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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Earlier this week, we published an article that shared six stylish solutions for those (kind of awful) vertical blinds you so often see in rental apartments. Of course, they are incredibly practical, and if you’re all about privacy and so-so about aesthetics, then keep on keepin’ on I suppose. But me? I can’t stand them. They look so… institutional and devoid of any personality.

Move aside shibori, because there’s a new pillow darling on the home front. Mud cloth has long been used in home decor, particularly upholstery, due to the fact that it’s incredibly sturdy, but in the last year or so, it has taken hold of one home accessory in particular: the throw pillow. One flip through a shelter magazine, or even a scroll through our very own house tours, and it’s clear to see that globally inspired and sourced textiles are undoubtedly having a moment.

A good rule of thumb for home purchases is the following: if you use something regularly (at least weekly, especially if it’s daily!), you should always buy quality. A dirt-cheap blender (or even one that you might have “borrowed” from your parent’s garage) is almost guaranteed to leave you frustrated with leaky pitchers and clumpy drinks. Say “No more!

It takes far less than a polar vortex to make you shiver beneath layers and layers of blankets (heck, sometimes, an office A/C blowing at full force is enough to turn your hands numb and blue.) Take your personal space’s temperature into your own hands and crank up the heat with an electric blanket. Whether you want to stay toasty at home or at work, wrap yourself in one of these 15 pretty options. Electric Blankets: Pros and ConsDo Design-Friendly Electric Blankets Exist?

The plights of the winter warrior are plenty, but one in particular is figuring out how to keep your hands from turning blue and numb in freezing temps while still staying connected. These 11 touchscreen-compatible gloves are here to solve that problem for you. Fleece is a great option for gloves as its warm and low-maintenance. This fun pair, which also comes in three other colors/prints are on sale and running out fast, so snatch them up if they’re calling your name!

They say that sitting is the new smoking, and with potential health hazards such as decreased circulation, heart disease and back or neck pain and thrombosis—yikes!—we can see why. Personal well-being aside, sitting for prolonged periods can also effect performance at work due to low concentration and productivity (don’t lie…we know you’ve considered a George Costanza under-the-desk nap before).

On the first day of Christmas, Costco gave to me, super cheap Christmas trees (and huge rolls of wrapping paper and ribbons and old-school English gift crackers and fresh double-wire wreaths). On the second day of Christmas, Costco gave to me…well, it gave me back my life because I didn’t need to go anywhere else to round out my Christmas prep. So, I’m a serious Costco lover.

There are many chores I do without too much grumbling including cleaning my bathroom, changing the sheets, throwing in some laundry. Putting away my laundry is another story, but my absolute least tolerated household task? Vacuuming. This was a lifelong battle, as I was always somehow the one kid (out of three) that got stuck with Hoovering the carpeted stairs in my childhood home even though I complained about it the most (maybe that was why? Some sort of life lesson from mom and dad?).

Anyone who’s scrolled through Instagram in the past year or so might have spotted someone knees-deep in a pool full of sprinkles. If you’ve thought “what on earth is this magical land where you can swim in millions of rainbow Jimmies?,” here’s the answer: the Museum of Ice Cream. It’s part-playground, part-“museum,” and 100% FOMO inducing.

If you’re a card-carrying Costco member, you probably already know the many benefits of the retailer. Of course, buying in bulk can be a huge saver, not to mention they have some exclusive products with cult-followings. But there’s one downside, at least for me, of frequenting the warehouse: FOMO.

Redecorating can be a bit overwhelming. You might get stuck deciding on what style is right for you or even just anxious about how much it’ll all cost. Eventually it can get stressful to the point where it just feels easier to avoid altogether and live with what you’ve got. Which got me chatting recently with a few fellow editors about what a good “budget” price point would be for a quick room refresh.

I can’t imagine I’m alone in this predicament: I tend to flip-flop between being a hot and cold sleeper, as does my S.O., except, we never seem to be on the same page at the same time. We are not sleeping temperature compatible, people, and wow is it a nuisance. When my toes are frozen solid and I can’t seem to cocoon myself enough in my comforter to achieve P.S.T.

Manhattan has notoriously teeny apartments and I’m always fascinated by how people make them work. I mean, you have to be clever to figure out how to fit in a place to sleep, a place to eat, a place to hang out, a place to cook and a place to you know, store all of your stuff, all in about 300 square feet. Even more impressive? When someone figures out how to do it stylishly in about half of that footprint.

So you finally decided it’s time to buy a new sofa. You venture into a furniture store to sit, lie and lounge on anything that catches your eye; you play house by imagining watching television or snacking or napping or entertaining friends and family, and then leave, hopefully expecting a sofa delivery in a few weeks. Right? This scenario has played out over and over again.

Let’s pretend you’re a baker and you’re making a cake. You whip up some batter, stick some pans in the oven with said batter, and, when the timer dings, you’ve got yourself a cake. But wait, you’re not done yet, of course. What’s a cake without frosting and decoration, right? Well, it’s boring, unfortunately, and who wants to eat that? The same can be said for a room with no art.

And just like that, you can reclaim your nightstand.

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.

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!

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.

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!

...and what you can learn from each to make Ultra Violet work for you.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!