either way, make sure your home smells nice, trust me, it will make a difference! 

5. Cozy it up with rugs 

I love adding rugs to my home. Not only do they make my feet warm and cozy, especially during winter, but they can also brighten up the space, and add warmth both in appearance and functionality.

I have a beige IKEA one for my living room, and it’s great. Matches with the rest of the furniture, and it feels so good to walk barefoot on it. I bet it won’t be that good when I decide to have a baby or get a pet, but for now, for the two of us, it works. 

In my opinion, all living rooms need a rug. Also, consider one for the office (if you have one), and one for the bedroom, of course. I would even go as far to recommend one for the hallway, but that’s just me, you do you. 

Don’t know how to choose a rug? Check out this post!

6. Play with soft lighting 

If you’re the type of person who likes to have a bright, open home, then you probably already know what I’m about to recommend. 

Soft lighting solutions, like candles, string lights, a fireplace, or warm light bulbs, help give a wonderful glow to a space. This is actually one of the most underrated cozy home hacks out there. 

Since I don’t have a fireplace, I rely a lot on candles and string lights, and it looks so cool! I love the vibe it gives. Try it out for yourself!

7. Add personal elements to your home 

People feel safe and at ease in friendly, social environments, not in industrial, bare spaces. If you want to give personality and a human touch to your home, you need to incorporate personal elements. 

You can do that by decorating your house with frames (pictures of you and your family & friends). Or by having collages or your own artwork displayed on the walls. Similarly, if you have kids, you can display your kids’ drawings in the kitchen or office area. 

There are so many things you can do. The trick here is to make it as human as possible. 

8. More seating options

This is one of the cozy home hacks that I learned recently, from an interior design course, and I love it, because it makes so much sense. 

In order to make your home more inviting and cozy, you need to think of it as a place for gatherings, so that means more seating options. Because the more spacious and more inviting it is, the cozier it will feel. 

The picture above is a great example. Not only does it have two couches, but it also offers two chairs and an ottoman. 

Another thing you can add as a seating option are floor pillows, if you don’t want to invest in something bigger or don’t have the space for it. 

9. Large coffee table or dining room table

Similarly to the idea of having more seating options, having a large table also suggests the idea of socializing. 

A big table brings to mind lunches and dinners and snacks, or board games and card games. It makes the space feel inviting and cozy. 

For example, our dining room table always doubles as a great board game table, and it’s probably my boyfriend’s favorite purchase of the house.

10. Add mirrors 

Did you know that mirrors help the light bounce around the room, adding warmth to darker areas? So, since you’ve already added the soft lighting, now it’s to maximize its power with mirrors. 

The cool thing is that they also make the room seem bigger, so double win!

I have one in my hallway, and one in the living room, and it definitely helps reflect more light. I highly recommend getting mirrors. 

And if you’re in the market for a cool mirror with a unique design, check out these Amazon dupes for the famous Anthropologie mirror. 

11. Cozy home with cozy blankets 

If you want to go an extra step and make your place even more cozy and warm, definitely invest in some quality blankets. The fluffier, the better. 

I love this Amazon sherpa throw blanket: it has two sides, and it comes in so many colors, just take your pick. You can get it here!

They are suitable for colder months, yes, but you can get thinner ones for spring and summer, too. 

12. Incorporate texture

Texture can also warm up a space, and you can do that with more than just your regular throw pillows or blankets. 

That means leather stools, wicker baskets, velvet pillows, window treatments and so on.

Next on my home renovations / decorations list is a leather chair, I already have it picked out, I just need to budget for it, but that’s a whole different discussion. 

13. Decorate for the holidays 

Decorating for the holidays is one of the most underrated cozy home hacks. 

A decorated home is not only festive, but also inviting, So that makes it cozy for most people. 

So next time Thanksgiving or Christmas or Easter rolls around, consider a few festive decorations around the place, it will make a difference. 

14. Plants

Plants are amazing for a home: they help clean the air by absorbing toxins, increasing humidity & producing oxygen. Honestly, you need plants in your home. 

But they also look great and can provide privacy and reduce stress. 

Honestly, there are so many benefits to plants! So many, actually, that they help create a nice environment, so yeah, plants should definitely be on the list of cozy home hacks. 

15. Wall Art

This might be a controversial opinion, but some people think blank walls have no personality. And I tend to agree, although I strongly believe you don’t need to cover absolutely every wall in your house. Actually, a blank, white wall can have a very powerful effect on a space. 

But for most cases, I do think you need to use your walls and decorate them somehow, be it with an actual painting, or prints. This hack ties in with #7, adding personal elements. That helps create an inviting environment. 

CONCLUSION

These days, it’s easier than ever to create a cozy home for yourself and your family. You don’t even need to spend that much money on it. I hope my 15 cozy home hacks will help you create a wonderful, peaceful space!

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

The post 15 Cozy Home Hacks: Simple Ways To Make Your Home Feel Cozy appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.