Family Homes

Take it from a sewer professional.

It's an OG product for sure.

Your kids' shelves will inevitably runneth over, and here's one smart way to handle it.

Tempted now to do it in all our closets.

A decade later, here are the products from my first baby registry that have stood both the test of time and the more rigorous test of outlasting multiple children.

Smelly washer crisis averted.

It's a $13 fridge organizing hack.

Quite possibly some of the best we've seen.

This summer my son keeps complaining that he’s bored and it’s driving us crazy. We’re trying to keep him off his video games. Isn’t it good to be bored as a kid? Paul & GraceDear Paul and Grace, Yep, boredom is really good for kids, but it’s because it usually precedes them breaking through into the next phase, which is deep interest and/or presence with something that they’re doing.

We've got every color of the rainbow.

Let's do this.

It’s so hot where we live we’re going to be going to the beach on the lake a lot. Got any recommendations for beach gear so kids are comfortable? ElaineDear Elaine,My parents never really did the beach and really left us on our own growing up at the beach club and the day camp there. We just had a towel and a suit and that was it.

Sometimes you have to first live with something to learn what you can live without.

There's nothing better than an indoor slide.

Over time, I let my guard down, but it's time to get serious again.

This is what I know now that I didn't know then.

You can bid those bugs goodbye, for real this time!

It's a must-have for white Converse.

Because what’s cooler than a built-in lounge space?

My daughter is in sixth grade, school starts early but has trouble falling asleep at night so she’s exhausted every day. Any recommendations? LucyDear Lucy,I have insomnia myself so I’ve wrestled with this for years. As a kid I used to lay awake in bed and listen to my clock radio for hours before falling asleep.

Now it's a dream family kitchen, with an amazing circular window.

Seasonal decluttering now only takes a few minutes.

In other words, how to get your kids to hang up their clothes.

Making the most of all tight spaces.

This is one bit of party "etiquette" that really needs to stop.

Close Pinterest, seriously.

It's the little cleaning habits that ultimately make a big difference.

There's more color on the horizon.

They help immensely as I'm sorting through our belongings.

We at Apartment Therapy Media and our three brands — Apartment Therapy, Kitchn, and Cubby — are deeply grieved over the shocking gun violence of the past weeks. We mourn for the victims of the Buffalo supermarket shooting, the Laguna Woods church shooting, and those of the Uvalde school tragedy. We also mourn for the thousands of others who have been killed in mass shootings — a daily reality for far too long.

It's a great way to preserve memories.

NOTE: These short memory stories, dropped in as they are to my Ask Maxwell column, do serve a purpose. While definitely different, my aim is to provide context for what we were thinking when we were children, which will help us to understand our own children. I find that in going back into my own childhood and sharing stories of my own struggles and what I was thinking at the time has been very helpful in connecting with my own daughter as she has grown.

My laundry products need to be simple yet effective. Here's what I always keep on hand.

Unsurprisingly, the founder of The Jungalow has a colorful, plant-laden home that gives all the good feels.

They keep our family meetings short, but are focused enough to bring out any concerns.

How to get that chic, cozy, yet clutter-controlled comfort in your own home.

Kids will clean almost anything if you make a game out of it.

How do I choose a wall color for a kids’ bedroom that gets very little daylight?JelisaDear Jelisa,I hope my answer is helpful, because I’m not going to say that I’d recommend painting a bright or reflective color that will make it seem brighter!

It would look especially great in a kid's room.

For starters, your dishwasher uses less water than if you were washing dishes by hand.

"The stylist in me wants everything to be beautiful, but the mom in me wants everything to be functional and practical, too."

They're the best I've found for storing small toys and art supplies.

My partner and I have a wonderful daughter, and our family feels complete. However, when we tell others that we’re “one and done,” the reaction is often one of dismay. The message for a single-child household is often one of deprivation; that our daughter won’t have enough family when we’re gone, or we’re keeping her from enjoying siblings. How might you address some of this internal parent guilt (not to mention, the single-child naysayers)?

Help is on the way!

She wanted to do it herself, so here's how I helped her.

It's no longer required to climb off the top bunk for a glass of water.

I’ve always loved buying presents for my two kids, but now that my older daughter is 13, it’s hard. I’ve seen some of the things I’ve given to her end up in the bottom of her closet. What do presents even mean, at this rate? Emily(Good morning! I’m taking three weeks off for a little summer vacation, so I’m going back into the archive to share three questions that seemed very helpful this past year.

It's time to free the fridge.

Spoil her a little.

Calling all washers of dishes: this one's for you.

Get inspired with these before and after photos!

If you love the color green, you will love this charming Scottish home.

My son and I used to talk all the time, but now that he’s a teenager he just clams up. What’s a healthy way to keep channels open with him and stay in touch with what he’s going through? ElaineDear Elaine,This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot and this past week I had a small breakthrough (aided by my therapist, who is love). Staying in touch with your children as they go through the teenage years is INCREDIBLY HARD, but IMPORTANT.

The after is an explosion of color, pattern, and imagination.

Name: Janelle Williams, husband Darrell Williams, and three children ages 19, 16, and 11 Location: Annapolis, MarylandSize: 2600 square feet Type of Home: Single Family HouseYears lived in: 5 years, ownedStarting the year off by touring the homes (and drawers, pantries, closets, and more behind-the-scenes spots) of professional organizers, small space dwellers, and other design experts has become a tradition on Apartment Therapy.

Homeowner Sandy Jandu describes her home's style as "Escaping the '90s." She explains: "It's a three-bedroom builder-grade from the 1990s, chock-full of 45-degree angled halls and nooks to nowhere. We have worked our tails off to bring it to life, and while our home has a ways to go, it feels like OURS."

The bold library wall is a bookworm's fantasy.

This homeowner and organizing enthusiast has tons of tips for getting the most out of your garage storage.

One or more of these tips is bound to work for your kid, too.

NOTE: These short memory stories, dropped in as they are to my Ask Maxwell column, do serve a purpose. While definitely different, my aim is to provide context for what we were thinking when we were children, which will help us to understand our own children. I find that in going back into my own childhood and sharing stories of my own struggles and what I was thinking at the time has been very helpful in connecting with my own daughter as she has grown.

From a new parent self-care move to a trick borrowed from puppies.

Steffy Degreff is a lifestyle and fashion content creator and shares things like style hacks and home DIYs on her website, Instagram, and TikTok. She and her family have been renovating this 1974 A-frame cabin in the woods of Upstate New York.

Before, it was barely able to fit one person. Now, it can seat plenty of guests.

It's the perfect happy medium for a young family.

It also has near-perfect reviews on Amazon.

The whole family helped with this renovation!

Yes, it's possible.

You don't have to change every single thing in a space to totally transform the feel of it, and this redo is proof.

You do NOT need to decant things into cute jars! Promise.

Could you recommend some chapter books to read to very young children at bedtime. I have grandchildren who are 5, 4 and 2 years old?ShereenDear Shereen, I’ve absolutely got some books for you, though I will say that is a big stretch in ages. The five and the four year old will be great with one kind of book, and the two year old with another. That said, older children love to revisit younger books, so you may be able to get them all together at bedtime eventually.

It's amazing what a little trim can do.

Jennifer is a part-time nursing professor and the full-time CEO/lead professional organizer for organizing company, Organized by Jen D. She shares this San Diego home with her husband, Tony, sons Alton, Aiden, and Sean, and pets.