Bali, for example, has become a popular remote work destination for digital nomads worldwide. In this case, staying in a non-permanent residence has become an excellent choice to support this lifestyle. 

If you plan to start a new course in your remote work life by switching to a budget-friendly communal life, this article is for you. Find out why co-living spaces are an excellent environment to thrive financially, socially, and emotionally.

What is co-living?

Research shows that digital nomads frequently choose short-term jobs and living arrangements over long-term home ownership to simplify their lifestyles. The consequences of loneliness and isolation are still present, despite the freedom that comes from not being confined to one location. Co-living spaces, as temporary shared establishments, offer a solution that provides remote workers with both privacy and a way to maintain social connections.

Shared accommodations, called co-living, are common among people leading nomadic lifestyles. However, it is worth taking note of the differences it has with co-housing.

Spatially, co-housing is a traditional family-style home that was not created to accommodate numerous strangers. 

On the other hand, co-living includes a furnished private bedroom and bathroom as well as shared common areas, such as dining and living room. The building structure is similar to an apartment than a typical home.

The concept of co-working is often linked with co-living. This space allows people from different companies to work in the same area with shared facilities, services, and tools. Some co-living spaces are designed with an integrated co-working space within their premises as their primary facility. However, co-working spaces are a standalone infrastructure.

Advantages of co-living

In the world of fast-paced development and innovation, flexibility is everything. Digital nomads who long to see the world must be prepared to accommodate their adventures without being bothered by housing problems. Co-living offers several advantages that can eliminate those stressful thoughts and maintain your status as a productive human being.

Diverse options

Currently, many different kinds of co-living spaces are available on the market, including single versus branded co-living (usually a franchise), small versus large scaled co-living, and varied themes and styles to target specific subgroups of digital nomads. Therefore, you can choose whichever co-living arrangement suits your needs.

Enhanced social life 

Co-living provides opportunities for its residents to be involved in various social events held by the community management team, such as movie nights, family meals, and daily hangouts. These events let you meet new people, expand social networks, and break free from the loneliness resulting from workplace isolation, increasing your well-being.

Less financial strain and flexibility in ownership 

Co-living offers individual room leases and keeps all expenses separate rather than requiring residents to find flat mates and manage shared contracts and payments. Hence, you are not jeopardizing your housemates’ ability to live together when your term ends. 

Additionally, you can locate short-term co-living arrangements that last anywhere from three months to a year. If you enjoy traveling, it is the ideal solution for seeing the world and living in various locations. 

Disadvantages of co-living

The easy living and constant exposure to other people may not be for everyone. Similar to other living arrangements, a co-living arrangement also has its set of disadvantages.

Reduced privacy and solitude

Despite the ability to have a separate room and manage the lease on your own, the communal culture that the co-living spaces promote through their get-together activities might not be a good choice for people with high levels of independence and a strong need for solitude. Partaking in these activities is not mandatory, but all residents’ participation is usually highly encouraged. Some co-livings even include their social event plan in the leasing agreement. 

Limited to metropolitan areas

At this stage, most co-living establishments are only available in metropolitan areas since the main marketing targets are fresh graduates and urban professionals. Therefore, co-living is yet to be common for those living in suburban and rural areas. 

Platforms and apps where to find co-living spaces

Various local and international websites enable you to search for a room in your co-living destination. The mechanism is simple: you must fill out an online application, and the leasing team will review it and determine if you’re suitable for the co-living arrangement you selected. After that, you can make payments online. 

We have gathered 5 top international websites you must look out for:

Coliving.com 

This website allows you to browse more than 900 co-living spaces in more than 60 countries globally. They offer monthly leases for fully-furnished rooms with utility bills, Wi-Fi, and cleaning fees included. The rental period ranges from 1 month up to 12 months for all establishments.

Anyplace

Available in 12 countries, this website offers remote workers flexible short-term leases for fully-furnished accommodations such as co-living, apartments, and hotels. Like Coliving.com, Anyplace also includes utility and Wi-Fi bills in their monthly rent.

Outsite 

This website connects you to co-living spaces across America, Europe, Latin America, Africa (Morocco), and Asia (Bali). What makes Outsite different is that it offers contactless check-in upon your arrival. If you are keen to bring your team for a retreat, several accommodation options are available in selected countries, such as America and Portugal. 

Nomad Pass 

Akin to Anyplace and Outsite, this platform primarily provides accommodation in American and European countries with limited locations in Asian countries. However, the accommodation type is more varied since it also allows you to book villas for start-up retreats. 

Young Global Living 

Discover more than 50 destination cities around the world through this website. Each co-living space has varied facilities and other exciting features, such as community and sociocultural activities. 

In conclusion

Wherever you reside, it is essential to ensure that the place you select can accommodate your professional and personal goals. Moving to a co-living space is worth considering, especially if you are a digital nomad seeking to explore new experiences and meet new people beyond the screen. With that said, the adventure starts here!

If you would like to know more about house styles, check out the Home Organization Science Labs. The lab uses the research of the Institute for Life Management Science to produce tools and resources such as podcasts, videos, courses, and certifications. Visit the Home Organization Science Labs today.

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In big cities, lighting is very crucial to illuminate various vital areas, from home to business, from neighborhood streets to giant billboards. However, there are always two sides to a coin.    

As we shed light on this issue, let’s delve further into the state of global light pollution caused by artificial lighting and what it means to humans and the environment. To help reduce the negative impacts of light pollution, you can start contributing right from your home. From choosing proper light bulbs to decorating your interior space, we will help you to develop sustainable practices and habits that serve this purpose. 

What is skyglow?

Unfortunately, the advancement of lighting systems has detrimental effects on the environment. The use of outdoor man-made, nighttime lighting can cause a light pollution effect called skyglow, which illuminates the cities where a large amount of outdoor lighting is installed as well as areas around them. 

Studies have shown that skyglow can be intensified by air pollution and is particularly sensitive to very minute airborne particles. Moreover, ice and snow also exacerbate skyglow because they reflect more light than darker ground covers. This increases the perceived artificial light outputs from cities during the night.

Over time, global light pollution resulting from the growing usage of artificial outdoor lighting has increased by at least 49% from 1992 to 2017. In 2016, scientists revealed that light pollution affects 80% of the global population, with Singapore, Kuwait, and Qatar as the brightest, most light-polluted cities. With the ongoing socio-economic development targeting areas with inadequate lighting supplies, this number may continue to rise.

Effects of skyglow 

Skyglow certainly gives negative impacts on the entire ecosystem and especially on human well-being. Studies stressed that skyglow can modify animal time division patterns, the loss of crucial nighttime navigation signals for species, and modifications to predator-prey interactions.

Not only animals but skyglow also affects humans — the loss of human cultural experiences connected to naturally lit night skies and considered profound by some, as well as challenges with the placement and use of astronomical telescopes. 

Additionally, constant exposure to artificial light potentially disturbs a person’s day-night cycle and influences the way people produce the melatonin hormone, which naturally supplies antioxidant properties to the body. Without this hormone, there will be an increase in the risk of obesity, depression, sleep disturbances, diabetes, and breast cancer. 

So, what can you do to reduce skyglow starting from your own living space? Below are five easy recommendations you can apply at home.

Use warm-colored LEDs or CFLs

LED (Light-emitting Diodes) and CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) lights are known as the most energy-saving products among other lighting types. LEDs provide between two and five times as much light as incandescent bulbs for the same level of energy usage due to their energy efficiency. Whereas CFLs bring the same light but have a longer life span compared to incandescent light.

You need to be careful of choosing LED lighting as white LEDs could have a more significant negative influence on the environment. So you can opt for warmer color temperatures of a white LED, such as warm white or natural white instead of cold white, as research shows that the environmental effects of using white LED lighting would be reduced by using warmer-colored versions of it. Additionally, instead of focusing on the watts, think about the lumens, which measure how much light is produced.

According to the Australian Energy Rating, CFLs come in a variety of colors, including one that is quite similar to the 2700-degree Kelvin “warm” light produced by the majority of incandescent bulbs. The Kelvin temperature describes the hue of the light produced by the bulbs, it also serves as a comparison to outdoor natural light. In this case, CFLs are typically available in 5 colors:  

1. Warm white which is akin to incandescent light bulbs (2700-3000 degrees Kelvin); 
2. White (3500 degrees Kelvin); 
3. Cold white (4000 degrees Kelvin); 
4. Neutral white (5000 degrees Kelvin); 
5. And daylight (6000 degrees Kelvin)

It is important to note that, similar to other fluorescent lamps, CFLs contain mercury, which means you need to be careful when disposing of and replacing your old CFL bulbs. The recommended practice is to recycle them to prevent the mercury from escaping into the environment. Check for your local recycling organization or retailers that collect hazardous waste and provide recycling services. 

Make it a habit to turn the lights off when not in use

Although outdoor lighting significantly drives skyglow, indoor lighting also has the potential to contribute to light pollution. For this reason, artificial lighting should only be used when strictly necessary and should only be left on for as long as only necessary. 

You might need to have the desk lamp on while you are working or studying in the home office, but make sure to turn it off right away once you are done and leave the room. Similarly, it is alright to have the veranda or balcony lights on at night, but it does not have to stay on all night. You can turn them off before going to bed to save energy and reduce the chance of producing light pollution from your home environment.

In doing so, the average illumination levels can be decreased and more energy can be saved by using dimmers, motion sensors, and timers. These smart devices will help you to automatically manage the use of lighting and even the color emitted by the lights. Therefore, you do not have to worry about forgetting when to turn on and turn off the lights, which is very helpful to minimize the chance of unnecessary lighting usage.

Install light shields and turn the lights downwards

Lights that extend beyond the precise location that is supposed to be lit often end up as wasted light. In this case, light pollution can be avoided by using outdoor lighting fixtures that cover the light source to reduce glare and light trespass. By aiming the light downward and directly at the target area, the shields enable you to considerably eliminate skyglow. 

For any installations of outdoor lighting, The International Dark Sky Association recommends using fully shielded or fully cut-off fixtures for outdoor areas. However, you may also consider having these fixtures installed around the indoor area to make sure that there will not be any light spillage escaping through the window.

Make your interior work harder to control lights

As a result of their ability to reflect light, highly polished, bright, or light-colored surfaces contribute more to the sky glow than darker, less reflective ones. You can lessen your contribution to light pollution by using darker paint or materials for outdoor elements. Avoid using white and vivid colors such as yellow. If you still wish to apply softer colors, going for earthy colors works well. In doing so, choosing a full matt (or flat matt) or satin paint rather than high-gloss paint can be a great step.

Another strategy to minimize reflections and control light using your interior elements is using pull-down shades or curtains for the windows on the opposite side of a bright wall. Consider tinted, UV, and infrared-coated glass when installing new windows. 

For lighting artwork, utilize a shaded fixture with low wattage and a low angle of light coming from above. 

Whilst for outdoor areas, installing an awning would be a great idea. A strategically positioned deciduous tree outside can have the same impact as well.

In conclusion

Preserving the environment is just as important as having a well-lit home. Adopt more eco-friendly practices in your daily habits, so you can contribute to the greater purpose which is to maintain a healthy and livable world for the next generations. As you read this article, look around the room; have you turned off unnecessary lights today?

If you would like to take your reading on indoor lighting further, visit the Home Organization Science Labs. The lab produces courses, certifications, videos, podcasts, and other learning materials using the research of the Institute for Life Management Science. Check out the Home Organization Science Labs today. 

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According to the Survey of Construction (SOC), in 2020, 58% of all newly constructed single-family homes with less than 1,200 square feet were reported to have one or fewer bathrooms. This calls for a challenge in maintaining the boundaries and ownership of individual items amidst the limited space available.  

Another issue is when sharing the bathroom with kids or younger siblings, they do not recognize their belongings and there is a challenge on how to keep them away from using what belongs to the adults. Implementing the color coding system for their toothbrushes, soaps, and towels will help them easily recognize what is theirs. It is also a good exercise for the kids to learn about the art of organizing from a young age by attracting them with interesting color arrangements.  

One strategy you can adopt at home to ensure the awareness of every household of what item belongs to whom is the color-coding organization system. It has been scientifically proven that color can help you to memorize and associate things better. In line with this discovery, this article will explain two main strategies to organize the bathroom with color.

Color coordination: Rainbow Ordering System

Many professional organizers adopt the rainbow ordering system in their method. For instance, The Home Edit duo, Joanna and Clea, introduced the idea of integrating the ROYGBIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet) color spectrum into the sorting and organizing rule through their book and TV show.   

Using this as inspiration, you can start mapping out how you can group items based on the color of their package instead of their types or sizes. This strategy allows you to create a visual flow that effectively streamlines the items.  

In the context of a bathroom, this system enables you to color-coordinate your bath supplies in the cabinets, drawers, or shelves. When arranging, consider using clear bins or lazy susans that allow the colors to be visible at all times. Most importantly, these storage spaces will assist you in smoothly putting things away after use. This way, you don’t have to worry about forgetting where certain items must return after usage.

Color coding: A specific rule for associating colors

Dedicating a color for a household member

This method is pretty self-explanatory. The choice of color can be arbitrary or refers to your favorite color. For example, you may opt to always use a purple toothbrush while your partner uses the blue one to make a clear distinction between your toothbrush and your partner’s. The same concept applies to other bathroom tools, such as towels and shower caps.   

However, if you live alone, organizing by color-matching your bathroom is still possible. Considering other items in this space, you can use towels that are in the same color scheme as the bath rugs, mats, and shower curtains. Another useful idea is playing with the shades of the furniture and toiletries. This practice evokes the feeling of harmony and continuity.

Dedicating a color for the expiration period of the item

Another possible way to organize the bathroom is by using colors to represent the expiration period of an item. For example, orange is associated with items whose expiration date is in the first half of the year (January to June), while red can be used to mark the items that will expire in the second half of the year (July to December). Using color to recognize expiration periods is particularly useful for organizing bathroom cleaning and skin care products to avoid utilizing expired items that potentially become toxic or harmful to your body. 

In conclusion

If you are interested in applying this strategy, consider marking the items by sticking colorful labels on their packaging and grouping those with the same label together in a bin. If you are worried that paper-based labels can be easily destroyed by close contact with water, keep them in storage containers with the color you desire and stack them inside your bathroom cabinets. Not only can you establish a neat system and a cohesive look for the entire bathroom, but this system will also increase your creativity by encouraging you to think outside the box. 

The Home Organization Science Labs features a wide variety of organization strategies for your home. The lab uses the research of the Institute for Life Management Science to produce learning materials and interactive tools. Check out Home Organization Science Labs today.

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A number of prior studies have shed light on the relationship between clutter and procrastination, and how it contributes to the development of this habit.  According to research, clutter was an elemental prediction of procrastination behavior (Ferrari et al. 2018). In this study, chronic procrastinators reported too much clutter, such as possessions and unnecessary items in their living space, and that clutter interferes strongly with the quality of their lives. 

In the context of office space, for example, one’s productivity and well-being in personal workspaces can be further harmed by clutter, which can be perceived as environmental stressors and pressures. Heavy responsibilities at work can often lead employees to put their personal lives or key areas of their jobs on the back burner. The ignored or delayed decisions in this situation are clutter.  

According to research, behavioral avoidance tendencies that are motivated by anxiety or a fear of choosing the wrong value for an item are frequently linked to clutter issues (Frost & Hartl, 1996; Frost et al., 1995). As workers find it more difficult to make routine decisions on which items they should and can be thrown away fatigue-related avoidance may encourage decisional procrastination or indecisiveness (Roster & Ferrari, 2020). 

In this case, workplace pressures and psychological strains affect employees’ mental and physical well-being and raise the possibility that they would adhere to avoidance behaviors to deal with work-related fatigue. For this reason, we have curated five easy tips on how to reduce procrastination by practicing decluttering on a daily basis.

Break down your decluttering activity into small bits

Decluttering can be a heavy job to do if you do not plan. One of the misconceptions that people often hold as a belief is that they can declutter the entire room, even the entire house, in a single day. The truth is, this is not realistic and will only take a toll on physical and emotional well-being. Instead of creating a stress-free zone, you will end up adding more stress to yourself and the house.

Splitting big tasks down into smaller sub-tasks might inspire you to declutter because it feels less intimidating and enables you to experience a steady stream of satisfying accomplishments. Listing the activity into achievable milestones you can do each day before and after working hours will help you to avoid being overwhelmed while decluttering. For instance, you can dedicate 15 minutes to check your pantry for expired products every morning after breakfast.

Start with the easiest area to tackle. Perhaps the living room is the least cluttered part of your house because you spend most of your time in the bedroom. Hence, you can begin inspecting the urgency in this room whether you have too many old newspapers, DVDs you no longer watch, or dying plants you need to take care of.

Done is better than perfect

Even if you do not think you can do anything flawlessly, just get started. There is this common misconception that being organized and clutter-free means every corner of your house needs to look perfect and that you need to adopt a popular decluttering system. The good news is— this is not true.

Knowing what you have, where to locate it, and creating a system that works best for you will help you function effectively in your living space. How diligently you maintain your belongings is totally up to you. Most people either give up before they even begin because perfection gets in the way and continually feel like they are not doing enough. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge that small progress matters, and even if you cannot accomplish 100% of your daily milestones right away, it does not mean you are a failure.

Hold yourself accountable by setting deadlines

Deadlines act as a commitment tool that encourages you to plan and motivate yourself, so setting them for yourself can lessen susceptibility to procrastination. Keep in mind that deadlines should be concrete, meaning there should be an exact date and time to finish the task instead of simply assigning it to do this week. It would be even better if the deadlines also motivate you to start decluttering early. 

On the other hand, the deadlines should be realistic. Instead of rushing or encouraging you to procrastinate, you should select deadlines that offer you as much time as you need to declutter. To motivate yourself, it is also important to recognize the benefits of decluttering your living space and the side effects resulting from avoiding this task.  Rather than having a single deadline in the end, it is advisable to set a series of smaller deadlines that correlate to each of the tasks you must complete along the journey to your ultimate decluttering goal.

Minimize distractions

It is more probable that you will concentrate on your activity and refrain from procrastinating if you eliminate distractions from your surroundings. For instance, it will be difficult for you to focus if your phone makes a loud noise every time you receive a notification, which will keep you constantly distracted. In these circumstances, you should use a specialized program to prevent notifications to help you focus on your task or put your phone on silent mode while you declutter the room.

If you live with other people and sometimes require you to help them with other house chores, notify them ahead of time about your decluttering plan. Let them know that you need a few hours uninterrupted to organize your room and will get back to them once you are done. This way, not only eliminate distractions, but you can also ask for their help to keep you accountable just in case you end up impulsively neglecting the plan.

Establish a reward for yourself

People frequently put off crucial chores that will benefit them in the long run because they find it more tempting to engage in short-term pleasure-seeking behaviors. As a result, by linking rewards that are enjoyable in the short term with tasks that are beneficial to you in the long run, you can lessen the possibility of procrastinating.

For example, you can reward yourself with watching one episode of your favorite TV series after successfully decluttering one cabinet in your kitchen. Another example can be ordering a nice meal for lunch once done sorting your old clothes into a box for donation. The key is to treat yourself without adding more clutter.

Similarly, you can increase the satisfaction you get from your achievements by taking small steps like writing down every activity you finish throughout the day and reviewing them at night to evaluate how much you actually accomplished. Rewards should be offered for actions that are significant enough to help you improve, but also practical enough to keep you motivated in the short term.

In conclusion

It is not a surprise that a lot of people around the world are struggling with procrastination, especially when it comes to decluttering their own space. According to a 2022 research, COVID-19 has generated distress due to the lockdown and social isolation that influences procrastination, especially in the process of adaptation to the new lifestyle. 

However, you can always attempt to regulate yourself before regulating your living environment. Think about all the comfort and peace you will gain from having a cluttered home instead of the burden. By doing so, you will be able to create a healthy and organized life not only for yourself but also for those around you.

If decluttering is an area of your life that you would like to work on, the resources available at the Home Organization Science Labs will be of great help. Using the research of the Institute for Life Management Science, the lab produces courses, certifications, videos, podcasts, and other tools. Visit the Home Organization Science Labs today. 

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Interior design responses to COVID-19

For the past two years, several studies have been conducted to capture what is needed in a home due to the lockdowns caused by the pandemic. Experts began to foresee how the interior design would adapt to the changes. In this case, health and safety have become important factors that continue to heavily influence the future of house designs. Moreover, the multifunctionality of the house, along with its appliances and furniture, is also a necessary consideration to accommodate work, study, leisure, social, and day-to-day activities all in the same place.

Multipurpose rooms and furniture

Today, a kitchen is not only a place to cook and prepare food; in fact, many households use this space to create a makeshift workspace and study area for kids. A kitchen counter now serves as a desk where kids attend online classes and do their homework. Others utilize their closet and laundry room to make an important Zoom call or record a podcast session due to the lack of a secluded, noise-free place in the house. This new way of life encourages various elements of the house to work double duty.

One design innovation researched by America at Home is to transform the first-floor guest bedroom into a quarantine room when needed. The plan is to have its entrance to the front porch for fresh air and outside access, as well as pocket doors connecting it to the rest of the house and a separate bathroom. Nonetheless, this American notion of a house might not be entirely appropriate to other parts of the world, but the idea to use a bonus room for self-isolation could be a useful alternative.

Workspace at home

Now that most of the learning and work-related activities are remotely managed from home, having an adequate space that supports concentration as well as productivity should be a priority. Dean of the Yale School of Architecture, Deborah Berke, mentioned that a separate room is needed to distinguish activities that require solitude and utmost focus from daily domestic activities. This area ideally features a door and a window with a view of the outdoors. 

Using a small desk might be less preferable as a permanent work area; normally, a functional desk for work should contain all the necessary office equipment such as a dual monitor. Nevertheless, people living in a compact house might prefer to use a portable desk that can be easily folded and moved around to save space. Having portable furniture is beneficial to expand and change the room into a multipurpose space when needed, but one should consider what can be placed on top of it.

Healing space

Solitude is also required to unplug from these productive routines. This means dedicating a space to be alone, releasing any emotional burden accumulated throughout the day, and recharging energies. Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki, one of the collaborators of America at Home’s study, initiated an idea to have a secret room behind a bookcase in a master bedroom. However, this setup could be a hassle for those inhabiting a tiny living space.

Another alternative is to bring greenery into the house since natural and green surroundings in a home are proven scientifically to have a positive effect on the physical and mental health of the residents. Incorporating natural elements into the decoration might help invite a feeling of tranquility. Aside from that, growing indoor plants has become a popular hobby that people have taken to cope with the global lockdown.

Shared space and indoor-outdoor relationships

There is an ongoing debate on whether an open floor plan will die in the age of physical distancing. Some interior designers presume that it might be less appealing post-pandemic because people will continue to work and study from home, which means they need more secluded areas. However, Elisa Orlanski Ours, chief planning and design officer for Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group, denoted that an open floor plan will remain desirable and advantageous as people need a safe space to do shared activities indoors, such as cooking together while watching TV with family members.

Staying indoors for too long during self-quarantine combined with other pandemic struggles (ie. fear of infection, financial crisis, etc.) might result in a negative psychological impact for the household. The limitation of social interactions also adds to the overall distress. In this case, optimizing outdoor space may cater to these challenges.

Having a larger porch and backyard is dominating the future outdoor setup. CEO of Dahlin Group Architecture Planning, Nancy Keenan, explained that such an area could be located next to the guest bedroom and to the family room so people can work and interact outside while remaining safe (Lerner, 2021). For urban dwellers who live in dense areas, implementing green roofs or a small garden on the rooftop or balcony are among the smart options that can be taken. 

Smart technologies and sustainable energy

Several measures are taken to minimize the spread of the virus, including adapting touchless and smart technology in interior design. A 2020 research shows that housing automation plays a critical role in adapting to the new living environment by incorporating cutting-edge computer systems with a variety of detectors and sensors, as well as remote control via mobile devices, to improve the home’s ability to be controlled and managed more easily, quickly, and intelligently. This applies to the regulation of indoor environment quality (e.g. air, temperature, humidity, lights) and home security (e.g. door system, fire-prevention system).

During the COVID-19 lockdown, the energy consumption of residential spaces surged due to work-from-home habits that included frequent usage of electronic devices and other house components (Tokazhanov, et al, 2020). There are several sensible techniques to reduce and keep domestic energy consumption under control: 

1. A smart power strip may detect when a gadget is not in use and immediately turn off the power.
2. Energy monitoring systems reveal where the most energy is wasted.
3. Investing in solar panels to utilize solar energy for electricity can also help save on costs in the long run 
4. LED lamps can provide better light comfort and save energy.
5. Eco-showerheads can regulate daily water consumption while showering.

In conclusion

As the recent global situation opens to an advanced perspective on house design, reconfiguring the home environment requires a critical examination of what works for you and your family. A holistic approach that takes into account the spatial, physical, social, and psychological aspects of the house will help you to determine what needs to be changed. At the end of the day, the safety and comfort of your home are all that matter.

If you would like to know more about house types and styles, the Home Organization Science Labs produces courses, certifications, videos, podcasts, and other learning materials. The resources are based on the Institute for Life Management Science. Visit the Home Organization Science Labs today.Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik

The post How The Pandemic Shapes Future Homes appeared first on Insights.

Aside from its main function as a place to prepare and serve a large variety of meals, it also acts as a melting pot where tradition and innovation collide. It provides people with a space to experiment with a lot of novel cooking techniques, ingredients, and technology while also enabling them to use old recipes and methods that are inherited from one generation to another. Additionally, some people also creatively use their kitchen space to work in the absence of a home office.

Maintaining a clean and orderly kitchen environment is undeniably important to ensure these activities are performed in a safe and convenient manner. Earlier research shows that a person who organizes their kitchen in consideration of its ergonomics and uses easy-to-clean furniture will make the space have higher effectiveness and mobility for its users. Furthermore, having an effective organization of items in the kitchen can not only help maximize storage but also allows people to easily locate what they need, especially while cooking.

Nevertheless, you may or may not realize that you are organizing your kitchen incorrectly. The Life Management Science Labs (LMSL) team has gathered five common mistakes and how to fix them to help you organize your kitchen space more efficiently and effectively.

Excluding your cooking routines

When it comes to kitchen organization, it’s easy to make the mistake of prioritizing looks over functionality. You might place your blender far in the corner because it does not go well with the overall aesthetic of your kitchen even though you use it to make fresh juice every morning. It is important to acknowledge your cooking style and habit because they influence how the arrangement of the storage and kitchenware is done so that you could cook and prepare food efficiently.

Try walking through your meal preparation process and see if you need to go back and forth just to gather the supplies. How many essential items can you easily reach when you need them? If you find yourself having a hard time reaching for what you need, it may be time to change your game plan and reorganize instead of walking needlessly to the other end of the kitchen just to grab a utensil you use daily.

Buying organizers without decluttering

Even if you have the best of intentions when purchasing organizers, take a moment to declutter first. Buying organizers might help you to arrange the items, but it does not necessarily help you to create an organized system. It is important for you to declutter first to see what needs to stay and what kind of organizer you will need before purchasing one.

Always clear your pantry, fridge, cabinets, and other areas before purchasing kitchen organizers. If you do not know what you have, it is difficult to come up with a realistic answer. Focus on what should definitely stay in the kitchen and its core work zones so you can have more space and maximize the use of each organizer.

Putting rarely used items out on the counter

Leaving out items that you only use occasionally in the kitchen may contribute to disorganization. This includes seasonal items for certain holidays or celebrations, such as Christmas-themed cookie cutters. Another scenario involves items that you bought impulsively, like trying out a specific item because a certain influencer you follow on social media endorses it. If you have not used something in the last month, it generally does not belong on your kitchen counter.

Consider storing seasonal items somewhere else such as labeled containers placed in the storage room or cabinets that you do not need to access on a daily basis. Otherwise, consider whether you need to keep the kitchen appliance at all. If you bought a colorful, fancy pan because it is trendy at the moment but you rarely use it or it takes up too much space, it might be time to resell or give it away. Instead of focusing on the loss of the appliance, consider how much valuable counter space you will gain.

Using food containers that take up too much space

Although unpacking items creates a more coherent aesthetic and reduces the illusion of clutter, having jars and food storage containers might not be saving you any room. Since food containers can come in different sizes and shapes, they might eat up more space than they save. If you do not measure them properly, there is a higher chance that they won’t stack well with each other in the cupboard.

Instead of choosing containers solely for their aesthetic value, consider whether they will truly serve a utilitarian purpose in your kitchen. Measuring the availability of space is important so that you can map out which containers go to where and what will be inside those containers. That way, they won’t end up overcrowding the kitchen surface.

Underutilizing vertical space

Not having an adequate kitchen area is one problem you might hear frequently or even experience yourself. This leads to the belief that the only solution to insufficient kitchen space is a bigger room. However, this is not always the case. There’s a high chance you are not making the most of your upper wall cabinet storage because you have no idea how to use them since they are difficult to access.

Wall cabinets are the ideal position for serving platters and fine dishware you only use once or twice a year. Alternatively, this area might be used to store extra cleaning products. Whatever you do, don’t put everyday dishes in the cupboard on the very top shelf. The idea is to improve the existing space simply by reorganizing where things belong and examining what you need and utilizing against what is merely taking up valuable space.

In conclusion

Acknowledging what you truly need is the key to creating a well-organized kitchen. Once you are aware of your lifestyle and the potential your kitchen has, avoiding incorrect organizing practices will become easier.

LMSL’s Home Organization Science Labs features science-based tips and tricks, courses, certifications, and other content on kitchen organization using the research by the Institute for Life Management Science. If you are planning on decluttering and don’t know where to start, visit the Home Organization Science Labs today.Photo by Marcin Galusz on Unsplash

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