The Latest
2019

The Latest: 2019

Welcome to the hub for accessing all our latest posts! Easily sort through content by date to quickly find what you’re looking for — you’ll never miss out on the latest updates here.
Mid-century modern living room with a brown leather sectional, record shelves, piano, and sunburst wall clock.
Here’s One (Nearly) Painless Way to Get Rid of a Big Cluttered Mess
There’s a hard way and an easy way to deal with a big mess of clutter. The hard way is trying to commit to tackling it all at once, mentally planning for a weekend project you know will never come, as you once again sit and dawdle and tell yourself it’ll be easier when the weather’s better, or when things aren’t as crazy in your life. The easy way is to chip away at the mess, little by little until it’s in a good place.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
3 Smart and Simple Methods for Decluttering Your Clothes Closet
I don’t know about you, but what’s inside my wardrobe is nothing like the magical land of Narnia. It’s mostly a mess of clothes that get rarely worn, but saved nonetheless. Because maybe one day I’ll get invited to a gala in the Maldives where that long, lime green bridesmaid dress can finally earn its keep on my hangers. I’m guessing that, while you might not have a floor-length green dress like mine, your closet is full of similar stories.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
20 Things in Your Kitchen You Can Purge Right Now
Kitchen clutter is like a gas: It’ll expand to fit the space allowed. If you have a small kitchen, you probably feel like there’s never enough space for your stuff. Well guess what? Big kitchen people have that same problem, too. No matter how many cabinets you have, or whether your countertop is better measured in inches or acres, your kitchen can probably use a little slimdown. So that’s what we’re going to do today. Do a 20-minute decluttering sweep of your kitchen.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
Here’s a New Way to Think About Your Sentimental Clutter
Emotional attachment to an inanimate object is one hell of a drug. It makes sentimental clutter especially difficult to say goodbye to. And for me, a writer who makes a living helping people with their homekeeping, it’s a very difficult thing to help you with. So I’m not going to tell you to get rid of anything at all. At least not yet. First, let’s open up the closets, drag out the boxes, and let’s find your sentimental stuff. What counts as sentimental stuff?
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
If You Want to Keep Your Home Clutter-Free, You Don’t Need a Junk Drawer
Keeping your home clean around the clock isn’t the work of wizardly magic. It’s just an exercise in focus. You have to commit to give every single thing at home a place where it belongs, even if that place is kind of a zoo. That’s why, if you want to keep your home clutter-free, you don’t need a junk drawer… you need several. Let’s face it, not every object you own is easily categorized.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Bland Bathroom Gets a Simple Modern Makeover for Just $150
The before version of this bathroom was perfectly functional and updated, but bland. It has great storage, but completely lacked in character. This is the first home I have owned (and lived in) in my adult life. Even as a kid, I grew up in rentals. I’ve always harbored dreams (and vision boards) of how I would customize my future home. None of it was too radical, but they were rarely rental-friendly edits.
Nasozi Kakembo
May 3, 2019
How I Sold My Home for Almost Twice the Purchase Price
After years of renting in San Francisco and Oakland, we bought a home in Walnut Creek (a small city in the Bay Area) for $545,000 in 2010—when the market was relatively slow. The house was the smallest model in a 1960s neighborhood at 1,445 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. But it sat on a spacious 9,375-square-foot lot. It was a dream cosmetic fixer. Over seven years, we made it our own.
Adrienne Robillard
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Low Budget Kitchen Remodel Was DIYed from Head to Toe
This kitchen’s new owner described it as “functional, but an eyesore” and was determined to make it as pleasant as possible. Nine months and a ton of DIYing later, this “midway” renovation is complete and this kitchen is a totally new room. Reader Erin Corbett was kind enough to submit this project and share details about the issues and inspiration behind it: My little condo was built in 1984 and not much in the kitchen had been touched since then.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
4 Things I Wish I Knew Before My Apartment Was Robbed
Despite being a writer, I’m not a natural over-sharer. The words flow freely enough when I’m talking about design, but I’m much more guarded in my own life. But I realized that most advice is inherently personal and comes from experience, so once I overcame the icky feeling, I knew it was time to write about being robbed. Becoming a statistic isn’t so bad, I figure, if I can help someone else avoid it.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
Here’s What Frasier’s Apartment Would Look Like in 2018
If you can even believe it, it’s been 25 years since our first taste of tossed salad and scrambled eggs. Frasier debuted on NBC on September 16, 1993, and although we all knew the good Dr. Frasier Crane as a patron where everybody knows your name, we finally got to meet and come to love his Seattle family—we also got our first peek into Frasier’s gorgeous apartment (but seriously, that view).
Maggie Fremont
May 3, 2019
This Harry Potter Classroom Will Make You Feel Like a Student at Hogwarts
In this muggle world, there are Harry Potter fans, and then there are Potterheads. And in the case of third grade teacher Tressa Bargella, her classroom layout makes it very clear where her wizarding loyalty lies. This year, Bargella decided to transform her classroom into Hogwarts 2.0, ultimately making her lucky students wizards-in-training. When approaching the classroom, you feel like you’re walking through Platform 9 3/4 with brick exterior and luggage perched in the corner.
Nicoletta Richardson
May 3, 2019
There’s a Reason Why Tile That Looks Like Wood Is So Popular
Love the crisp, clean look of hardwood floors, but know it’s not practical for your space? Or maybe it’s simply out of budget. You could install it anyway (bad idea), you could have a pity party for yourself (no fun), or you could opt for a newly popular style of tile that’s popping up everywhere: porcelain or ceramic “wood” tiles. Why?
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
We Interviewed the Winner of NBC’s Making It
Years before all of America fell in love with Making It‘s romantic, sensitive, and highly skilled quiet man Khiem Nguyen, the master craftsman who captivated judges and fans alike on Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman’s new TV competition for creatives on NBC, I was lucky enough to get to know Khiem and his now-wife Amanda McKeever as fellow DIYers, dog parents, and Boston to Austin expats.
Melissa Massello
May 3, 2019
7 Cheap, Versatile Harbor Freight Storage Items You’ll Use All the Damn Time
Harbor Freight is a great go-to source for inexpensive tools and project supplies—when you need to get something done, but don’t want to shell out a bunch of cash for pricey materials, especially for quick one-off jobs. A brief stroll through the store (or a glance at the website) reveals something else: it’s also an amazing source for cheap and versatile storage you can use in pretty much every room of your home.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Atlanta Condo Got a Massive $35K Upgrade
This condo had a lot going for it—high ceilings, fireplace, lots of windows, and a spacious feel despite an efficient footprint—but it also bore evidence of its previous life as a generic rental property. Its new owner was determined to give it a bunch of character and a totally personal feel. First, let’s learn a bit about how and why this condo was chosen: When I first bought this condo, It was the cheapest listing in Marietta [Atlanta] that included a fireplace.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
The One Thing You Should Never Leave the House Without
With recent plastic bag bans and eco-conscious movements sweeping the nation, now’s the time to plan ahead so you don’t find yourself in a pinch in the checkout line. Sprinkle your life with reusable bags: Keep one in your car, purse, and office so you never leave the house without one. And while you’re at it, why fill your cabinets, drawers, storage nooks with mediocre bags you only bought last minute out of necessity at the grocery store?
Jessica Isaac
May 3, 2019
5 Assemble-It-Yourself Furniture Brands That Aren’t IKEA
I’m not an IKEA hater, and I’ll never be. There’s a reason they’ve become such a success. Their pieces are functional and affordable, and there’s something to be said for that. IKEA also basically put flat-pack furniture on the map, which is a win for all of us. Other companies have followed suit, and if you’re looking for something that might last a little longer than IKEA’s entry point pieces, you’ve come to the right place.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
This Decade Is Slowly Taking the Design World by Storm
Right now in home design and even fashion, it feels like a total ’70s takeover. Some might argue that the ’90s are going strong, too. But the ’90s were the first real throwback to the ’70s, so there you go. This time period had two pretty distinct things going on—boho hippie vibes and glam, glitzy disco feels, which means you can probably find a way to work something ’70s into your home no matter your aesthetic.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
Inside the Wildly Different Homes in Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick’s New Movie, ‘A Simple Favor’
“I do need just a simple favor,” Blake Lively says to Anna Kendrick in the new movie “A Simple Favor.” Her request is easy enough—to babysit her son for a few hours one afternoon—but then, she suddenly goes missing for days on end. The suburban noir thriller is a gripping cat-and-mouse game of wits between Lively’s Emily, a powerful executive in the fashion world, and Kendrick’s Stephanie, a dismissable homemaker who idolizes her.
Ashley Lee
May 3, 2019
Timeless Furniture You’ll Love for Years to Come
You don’t often hear people complaining about the roll-arm upholstered sofa or white tulip dining table they bought. There are just some pieces that transcend whatever time, space, or style of interior they’re thrown into. Good bones and timeless materials equal design staying power, people! And though quality generally comes at a higher price point, you’d be surprised at the well-priced classics that some of your favorite affordable home furnishing brands offer.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
7 Ways We’re All Burning Candles Wrong
I consider myself something of a candle connoisseur. I’ve smelled a ton over the years and lit plenty, from Diptyque to Yankee and everything in between. Tapers, votives, you name it—there’s some kind of candle in practically every room of my home. But I’ve never given much thought to my burning technique, that is, until a recent trip to Nashville, Tennessee. Turns out the country music capital also knows a thing or two about getting (candles) lit.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Tiny Backyard is Now a Full-Blown Living Room
While it’s always exciting to have any outdoor space at all, the owners of this particular outdoor space found it to be “tiny, messy, and not functional.” After six weeks of work, this backyard is now the dreamy oasis they were hoping for. Let’s hear a bit more about the inspiration behind this makeover, as well as the challenges it posed: Our backyard is small and on a grade, but we knew we could make it nice. [It] was tiny, messy, and not functional at all for us.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
These 16 Homes Embody Modern Golden Girls Style
“Golden Girls” is a quintessential television show that aired during the ’80s but whose design influenced has lasted long into today. While the original sets of the show had definite ’80s vibes, it’s not hard to imagine what their home would look like today, considering the prevalence of boho style, rattan, and palm leaf prints.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
You Can Celebrate the Winter Holidays At Hogwarts This Year
Turns out that Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London’s ‘Hogwarts After Dark’ isn’t the only festivity we get to look forward to this year. From November 17 to January 27, 2019, muggles and wizards alike will get to witness the Studio transform into a winter wonderland for the second year in a row, thanks to ‘Hogwarts in the Snow.
Nicoletta Richardson
May 3, 2019
How to Bring Fashion’s Neon Trend Home
Trends in interior design don’t move quite as quickly as they do in fashion, but the home market still follows the runways to some extent. And if this past New York Fashion Week and the recent award show red carpets are any indicators, neons are about to come back into the collective color story after chalky pastels, moody indigos, and metallics have dominated for so long.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
This Store’s Great for Cozy, Cheap, Minimal Fall Accessories
Now is about the time that fall lovers start bringing out—or going out and buying—cute home accessories to cozy up their spaces in anticipation of autumn. Whether you already have some fun fall-related decor or you’re starting from scratch, don’t spend a ton of money transforming your home for the season.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
These Living Room Buys Look Fancy—But They’re All from Amazon
Recently, we teamed up with Amazon to bring you some first apartment essentials. When you have to start from almost nothing, it’s hard not to look towards budget. But rather than going generic, we found useful, design-forward buys that are also budget-conscious. Of course, you don’t need to be moving, or even in your first apartment, to want some of these affordable buys. Here are some of our favorites perfect for your living room, or anywhere you might want to hang out.
Marshall Bright
May 3, 2019
Before and After: See a Bedroom Clutter Zone Become a Functional Home Office
The window in this bedroom is absolutely dreamy, but the space below it was a bit of a waste—until inspiration struck, and one room became two. Here’s the scoop on the under-window situation: Before we had two slightly tatty built-in cabinets either side of a Velux window. They didn’t look great, and the space in the middle was wasted. It became a catch-all for junk. Because the home is rented, though, we couldn’t make any permanent changes.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Before and After: The Owners of This Kitchen Chose Storage Over Sunlight
The owners of this home have lived with—and loved—this kitchen for years, and considered just doing a few minor upgrades, but when they realized that this might be their forever home, they decided to make some major changes so that they’d love this room even more—for many years to come… This is such a subtle, beautiful upgrade by 17 Apart!
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
These IKEA Hacks Solve One of This Season’s Biggest Problems
It’s that time of year, when days get shorter and shorter, and sunlight noticeably diminishes. Soon, many of us will be trudging to and from school and work in near darkness, and—I’ll venture a guess here—we will not be happy about it. Once we’re home, we’ll also have to turn our indoor lamps and overheads on sooner in the evening. These IKEA hacks help us do it in style, and on the cheap.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
10 Design Experts Share Their Favorite Blue Paints
Remember our epic guide to white paint? We figured it was time to ask designers about their blue crushes as well—you know, those just right shades of cornflower, ocean, cerulean, navy, and everything in between. Blue typically isn’t a polarizing color. Most people gravitate towards the spa-like, tranquil quality of its lighter shades, while others love the darker side—the energy of aqua, the intensity of midnight. Sure, you could go about picking a blue paint color alone.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
What Everybody Forgets About Elegant Pedestal Sinks
See a bathroom pedestal sink and you can’t help but think things like sleek, streamlined, graceful. And they are undeniably handy in tight quarters when there’s no room for a full-fledged vanity, and they do tend to be much less expensive than a sink and vanity. Also? There’s just something romantic about them.
Dana McMahan
May 3, 2019
Target’s ‘Harry Potter’ Sorting Hat Will Determine Your Wizarding Fate
We’ve found the luggage to bring to Platform 9 3/4, the home decor that will make your corridor feel cozy, and even the books to read in-between classes. But one thing we’ve yet to cover is how you can determine what House you’re truly meant to be in—until now, that is. Target has introduced the Real Talking Sorting Hats for their wizarding shoppers to invest in.
Nicoletta Richardson
May 3, 2019
21 Ways to Declutter Your Brain with Just Pen and Paper
One of the biggest reasons writing is so powerful is that it removes the swirling thoughts from our heads and puts them into a space where they’re far from lost. From the insights and resolutions that come from journaling to the highly practical peace of mind that comes from jotting down that new appointment on our calendars so we don’t have to not forget it, once pen is put to paper, something magical happens.
Shifrah Combiths
May 3, 2019
Author Kelsey Miller On Her Home Office Splurge and What She Learned While Writing a Book about ‘Friends’
Kelsey Miller never expected to have room for a home office in New York City—at least until she was “rich and famous.” However, she and her husband lucked out on the apartment front, and now she has a small writer’s retreat all to herself. The author of the forthcoming book “I’ll Be There For You” takes us on a mini tour of her workspace, and shares what it’s really like writing a book about everyone’s favorite TV show, “Friends.
Tara Bellucci
May 3, 2019
How Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent Spend the Perfect Night In
Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. Designers Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent are the epitome of a power couple. They rescue homeowners in desperate need of renovations through their TV show “Nate & Jeremiah By Design,” they started an exclusive furniture line with Living Spaces, and they are fathers to two kids, Poppy and Oskar.
Nicoletta Richardson
May 3, 2019
The 7 Healthy Secrets of People Who Drink Plenty of Water
I will be the first to admit that I do not drink enough water during the work day. It’s not for lack of good intention: I start the day strong, but by mid-morning I slowly start falling off track. I’m certain that the culprits (okay, excuses) are the same ones that plague you (i.e., not getting up from my desk enough to refill my glass, forgetting to keep a glass on my desk, or when I do, simply forgetting about it). No more excuses!
Kelli Foster
May 3, 2019
The Source for Cheap Tile Everybody Should Know About
If you’ve ever looked into tile prices, you probably know that materials can destroy your renovation budget in no time. My jaw hit the floor when I saw the prices on some of the beautiful tiles popping up in Pinterest. Honestly, who is out there paying 50, 75, or 100 bucks and up, per square foot? (And when the manufacturer website doesn’t even tell you the price, you know the old saying is true—if you have to ask, well, you can’t afford it.
Dana McMahan
May 3, 2019
7 Ways to Read Free Books Online (Without Leaving Your Couch)
Bookworms rejoice: There are tons of ways to read your favorite books online for free. From old-school classics to brand-new bestsellers, the web is brimming with books you can binge read from your smart device free-of-charge. We’ve rounded up some of the best places you can find books online for free. From Amazon to the Library of Congress, check out these seven awesome websites where you can read books for nothing—from the privacy of your own sofa.
Caroline Biggs
May 3, 2019
IKEA’s New Quiz Will Help You Love Your Space More
We all know that it takes work (a LOT of work) to create a space that we can truly call “home.” It’s not only about the physical appearance, but the emotional response that occurs within the four walls. It’s the place that we retreat to after a long day, where we can truly be ourselves without an ounce of effort. And in order to gain such a great sense of home, we must first discover what that feeling of home is—a task that is not easy to achieve.
Nicoletta Richardson
May 3, 2019
If Your Place Doesn’t Feel Like Home, You’re Not Alone, IKEA Says
It turns out that “Home Sweet Home” goes far beyond just where you live. IKEA just released their Life at Home Report 2018 and the findings show that the traditional concept of “home” has evolved significantly in recent years. The annual report nailed down five core emotional needs that embrace the feeling of home: privacy, comfort, ownership, security, and belonging.
Megan Johnson
May 3, 2019
Designers Reveal the Best Colors to Paint Your Front Door
When guests walk up to your home, the first thing they see is ususally your front door. If it’s chipped and peeling or dull and drab, trust us: Your guests (or potential buyers) are going to notice. The front door is your opportunity to make a great first impression, so it’s important not to treat it as an afterthought, or worse, forget it altogether.
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Cabin Remodel Is a Cautionary Tale
This cottage had so much going for it—charm, manageable size, outdoor amenities galore—but needed quite a bit of work. The entire retreat has been renovated, but the treatment given to the formerly nondescript floors deserves special attention, and might be the owner’s one regret. Let’s learn a bit more about the challenges—and advantages—this cabin presented: I found this little cottage/cabin in Kerhonkson at the end of 2017.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
What Finally Unpacking Her Apartment Means for Issa’s Character on Insecure
Warning: Spoilers ahead for season three of “Insecure.” In the finale of what Issa Rae calls a “starting over again” season of “Insecure,” our main character, Issa Dee, takes a look around her new-ish apartment on the night of her 30th birthday, unpacks those boxes sitting in the corner and finally starts to decorate her new space. Why now? Issa is finally starting to have clarity in a way that we haven’t seen before. Picture Issa Dee, season one.
India Hill
May 3, 2019
Here’s How Catherine Zeta-Jones Spends the Perfect Night In
Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. Catherine Zeta-Jones has left little to no stone unturned in the acting world—from portraying Velma Kelly in the screen production of “Chicago” to starring in the critically acclaimed Broadway show “A Little Night Music.
Nicoletta Richardson
May 3, 2019
Before and After: This Rental Galley Kitchen Gets a Total Transformation for Just $400
This yellow and brown cooking area felt outdated and not aesthetically pleasing to tenant Gabrielle Delaney and her boyfriend Dan Scura, who share a one-bedroom apartment in New York. Although they are renters and therefore limited with what changes they can make, this didn’t stop Delaney from transforming the kitchen that made her “unhappy.
Nicoletta Richardson
May 3, 2019
Netflix’s Halloween Calendar Delivers a Different Scary Movie Every Day
Netflix knows that their users want to be scared throughout October—in fact, there’s a nearly 50 percent increase in horror viewing during the month. To help meet this need, they’ve made a terrifying calendar of nightmarish movies to get you through to Halloween. The calendar highlights new and classic titles coming to the streaming platform, including old favorites like The Shining, The Sixth Sense, The Conjuring, and more.
Meryl Williams
May 3, 2019
This ‘Harry Potter’ Sorting Hat Candle Will Reveal Your Hogwarts House
As the weather cools down, more candles start to light up. There’s nothing quite like your favorite candle flickering on an evening when all you want to do is crawl under your favorite blanket and cozy up to your TV for the evening. For those binge-watching Harry Potter movies any night that you get to do so, do we have the candle to lift your spirits as if Wingardium Leviosa was casted upon you.
Nicoletta Richardson
May 3, 2019