TIME MAGAZINE PERSON OF THE YEAR: The Guy In 2A

TIME magazine couldn't be more proud to name The Guy in 2A as their 2010 Person Of The Year. It really wasn't until the early summer that we saw the emergence of what many have referred to as the "Zuckerberg of apartment living." Whether you stumbled upon, tweeted, re-tweeted, shared, tagged, or liked him, there really was no way to avoid this phenomenon.

What sets The Guy in 2A apart is that he is not afraid to take on the real struggles that we face. He set the rules of age appropriate shopping at IKEA, told us how to properly maintain our bathrooms, and gave inside tips to the ladies on how to land a husband.

In late August, rumors first leaked that Kathryn Hepburn may just be The Guy in 2A's Grandmother. Later in November, a rare video surfaced confirming this lineage. Downplaying his relationship with his Grandmother, The Guy in 2A continued to post about topics that mattered to him. He has told us many things when it comes to home furnishings and decor: that lime green is the new orange and grey is the new black; that storage beds are in and sleigh beds are out; that Lucite is a trendy alternative to wood; that globes are cool but kaleidoscopes are rad.

In a few short months, he has achieved elite status by attaining his 750th fan on facebook. We asked The Guy in 2A to reflect on his recent exposure. He said, "It didn't really hit me to one of my fans grabbed me on the street and declared, "OMG it's the straight Nate Berkus!" (true story) (well, mostly)."

What will 2011 bring to The Guy in 2A and his loyal following? He told us that he refuses to be a flash in the pan, even though his recent success seems to be taking a toll- "I use to blog for the helluvit but now I have to blog to stay relevant." 2010 was a great year for The Guy in 2A, but expect even more helpful tips and household hints in 2011.

IKEA > Everyone Needs Boundaries

IKEA has been referred to as the Forever 21 of the furniture world. You know what I mean, “like I am probably too old for this but perhaps I can rock it one more time.” Well no worries, I have set-up for you the ultimate breakdown of age appropriate items you may buy at IKEA.

18-24yr olds - You have a free pass, IKEA should be your super market sweep of all your apartment needs. Whether you are buying for your dorm room or your first apartment, all IKEA all the time is OK.

25-29yr olds - You're probably in your second or third apt by now and most everything you own is already from IKEA, so now is the time to start shedding off some off those IKEA layers, you are almost a grown-up! Kitchenware, bathware, and bookcases are acceptable purchases.

30-34yr olds - This is when you need to realize the end of an era is upon you. You are getting too old for this stuff. Absolutely no furniture from IKEA is acceptable. Ok, fine./.the only exceptions are in spare rooms or home offices. You may still purchase: shower curtains, drapes, kitchen utensils, and seasonal kitchy items.

35-39yr olds - Hey, times are tough in today’s economic world so I am giving you a mulligan here. However, you must make certain that there is no sign of any sticker that says IKEA, or if I see an IKEA ALLEN WRENCH (as seen above) anywhere in your home we are no longer friends!

40 and over- At this point in your life you have only two reasons you are at IKEA. 1. You are buying bunkbeds for your kids or 2. You are eating those amazing Swedish meatballs from their cafeteria.