You have to consider organization, tools, storage and work surfaces when designing your art studio, creative home office, or craft corner. But beyond just the practical are ineffable qualities that make rooms conducive for creativity. In this post: Gorgeous spaces with great ideas for sparking creativity and creating a space that functions for your craft. Fresh white walls, a big work surface in the center of the room and everything in its place (and place for everything).

Name: Elizabeth Location: Brooklyn Heights — Brooklyn, New York I recently moved into this charming (very tiny) two-bedroom apartment in a beautiful pre-war building. This being the largest place I’ve lived in on my own, I was excited by the opportunity to apply all of my favorite decorating styles in one space. From dark, moody walls to cheeky wallpaper, the space reflects my belief that homes can be fun yet sophisticated at the same time.

Tired of staring at your beige or blank walls? Paint would be an improvement, but wallpaper could be just the thing your room needs to take it to the next level. Still on the fence about wallpaper though? I “erased” the wallpaper from these three rooms so you could see the dramatic difference that happens in a space when you add patterned wallpaper (even on just one accent wall!).

Name: Annie Lee Location: West Village, New York City Everyone knows that studio apartment living can be tough. But wedding planner Annie Lee worked magic in her small space, creating distinct areas for different living needs. Filled with sumptuous materials and flirty florals, this small space oozes sophistication. (And has spectacular views!) I’m a wedding planner in NYC, my company is Daughter of Design (because I’m a daughter of an interior designer!

It’s halfway through 2016 and I’ve already spotted stand-out design trends in beautiful homes. But I’m not just referring to common colors, patterns and materials. This year, I’m spotting elements that infuse playfulness into interiors. Add some playfulness into your rooms today with these fresh and fun decor trends. Neon isn’t a new idea for interiors, but the ways that I’ve been spotting them in interiors recently is fresh.

Boisterous plant prints debuted decades ago, but these lively leaves have endured. They’ve become a classic way to add eye-catching glamour. Easier to care for than an actual plant, these bold prints add a vibrant, verdant feel to a space. Check out these eight rooms that got playful with plant prints in their design. (Pictured above:) A kitchen accent wall and ceiling use a palm print wall paper from Carleton Varney in Kristen’s Palm Beach-Inspired Home In Burbank.

A warm-toned rooftop in Mexico City filled with cacti. A tucked away French Quarter courtyard escape. Expansive and cozy alfresco spots bursting with lush plant life. These are 13 of the dreamiest outdoor spaces I’ve seen recently. And if I could, I’d park myself in any one of these locales with a book, a cold drink and the intention of not moving all day. Layers of plants and a view to die for spotted in this Bohemian Hotel in the Heart of Mexico City.

What is it about Paris homes that feel so chic and elegant? This apartment in a classic Haussmannian building in Paris is both those things. But it’s also a beautiful example of mixing traditional architectural elements with modern designs. Anna Piwonska of Atelier Anna Piwonska designed the remodel of this 1,150 square foot home. Tall ceilings, natural light and charming architectural features make this apartment a classic space, but Anna faced design challenges.

Name: Theresa Delaney and her boyfriend James Location: Tucson, Arizona My boyfriend and I live just north of central Tucson. We love being a quick ten-minute drive from downtown or the University of Arizona, and minutes from our favorite spots in the foothills. The large yard, quiet neighborhood and desert scenery don’t hurt, either! We share our home with two rowdy, furniture-loving dogs: the ultimate design challenge, especially for someone that loves bright, neutral interiors!

Name: Ashley Flotte Location: Plano, Texas I live with my college-sweetheart husband and our two sassy babies (ages three and one) in our two-story Plano, Texas home, built in 1992 in a traditional style with red brick, black shutters, and a charming front porch packed with rocking chairs. Our first viewing of it when we were house-hunting three years ago was at dusk, complete with glowy romantic light streaming through all the windows.

Name: Emily Location: Kansas City, Missouri Size: Living room/kitchen, 975 square feet I am sharing the living room and kitchen space of my loft apartment. I am 27 and moved into my one-bedroom apartment one year ago. The building was previously an industrial space and was converted into loft apartments within the last 15-20 years during the revival of Kansas City’s downtown Arts neighborhood, known as the Crossroads District.

Name: Cristina and Lucia Location: Brooklyn, NYC My name is Cristina, and I am 26 year old Spanish girl living in a beautiful loft in Brooklyn, New York. I am a follower of Apartment Therapy (we follow soooo many of your advice and tips!!). I share this huge loft with my sister Lucia, an amazing interior designer. Our loft is one of the apartments of the Mckibbin Lofts in Bushwick, very famous for their stories and big roof parties.

Name: Vincenzo & Alexandra Location: Park Slope South, Brooklyn, New York We bought this top floor apartment six years ago. It was the first we saw and we stopped searching; we fell in love with it right away. We had found what we were dreaming of: light, quiet, new construction, big rooms, and an amazing outdoor space. A place where we could raise a family, have breakfast and supper al fresco, throw sunset cocktail parties and grow plants, trees and an herb garden.

Name: Taylor and Steph Location: Santa Cruz Mountains, California Size: 560 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, owned Some people dream of living off the land, going off grid, building a home by hand — getting closer to nature and being more sustainable. Taylor and Steph (Find them on Instagram: @nomadic.roots) have done just that.

Is it just me, or has there been extra awesomeness in our recent house tours coming from Australia? Their success is no doubt due in part to our talented photographers capturing these spaces, but these homes seem to have an effortless, breezy sense of fun in them which makes them memorable. Lots of colors, fun patterns, interesting shapes and more aren’t restricted to just kids rooms.

Unless you designed and built your entire home yourself, chances are that no matter how much you love where you live, there’s something about the space you wish you could change (but, due to lots of reasons you might not be able to). I’ve written before about how to deal with home things you hate, but this might be the easiest advice to take yet.

Small rooms can feel stifling. But you don’t have to knock a wall down to make a room feel and look larger than it actually is. There are design choices—both subtle and bold—that can actually make a room feel or look bigger than it is. Today’s Frequently Asked Home question: Is there anything I can do to make this small room look or feel bigger? Pick light wall colors that will expand the space.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the tornado of craft supplies that has taken over a room (or perhaps your whole home), you might need to employ smarter storage tools to keep your supplies in check. This craft room features several clever ideas that could be used in your home—no matter if you have an entire room or just a small area.

Light fixtures are great in the home for illuminating things, of course, but they can also be used successfully to inject drama and boldness in a room, too. Consider these novel ways to use lighting in your home to make a bold design statement. You can use lighting in your home to illuminate areas that you need to see better and to highlight interesting design elements. Nothing quite catches the eye in a space like something that’s lit up.

Sometimes there’s just something in your home that you just can’t change, but also can’t stand the sight of. These fresh ideas could help you hide, disguise or beautify an element in your home you wish you couldn’t see. While the long and narrow piece of storage furniture below the window in this small condo might look like a fancy credenza or storage shelf, it actually has two purposes. It’s a custom-made storage piece that also hides an unsightly radiator!

Total minimalism can be hard to achieve for many of us who have a love of art, accessories, furniture and stuff. But often, many of us crave the peacefulness that homes described as “minimal” can offer. I think there’s a type of room design that still exudes calm while celebrating some stuff. I call it: “minimal plus.

In a small home, every inch counts. If you’re looking for ways to find more space in your home, peruse this list of furniture switcheroo suggestions. They are smart and suitable substitutes for bulkier furniture, and making these switches could give you more space. A small wooden shelf, a repurposed desk drawer or a cube shelf (like above) can drastically reduce the space a nightstand might take up without eliminating a handy bedside surface.

No time or extra funds to spend on decorating your plain bathroom? You are not stuck with a sad space. You can shop the rest of your space to decorate a boring bathroom—create a more cheery room without leaving the house or spending any money. Peruse this “shopping list” of items you may already have at home to transform any bathroom into a brighter, bolder space.

Allen Loeb is a lawyer. Nate Clark is a comedian and actor. And according to the couple (who share a house in West Hollywood) though they don’t bicker about much, they each have entirely different tastes when it comes to designing a home. While some might crumble under the pressure of trying to design with different tastes, these two have created a lovely home together that fits both of their personalities.

Project by: Alexa Stevenson of Alexa Stevenson Interior Decoration Location: New York City, New York Small spaces sometimes need extra creative and smart space saving ideas. This colorful and small one-bedroom apartment in NYC’s West Village combines a few smart ideas with really bold decor choices for a smart and stylish space.