The Latest: 2018

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Win: A Year’s Worth of Sustainable Household Products

Prize: $1,000 credit plus one year of VIP service Total Value: $1,020 From: Grove Collaborative We hereby resolve to make 2019 the year of mindfulness: the year we become more intentional in every aspect of our lives, especially our homes. That’s why we’re so excited about Grove Collaborative. This subscription shopping service is a convenient way to stock up on responsible household and personal care brands that you can feel good using—brands we already love, like Mrs.

Creative Studio

Dec 14, 2018

A Simple Chic Seattle Studio Under 500 Square Feet

Everything is open and within a few footsteps (literally) Teresa can get to her kitchen, living area, and bedroom.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Dec 14, 2018

6 Things Everyone Seeking a Small Apartment Should Know

If you’re in the market for a small apartment—whether it’s your choice or not!—rest easy. Small living is trending and, anyway, who needs all that extra space? More room, more collected clutter! That said, there are a few fundamental attributes of a space that, while small in size, can actually feel larger than a floor plan can make it appear. We asked the experts for what to look for when shopping small.

Lambeth Hochwald

Dec 13, 2018

Get 40% Off On Bedding Today At Urban Outfitters

Good news: Urban Outfitters continues to be a surprisingly chic destination for boho home goods that will look good in dorm rooms and real, mortgage-paying adult bedrooms alike. Better news: all their bedding is currently 40% off today online. Their textured and boldly-printed duvet sets also just look comfy and perfect for a long winter’s nap.

Marshall Bright

Dec 13, 2018

8 Under-$30 Amazon Finds You Need to Decorate & Stay Organized for the Holidays

‘Tis the season for decking your halls in holiday decor, but what to do when you need some help displaying and storing all of your festive stuff? Fret not, my merry friends. Amazon is brimming with affordable and foolproof items that’ll make decorating your home for the holidays a breeze. From gift wrap organizers to string light clips, here are eight products on Amazon for under $30 that you need when dressing up your home this season.

Caroline Biggs

Dec 13, 2018

A Minimal Brooklyn Rental Is Petite But Ultra Functional

Name: Margaret Tudor and a roommate Location: Clinton Hill — Brooklyn, NY Size: 700 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, renting I knew as soon as I walked into the apartment that it was a special spot. Unlike so many apartments in New York that have had the original details ripped out in favor of uniformity, this place is dripping in charm. I describe it as “petite but functional.” It has room for everything I need, but just enough.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Dec 13, 2018

The $4 Amazon Buy That Will Make Your Dishwasher 100 Percent Better

As anyone with kids—especially babies and toddlers—knows, all that feeding gear seems to come with tiny bits and pieces that need to be disassembled and individually sanitized. When you’ve got a newborn, buying a sterilizer might feel like it makes sense, but by the time your kids are older, you’ve moved it out of the way to make room for other gear.

Ayn-Monique Klahre

Dec 13, 2018

Why Are Mortgages Usually 30 Years Long?

You’ve scrimped, saved, and spent more time on Zillow than you’d care to divulge, and you’re ready to add “homeowner” to your list of accomplishments. Now, to choose the right mortgage for you. When it comes to fixed-rate loan programs, there are several options—from five to 50 years. But it’s the 30-year mortgage that’s been most popular among Americans for decades.

Lesley Kennedy

Dec 12, 2018

This $7 Amazon Buy Is the Secret to Successful IKEA Furniture Assembly

If you've ever struggled to put together their flat-pack furniture, this is one big reason why.

Kenya Foy

Dec 12, 2018

Why You’ll Love that Black Christmas Tree Trend (Trust Me, I’m 9 Years In)

This year, daring decorators are flipping the holiday decorating script and dreaming of a goth Christmas. Home decor site Wayfair is reporting a 70 percent increase in searches for black Christmas trees this year, and according to the artificial tree retailer Treetopia, black is the second most popular color (after classic green) in six locations: Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Delaware, and Washington D.C.

Taryn Williford

Dec 12, 2018

Before and After: This Living Room’s Beauty Is Now Off the Charts

This living room had a fabulous picture window, but that was about all its new owners loved. After refinishing the floors, replacing the fireplace, and majorly expanding the built-in storage, they now have a living room they totally love. Sarah of Room for Tuesday has created a combination fireplace/statement wall, and it was a fantastic way to go. The green paint really centers the room and adds a major punch of color, while allowing the rest of the walls to be light-reflecting white.

Tess Wilson

Dec 12, 2018

Leesa, Our Favorite Mattress-in-a-Box, Is On Sale On Amazon For One Day Only

They're our favorite bed-in-a-box.

Marshall Bright

Dec 12, 2018

The Salary You Need to Live in Fixer Upper’s Waco, Texas

Ask anyone about Waco, Texas, and most likely they’ll ask “Isn’t that where Chip and Joanna are from?” Thanks to Gaineses, the stars of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper,” interest in this central Texas community has skyrocketed over the last few years. As a result, Waco, Texas has not only become a huge tourist destination, but it has also sparked the interest of potential home buyers.

Lisa Iannucci

Dec 12, 2018

Partner

What’s Your Home Vibe, and How Can You Cultivate It?

Every stylish space has some secret ingredient. Think of it as that spice a great dish you can’t really discern but makes the thing sing. In the same way, the rooms in your home have some ineffable energy—a vibe—that makes them more you. It’s the feeling that welcomes you home, whether that welcome looks colorful and energetic or calm and peaceful. The question is, what vibe do you want to cultivate? Let these mood boards lead the way.

Creative Studio

Dec 12, 2018

A Luxe Long Island City Condo Is Perfect for Lounge Parties

Name: Craig Byers, my husband Justin Greer, and Buddy The Glamour Cat Location: Long Island City — Queens, New York Size: 820 square feet Years lived in: 8 years, owned Buddy the glamour cat has two dads. Justin is the dad who can never say no to Buddy. Justin used to be an actor in Broadway musicals, having been in nine shows over fifteen years.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Dec 12, 2018

There Are 6 Types of Smart Shoppers—Which One Are You?

While I’ve never met anyone who didn’t love a good bargain, the truth is that savvy shoppers come in all sorts of varieties when it comes to coupon clipping and deal sifting. Some of us are dedicated to dig until we find that perfect deal, while others think a 10-percent-off coupon in the mail is good enough for the bottom dollar.

Marlen Komar

Dec 12, 2018

The $18 Anthropologie Hostess Gift I’m Obsessed With

While a bottle of wine is a great hostess gift, I think holiday parties are the time to go the extra mile. I love everything Anthropologie—maybe one day, my home will look like their stunning window displays—but the holiday season really brings out the best in their decor. That’s how I landed on the perfect, affordable present for any host: their too-cute printed tea towels.

Samantha Zabell

Dec 11, 2018

11 Wonderful Uses for Washi Tape This Holiday Season

Washi tape has a million uses all year round, but it really shines during the winter holidays—especially if it’s shiny. Here are dozen festive ways to put washi tape to use, ranging from small details to major decorations. Washi tape is the “stitching” that holds together this beautiful wrapping paper quilt. Not only is this gift wrap approach stunning, it’s a great way to use up leftover bits of paper and unify all of your gifts without buying all new paper.

Tess Wilson

Dec 11, 2018

15 Stylish Home Brands That Are Giving Back for the Holidays

If the slew of corny but bingeable holiday movies have taught us anything, it’s that it is always better to give than receive. Sure, we all want to receive something shiny and new (who doesn’t?); however, it’s also incredibly satisfying to see the look on a loved one’s face when they open a present they really adore. Of course, the same sentiment applies giving to charities. There’s no better time than the holidays to donate to charities that resonate with you.

Kelsey Mulvey

Dec 11, 2018

One Super Motivating Way to Flip the Script on Decluttering This Time of Year

We declutter mostly for ourselves. We yearn for the empty space and the room to breathe. So we approach our cupboards, closets, drawers, and garages asking ourselves whatever version of the essential question—do I need this?—that gives us the most clarity. That’s how we decide what to get rid of and what to keep most of the time. But there’s another way to think about it, and there are others to declutter for.

Shifrah Combiths

Dec 11, 2018

The Credit Score Trick You Should Try When You’re Getting Serious About Buying a Home

A lot of credit-boosting tips we hear are, frankly, pretty darn obvious. Don’t go over your credit limit, don’t pay bills late, check your credit score—yeah, yeah we got it already! So, my ears perked up when Brentnie Daggett, a rental expert at Rentec Direct, a property management industry website, dished a credit-boosting tip that falls into the “Oooh! Interesting” category.

Brittany Anas

Dec 11, 2018

Here’s How Buckingham Palace Is Decorated for the Holidays

Queen Elizabeth is decking the halls of Buckingham Palace. The holiday decor has officially arrived, and as you could probably guess, she doesn’t go the “red and green lights and inflatable Santa” route. Just like every year, there are three Christmas trees, each of which have been grown on the grounds at Windsor, put up in the exquisite Marble Hall. The Christmas Trees have arrived at Buckingham Palace! ? Watch as the Marble Hall transforms for the festive season.

Megan Johnson

Dec 11, 2018

Before and After: This Big Blank Bedroom Canvas Became Something Beautiful

While this photo may look like an “after” shot, it’s actually just the blank white canvas on which a colorful, glamorous wonderland has been created. While a room outfitted in gray, white, and wood has an understated charm, sometimes it needs the type of beauty that only mint and pink velvet and plenty of gold can provide. The new predominately pink, mint, and white color scheme is delicious, while the wallpaper and bookshelves add a multitude of other hues.

Tess Wilson

Dec 11, 2018

Why I’m Going to Start Folding My Laundry in Front of Guests

For most of us, it’s standard practice to clean before guests come over. We want them to feel welcome and comfortable in our house and we honor their presence by creating a general air of order and cleanliness. And on the other hand, we certainly don’t want to be judged for our dusty baseboards and the inside-out socks that seem to always be peppered throughout the house. But there’s more.

Shifrah Combiths

Dec 11, 2018

A Naturally Comfortable Chattanooga Home

Name: Diana Horton, my husband and daughter Location: Chattanooga, Tenneessee Size: 2,800 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned Last year, we packed up our South Carolina home and moved into a quaint, wooded ’70s charmer in Chattanooga without stepping foot into it before closing. It had good bones and was well taken care of, so we couldn’t pass it up. I immediately saw a vision of my family growing in this home with a large tree-lined backyard on a quiet street.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Dec 11, 2018

This Baltimore Real Estate Listing Has a Festive (and Funny) Surprise

Mr. Grinch may be a “mean one,” but this real estate listing is pretty creative. A three-bed, three-bath home in the Hampden section of Baltimore, Maryland, received a wild holiday makeover, complete with a series of cameos by none of other than the Grinch. The classic Dr.

Megan Johnson

Dec 11, 2018

How I Got All the Benefits of NYC Life Without Actually Having to Move There

It may be expensive and there may never be enough on-street parking, its charm and accessibility really make living in Hoboken all worth it.

Caren Lissner

Dec 10, 2018

Look Inside: $370K Savannah Home Perfectly Mixes New and Old

This Southern belle of a home isn’t just a charmer on the outside; there are surprising features to delight in throughout. 1206 E Duffy St Located in Savannah, Georgia $369,900 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms From the outside, this Savannah home exudes Southern charm with its pretty pastel blue exterior, white trim, and a sprawling wraparound porch that’s eager to play the consummate host for lazy Sunday afternoons involving rocking chairs and lemonade sipping.

Brittany Anas

Dec 10, 2018

You Can Now Book Your Dream Trip To India For $199

India has been on the top of my bucket list for what feels like ages. Since winter months are the best time to go because of the cooler weather, the optimistic traveler in me annually checks airline prices only to be thrown back in dismay by the multiple thousand-dollar response. (I may sound dramatic, but it’s the full-blown truth.

Nicoletta Richardson

Dec 10, 2018

You Can Now Buy This Chair Frank Lloyd Wright Designed For Himself

If you’ve been clamoring to get your hands on some famous furniture, here’s a piece that belongs at the top of your most urgent shopping list: a chair Frank Lloyd Wright designed for himself is for sale. While Wright is frequently lauded for designing a slew of homes, hotels, offices, and other structures around the world, the famed American architect also designed more than 1,100 pieces of furniture throughout his illustrious career that remain in high demand.

Kenya Foy

Dec 10, 2018

This Dyson Air Purifier Sale Is The Perfect Answer To The Current Cold Weather

Amazon is currently running a deal on one of the most advanced Dyson air purifiers on the market, the wifi-enabled Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link. Typically $540 on the site (and originally $600), it’s almost $100 off at $449. If the recent cold snap has you shivering in your house or apartment, this is a perfect time to invest in something that can warm you up and make the air you breath cleaner. So what makes this air purifier worthy of a January splurge?

Marshall Bright

Dec 10, 2018

Ch-Ch-Choose to Stay in One of These 10 Converted Train Car Airbnbs

‘Tis the season for reading the Polar Express. If you’ve dreamed of adventuring on a sleeper car train, then have we got the Airbnb listings for you. You don’t have to believe in the magic of the North Pole or know the history of the railroad to enjoy these unconventional accommodations, in picturesque locales from the Canadian Rockies to a North Carolina bison farm to a German kids adventure park.

Melissa Massello

Dec 10, 2018

Try This IRL Trick for Shopping Incognito on Amazon

Gift-giving season means we all have to be a little stealthier about our online shopping—especially if you share accounts with the people you’re trying to surprise. Or maybe you found the perfect thing to finish your shopping list, but don’t want to give your credit card info over to the Amazon machine to get it. Whatever your reason for wanting to shop incognito, we have the answer: Amazon Cash. Amazon Cash, my friends, the answer is Amazon Cash.

Caroline Biggs

Dec 10, 2018

A Neglected Ranch-Style House Is Now Deco-Inspired Boho Luxe

Name: Brit Arnesen, my husband Derek, daughter Sadie, son Theo, dog Lucy, and cat Sheena. Location: Kokomo, Indiana Size: 1,300 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned I’m a self-taught interior designer and avid DIYer who’s really into home decor. One room at a time, my husband, who’s a machinist, and I have turned a neglected ranch-style house into our family’s dream home, documenting the process along the way.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Dec 10, 2018

The One Thing You Shouldn’t (and Can’t) Recycle This Time of Year

Tis the season for celebrating, which means you’ll be stuck with some post-party cleanup sometime over the holidays. But before we get too deep into the holiday party season (a.k.a. “oops” season), it’s important to remember that a certain seemingly recyclable material actually isn’t actually salvageable at all.

Caroline Biggs

Dec 10, 2018

You Can Sip Champagne and Sing Christmas Carols at Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle

If you have a few extra hundred dollars hanging around, you can celebrate Christmas in a castle! Highclere Castle, which was featured on “Downton Abbey,” hosts a few Christmas events. It might be too late for Christmas dinner at the castle, but you can still buy tickets to sip some champagne and sing carols. In associate with RAF 100 Appeal, Highclere Castle is hosting a Castle Tours, Carols and Magic event.

Ana Luisa Suarez

Dec 9, 2018

The Simple Truth About Student Loans and Homeownership

Once you graduate college, you’re handed a diploma and—most likely—a mountain of debt. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find a job where you make enough to pay off your student loans and then, maybe, move on to the next big investment of your life homeownership. Unfortunately, according to a study by Credit Sesame, the state in which you live may affect your ability to pay your student loans.

Lisa Iannucci

Dec 9, 2018

Modern Farmhouse Meets California Cool

Name: Valeria Jacobs, my husband, three kids (two boys and a girl), and a minature pincher Location: Castro Valley, California Size: 1,400 square feet Years lived in: 10 months, renting We live in a cottage-style home. When we first saw the listing for rent I got a feeling that it was the house for our family. I fell in love with the big windows in the dining room, the hardwood floors, and overall it felt like a little home to us.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Dec 9, 2018

Being Your Own Contractor Saves a Ton of Money, But I Don’t Recommend It

It’s funny how most of us know we can’t be our own physician or attorney after watching a few YouTube videos, but ask us if we can run our own renovation and an awful lot of us think we can handle it just fine. Who needs a contractor when you can find your own sub-contractors online and order all your own materials? Why pay them a percentage of the cost (ranging from 10 to 50 percent) on top of your already over-budget budget when you can just DIY? Well, I’ve done it. Twice.

Dana McMahan

Dec 9, 2018

You Can Take Your Cat to the North Pole with These Cute Cat Scratchers from Target

Do you need one more Christmas decoration for your house? Christmas is just over two weeks away, but there is still plenty of time to keep shopping for your house. If you’ve gotten everything you possibly could for yourself, you can get a little something for your pets. It isn’t always easy to make cat scratchers look cute, but if any retailer can do it, it is Target! The retailer’s Christmas-themed section, the Wondershop, now sells holiday-themed cat scratchers.

Ana Luisa Suarez

Dec 9, 2018

5 Vacation Cities That Are Actually Great to Live In Year-Round

Wish you were on vacay every day? Some tourist destinations across the United States also make terrific places to live. Weather aside, these cities have amenities that year-round residents love—whether that’s as an emerging wine region, outdoor recreation activities, an impressive arts and culture scene, or great sandy beaches. Here’s where you can live the dream all year long—even after the piña coladas melt. The good news: You can live on an island year-round.

Brittany Anas

Dec 9, 2018

The $10 Buy That Makes the Cabinet Under My Sink Less Gross

Fun fact: You don’t have to cringe every time you reach for the dishwasher detergent and get a glimpse of what’s going on under your kitchen sink. Just because that’s what happens for most people doesn’t mean that’s the way it has to be for everyone. It’s not how it is for me. I’ve actually got one simple little trick to keep things nice under there. Here’s my secret to keeping the least sexy part of the kitchen looking spiffy.

Sharon Franke

Dec 9, 2018

Target Is Offering 25% Off Kitchen This Weekend Only (Including Stand Mixers!)

As they’ve done in the past, throughout the month of December Target is featuring weekend-only sales in a variety of departments. So of course we’re especially excited that this weekend (that’s right — today and tomorrow only) they’re offering an additional 25 percent off kitchen appliances and cookware. We sorted through hundreds of items to bring you our top four picks so you can take advantage of these generous savings.

Vanessa Spilios

Dec 8, 2018

A Portland Home Is the Perfect Blend of Whimsical and Modern

Name: Amanda J Franz and pup Milo Location: Portland, Oregon Size: 2,600 square feet Years lived in: 6 months, owned My name is Amanda Franz and I live in Portland, Oregon, with my Australian Labradoodle, Milo. I am a creative entrepreneur who owns the custom stationery company, Wide Eyes Paper Co. Wide Eyes specializes in hand-crafted wedding invitations and we ship all around the USA and internationally. I am an adventurous and curious 29-year-old surfer gal from sunny Southern California.

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Dec 8, 2018

Experts Say These 5 Real Estate Tips Are Now Totally Outdated

Like lots of things in life (including yourself!), the real estate world keeps rapidly evolving. Though some things will stay the same, at least one thing your broker told you a decade ago is no longer relevant. Here, five once-common pieces of advice experts say that you should now take with a grain of salt. “This advice is outdated because today—more than ever—people want to feel like they are getting ‘value’ in what they purchase.

Lambeth Hochwald

Dec 8, 2018

33 Productive Things You Can Do Instead of Spending Money

They say idle hands are the devil’s playground. Or is it an idle mind? When our twitching fingers tap from “add to bag” to “checkout” before we know what happened, it certainly feels like our good intentions of not spending money uselessly have been thwarted by a devilish boredom that whispers, pitchfork held aside, to go on ahead and just check to see if there are any good sales.

Shifrah Combiths

Dec 8, 2018

You Can Get a Weighted Blanket for Your Anxious Dog

Does your pet suffer from anxiety? Maybe they are terrified of the vacuum or fireworks, or maybe they just hate it when you leave. You might notice they miss you when you’re gone if all of your shoes disappear right before you walk right out the door. Or, your neighbor tells you that your dog doesn’t stop crying when you’re not home. According to the ASPCA, “One of the most common complaints of pet parents is that their dogs are disruptive or destructive when left alone.

Ana Luisa Suarez

Dec 8, 2018

7 IKEA Buys Tiny House Dwellers Swear By, Starting at $2

The idea of living in a tiny home is simple—you own, need, and use less stuff. But tiny home dwellers still do need some items in their home to, you know, live. The challenge is, these necessary items to store dishes and cutlery, work on, and sleep in need to not take up more room than they’re worth. When a tiny home owner does find one of these magic items, it can be a life-changing experience. And, just like you, tiny home owners often turn to IKEA for these small-space savers.

Lisa Iannucci

Dec 8, 2018