Cozy bedroom with a white bed, wooden dresser, wall art of a bridge, and a small coffee table with magazines.
A Cozy 500-Square-Foot Home Is Used Efficiently
Name: Amanda and her boyfriend Location: Pacific Heights — San Francisco, California Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years, owned I’m Amanda, an aspiring graphic designer currently attending UC Berkeley Extension’s Professional Program in Graphic Design. I live in Pacific Heights with my boyfriend, John, who works in finance.
Mar 19, 2019
Why We’re Launching a Series Called ‘The New Homesmiths’
It’s our mission to help people feel their most at home—whatever home might look like. The beating heart of that work is visiting real homes every single day across the country (and the world) for moments of inspiration, teaching, and sometimes just pure awe. Every time I edit or read an Apartment Therapy house tour, I’m amazed by the creativity of our community, and how they manage to transform just about any space into one that feels uniquely home.
Mar 19, 2019
Is This Ultra-Affordable 3D-Printed Tiny House the Home of the Future?
In a quiet East Austin neighborhood, newly-constructed homes sit side-by-side with the time-weathered structures in need of a fresh coat of paint, homes where overgrown grass reaches out to touch the cracked sidewalks. But, along with the apparent signs of gentrification, there is also something quite unexpected hiding behind a fenced-in backyard: the first permitted 3D-printed house in the world.
Mar 19, 2019
Before and After: The Best Part of This Stunning Living Room Redo Is a $5 DIY
Vancouver-based Kristina Steinmetz knows her way around a good DIY. Her site, Ich Designer, is filled with clever and sophisticated home projects and IKEA hacks that have surprisingly humble origins and price tags. We recently featured her re-done mudroom, and her latest living room makeover might be even better. Here’s a wider shot, so you can get more of a sense of the whole room. It was in good shape but definitely needed an update.
Mar 19, 2019
The Perfect Morning Habit for Your Enneagram Type
A healthy morning routine can truly set the tone for an amazing life. Starting each morning with intention and thoughtfulness can transform your relationship to the rest of your day. Morning routines have been linked to heightened productivity, lowered stress levels, and more effective time management. Sounds great right?
Mar 18, 2019
Goop Just Launched Its First Wallpaper Collab and We’re In Love
Wallpaper has been in and out of style over the last few decades. People might think that wallpaper could never be “in” again but it is making a comeback. Goop has decided to put their hat in the ring for their first-ever wallpaper collaboration. Goop has teamed up with DIY textile brand Tempaper to release a non-toxic, floral wallpaper.
Mar 17, 2019
6 Ways Introverts Want to Be Celebrated This National Introverts Week
Here are some ways to honor the powerful silent types in your life this week—especially if that person is you.
Mar 17, 2019
Why My Husband Turned Down a Great Coastal Job to Stay in Our ‘Flyover’ City
A few years ago my husband was abruptly laid off. As a freelance writer, I can live anywhere, so when he wasn’t having any initial luck, he expanded his job search from our hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, to the whole country. And some interesting opportunities came up, including one in the Pacific Northwest. We talked about it pretty seriously–how cool would it be to fly off to Bangkok in 16 hours, instead of the literal days it takes to get there from Kentucky?
Mar 17, 2019
5 Kitchen-Organizing Ideas to Steal from Savvy Dollar Store Shoppers
It's easy to think you need to spend a lot of money to get a well-organized pantry—but you'd be wrong.
Mar 17, 2019
A Large Colorado Cabin Cultivates Cozy with Dark Paint Colors
Name: Katie Colleran Location: West Dover, Vermont Size: 3,000 square feet Years lived in: 4 months, owned My husband Tom and I had been toying with the idea of making over a rental house for a while when we stumbled on this 1965 cabin at the foot of Mount Snow in West Dover, Vermont. The house had been sitting vacant for several years when we bought it, and it was full of all kinds of not-so-delightful little treats: two pairs of men’s boxers from the early aughts!
Mar 17, 2019
There’s One Kind of “Clutter” It’s Okay to Keep
There are so many kinds of clutter: excess items you think you might need someday, clutter you’re so used to having around that you don’t even notice it anymore, piles of paper you have to go through, and things you feel guilty getting rid of because someone gave them to you or you spent good money on them. But there’s one kind of clutter you should never feel bad hanging on to.
Mar 17, 2019
My Husband Was a Live-In Super. It Opened Our Eyes to a Whole New Side of Renting
When my partner, Devin, got hired on as the on-site manager at our 33-unit apartment building in Seattle, he received a quick demo of the clunky, crash-prone software used to track rent payments, a key to the maintenance closet, a pamphlet from the 1960s explaining how to program the building’s callbox, and a pat on the back from ownership.
Mar 16, 2019
Here’s the Real Difference Between an IRA, 401(k), Roth IRA, and a Roth 401(k)
You’re set to start saving for your future. You already put money aside for retirement every month, but you’re probably already wondering how you should invest it. Which type of retirement savings account is best for you? Should you start a 401(k), an IRA, a Roth 401(k), or a Roth IRA? What even are the differences? What about if your first home is your savings priority right now?
Mar 16, 2019
Before and After: A Random Catchall Room Gets a Storage-Packed IKEA Upgrade
When Kristina moved into her new home, the lackluster office was of little use to the owners—besides being a place to toss mail, or hang art that didn’t fit with the rest of the home. Kristina decided that, if she was going to use a room as a dumping ground, it was going to look as fabulous as the rest of her home. Instead of a hodgepodge of furniture and decor, it’s now a highly functional mudroom, ready to organize all Kristina’s incoming and outgoing things.
Mar 16, 2019
Why Brass Trunks Are My Favorite Way to Tie a Room Together
Growing up, we had a few trunks in my house from my mom’s and grandma’s childhood days. They were worn-looking and covered in stickers from summer camp and travels, but they didn’t exactly catch my eye. As I grew older and started decorating my own apartment, I began to spot brass trunks all over Pinterest and fell for them, hard. Unlike the black, weathered trunks we’d had in our basement, these were shiny, glam-looking, and much more my style.
Mar 15, 2019
Shop the Best Looks from Interior Define’s Instagram with This Exclusive Discount for AT Readers
Springtime is the season to make big home changes and invest in larger furniture items—it’s that “out with the old, in with the new” vibe in the air. You don’t need a lot to refresh your space in small, subtle ways, but if you’re ready to commit to a piece of quality furniture, allow us to direct you to Interior Define.
Mar 15, 2019
What the Most Successful Airbnb and VRBO Hosts Know About Staging Their Home
So you’ve decided to rent out your pad to earn some extra cash. Depending on where you live, you can stand to make a hefty profit by making your home available for rental through services like Airbnb and VRBO. Before you dive in, though, it’s crucial that you come prepared. There’s more to being a successful host on these popular vacation rental sites than meets the eye, and if you want your property to stand out, presentation is key.
Mar 15, 2019
A U.K. Home Brilliantly Blends Leopard Print, Kitsch, Color, and Humor
Warning/workspace/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/atmedia-cloudinary-image-block/atmedia-cloudinary-image-block.php82 Name: Siouxsie Crow, husband, and two kids Location: Sussex, United Kingdom Size: 840 square feet Years lived in: 15 months, owned We bought our house in August 2017; it’s number 37 and I was 37 when we moved. It’s our first home, as previously we’ve rented. I live here with my husband Sholto, who is an art director and all-around creative.
Mar 15, 2019
Wallpaper Was the Answer to Maxwell’s Makeover of Two Guest Rooms
I’ve covered kitchen/dining room as well as the entrance/living room, so now we’re going to stroll down the hall on the main floor and visit the two guest rooms down at the other end. There is also a bathroom in between. These rooms sit exactly in the same position as the old house, because I loved the layout. They are easy to get to, but private with their doors at the far end of the hall.
Mar 14, 2019
Makers Spotlight: The Crafter’s Box
I can’t remember how I first heard about Morgan Spenla and the company she’d started just a few years ago, The Crafter’s Box, but something made me stop, check out the site and call her up to find out what she was doing. What she was doing was building a company in her hometown of San Diego around a personal passion and a professional belief that crafting is a true antidote for our web addled world.
Mar 14, 2019
These Modern Tiny Houses Offer a ‘Pay As You Live’ Option for Urban Nomads
Thanks to the evolution of residential spaces, the term “house-hopping” has gained an alternate meaning. Case in point: Berlin startup Cabin Spacey’s prefab tiny houses. Singularly known as the Minimal House, the conservatively-sized structures are designed to accommodate so-called “urban nomads” who are in search of instant housing.
Mar 14, 2019
This Was the Most Popular Paint Color the Decade You Were Born
Walk into any recently renovated home today and chances are you’ll see a lot of greige—a neutral color that’s the perfect combination of gray and beige. There’s no denying it’s the paint color du jour. It’s funny how, oftentimes, you can instantly pinpoint how modern (or not) a room is just by looking at the color of the walls. Some day our children might look back and wonder why we all plastered our walls in such a boring color!
Mar 14, 2019
How to Improve Your Credit When You Have None
Establishing credit poses a tricky Catch-22: You need credit to get credit. This can prove to be quite a conundrum if you’re trying to rent an apartment, buy a home, or, heck, simply need car insurance but don’t qualify because of a thin credit file.
Mar 14, 2019
The Best Online Mortgage Payment Calculators, According to Experts
Whether you’re a serious buyer or daydreaming to pass the time at work, a common part of buying a home is trying to predict your monthly mortgage payments. Is it going to end up being cheaper than your rent? Are you going to need to downsize a bit? You probably want a ballpark number before you call your mortgage lender and hire a real estate agent, so you plug the numbers into an online mortgage payment calculator.
Mar 14, 2019
Before & After: This $400 Bathroom Redo Has a Genius Way to Cover Textured Walls
Before Ashley put her guest house up on Airbnb, she wanted to give the bathroom a fun update. It was simple and sparse in comparison to the rest of the home, so, even though she was working on a tight budget, she was determined to use her DIY tricks and unique style to make it an exciting space for guests. Ashley carved as much time out of her schedule as she could—during nap times, evenings, and weekends—to work on the bathroom.
Mar 14, 2019
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Spring Refresh: 3 Simple Garden Projects That Work in Small Spaces
Despite any residual chill, it is finally spring! Which means that now is the time to prep your garden. In warmer climates, you can start planting right away. In colder zones, start your plants indoors and transplant them outside when the weather warms up. And regardless of where you live, this is a great weekend to get started on some easy DIYs to pot your plants.
Mar 14, 2019
A Small Boston Studio Apartment Has One of the Best DIY Bedroom Lofts Ever
Name: Graham Gardner, partner Sarah, and dog Murphy Location: Jamaica Plain — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 500 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting We are Graham and Sarah—both nearly 30, nearly married, and together for nearly eight years. So far, so good. Sarah is the smart one—thoughtful, sometimes shy, always empathetic, and caring.
Mar 14, 2019
It’s Not All Retirees and Disney: 5 Reasons Why I Keep Moving Back to the Southeast U.S.
There is no shortage of things to see and do in the nine states that make up the Southeast (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia). I’ve loved living here for most of my life, and even decided to move back after a grand three-year adventure living in Alaska.
Mar 13, 2019
25 Easy Tips, Strategies, and Ideas for Small Space Living
As we close out our Small Spaces & Simple Living month here on Re-Nest, we’re rounding up a list of tips and ideas provided by YOU via this post. Everyone has a bit of a different take on coping with small spaces: it’s all about purging your stuff. No, it’s all about organizing your stuff. Wait, it’s all about storing your stuff!
Mar 13, 2019
Hot Tip: How To Keep Your Paint Rollers and Brushes Fresh
My fiance and I have spent our last two weekends priming ceilings. It’s hard work, but rewarding. Every night after a few hours’ work, we fastidiously clean out the rollers and brushes, using more water than we’d like—and they’re never up to par the next day. This was our practice until a friend stopped by today and let us in on a painter’s secret.To make the rollers and brushes last much, much longer (and save gallons of water in the meantime!
Mar 13, 2019
This $2.95M Home Used to Be a Library and, Wow, I’ve Never Wanted Anything More
A day ago, if you would have asked me about my dream home, I would have said something very vague and mentioned the words “glass,” “mid-century modern,” and maybe even, “Actually, don’t tell anyone but I kind of loved the house Eleanor lived in on ‘The Good Place?'” But that has all changed now that I have become aware of this house in Rockport, Massachusetts, that is now on the market for $2,950,000.
Mar 13, 2019
Before & After: A Mini $250 Makeover for That Awkward Space Under the Stairs
The little nook at the bottom of these stairs wasn’t really serving a purpose. The steamer trunk is undeniably cool, but it couldn’t do the heavy lifting of filling out the otherwise blank question mark of a space. Suzanne was transitioning into her new life as founder of a design company and really needed a place to work until she could move into an office. She thought about using the basement, but it was dark and sparse.
Mar 13, 2019
6 Stylish Accent Tables You Can Get on Amazon for Less Than $50
Accent tables can do a lot to make a room feel finished, but for such a small piece of your room, they can end up being surprisingly expensive. Fortunately, one of our favorite online retailers, Amazon, offers an impressive assortment of accent tables that are both super stylish and inexpensive. From a pair of nesting end tables to a two-tiered coffee table, here are some of the best accent tables under $50 on Amazon. The only thing better than a sleek and space-savvy end table is two of them.
Mar 13, 2019
Elbow Grease Made This Small 400-Square-Foot Studio Extremely Livable
Name: Jenii Stewart and two cats, Robin Hood and Will Scarlet Location: Uptown — Chicago, Illinois Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, renting I’m a graphic designer and animator and love plants (I’m slowly growing a green thumb), bugs, and my two cats, Robin Hood and Will Scarlet. They both have an excess of personality and it keeps things interesting. Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Mid-century bohemian nerd chic.
Mar 13, 2019
This Instagram Account Wants to Add ‘Cleaning Brand Designer’ to Your Resume
NBD wants to be the next big cleaning brand. But right now, NBD is literally no big deal—because it doesn’t exist yet. If you search this startup cleaning brand’s name, the first page is all unrelated results like one from Urban Dictionary that defines the internet acronym NBD as “no big deal.
Mar 13, 2019
Basic Guide to DIY Basket Making
I come across so many beautiful baskets in stores that I forget these items are often handmade. With a little bit of practice and patience, it’s not so hard… as long as you start small. After all, they don’t joke about bird courses as ‘basket weaving’ courses for nothing! I recommend preparing your materials (find local materials, then dry and soak them), then weaving them into small shapes or flat mats.
Mar 12, 2019
How To Convert the Dining Table Into a Desk Workspace
After careful deliberation, my girlfriend recently decided to say farewell to hour long bus commutes to pursue some promising freelance opportunities and work from home. The bad news? We only have one home office space between us in our modest sized one bedroom apartment (and in reality it’s only the smallest of converted closet spaces).When space is at a premium, dining tables can easily become serviceable desks. The challenge is keeping it organized for dual duty.
Mar 12, 2019
Tips for Keeping a Clutter-Free Kitchen
With the rise in open space floorplans, having a neat and tidy kitchen has become increasingly important. If not kept in check, kitchen clutter can soon take over the entire space. And a cluttered kitchen is a sure fire path to frequent take-out ordering. Here are tips for keeping your kitchen clutter-free and ready for meal prep.• Keep the countertops clear – Coffee maker, toaster, mixer, blender … so many little appliances, so little space.
Mar 12, 2019
Before &amp After: Painted Ceiling Transformation
Yuko’s new workspace in Japan was cluttered and disorganized when she moved in. Her unpacked items desperately needed a place to go. Lucky for Yuko, a little paint and a lot of organization really transformed this space!We first saw this space a few weeks ago in Inspiring Studios & Workspaces. Apartment Therapy readers responded so well to Yuko’s space that I decided to do some investigating. Yuko was kind enough to provide us with a “before” image of this space.
Mar 12, 2019
The 6 Amazon Small Space Buys That Make My Apartment Livable (and Lovable)
Because offering advice on small space living is kind of our thing.
Mar 12, 2019
What to Do With an Inherited Collection
There are many ways to inherit collections. Sometimes loved ones pass and leave behind keepsakes or parents downsize during a move. Collections can be highly personal and carry a sentimental value that outweighs any monetary value. There is no proper way to handle inherited collectibles. Each situation will vary, but often the most difficult decision is the most basic one: do you keep it?
Mar 12, 2019
One Minute Tip: Three Ways to Use Vertical Space
Today’s One Minute Tip comes from Fay Wolf, with three simple ways to rethink vertical space. • The Star: Fay Wolf is a singer-songwriter, actor and professional organizer. She’s acted on shows like 2 Broke Girls and Bones, and her songs have been heard on shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Pretty Little Liars. Fay’s Los Angeles-based company New Order has been organizing lives since 2006, helping creative people deal with both inner and outer clutter.
Mar 12, 2019
Here’s Who Will Pick Up All That Furniture You Konmari-d (For Free!)
Moving can be a giant pain in the butt. Yet, while you’re packing up your entire existence, it’s a great opportunity to assess which of your possessions you no longer need or want (and perhaps those that don’t spark joy?) including furniture. While it’s tempting to kick old furniture to the curb and let the garbage man take care of it, it’s much more sustainable and useful to donate such items to a charity, such as Goodwill or The Salvation Army. The best part?
Mar 12, 2019
Line Art Is the Trend Minimalists (and Wannabe Minimalists) Need to Know
It's taking over home design, one line at a time.
Mar 12, 2019
The Laziest Way to Dust Around Your Decor (Without Moving All Your Knick-Knacks)
Some people enjoy cleaning, and for various reasons. It could be the feeling of accomplishment or being able to exert a small but tangible amount of control over their environment. Or it might be something as simple as catching a thrill from vacuum lines in the carpet. I’ve never heard of anyone who likes dusting, though. Dusting, of course, is essential to any well-thought-out cleaning regimen. And when left undone, it’s not only unsightly, but can lead to allergy attacks.
Mar 12, 2019
Should You Just Buy Now or Save Up More for a Down Payment? Here’s How to Decide
You see homeownership in your future. But, after looking into your crystal ball—err, savings account—are you envisioning yourself at the closing table in the next month? Year? Five years? TBD depending on if you win the lotto? Fewer than four out of 10 millennials own homes, according to research from the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based social and economic policy group.
Mar 12, 2019
A Cabin in the Forest Has Colorful Wallpaper, Patterned Tiles, and All My Envy
Name: Ayanna Barton, family, and short term rental clients Location: Kerhonkson, New York (Hudson Valley) Size: 820 square feet Years lived in: 8 months, owned Our vacation cabin is located in Kerhonkson, a hamlet in the Catskills only two hours from New York City. Initially, I hesitated for a long time to purchase the little cottage. I had recently purchased another home and did not have any plans of buying another property so soon.
Mar 12, 2019
Before and After: After a Minimalism-Inspired Makeover, a Dark, Dated Living Room Is Light and Bright
This north-facing, low-floor unit lacked natural light, but Paige replaced blinds, ripped out a built-in bookshelf, and painted the walls a bright, fresh white.
Mar 12, 2019