The Latest: 2017

I did not grow up in a house that delicately opened gifts on Christmas morning. My mother did not collect all the intact gift wrap, fold it carefully and stash it away for another use. We were savages that ripped open presents with abandon. The more shreds I could get out of each box, the longer the unwrapping lasted, which made me a happier child. (My mother did, however, always save gift boxes—the kind you put shirts and pajama sets in—as well as gift bags because she was no fool.

Not everyone is cut out to be a permanent member of tiny house club. However, the thought of being holed up in one of these cozy rotating “Escape Pods” makes minimalist living that much easier to embrace. The diminutive, dome-shaped retreats created by collaborators Dominic Ash and Jeremy Fitter can serve as office space, a meditative hideaway or a remote hangout spot for those moments when you need to recharge with a super low-key getaway.

Can cabins be modern? Most cabin decor I’ve seen definitely leans more towards the country-cute side of the spectrum, but this doesn’t mean that lovers of both modern design and cozy, rustic homes are out of luck. I’ve scoured the internet for examples of cozy cabins that are still modern and stylish, to inspire your next winter getaway, or just give you warm vibes on a cold day.

Here’s a real estate reprieve for homeowners who’ve been to hell and back with foundation problems: an unfolding modular house. Italian architect Renato Vidal partnered with Area Legno to manufacture “M.A.DI,” a tiny home that makes putting down your roots infinitely easier. For starters, the small, eco-friendly modular homes can be temporarily erected without a foundation, but a screw pile anchoring system can be utilized if needed.

In 2016, Audrey Gelman and Lauren Kassan came together to create a co-working space with an unusual mission. Inspired by the women’s clubs that flourished in early 20th century New York, they imagined a space that would cater exclusively to women. Thus was born The Wing, an organization that is part co-working space, part social club, and all female.

In a day and age when social media and inspiration-heavy sites like Pinterest make you feel like everything you create for your home or how you decorate for the holidays has to be (literally) picture perfect and super chic, there are rays of hope that sometimes the internet is up for something slightly ridiculous. Case in point: the recent obsession with not-the-least-bit-elegant-but-maybe-pretty-great giant balloon Christmas lights.

The “stranded island test” is a good way to think about the products you use that you really, truly love. I asked the Apartment Therapy editors what one small appliance they’d bring along if we were all whisked away to an island in the middle of nowhere (where electric outlets may or may not exist, but that part isn’t supposed to matter).

These get our vote for stylish space savers.

For anyone who’s ever excitedly bought a tree that turned out to be a serious needle dropper/too heavy to carry up the stairs/completely devoid of any festive scents — this buying guide is for you. Aesthetics are one thing, but there is so, so much more to consider. You know the deal: you walk onto a Christmas tree lot, find a tree that seems like it’ll fit in your home for the right price and boom, you’re done.

It’s been an eventful year for IKEA’s humble, hardworking blue bag. So we really should’ve seen this holiday themed hack coming. The FRAKTA fracas started when Balenciaga released their $2,100 leather “knockoff” of the 99 cent tote. IKEA then responded with a pretty hilarious print ad on how to spot the real thing.

Cyber Monday might be over but it appears the awesome online sales are only just beginning. Case in point: For today only, Target is offering a whopping 40% off of every item from their bed and bath department. This means that everything from bath towels to sink organizers to pillow shams and mattress pads are majorly marked down until midnight, so you can upgrade some of your home essentials without breaking your holiday budget.

It’s been a marathon shopping weekend, what with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. But if you missed some sales, don’t fret—plenty of retailers have extended their discounts anywhere from one day to a whole month, so there’s still time to snag a steal. Today, Target launched daily deals that run through Saturday, December 2.

Today is Giving Tuesday, the charitable equivalent of the holiday shopping season. There are many worthy non profits and organizations that would love your dollars (in many cases, donations are doubled or tripled, and are tax deductible), but if you also want to give back while doing a little retail therapy, we certainly can’t blame you. Here is some stylish home decor that does good for great causes.