Not every room is blessed with good light. In fact, some rooms are dark caves that make you wonder what the architect/builder was even thinking. Sometimes a badly placed window (or none at all) is to blame. Other times, it’s a properly placed window with a badly placed tree that blocks all the sunlight. If you struggle with a poorly lit bedroom (or living room for that matter), there’s a simple hack you can try that’ll multiply the brightness of your space. The trick?

One of the most common questions we see around Apartment Therapy from readers revolves around shoe storage. No matter if they have a small space or a sprawling home, there never seem to be enough space for shoes (at least in a way that looks good and is easy to maneuver). Of course, baskets throw in a closet or near the front door is a fast and cheap fix, but who really wants to dig through a dirty tangle of tennis shoes and boots every time you’re running out the door?

And just like that, you can reclaim your nightstand.

If you've ever looked around your home and noticed that a majority of what you own is all from the same handful of stores, read on.

I have a long history as a skincare and makeup hoarder. Perhaps it started with my mother’s proclivity for gifting me jumbo Lip Smackers sets every Christmas since I was about seven, or my obsession—rivaled only by my butterfly clip fixation—with finding the ideal anti-acne product to settle my difficult teenage skin.

It is cold just about everywhere right now. I’m all the way down in South Florida and even I had to turn my heater on this week and throw some fuzzy socks on to make it through the day. Which is just a cruel reminder that winter is only a month in, with about two thirds of the way left to go. Now’s the time to check out IKEA to add some pretty (and cheap) goods to your home to keep you warm and cozy until spring rears its glorious head.

Deciding on a favorite Target purchase can feel like picking your favorite pet or kid…it’s not easy, people. But luckily, we have some pretty opinionated and passionate shoppers here at Apartment Therapy who were able to easily pin point things they bought for their home recently that they love enough to stand behind. Here, 10 Apartment Therapy staffer-approved picks that just might make your home a little better (and better looking) this year.

Since Amazon’s comedy hit “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” dropped at the end of last year, all anyone can talk about is the enviable costumes and the quick-witted writing. And now that the show scooped up two major Golden Globes on Sunday—best actress in a comedy series or musical and best TV series, comedy—the 8-episode first season, which is already renewed for a second, is sure to get plenty of new fans.

With a new year comes a renewed interest in upcoming design shifts. And while we frequently turn to decor experts and pros to tell us what they’re seeing, sometimes, what’s in the pipeline can be easily seen right at the retail level. Cruising through West Elm’s recent spring release revealed nine trends we’re pretty pumped about. Check them out and let us know what you think!

We all have those unassuming, everyday things we buy that become game changers for our homes, right? They might not be the flashiest most stylish finds, but they are products that just make adult life easier (or at the very least, more bearable). These are the items we tell our friends/family/anyone that will listen about. (For instance, a really good hair unclogging tool.

Alas, Christmas morning is less than 48 hours away, and you may be panicking because you’re still trying to figure out what to get your brother/mother-in-law/best friend (we’ve all been there).

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.

With all the tech that constantly surrounds us—in our homes, on our bodies—it’s not exactly difficult to keep up with what the date is, but it is for this exact reason that I personally prefer to have a physical calendar on my office walls.

Right around Thanksgiving every year, many publications and online sites reveal their top gift picks for the season. We were no different, releasing over 250 of our favorite gifts for crafters, DIYers, moms, dads, design aficionados, the ever-tricky person who has everything (or the person you don’t know well), and many more. And though we love helping to give you the upper hand in picking the perfect present, we really love learning what you readers are actually buying this season.

If the countless articles we’ve written about IKEA and its vast array of budget-friendly and fashionable products is any indication, we love the Swedish brand (not because we’re being paid to say that, but because we truly and honestly do). And while we’ve covered numerous reporting angles—IKEA Does Boho! Best IKEA Products for Small Living Rooms! IKEA Solutions for Renters!

Purple is not an easy color to design with. On a shirt or boldly patterned dress it’s wonderful and bold, but in a room, it can be incredibly tricky and go from bad to worse with one false move. Where blue is basic and the everyman of the color world (I mean, it goes with everything and near impossible to mess up), lilacs and plums and, well, ultraviolet, are as easy to work with as a prickly cactus. Plucky shades of purple are the hardest.

One of the most charming things about holiday decor are the stockings lined up across a mantel—but what happens if you don’t have a fireplace? Ah well, then of course you dot your staircase banister with them. What? No staircase either? Never fear! This clever idea taking over Pinterest works for everyone, no matter your architectural shortcomings. Decorative ladders in living rooms have been a big trend these last few years, usually used to hang blankets and throws.

The holidays are just a few short weeks away and the awesome online shopping deals are still coming on strong. Case in point: For today only, Amazon is offering up to 60% off some of their top-selling holiday decor items. This means that everything from faux trees to snow globes to tree ornaments and string lights are majorly marked down until midnight, so you can spread some more seasonal cheer throughout your home without breaking your holiday budget.

I did not grow up in a house that delicately opened gifts on Christmas morning. My mother did not collect all the intact gift wrap, fold it carefully and stash it away for another use. We were savages that ripped open presents with abandon. The more shreds I could get out of each box, the longer the unwrapping lasted, which made me a happier child. (My mother did, however, always save gift boxes—the kind you put shirts and pajama sets in—as well as gift bags because she was no fool.

As a child, I took decorating for Christmas far, far too seriously. Every year, I’d wrangle some twinkle lights out of the outdoor-designate bin in the garage to hang all throughout my bedroom. I made every red-and-green construction paper countdown chain you could imagine. I strong-armed my parents into buying a real tree every single year while I still lived at home when what they really wanted was a simple, mess-free artificial tree. And you know what I blame?

With this week’s announcement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement, it seems like royal fever is running high. And while the soon-to-be Mrs. Prince Harry and current victor of the world’s favorite ginger is a news outlet favorite at the moment, we haven’t forgotten about the darling Duchess of Cambridge.

In a day and age when social media and inspiration-heavy sites like Pinterest make you feel like everything you create for your home or how you decorate for the holidays has to be (literally) picture perfect and super chic, there are rays of hope that sometimes the internet is up for something slightly ridiculous. Case in point: the recent obsession with not-the-least-bit-elegant-but-maybe-pretty-great giant balloon Christmas lights.

For anyone who’s ever excitedly bought a tree that turned out to be a serious needle dropper/too heavy to carry up the stairs/completely devoid of any festive scents — this buying guide is for you. Aesthetics are one thing, but there is so, so much more to consider. You know the deal: you walk onto a Christmas tree lot, find a tree that seems like it’ll fit in your home for the right price and boom, you’re done.

Looking for special gifts that will leave the giftee all warm and fuzzy? Skip the usual big box retailers and flashy tech items and consider the flipside of holiday shopping: the handmade, artisanal little guy. Etsy has more fantastic store fronts than we can even begin to count, so there’s basically something for everyone. If you want to save time by scrolling through countless regretsy-type products and go straight to the good stuff, read on for 30 of our favorite finds.

Consider this your procrastinator's guide to festive decor.

Earlier this week, I wrote about real rugs in the bathroom and how much I love the look. While many readers were totally onboard, others were seriously concerned with cleanliness, moisture and beyond. Look, I totally get it. I don’t agree with putting priceless Persian rugs at the foot of your tub; I’m not about aesthetics for the sake of aesthetics. But there’s another way. Let me introduce you to the machine-washable area rug.

When shopping online for furniture, do you ever find yourself going round and round, stumbling upon the same pieces store to store and just feeling stuck? Like you’ve explored every last coffee table/nightstand/headboard the internet has to offer? It doesn’t have to be that way! I’ve recently discovered three new-to-me furniture purveyors that are worth adding to your bookmarks for the next time you’re on the hunt.

The very essence of a bohemian lifestyle tends to go pretty firmly against big-brand commercialism, but if you’re more about the style and less about the ideals—and also looking for some cheap(ish) ways to round out your aesthetic—IKEA is, quite surprisingly, a great place to hunt. The brand’s minimal Swedish vibes might make you think eclectic decor is not to be found in the blue-and-yellow corridors of the retailer, but that’s where you’d be wrong.

For the longest time, I thought there was only one solution for rugs in the bathroom: the traditional bath mat. I always struggled to find something I liked enough. Everything was either too fuzzy and nubby, or too bland in terms of design, as I like to add a punch of color via rugs in my all-beige bathroom to liven things up. That is, until I refreshed my space this past summer and went in a completely different direction. The “area rug as bath mat” concept is not a new one.

When tackling the remodel of this Toronto home, architects Andrew Hill and Jennifer Kudlats of StudioAC had a few important missions: create an open plan that revolved around a singular grounding aesthetic element (in this case a large plywood wall that brings together the entry, kitchen, living and dining rooms) and, find a spot for the family pet, Rusty, to call home. Rusty’s ingenious built-in den is why we’re here today. Let’s take a look.

I thought my dark cave of a bathroom would never be able to support plant life, but I was proven wrong.

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

Anthropologie is set up in a way that it’s not just a “store” but a “shopping experience.” It’s a place you stroll through, linger around, dream of living in. Part of that magical experience? The just-strong-enough aroma that fills the air, luring you across the impeccably styled threshold. I always thought the retailer’s sweet smell was a perfect marriage of all the candles they were burning throughout the store.

Fresh cut flowers for my home are a little luxury I like to indulge in when I can. They make my rooms feel instantly energized and just make me happier, plain and simple. Plus, according to this article, they can also prompt you to keep your home tidier, and I’ll take all the motivation I can get! The only problem is, lush and lovely arrangements, when bought repeatedly, can become a bit of an expense, which usually holds me back from always having florals on display.

Scrolling through Instagram, Pinterest or your favorite design blogs can be a bit disheartening sometimes. Everything is so perfect, and the furniture and accessories are so luxe that it’s easy to get down about the state of your own home. Except any super stylish person will tell you it doesn’t take a ton of money to create a beautiful home. After stumbling across a spectacular floor lamp at Target earlier this week (read on to see it!

To dig into the heads of our most loyal followers, we surveyed readers last month on a bevy of topics. They revealed their favorite cleaning shortcuts, their most hated chore, even the Apartment Therapy advice that has been a game-changer for their home life. We also asked them about trends. We learned that readers are still pretty much into the whole boho look and really love colored doors (and color, in general).

Halloween is just over a week away. Oh…what’s that…you completely forgot and were meaning to decorate but now think you’re out of luck because the shelves at your local party supply store have been ransacked? Fear not, because there’s still time. We dug through the ghoulish and spooky offerings available with Prime shipping on Amazon, and there are still some goodies to be had before October 31. Take a look! For anyone into the “some person (and skeleton?

I’m about to embark on a tale that many of you may have lived yourself at some point in your life…the harrowing story of the guest room closet clean out. My friends, I live in a two-bedroom condo, where the second bedroom is used by my S.O. as his make shift office/photography studio/dressing room, and by me as my dumping ground for anything I don’t feel like dealing with/finding a proper place for.

Friday the 13th lives in infamy as being a day riddled with bad luck. There are movies named after it, warnings and urban legends built around it. But…maybe it’s not all bad: Enter Urban Outfitter’s one-day-only Friday the 13th sale, where everything online is an additional 13% off. To keep my mind off black cats and years-long potential curses crossing my path, I’m keeping busy with a little retail therapy. Here, 13 worth-it finds for your home.

I’ve personally been itching to bust out my fall wreath and felt pumpkins since late August, but the wait is over! As someone who loves the idea of the season but actually experiences none of its wonders (because…South Florida), putting out these little festive touches is about as close as I’m going to get to fall feels (that and binge watching Hocus Pocus on repeat while burning every pumpkin and apple orchard-scented candle I can get my hands on).

Do you love all things home? We mean really love? Looking for a Halloween costume that’ll shake things up and stand out against the sea of DIY La Croix cans and the cast of Stranger Things? Well, we’ve got some ideas for you… First off, if your childhood crush on Uncle Jesse has evolved into an all-out infatuation with him and the glorious Alamo Square Park rowhouse he called home in Full House, this one’s for you!

It’s officially October, which means it’s time to bust out the pumpkins, pull the skeletons out of your closets (literally, not figuratively, of course) and get festive. Whether you like to keep it simple with chic white pumpkins, prefer the glam goth look via black velvet and brass skulls, or display your classic bats and jack-o-lanterns with pride, we’ve got you covered no matter your Halloween style.

It’s officially October, which means it’s time to bust out the pumpkins, pull the skeletons out of your closets (literally, not figuratively, of course) and get festive. Whether you like to keep it simple with chic white pumpkins, prefer the glam goth look via black velvet and brass skulls, or display your classic jack-o-lanterns and not-so-scary bats with pride, we’ve got you covered with ideas no matter what your Halloween style.

You love design, you love your dog, it’s only natural that you’d want great looking, modern pet pieces at home, right? Well, lucky for you (and Fido), the Internet delivers with a plethora of stylish dog beds, bowls and beyond. From basic dog treat jars to totally bougie acrylic and brass feeders (thanks Jonathan Adler!), here are 10 fabulous things for your home and fur baby. Let’s start with the most five-star piece of the bunch….

Struggling with a not-so-stylish kitchen? Have a space you love, but want to tap attractive products to round it out aesthetically? Whichever situation you relate to most, sprucing up your counters and cabinets with goods that will make your kitchen look and operate better is a winning strategy (especially when any piece item is super affordable).

With over 20 styles in dozens of configurations, we set out to review 13 of the retailer's most popular models. Read on to see which were the most comfortable.

While ready made curtains are perfectly wonderful out of the package, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make them a little bit more special.

I grew up in a home with a mom who liked to experiment with decor (for better or for worse). Whether it was the lime green and silver vertical-striped accent wall in our living room (that my teenage self thought was pretty rad) or the antique garden bistro set (which she found and spray painted a bright aqua) that lived in a corner of the family room, decor changed faster than hair styles around the Hernandez residence. One thing that was always steadfast?