Arlyn Hernandez

There are a handful of things for your home you should not skimp on if you can help it. For furnishings you put through the wringer on a daily basis (like your sofa, dresser or mattress), buy the best quality you can afford. But for smaller accents (which are great for changing up the look of your home when you’re in need of a refresh) I personally think it’s okay to skimp.

Just as fashion accessories can completely overhaul a LBD into a spectacular outfit, so can decor accessories take a simple room and transform it into something truly special. And no accent is more renewing for your sofa or bed than the humble throw pillow. Sure, there are very pricey options on the market that are hand-embroidered or made of Belgian linens and luxury silks, but if you’re after a wallet-friendly peppering of flair that you can rotate seasonally (or leave up all year round!

Tiny homes and tiny apartments are chock full of amazing ideas for living simply and stylishly no matter how much space you’ve got to work with, after all, you gotta get creative when your square footage clocks in around 300. We rounded up all the best petite powerhouses we featured this year, so go ahead and borrow inspiration from these hyper-efficient spaces.

Trick-or-greet!

A rug has the power to completely transform a room. Here's where to buy them!

They might become your new favorites, too.

Updating the hardware on your kitchen and bathroom cabinetry as well as your casegoods is the easiest, fastest way to bring a wow factor to your home (whether you’re a renter or owner), and one category of hardware has our attention as of late: Leather pulls. They feel super high-end yet casual at the same time and are a detail that will usually make you do a double-take (like in Scott and Kristan’s relaxed kitchen).

Because who doesn't love a multi-functional piece of furniture?

If there was a high school for lighting, rattan pendants would probably be voted most popular in senior superlatives.

No satin sheets in sight!

To some, ​area rugs over wall-to-wall carpeting is taboo. To others, it’s a means to an end. If the latter is you, here's how to make it work.

They're stylish and functional!

Love the smell of Anthropologie but don't want to spend big bucks?
Try these candles instead.

Part bed (or sofa), part sleeping quarters, it's basically the Swiss Army knife of furnishings.

Consider this your procrastinator's guide to festive decor.

If you like art, and are always looking for a way to get more into your home, around your flatscreen is the perfect place to keep building your collection.

And no, we're not talking about the 57" on center rule either.

Hotel bed sleep is the greatest sleep, and it's not just because you can crank the AC without worrying about your electric bill. But what's the secret formula to a 5-star bed?

They're not just for dens, libraries, or fancy home offices.

No matter your opinion of the hotly contested daybed, the fact remains it can be a total lifesaver when it comes to small space design. Whether you’re using a daybed as a place for friends to crash in your living room, as a hybrid sofa-bed in your home office, or as your main bed/couch in a studio apartment, the endlessly versatile daybed has now been elevated to a stylish and super functional piece of furniture that you’ll actually want.

It's a delicate balance between having it come off interesting and sophisticated in a room rather than over-the-top and shocking.

You'll love these stylish picks.

Find your perfect desk today.

Part decor element, part fireplace essential.

If you need a pitch black room to catch those Zzz, read on.

Up next in our designer-tested palettes series is the Los Angeles-based Schuyler Samperton. One look at her professional portfolio, and you’re instantly transported. Her use of color is effortless and abundant and will make you instantly rethink your current paint palette. A little background on Schuyler: A regular on shelter magazine’s designers-to-watch lists, Los Angeles-based Schuyler is known for her modern-meets-classic (and ethnic) style.

Meet the modern day quilt, and you don't have to use it on a bed.

Good news: You might already own it!

There are a few privileges to being an editor in the design world, one of which is getting to see the future (a.k.a. what’s going to be in stores well before anyone else is privy to that information). This comes in handy when trend forecasting happens to be your sport of choice.

Coffee tables are a living room staple that can effortlessly inject some pretty serious style. Case in point: the marble-topped table. On trend at the moment but undeniably a classic, they will put you firmly “in style” for a long time to come. We love the sleek and modern appeal they lend living rooms of all sizes and found examples for every layout and budget: round, square and hexagonal examples across a wide range of price points.

Don't leave your floating sofa in a lurch.