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The Latest: May 2019

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How Many Wedding Registries Can You Have Before You Start Getting Side-Eye?
Navigating the world of registry etiquette is tough work. To put together The Registry Rule Book, we asked some industry experts to weigh in and answer some of the hardest questions engaged couples might have. Putting together a complete wedding registry is an exercise in moderation. No bride or groom wants to look greedy by registering at multiple stores.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
How Do I Tactfully Tell People About Our Registry?
Navigating the world of registry etiquette is tough work. To put together The Registry Rule Book, we asked some industry experts to weigh in and answer some of the hardest questions engaged couples might have. The reason wedding registries can be such tricky territory is that the whole process is a delicate dance.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
3 Gorgeous Statement Wall Art Ideas to Adorn Those Empty Walls
One of the most difficult (not to mention, most expensive) decorating tasks you have to face when designing a new apartment is how to fill those big, blank walls. While store-bought statement pieces can work room-altering magic, they also come at a cost. To decorate that spot over the couch or dining room table on the cheap, turn to supplies you may already have lying around: fabric, wrapping paper and wallpaper.
AT Video
May 3, 2019
Baby Makes Three: A Shared Master Bedroom & Nursery with Global Style
Name: Marra (Newborn) Location: Fort Meyers, Florida The nursery was designed to flow with the existing decor in our master bedroom since we are sharing a space with our little girl. We live in a two-bedroom townhouse and often have guests so we wanted to keep our guest room for hosting. We needed to find a way to create a kid friendly space that still had a sophistication to work in an adult space as well. We also wanted to forgo a crib and follow a Montessori nursery style with a floor bed.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
May 3, 2019
Doing This One Small Task Today Will Make Your Bathroom Feel More Organized
No matter how often I “clean” my bathroom, it always feels like there’s a mess hiding in the shadows. An undercurrent of disorganization. A collection of clutter just out of sight. It probably feels that way because although I try to keep my cabinets and drawers tidy…I haven’t really expended that much effort, just kind of tossing my stuff into random drawers. Who has time for anything more? Thankfully you don’t actually have to have more time than that.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
A Beige Rental Bathroom Gets a Major Boost on a Budget
My friend Joseph has a beige bathroom and asked me to come over and help him do something — anything — to make it better and I jumped at the chance. Because one less beige bathroom in the world is no bad thing. He’s a renter, so it couldn’t cost a lot, and everything needed to be 100% temporary. (You know those pesky security deposits and how they don’t get returned when you make permanent changes.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
Is it OK to Wash Cleaning Supplies and Clothes Together? We Have the Answer
You know how it goes — it’s been a minute since you did a load of laundry, so you roam the house scooping up soiled clothes. When you happen upon the moist dish rags in the sink and the cleaning cloths you recently used to wipe down the counters, you toss those in, too. Hey, we’ve all done it. But is it even OK to wash your cleaning supplies and clothes together? The question, of course, isn’t whether you can. It’s whether you should.
Julie Sprankles
May 3, 2019
The Best-Kept Plant Lady Secret Is Something You’re Not Doing
Keeping your plants clean (and dust-free) is vital to their health and happiness. Along with attracting harmful pests, too much dust on your plant’s leaves can make it hard for your houseplants to absorb light and properly photosynthesize (remember that from elementary school?). That’s why experts recommend dusting off your plants at least once a month by using a clean microfiber cloth. But for the healthiest houseplants possible, the cleaning shouldn’t stop there.
Caroline Biggs
May 3, 2019
A 100% Reversible Rental Bathroom Makeover For Under $500
Joseph's bathroom had some decent bones, but needed a light and renter-friendly makeover. See what we did...
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
This $50 Temporary Flooring Floats Right Over Rental Bathroom Tile
Renters rejoice.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
Watch and Work Out: How To Incorporate Exercise Into Your TV Time
So you want to fit more fitness time into your day, but you also value your TV time and don’t want to miss out on your favorite shows. Rather than sacrifice your relationship with Netflix, why not incorporate some exercise into your watch schedule? Try swapping out the couch (and by swapping out, we mean more like sliding the coffee table out of the way to make room) and watching from your yoga mat instead.
Brittney Morgan
May 3, 2019
5 Secrets of People Who Go To Bed Early
If you’re anything like me, you probably continually promise yourself that tonight’s the night you’re finally going to start going to bed earlier, and then midnight rolls around and you’re still wide awake, intently reading some article you saw on Twitter (or watching “okay, just one more!” episode of your new favorite Netflix show and suddenly it’s 2 AM).
Brittney Morgan
May 3, 2019
7 Books You Should Be Reading During Black History Month
I’m the first to get ridiculously excited about a good reading list, but Black History Month is something special—not to mention a time to honor the history of black Americans and further your education about past and present issues. From biographies to historical fiction to memoirs (and even a classic children’s book), here’s a starting point for what you should be reading during Black History Month and beyond.
Anne Momber
May 3, 2019
High & Low: Get the Boho Glam Bedroom Look
Sometimes the bedroom is the last space in the home that gets the love when it comes to decorating because we’re not even awake to enjoy it right? Wrong! It should be your sanctuary, a place to unwind and relax at the end of the day. This boho-glam bedroom will definitely do the trick. See how you can get this look on any budget. This beautiful bedroom designed by Ave Styles is full of interesting textures and patterns that are a little unexpected but work so well together.
Melissa DiRenzo
May 3, 2019
Want to Live Longer? This Study Suggests It’s Time to Turn Over a New Leaf
It looks like those plant lady vibes may actually be improving your lifespan. Recent research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital dives into the results of an eight year study covering the possible link between vegetation and life expectancy—and the data suggests it’s time to turn over a new leaf. Spoiler alert: Women who live in homes surrounded by vegetation not only have lower mortality rates, but improved mental health, too.
Anne Momber
May 3, 2019
Real Life Closet Makeover: Esteban & Todd’s New Closet is Now the Stuff Of (Organized) Dreams
Closet size: 24 square feet How many people use this closet? Two. My partner Todd and I share the closet. How long have you lived in your home? Five years Your closet in 5 words or less: Small, narrow, chaotic, cluttered, disorderly. My partner Todd and I challenged ourselves to clean out our closet from head to toe, then reorganize it in a way that made more sense. We did a massive purge session, shopped for smart storage solutions, and are now ready to share our new space.
Esteban Cortez
May 3, 2019
Grow Your Own Food: You Can Now Build IKEA’s “Growroom” Vertical Farm Yourself
Back in October 2016, IKEA’s external innovation hub Space10 announced the Growroom, a spherical structure that allows people to grow their own food locally and sustainably. Last week, Space10 made the plans available to anyone who wants to build their own circular farm.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019
Why You Should Take a Day Off This Week
Say you woke up with flu symptoms this morning—fever, aches, a bad case of the sniffles and a cough that won’t quit. Would you call out sick from work so you could have a day to rest and help yourself feel better? We often take sick days when we’re feeling under the weather, but what about when we’re otherwise exhausted and drained or have been super stressed out lately?
Brittney Morgan
May 3, 2019
DIY Ideas for Framing Big Art on a Small Budget
This past fall, I went on a quest for a simple frame for a long 14-by-50-inch map. After quickly realizing there was no way a store-bought frame would fit these odd dimensions, I emailed a local NYC framing company for a quote. A couple days later, there it was in my inbox: a whopping $782.09 cost estimate. As much as I value supporting local businesses, there was no way I could do it. So then how do you make a big statement without completely destroying your budget?
Katie Holdefehr
May 3, 2019
Here’s One Smart Way to Handle Your Lost Sock Problem
Keeping socks paired up through the laundry cycle is pretty simple if you toss them in a mesh bag beforehand, but that step doesn’t make its way into everyone’s routine. If you’re more likely to toss dirty socks in the general direction of the hamper—well, you’re probably hoarding a pretty large “orphan sock” collection.
Ashley Poskin
May 3, 2019
I Lived According to the 10 Commandments of Pinterest for a Week
If you’ve ever spent even just a few minutes browsing through Pinterest, you know that it’s full of tips that people claim will make your life easier and leave you feeling happier and healthier. So, I decided to give it a go and try out all this wisdom —what would it be like to live life according to Pinterest for a week? What did I have to lose? To make this experiment possible in the first place, I had to figure out what life according to Pinterest would even look like.
Brittney Morgan
May 3, 2019
Watch Out: 7 Times When Cheaper Rent is Actually More Expensive
So you found the perfect apartment—everything seems to check out, from the desirable neighborhood to the amazing rent. But is it really as wonderful as it seems? Before you start shifting those extra dollars from your rent fund to your coffee budget, double check your new home to make sure none of these hidden expenses are going to end up emptying your wallet.
Anne Momber
May 3, 2019
Real Life Closet Makeover: Aimée and Jonny’s Shared Catch-All Storage is Now Super Clean
Aimée and Jonny just gave their shared closet a major makeover from head to toe, breaking it down and building it back up to be better than before. Their main take away? Don’t be afraid to purge! It makes all the difference. See what changed, and how they tamed their trouble spots. Aimée and Jonny’s linens refused to stay stacked neatly on their shelving, preferring instead to fall over, flop around, and unfold themselves.
Aimée Mazzenga
May 3, 2019
8 DIY Projects You Can Pull Off With Sample Cans of Paint
These small-space projects really pop.
Katie Holdefehr
May 3, 2019
5 Wedding Trends You Haven’t Heard About Yet
Couples often feel pressure to have a “timeless” or “classic” wedding. Here’s the thing, though: there’s no such thing as a timeless wedding. Just like fashion and home décor, wedding trends come and go. So here’s my best advice: Forget about trying to be timeless and let yourself embrace the unique trends you love, infusing your wedding day with your own personal brand of magic. In 20 years, your wedding photos will look dated anyway.
Tabitha Abercrombie
May 3, 2019
Real Life Closet Makeover: Melanie & Steven’s Skinny Storage Sorrows Solved
Closet size: 4.125 ft² plus a garment rack How many people use this closet? 2 How long have you lived in your home? We moved into this apartment about 8 months ago. It’s gone smoothly for the most part, but I’m definitely messier than Steven. Your closet in 5 words or less: Cramped and cluttered Melanie and Steven had their work cut out for them. Their teeny tiny closet was small for even New York standards, and the added garment rack overflowed with clothing and shoes.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
How to Remove Labels From Jars (and Turn Jars Into Glassware)
... And turn jars into glassware, with hot water and baking soda.
Edith Zimmerman
May 3, 2019
A Brief History of Epsom Salt: What Is It, Exactly? Why Do We Bathe In It? And, Really? People Drink It?
If you’ve ever poured cups of Epsom salt into your bath while wondering, “What is this stuff, and why am I doing this?
Edith Zimmerman
May 3, 2019
The Life Balance Wheel: A Printable Tool to Find Harmony at Home
Try not to think about it too hard, but you’re currently flying through the universe at a million miles an hour. Your balance—a skill finely tuned since you were a toddler—is keeping you upright, allowing you to maintain control when everything around you is moving faster than you could imagine. Balance is no less important outside of the body.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
Before & After: An Incredible DIY, Use-What-You-Can Garage to Guest Room Remodel
If you have an old basement or other unused space in your home, you might dream about remodeling that space into something beautiful and useful. For Suzanne and Peter, that dreaming started the moment they bought their San Francisco home three years ago. The dark and dank basement room that came with the house no longer exists and has been replaced with a bright, open and welcoming space.
Ana Kamin
May 3, 2019
How The 20/10 Rule Will Change the Way You Clean and Help You Rise Above Your Mess
Keeping your home clean and organized requires a lot of effort—there are a lot of tasks both big and little to keep track of that add up, taking up quite a bit of your time and energy. It can honestly get overwhelming, especially if you lead an already busy lifestyle, or deal with depression, and have to face a mess that’s piled up.
Brittney Morgan
May 3, 2019
Benjamin Moore’s New Luxe Paint Line Is What Designers Have Been Waiting For
Have a room that could use an extra dose of drama? This week, Benjamin Moore announced CENTURY, their new luxury line of paint that is not only gorgeous, but has a tactile finish that adds a new experience to a space. They’re calling the finish “soft touch matte,” and it reportedly feels like a soft leather glove.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019
Before & After: Watch Kristen Bell Give Her Sister’s Basement a Total Makeover
If there’s anything we love more than a great before and after, it’s a great before and after with Kristen Bell. The Good Place star surprised her sister and her family with a totally new basement for their Detroit home. In an episode of MyHouzz, the home renovation platform’s web series, the Frozen and Veronica Mars actor set out to do something huge for her big sister: totally renovate her basement.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019
Another Reason to Stay Home and Watch Nature Documentaries
If you’ve ever needed further encouragement to stay in and binge on animal documentaries (I have not), they’ve now been shown to be scientifically good for you: Research from BBC Earth and the University of California has found that watching nature programmes [such as Planet Earth II] … increased people’s feelings of awe, contentedness, and joy. The nature programs also “acted to reduce feelings of tiredness, anger and stress.
Edith Zimmerman
May 3, 2019
Color Fail: How I Should Have Painted My House, According to Experts
When I chose the trim color for my home, it was the last decision in a long line of decisions at the end of a gut rehab. I was in project overload and gave some vague instructions to the painter one random day that I wanted gray, and the next thing I knew it was done. I’m totally fine with the color, but it’s maybe just a teensy bit dour? (Never mind that Edward Gorey called from the grave to accuse me of stealing his look.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
This Modern Renovation is the Perfect Antidote to Stark All-White Kitchens
If you love the modern look but are starting to tire of all-white kitchens, then this kitchen, from blogger Molly at Almost Makes Perfect, will be a breath of fresh air. It mixes together white and wood cabinets for a look that’s fresh yet timeless — and there are plenty of other ideas worth stealing, too. Mismatched upper and lower cabinets are gaining a lot of traction lately, and in this kitchen, it’s the perfect choice.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Beyond Mainstream: 14 Indie Magazines to Read for Endless Life Inspiration
Long live indie magazines for smart content, innovative style, and an often fearless approach to navigating the editorial waters. Whether its art, design, travel, fashion, or lifestyle, these magazines explore topics in ways that are exciting, honest and a little sexy (because to me, being original is sexy). And these magazines are very original.
Julia Brenner
May 3, 2019
Before and After: An Almost Unrecognizable Modern Transformation of a Beige Suburban House
Dream of living in an open, airy, minimal home but find yourself in a beige-hued, standard suburban house? After you pick your jaw up off the floor upon viewing these before and afters of a renovated Cleveland home, you’ll likely be inspired and motivated to try your hand at modernizing your own space!
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
This Ridiculously Tiny San Francisco Studio Has a Bathroom in the Kitchen
Alright, San Francisco, you officially win at ridiculous real estate. This studio is so tiny that it has a combo kitchen and bathroom. The icing on the cake? The landlord is asking $2000 per month. SFist shared a listing from neighborhood site Nextdoor advertising this newly renovated space in Presidio Heights. While the square footage isn’t advertised, the listing does say it’s “tiny” and that “one person [is] best.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019
How Many Times Do Most People Hit the Snooze Button? (And More Fascinating Alarm Clock Stats)
When your alarm goes off in the morning, how do you feel? If the answer is “dreadful,” you’re not alone—a new study from Sleep Junkie found that more than half (53.86 percent!) of people feel the same way upon hearing their alarm. In addition, 27.12 percent of people feel anxious when they’re alarm goes off, while only 11.24 percent feel energized, 2.32 percent feel excited, and a mere 0.
Brittney Morgan
May 3, 2019
The Perfect Personality-Based Healthy Habit for Every Zodiac Sign
Whether you read your horoscope every day or you don’t fully buy into the idea of astrology, it’s interesting to see what your sign says about your personality. And those traits may also be the key to a healthier, happier life. Progress happens one step at a time. You need to start with something super doable — something so “you” that it becomes part of your new routine without even trying.
Brittney Morgan
May 3, 2019
We Asked 8 Real New Yorkers: Is a 50/20/30 Budget Realistic?
Are you familiar with the 50/20/30 rule?
Brittney Morgan
May 3, 2019
How One Woman Launched the Trendiest Furniture Company of 2017
Time and time again, necessity proves to be the mother of invention. That’s certainly the case for Femke Furnée, founder of FEST Amsterdam. If you’re already hip to the awesomeness that is this Dutch home goods company, you’re definitely not alone, as the brand, in its four years of operation, has taken the design world by storm. But let’s go back to the beginning here.
Caroline Biggs
May 3, 2019
The World’s Most Unconventional (and Beautiful) Doors
What’s a door? If you ever gave any thought at all to this question, you would probably say something like: a door is a tall, thin, rectangular piece of wood, or metal, that has hinges and a knob. But probably you’ve never given much thought to the essence of a door at all, because doors are one of those things that are so essential to and prevalent in everyday life that we hardly think about them at all.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
The World’s Most Beautiful Built-In Bookcases
Bookcases are always beautiful, because they’re full of books. But this post is devoted to bookshelves that are especially beautiful, and the shelves that are so pretty and unique that they almost steal the show from the volumes themselves. Here are nine gorgeous built-in bookcases to inspire your next renovation — or just inspire a little dreaming.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
A Beautiful (And Very Brooklyn) Loft Wedding
Bride & Groom: Margarita Passione + Byron Zinonos Wedding Date: September 3, 2016 Venue: Greenpoint Loft in Brooklyn, NY Number of guests: 120 This couple of high school friends turned into lovebirds some (ten-ish) years later—safe to say they knew each other pretty well by the time they decided to get married in Brooklyn last year.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
Exterior Paint Color Trends We’re Head Over Heels in Love With
Set the style standard on your street.
Nancy Mitchell
May 3, 2019
Real Life Closet Makeover: Katy’s Walk-In Is Perfectly Pulled Together Now
Katy’s walk-in closet had plenty of space. It was just poorly thought out and lacked the proper organizers for the job of keeping all their clothes, shoes and accessories in place. Katy moved a bunch of stuff around, and added in more variety to meet their different storage needs. Katy wasn’t making the best use of her upper shelves – when she stored shoes up there, the heels fell through the slots. Bags were hard to organized and flopped over on their sides.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019