Starting the Good Life

Starting the Good Life posts by Rita Wilkins. Rita is a renowned expert in decluttering and minimalism, empowering individuals to simplify their lives through practical tips and resources, while also captivating audiences as a professional speaker and author.

10 Bonus Benefits to Small Space Living
10 Bonus Benefits to Small Space Living

10 Bonus Benefits to Small Space Living

We spend a lot of time throughout the year doling out advice on how to make the best of small spaces. Which got me thinking — I actually enjoy a lot of things about living in my rather petite abode and want to focus on the upside. So in classic Letterman fashion, here is my [...]

By Rita Wilkins|2016-06-20T15:27:43+00:00June 20th, 2016|A Peek into Your Good Life, Baby Boomers, bucket list, downsizing, lifestyle, living in smaller spaces, Renting Trend, retirement, simplify your life, Start Your Good Life, Starting the Good Life, travel|Comments Off

Eight tips for living well in small places
Eight tips for living well in small places

Eight tips for living well in small places

Ways to make the most of a tiny room or apartment from two small-space dwellers. Here are some tips from Abbey Slitor and Warren Weixler that will help you make the most of your small apartment. 1. Avoid table lamps. Use pendant lights, sconces and other wall-mounted lighting wherever possible. They take up less space. [...]

By Rita Wilkins|2016-06-15T20:07:00+00:00June 15th, 2016|A Peek into Your Good Life, Baby Boomers, bucket list, community, downsizing, lifestyle, living in smaller spaces, Renting Trend, retirement, simplify your life, Start Your Good Life, Starting the Good Life|Comments Off

Interior design tips that everybody living in a small space should know
Interior design tips that everybody living in a small space should know

Interior design tips that everybody living in a small space should know

About 50 percent of the world’s population lives in cities. By 2050, it’ll be 70 percent. More people in cities means less room for everybody, which means we all need to learn how to live well in smaller spaces. That’s why we talked to interior designers Nina Etnier and Kelly Martin about how to put [...]

By Rita Wilkins|2016-06-15T19:51:39+00:00June 15th, 2016|A Peek into Your Good Life, Baby Boomers, bucket list, downsizing, lifestyle, living in smaller spaces, Renting Trend, retirement, simplify your life, Start Your Good Life, Starting the Good Life|Comments Off

15 Small Spaces That’ll Make You Want To Redesign Your Entire Life
15 Small Spaces That’ll Make You Want To Redesign Your Entire Life

15 Small Spaces That’ll Make You Want To Redesign Your Entire Life

We don't need to sell you on the virtues of small space living. With real estate at a premium in cities across the U.S., from S.F. to NYC, we can all appreciate the power of a well-designed space with a tiny footprint. That's why we've turned to the R29 Home archive to dig up five [...]

By Rita Wilkins|2016-06-15T19:37:51+00:00June 15th, 2016|A Peek into Your Good Life, Baby Boomers, bucket list, downsizing, lifestyle, living in smaller spaces, Renting Trend, retirement, simplify your life, Start Your Good Life, Starting the Good Life|Comments Off

19 Ways to make your small space feel larger
19 Ways to make your small space feel larger

19 Ways to make your small space feel larger

1. PAINT OR WALLPAPER THE CEILING TO MAKE THE ROOM LOOK TALLER. Anything that draws the eye upwards makes a room feel bigger. 2. USE LIGHT COLORS ON THE WALLS AND THE FLOOR. While darker colors make a room seem cozy, they also absorb light instead of reflecting it, making the space feel smaller. Opt for lighter [...]

By Rita Wilkins|2016-06-15T17:16:03+00:00June 15th, 2016|A Peek into Your Good Life, Baby Boomers, bucket list, community, downsizing, lifestyle, living in smaller spaces, Renting Trend, retirement, simplify your life, Start Your Good Life, Starting the Good Life|Comments Off

Small Homes In The News: The Anti-McMansion
Small Homes In The News: The Anti-McMansion

Small Homes In The News: The Anti-McMansion

The latest small home basking in the media spotlight is one that the New York Times has dubbed the “Anti-McMansion.” The one-room house in Putnam Valley, N.Y., is home to Takaaki and Christina Kawabata and their two children. And while the home’s 1,200 square feet is not incredibly small, what’s remarkable is its layout: There [...]

By Rita Wilkins|2016-06-15T17:04:33+00:00June 15th, 2016|A Peek into Your Good Life, Baby Boomers, bucket list, community, downsizing, lifestyle, living in smaller spaces, retirement, simplify your life, Start Your Good Life, Starting the Good Life|Comments Off

6 Reasons to Embrace Minimalist Living
6 Reasons to Embrace Minimalist Living

6 Reasons to Embrace Minimalist Living

“Never underestimate the importance of abandoning crap you don’t need.” Eight years ago, I decided to embrace minimalist living. At first, the reasons were simple. I was spending too much of my life caring for possessions and I was wasting too much money on stuff I didn’t need. These possessions were not bringing me joy or [...]

By Rita Wilkins|2016-06-15T16:47:25+00:00June 15th, 2016|A Peek into Your Good Life, Baby Boomers, bucket list, community, downsizing, lifestyle, living in smaller spaces, Renting Trend, retirement, simplify your life, Start Your Good Life, Starting the Good Life, travel|Comments Off

Live Large in Less Space: Tips for Small Space Living
Live Large in Less Space: Tips for Small Space Living

Live Large in Less Space: Tips for Small Space Living

Make the most of your small home. Good design (and plenty of storage) can make your small spaces feel bigger. 1. Reduce your need for space. • Cut back on how much you own. • Install small appliances. • Put space where you need it, not where you don’t (who needs a big room if [...]

By Rita Wilkins|2016-06-14T13:06:31+00:00June 14th, 2016|A Peek into Your Good Life, Baby Boomers, bucket list, downsizing, lifestyle, living in smaller spaces, Renting Trend, retirement, simplify your life, Start Your Good Life, Starting the Good Life|Comments Off

Living With Less. A Lot Less.
Living With Less. A Lot Less.

Living With Less. A Lot Less.

I LIVE in a 420-square-foot studio. I sleep in a bed that folds down from the wall. I have six dress shirts. I have 10 shallow bowls that I use for salads and main dishes. When people come over for dinner, I pull out my extendable dining room table. I don’t have a single CD [...]

By Rita Wilkins|2016-06-13T17:57:54+00:00June 13th, 2016|A Peek into Your Good Life, Baby Boomers, bucket list, downsizing, lifestyle, living in smaller spaces, Renting Trend, retirement, simplify your life, Start Your Good Life, Starting the Good Life|Comments Off

24 MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNITURE IDEAS FOR SMALL APARTMENTS
24 MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNITURE IDEAS FOR SMALL APARTMENTS

24 MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNITURE IDEAS FOR SMALL APARTMENTS

Quality multipurpose furniture is versatile in its ability to adapt to many situations. Modular, reconfigurable elements provide freedom in arranging your home’s decor. The current surge in downsizing is the driving force behind a palette of creative and elegant furniture solutions. Many of which are not only ingenious in their functionality but very stylish as well. [...]