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7 Tips for Couples Living in Small Apartments

Cohabitation is often hard on its own, but it gets especially complicated when you share a tiny apartment that offers absolutely no privacy. However, living in a small space doesn’t have to result in an ugly breakup. Here are a few tips that can help you turn your tiny apartment into a real love nest that will only make your bond stronger!

Create your couple style

Sure, you might know exactly what your personal style is, but how does it match with your SO’s style? Basically, anything you introduce into a small apartment will affect its general aesthetics, so you both need to put in some effort. Start with a solid idea of the space you’d like to live in (find images, discuss rooms…) and then keep your vision in mind when buying items. This way, you’ll have a coherent space that both of you love!

Rethink your storage

You can never have too much storage in a home, especially in tiny apartments that look cluttered as soon as you misplace one thing. But, your place must have plenty of weird nooks that can be transformed into storage in no time. Also, don’t hesitate to think outside the box. Will it look strange to use a pile of books as a nightstand? Yes. But, unless you’re ready to give them up, who cares if it’s weird.

Invest in space saving furniture

Because our homes are getting smaller and smaller, there’s a whole new niche of furniture that’s multi-purpose, flexible or foldable. From foldable chairs to wall-mounted countertops to height-adjustable tables, you’ll be mind-blown once you start exploring the scene. All of these pieces adapt to different situations and allow you to use your space in many different ways.

Declutter like crazy

Moving into a small apartment isn’t exactly the time to toss a coin whether to get rid of your 90s nostalgia combat trousers or not. There’s no way these are making a comeback, so toss them out! This is really a perfect time to donate and throw away things you don’t use, clothes you don’t wear and items that you don’t like. It can be crazy uncomfortable to purge at the beginning, but it’s so addictive, that you’ll have to stop yourself very soon.

Get some fresh air inside

Tiny spaces tend to become very stuffy very quickly, especially if there are two people living inside. So, make sure to air out your space every so often to replenish your oxygen supply and allow your brain to get some fresh O2. Another great thing you can do for your indoor air quality is to invest in an air purifier. Check out the Internet for ratings and you’ll find the best air purifier for your living situation because there’s a ton of models on the market. All in all, these bad boys can rid your indoor air of dust, pollen, mold spores, and pet dander while some even remove odors and cigarette smoke, so get a model that matches your needs and you’ll always have a fresh and airy home no matter how small it is.

Create living zones

This is especially important if you live in a studio apartment that has almost zero privacy. Luckily you can designate separate zones with room dividers, privacy screens or bookshelves. Creating different zones will give you and your partner to share a home while having ample space to breathe. No matter how much you love each other, being alone from time to time is actually great for your relationship.

Make new traditions

Coming up with new habits and traditions is a great way to bring you closer as a couple and strengthen your connection with your apartment. No matter if you choose to dedicate 5 minutes every morning to couple’s meditation or decide to always have at least one meal together, it’s a big step towards solidarity and togetherness. So, make sure to really splurge on items that support your new traditions. For instance, you can invest in pro yoga mats or buy a big multisectional pan for quick couple’s breakfasts. These will not take too much space, but they will certainly help keep your new custom alive.

So, it’s more than possible to cohabitate in a tiny space without killing each other. All you need are good organizational skills, plenty of patience and some sense of humor and you’ll certainly make it!

Don’t Do It Alone: Tips To Get Healthier As A Couple

Living healthier is something we all decide to do at some point, but never actually get to it. It’s one of those decisions that start tomorrow, on Monday, or next year. More often than not, the cause for not being able to change your lifestyle is not having enough support. While you’re dieting or going to the gym, everyone else around you is enjoying their food and going out to have fun. That’s why it’s a good idea to get healthier with your partner. It’ll be much easier to be the best version of yourself when you’ve got someone in your corner doing the same thing.

1. Lean on each other

Since this is new to both of you, it’s important to be each other’s support. If you notice your significant other is doing well, tell them. This will help keep motivation levels up and will make sticking to the new regime much easier. A compliment like “you’re looking better and better” will surely brighten their day and strengthen their resolve for success.

Also, don’t be afraid to express your concerns and fears about your own progress. Openly ask for support and acknowledgement if you feel like you need it. Just because your partner isn’t verbal, it doesn’t mean they haven’t noticed how you’ve changed, but sometimes it just feels good to hear it. This will strengthen your emotional bond too, and make living healthier a much more positive experience. After all, the point of doing this together is to always have someone to lean on.

2. Get creative with your food choices

More often than not, we’re used to delicious foods which are also high in fats and sugars and just end up clogging our arteries. This is why you should choose healthier alternatives. Of course, this is much easier said than done, especially since most healthy food tastes drab and bland. The key quality of a good meal is its nutritional value and taste.

That being said, there are a ton of healthier munchies that still taste very nice. All you have to do is get a little creative. Keep an open mind about trying something new, and don’t knock things down just because they have the word “kale” in them. You can get tons of inspiration online or from cooking books. If you look in the right places, you’ll realize that this kind of diet doesn’t even have to be expensive.

3. Consistency is key

You won’t achieve anything if you go hard then give up all too soon. Starting a completely new lifestyle is hard and it will take some time for the change to become permanent. In this transitional period, you have to be patient and consistent. A few small steps are better than one big one because they’re more permanent and will help you transition more easily.

Don’t get mad at your partner if they’re not doing as well as you are with your new lifestyle. Instead, realize that everyone goes at their own pace and support them. If the situation is vice versa, and you’re the one having trouble, be open about it. Your partner will surely understand and help you through it. Consistency will help you here as well, because no matter how fast or slow you get used to the change, you’ll surely get there eventually.

4. Replace Netflix with exercise

Cuddling with your partner and watching your favourite show is fun, but it’s not entirely healthy. A much better couple’s activity would be exercising at home. Use the time you have together to do something productive instead of just lounging around the whole afternoon. A couple’s workout at home can bond you just as much as cuddling, but will also keep you fit in the process.

It doesn’t even have to be hard to organize a good workout routine for the both of you. All you need is some good music, a positive attitude, and a few quality props from trustworthy brands like Cyber Fit. Equipped with these, you’ll be more than ready to nail your exercise routine every time. Exercising at home is much more time manageable and convenient, and saves you money on a gym membership but gives you the same results.

5. Move your dates outside

Instead of having dates in restaurants or cafes or the cinema, you should move them outside. If the weather’s nice, have a picnic, for example. Even just walking around the city and enjoying each other’s company can do wonders for both of you. Getting some vitamin D and fresh air can reduce stress levels and will make your skin more radiant. Let’s not forget your body will enjoy the light exercise, and you’ll love spending time with your love outside the house.

Once you’ve tried all the conventional outside dates, you can get more adventurous and explore the city together. Who knows what kind of fun things are waiting around the corner? All you have to do is take your partner by the hand and start walking. You’ll be surprised how many new things a familiar place has to offer once you’ve really started paying attention to it. Additionally, going outside and taking an active interest in each other and your environment will also help you get to know your parent better.

Conclusion

As you can see, doing important things like these is much easier when you’ve got good company. Living healthier as a couple will give you a common goal, bring you closer, and help you bring out the best in each other. This will contribute to a loving and long-lasting relationship that won’t lose its flame. We’re confident you and your loved one will succeed in making this brave change and continue to live a healthier life.

Important relationship lessons obtained from couples therapy

It’s not always blissful when you are in a relationship with someone. Couples understand this better when their initial days of charm, wooing each other gets over and they step into the drill of getting to know each other for real. And this is the phase, where most couples get disillusioned with the concept of love. Or, they are confused, considering that its love that got them into this mess. However, thanks to the new age couples therapy and marriage counseling, that couples can look at their relationship and their partners in a whole new way.

The precious lessons that couples learn

Most of the times we fall in love based on what our minds have been fed with about love. We are limited to our notions. It’s when we are in a relationship that we get to understand the true meaning of love. And sometimes, to understand this, couples need to count on marriage counseling and couples therapy. To know more on these therapies, you can browse through The Wellness Counseling Center and read more. Some of the valuable lessons learned by couples are as follows:

1. There’s nothing called a perfect partner

Each one of us has been illusioned with the idea of an ideal partner. The truth is there is no perfect partner. When we accept this truth, we set ourselves be free from all the wrong expectations. Also, marriage counseling helps us look at a partner just as an ordinary human being with their set of rights and wrong. Couples take their partners for who they are and not who they want them to be. And this brings in peace and calm to a relationship.

2. Ego clashes are not the end of the world

We stay in a world where rat race is the order of the day! Things move fast. And that has made us jump to our conclusions about relationships quickly as well. It is the reason why couples think that their relationship has no future after a few ego clashes. With advanced marriage counseling and couples therapy, partners understand that ego clashes are an external manifestation of the difference of opinions. Each one us wants to secure our point of views which results in ego clashes. When you allow a little bit of open-mindedness, we will be able to understand the other person’s perspective as well. And this will take away all the negativity that people attach with an ego clash. You can reach out to The Wellness Counseling Center to know more.

3. Compassion can heal many things

Developing empathy helps to solve many challenges we face in life. Couples therapy teaches individuals that everyone is struggling and is going through their tests and trials in life. And that makes someone bitter and someone oversensitive. When you realize this truth, you start to develop compassion for yourself and others as well. And that is the starting point of individual and relationship healing.

These are three valuable lessons that marriage counseling and couples therapy offers us. Not every tumultuous relationship is the end of the world. With therapy, there’s hope and better possibilities. And with therapy, there’s a chance of a couples becoming better individuals.

Cohabiting: Interior Design Tips for New Couples Moving in Together

Moving in with your partner is a major step towards building your life together. Living with the person you love is certainly rewarding, but you need to be ready to adjust to your partner’s habits and preferences. You’re likely to come across some of the first challenges when furnishing and decorating your new home. Aside from making certain compromises, you should aim for a design that will incorporate both of your personal styles and try to maximise the functionality of your home.

Introduce plenty of storage units 

Whether you and your partner are moving into a completely new home or one of your current apartments, you’ll still have significantly more items. This means that you’ll need to introduce more storage compartments, too. Aside from allowing you to keep everything in its own place and minimise the mess in your home, storage units will provide both of you with enough space for your personal belongings.
When adding more storage units to your home, make sure to pick functional solutions that will help you make the most of your space. Floating shelves and other wall-mounted compartments can be added to almost any wall, helping you free some of your floor space. Finally, if you decide to buy some new shelves, bookcases, closets or some other storage units, make sure to pick a style that will fit into your overall home design and create a cohesive look.

Pick a colour scheme that you’ll love 

Even the most like-minded couples can have completely different tastes. It’s important that you find a middle ground and pick a design that you’ll both love. And choosing a colour scheme for your new home is a great place to start. To avoid disagreements, you can choose one neutral colour for the backdrop and one or two hues for visual interest. This way, you’ll be able to introduce shades that you both like and create a cohesive, stylish look. You should make sure that your accent colours are complementary and harmonious when used together. Using these hues throughout your home will help you establish a colour theme and create a balanced atmosphere.

Choose blinds instead of curtains 

You and your partner should aim at creating a functional environment in your new home. A simple way to achieve this is to pick low-maintenance elements such as window blinds. Blinds will provide you with greater light control and more privacy, enabling you to adjust the general home atmosphere. Furthermore, window blinds are easier to maintain than curtains because you can just wipe them with a cloth instead of washing them. What’s more, blinds are quite a popular form of window treatments in Australia. In fact, chic and practical venetian blinds in Melbourne come in different styles, colours and materials, so Aussie couples can easily find a design that fits into their home décor. Therefore, you and your partner should definitely consider getting this practical and trendy solution for your new home.

Keep your space clutter-free 

This part can be a bit tricky, but decluttering and organising your home is essential when you move in with your partner. Both of you will have plenty of clothes and personal items that can easily clutter up your space and make it seem small and overwhelming. So, instead of postponing this dreary task, you should get rid of the items that you don’t want and need in your new home. However, be understanding towards your partner if they want to keep an item or two due to sentimental reasons. However, neither of you should keep a pile of things that you never use. Afterwards, try to maintain a clutter-free environment for a chic and comfy atmosphere.

Mix and match your furniture 

Both of you will have your own furniture that you’ll want to bring into your new home. Mixing and matching different pieces can actually help you create an enchanting, eclectic look that will include your favourite items. However, when combining your furniture pieces, make sure to pick those that have certain features in common, such as a colour, finish, texture or style. This will help you introduce a sense of balance and harmony while still creating visual interest.

Although you and your partner will have to make certain compromises when decorating your new home, remember that you’ll finally be able to be by each other’s side.   

Tips for Couples When Moving into a New Apartment

Moving into a new living space is always an exhausting process. There are so many things to keep in mind and so much physical work, it’s easy to become stressed out. Luckily, moving does become a bit easier when you’re not doing it alone, but even then, there’s still quite a lot of work to do. So, if you and your significant other are moving into your new nest, here are a couple of things that should help you keep everything under control.

Give yourself time

If both you and your partner are employed, if you have children, or if you simply lead a busy lifestyle, give yourself time. It’s very hard to move in a day, especially when there are other things you need to think about. Plus, there’s always that issue of possibly forgetting things and having to go back for them, which is why it might be best to move things gradually. Of course, this might not be possible if you’re moving far away. However, if your new home is still within the same country, designate a couple of moving dates, decide which things you’ll move on which date, and inform the proper parties (your boss, children’s school, doctors, etc.).

Start saving on time

Moving costs not just time but money as well. You might need to rent a temporary storage unit, hire a moving company, or pay for extra gas if you decide to move on your own. Moreover, you should also have a bit extra money in case of any financial surprises. This is why you should start saving up at least a few months before the move so you don’t have to think about it later.

Get some help

As mentioned, if you or your partner own a car and have the extra time, you can do the move yourself. However, hiring professional help might be best simply because it would be faster and more efficient. After all, professionals know how to handle everything from fragile kitchenware to sturdier furniture items. For example, there are also companies that can help you with moving house utilities such as MyConnect. So, do your research, look at reviews, ask around for references, and there shouldn’t be any problems.

Take care of the essentials

The first thing you should do as soon as you get your keys is – get new ones. More precisely, you should change the locks. Of course, this depends on whether you’re the owner of the apartment or are moving into somewhere like one of these studio rental apartments (some landlords still allow their renters to change the locks). Next, you should take care of the details – set up the internet, change your address at the post office, and change your mail address if you’ve subscribed to any delivery services. This would ensure that your stuff is safe during the moving process Moreover, if you or your partner work from home, your online work wouldn’t suffer during the transition.

Prepare your new home

While your home is still empty, take the opportunity to decorate it. Paint the walls, install new cabinets and shelves, polish the doors and closets, refinish the floors, etc. In short, if there is anything that needs to be repainted, sprayed, waxed, or in any other way restored, it should be done while there aren’t any physical obstacles.

Figure out the layout

One of the more fun parts of moving is figuring out the new layouts. Before you start bringing in the items, measure each room, and decide on the purpose. A good idea would be to draw the rooms on paper, so you can visualize them more easily. If you’ve done an inventory of your possessions, this would also help you decide where you want to place your furniture. Once you put everything on paper, you will have one less thing to worry about when your items arrive.

Get moving boxes

Big empty boxes are an inevitable part of moving, but most people don’t think about them until they start needing them. Luckily, they are fairly easy to find if you know where to look. Most grocery stores, clothing stores, and supermarkets have a lot of empty boxes that they don’t need. They can sell you the boxes for a low price, but if you ask politely, you might even get them for free.

Use hangers for clothes

If you and your partner have a lot of clothes, and you probably do, plastic wrap might become your best friend. Instead of wasting time on removing the clothes from the hangers and folding them, wrap them together with the hangers and pack them like that. It would take up much less space, and it would be easier to “unpack” later.

Mark boxes with colors

Organization is extremely important when moving, but staying organized can sometimes be hard when there are so many different boxes and things to pack in them. Not to mention the chaos of trying to find what you need after you arrive at the new apartment. Therefore, consider labeling different boxes by using different colors. Come up with a color-coding system, and use markers, post-it notes, colored tapes, or any other colored means of marking your boxes.

Make use of linens

Towels, pillows, throws, and other linens usually take up a significant amount of space, which is why you should use that space wisely. So, wrap the more fragile objects into your sheets, towels, and other soft fabrics. This way, you’d keep your fragile items safe, and you’d save some money on bubble wrap.

Declutter

Assuming that you won’t be moving again any time soon, you should use this chance to declutter. While packing, go through your things, and put aside everything you don’t need. You can sell or donate those things, and you’d save yourself some packing room. Think about what you want your new home to look like, and get rid of everything that doesn’t fit into that image. It’s a unique opportunity to restart your living space, so don’t waste it.

Moving into a new apartment can be a drag, even when you’re not doing it alone. So, give yourself enough time, plan things ahead, use the opportunity to prepare your new place and do some decluttering, and your new home will be ready for your fresh start.

9 Things That Make Women More Attractive (That Have Nothing To Do With Mere Looks)

A woman’s level of attractiveness goes beyond mere stunning looks.

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10 Small Romantic Gestures That Boost Your Relationship Big Time

When looking for the perfect ways to spice up a bland relationship, couples often turn to grand gestures. They go out and splurge on a fancy date at a steakhouse, travel out of town, and buy expensive things for their partner. We tend to forget that it is the smallest, simplest things that keep a relationship moving.

Oftentimes, you don’t have to go outside. Genuine and heartwarming gestures of love and affection are displayed at home

It doesn’t take that much amount of time, effort, and money to make your partner feel valued every day. To build a strong connection and bond that lasts, here are some expert tricks to fit into your routine.

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Wedding Gift Ideas The Bride And Groom Will Love

A celebration of someone’s love – there are so many things to be excited about. You have to choose a dress or suit, shoes, gift… Wait, gift?! Two families work so hard arranging the event, so the couple deserves the perfect gift. While you are choosing what to wear, you have to think about the couple’s wishes and choose a gift that they will appreciate the most. Yes, you can always give them money, but maybe you can try with something more unique, personalized, something that will make a real impression. If you want to give them a thoughtful gift that the couple will show off to their friends, or that will stay in their heart as a nice memory, follow our suggestions and get inspired!

A gift for travelers

The couple is starting their marriage journey, so you can compare it with traveling. Which country did they go to, and where do they want to travel? Buy them a globe with corks so they can easily track their travels and explorations. This can be a great reminder of their goals and wishes. Also, you can buy them matching travel bags with their last name, or even with a Mr. and Mrs. tags as an accessory.  

Personalized gift

At weddings, everything is about the couple. If you know them well, you can find a nice photo of them and print it on any decorative item, such as a photo frame, photo collage, throw pillows, or even a lamp. Moreover, you can think about their first Christmas together and put their names on a nice ornament or an embroidered stocking. This kind of gift they would not only cherish themselves, but they would also love to show off to others. Also, this will show them that you’re thoughtful and that you celebrate their love yourself.

Surprise gift basket

If you want to surprise your dear friends, you have to be creative. We’ll give you a little hint – buy all these small decorative things you know the couple will like and put them in a basket. For example, you can find a magazine holder, carpets, candlesticks, a jewelry box, ice bucket, table lamp, tray, or anything that suits their home decoration the best. If you like this idea, you can always take a look at some beautiful Karavan homewares and accessories. Next, you have to think about gift decoration. When you pack all of these things in a basket, put their favorite flowers and chocolate in it. This will bring a surprise effect, so when they remove the flowers, they will find all these things they love.  

Tickets to a class

What does the couple have in common? If they are passionate about cooking, dancing, history, culture, or anything else, you can buy them tickets for a class or course. If you want to be funny, you can even buy them tickets for a lap dance class. They will probably get a lot of items for their home from other guests, so this gift can be something different and priceless. They will get out of the house and enjoy each other’s company. After they finish the course, they will both have a skill that will stay in the family forever.

Kitchen appliances

For most families, the breakfast is their favorite time. They are sharing their troubles and expectations and discussing them while preparing for a long day. So, think about buying a coffee or a sandwich maker built for two. These things can make their mornings easier and give them time for chatting.   

Something useful

What if they’re not a romantic couple? The truth is that not everyone likes the matching towels or pillows. If the couple is practical and they like to do things on their own, you can always buy them a tool set. For a couple that has just started living together, this can be extremely helpful. This set can last forever, and they can even get creative and try to make things on their own. Moreover, you can add an inspiring note such as “build your life together”.

 

You have so many exciting options, so which one would you choose for your wedding? Think about the couple and you will know which suggestion is the best for your gift.