Jennifer Laing

You know those images in decorating magazines and websites of pristine children’s bedrooms with every toy, book, game and stuffed animal neatly in its place? Lies, all lies! As any parent well knows, kids can accumulate tons of stuff and their rooms can go from neat to complete chaos in no time flat. (Don’t even get us started on rooms shared by two or more siblings). “Kids' stuff grows like weeds,” says NYC organization expert Lisa Zaslow of Gotham Organizers, who recommends regular purging sessions to keep the volume constant.

There are closets and then there are closets: These dressing chambers, some of which compare in size to a NYC studio apartment and even feature a bathroom (or two), will give your jeans, sweats and sweaters the good life.

A complete kitchen overhaul can transform the sanctuary that is your home into a construction zone for weeks. Fortunately, you can make significant changes to your cooking space without the use of major power tools, or even electricity. We spoke with New York City designer Robin Baron, who shared tips that require little more than a screwdriver and paintbrush, but make a huge impact on your space:

In the market for a sleek two bedroom with Hudson River views , an Upper East Side home with room for the whole family, or an airy Lower Manhattan loft? Rental search site, RentHop helps you zero in on your perfect place more efficiently by assigning a HopScore (a ranking of listings by quality) to each apartment. Following is a current sampling of what RentHop has to offer. Our advice: If you like what you see, don’t delay.