Moving into a new place can be a fun adventure. It can also be a little daunting when you realize a hefty amount of the furniture you had in your previous home just doesn’t work anymore and you aren’t sure where to start the refresh process. Such was the case for one of Apartment Therapy’s Product Managers, Vijay Nathan and his wife Anita.

Vijay Nathan—Product Manager for Apartment Therapy Media—and his wife Anita moved into their rental loft in Philadelphia last year, bringing along with them furniture pieces from previous homes that no longer felt quite right. Some things they loved, others they knew were now placeholders and in need of replacement. “We came to our marriage with furniture that had served us well when we lived apart, though most of it lacked personality and longevity,” says Vijay.

Stylish sofas are easy to find at lower price points; a quick search on any online marketplace such as Amazon will result in some good-looking options. An affordable, stylish and comfortable sofa? Well, that’s another (trying) story. In an effort to find these unicorn sofas, test them and report back, we started the Apartment Therapy Sofa Squad, in which we go retailer to retailer (and sofa to sofa) doing IRL tests and giving each an overall rating.

With well over 48 sofas (not counting custom pieces, sectionals and all size options) in their catalog of products, Room & Board has a dizzying assortment of furniture. When we visited their Manhattan showroom in Chelsea, we were honestly taken aback by the vastness of the store, not even knowing where to start our tests. So we can understand how anyone considering a R&B sofa might have a similar plight. How do you narrow down what you’re looking for?

Many of us have been there: You’re on the hunt for a new sofa but you’re tired of the options at your local stores, so you go online to wrangle some fresh ideas. Plenty make your “maybe” list and grace your dedicated Pinterest board, but you just can’t bite the bullet without sitting on the sofa yourself. We get it…that’s a tricky position to be in.

Have you been eyeing a sofa at Crate & Barrel but can’t make it into one of their locations to test it out for yourself? Or maybe you have a few contenders on your list, but need help narrowing them down? That’s where the Apartment Therapy Sofa Squad comes in. We had eight of our editors hit up C&B (as well as four other stores) to couch surf through all 20 models on the floor of the retailer’s SoHo location, taking note of vital sofa-buying criteria: How deep is it?

This month, we are kicking off a new series: The Apartment Therapy Sofa Squad. Internally known simply as “Sofa Squad”, our editorial team converged on New York City to couch surf our way through a hefty helping of retailers. We sat. We lounged. We plopped. We cocooned. We nestled. We faux napped (some may have actually napped.) All in the name of Sofa Squad. SS’s mission is to do the sitting and rating for you.

Ah LEGOS: Loved by kids everywhere, loathed by parents who inevitably and painfully step barefoot on the little plastic blocks/torture devices. The build-your-own-anything toy has gotten an adult-friendly homage thanks to EverBlock System, the New York-based company creating modular oversize plastic blocks that, similar to LEGO, can stack on top of each other to create, well…as much as you can imagine.

Project by: Farr North Interiors Location: Boston, Massachusetts A previous renovation in 2010 gave a perfectly lovely cosmetic upgrade to a once-dated 710-square-foot condo in Boston. Though the modernization created a significant aesthetic improvement, layout and flow issues remained in the 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment originally built in the 1800s. To reconfigure the home, the homeowners brought in Kerry Farr of Farr North Interiors to tackle the small space challenges.

Anytime IKEA announces a new line of furnishings and home accessories, we find that cause to celebrate (or at the very least squeal with delight). Available this February, the PS 2017 collection speaks to what we know and love about the Swedish retailer; each piece is playfully and smartly designed, most doing double duty.

Buying furniture can be intimidating, even if you know what you’re looking for in terms of style (if you don’t, that’s an entirely different mountain to climb.) For instance, how do you really know what you’re spending your valuable dollars on will last? What materials are best for wear-and-tear? What questions should you be asking a sales person before committing to a purchase? We turned to the pros (i.e.

As a design editor, it’s my job to stay on top of (and decode) potential trends in the industry. There are some that are low hanging fruit (for 2017, it’s clear the color green is a front-runner, plants are now “it” items, and there will be a prevalence of natural/boho materials like terra-cotta), but others kind of fly under the radar until all of a sudden, you start noticing them everywhere.

Project by: Ashley Redmond of Decorist Project location: Marin, California Ashley Redmond, Head of Design for popular E-design company Decorist, has designed rooms in the homes of Jamie Chung, Audrina Patridge, Erin Hiemstra, and more. She recently updated her own 500-square-foot tiny “treehouse” in the woods of Marin, California. Let’s take a look, shall we? From Ashley: My inspiration for the space was definitely a laid back, bohemian vibe.

My first decorating memory dates back about 20 years or so (the dates are hazy, but the experience is crystal clear.) After some pleading, my mom had granted me the opportunity to redesign my bedroom. I took the job very seriously, sweating over picking just the right shade of bubblegum pink (a risk for this non-pink lover), but it felt right at the time.

In terms of decor, 2016 had something for everyone. Artful bohemian? Global textiles and/or tropical prints were your heroes. Classic glam? There was so.much.glam to go around this year. I took stock of 10 of my favorite design trends from the past 12 months that I’m just not ready to see go just yet.

It’s a specific list of product types that rule Black Friday: TVs and computers (basically, consumer electronics in general), toys and clothing. Though we cannot deny there are really great deals to be had at the expected big box stores, there are plenty of other unexpected shopping categories that are often overlooked. Here are five you should consider scooping up! According to Dealnews.

Project by: Karlien Heremans of Studio K Project location: Leuven, Belgium Gilt and glam can be fun to look at, but there’s something very soothing about a home outfitted with simple and sleek materials, like this Belgian residence by Studio K. What once was a smaller semi-detached house near the city center was extended into a bright, sunny home for a sport-, travel- and book-loving couple.

In the early 2000s, Pier One Imports was the epitome of worldly sophistication for me, what with its exotic wood furniture, beaded throw pillows and Buddha statues galore. When I redecorated my post-collegiate bedroom, I hit up the store for unique international treasures. “Why yes, these ruffled dupioni silk throw pillows are from the foreign land of Kissimmee, Florida.” Fast forward a decade, and I’ve discovered a new local mecca for global goods: World Market.

I’m a self-professed candle connoisseur: At any given hour, I could have three or four going in my living room. I wholeheartedly believe they can set the tone for the season and make any space feel instantly homey. I may live in South Florida, far, far away from changing leaves and apple picking, but gosh darnit, if I have anything to do with it, my apartment is going to smell like a cinnamon-spiced pumpkin apple pie baking in a orchard once autumn rolls in.

Project by: Julie China of Idea Space Architecture + Design Location: Maplewood, New Jersey The wood paneling, formica countertops and dated finishes of this New Jersey kitchen are nothing uncommon to older homes, but they were no longer working for a family of four. Designer Julie China of Idea Space Architecture + Design came on board to open up the space and give it a welcomed refresh.

Furniture is heavy, not to mention a big investment. Don’t you wish you could virtually move things around to see what a new arrangement would look like, or maybe even try something on before purchasing it and bringing it into your home? Save yourself the hassle and headaches of home decor that doesn’t work (after it’s too late), and try one of these five decorating apps to get it right the first time.

Harry Potter mania seems to come out of hibernation right around fall, doesn’t it? If you’ve been waiting for your Hogwarts letter to no avail, it’s time you take matters into your own hands and bring the Hogwarts to you. Whether you’re after the wizarding look just for, say, regular life, or for a more specific occasion like Halloween, here are some ideas to accio into your home.

The world of paint can feel endless. So many blues, grays, whites…how do you settle on one for your wall? I’m a firm believer that nothing will ever replace buying samples and testing a paint color out before diving into gallons of a certain shade, but to get a rough idea of a paint color family or hue without having to head to the hardware store, give one of these six apps a try!

Halloween is just three weeks away ::insert excited cheers here::, which means it’s time to string up your zombie-eyed crow garland, scatter those pumpkins and get your spook on. If you need a little guidance on where to turn to buy some really great decor (because who doesn’t need a crow-footed candy bowl?), we rounded up five of our favorite shops for All Hallows’ Eve here.

A great country song, above all else, should tell a good story. The same can be said about southern style, and the 12 design firms selected to dream up 12 spaces, both indoors and out, for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles‘ 2016 Serenbe Designer Showhouse did just that. Read on to borrow inspiration from the expressive rooms created by some of the South’s brightest design talents.

Project by: Senalee Kapelevich of SVK Interior Design Location: Russian Hill, San Francisco, California When Senalee Kapelevich of SVK Interior Design first sent us this project she recently completed for a bachelor entrepreneur in San Francisco, it had us at “rooftop deck.” With killer views of Bay Area landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, we’re happy to report that the actual home (i.e., the interiors) didn’t disappoint either.

The living room of an eclectic collector is like a treasure trove. Quirky accents mingle with modern seating and a classic Warren Platner coffee table, while throw pillows of all prints and textures play nice on a vintage sofa. The telltale sign of this look is that you can’t quite put your finger on the style of the room, and that’s what makes it so special. 1. Indigo 3 Light Drum Chandelier, $318.64 from Wayfair 2. Infant Ikat Robe VI from Uzbekistan in Lucite Frame, $895 from St.

Some decor styles are easy to pin point, as they follow certain rules. But for the eclectic collector, there are no pre-set design mandates. This artfully cluttered, anything goes aesthetic is all about throwing caution to the wind and filling your home with things you love that you’ve picked up along your journeys, whether from Monaco, Morocco or Minneapolis. To some, pattern mixing is an art form that is learn through trial and error.

Coco Chanel famously said that “a girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” The classic glam bedroom is both and since your sleeping quarters should be your palace, it only seems fit that you appoint it like it is. To fashion a fashionista-approved boudoir, don’t be afraid to mix metals (yes, brass and chrome can play nice together) get wild with prints and invite in some moody art. 1. Trophy by Ashley Woodson Bailey, priced from $123.58 from Citizen Atelier 2.

The world of prints and patterns is wide. For instance, what you think is simply “plaid” is far more intricate. All tartans are plaids, but not all plaids are tartans, in fact. There are madras plaids, houndstooth plaids, windowpane plaids, and many, many more. So we beg the question: Do you know one from the other? With fall—the high season of plaid—just around the bend, it might be a good time to polish up on your terminology. As always, we’re here to help!

Are you the artful bohemian or a new traditionalist? Take this quiz to find out and don’t forget to share your results in the comments! Antsy for your results? Hang tight…they’re coming! Re-edited from a post that originally appeared 09.06.2017.

Interior designers are wired a certain way. They can walk into a home in need of some tender love and instantaneously envision what it should look like it. Such is the case with this mish-moshy home owned and resurrected by Karyne Beauregard. What once was a bad marriage of dated materials and haphazardly added contemporary “fixes” is now a cohesive, modern dream.

We have officially crossed the threshold into the dog days of summer (which actually has nothing to do with canines, but rather the dog star Sirius…who knew?). To commemorate the stretch of heat (and lethargy) associated with this period, we scoured Etsy and rounded up 9 super cool, modern pet houses—from cat friendly cardboard to designer edifices—for your furry friends to ride out the season.

When it comes to designing a room, one of your first decisions is commonly about what colors to use. Whether you feel most comfortable in neutrals, or prefer living in technicolor, it’s not always easy to figure out what shades to pair together to create a room that makes you truly happy.

Home decor tends to be one of those things that some people consider “superficial” and maybe even inconsequential. But we here at Apartment Therapy understand the real power of a well-designed room. Coming home every day to a place we are proud of and that makes us smile, and heck, even helps us to live our lives well, is something we do not take lightly. Neither does Emily Henderson.

No headboard, no problem: Whether you’re plotting out how to punch up your dorm room for this fall, outfitting your first place, or simply not ready to commit to a full-blown headboard, we rounded up 7 clever (and affordable) solutions to add some serious style to that blank wall behind your bed. A temporary decal (the geometric one shown above is from Urban Outfitters) is an easy, no-fuss way to create a faux, affordable headboard.

The idea of 3D-printed products for the home is admittedly a little out there, even Jetsons-esque. The gadgets and gizmos a plenty on sale throughout the internet may run the gamut from completely bizarre to actually interesting (and normal), but no matter where they fall on the spectrum, something that came from a printer (that’s not a sheet of paper with words on it) is certainly a conversation starter. We rounded up a handful of things you might actually want to buy for your own home.

A. Two sofas facing each other OR B. A sofa and love seat arranged in the traditional L-shaped arrangement?

There’s no denying that it’s the time of the maker. Small-batch, hand-made, one-off: all hyphenated descriptors of today’s decor holy grails, but it’s about so much more than just the admirable adjective. Today’s design enthusiast desires what their neighbor doesn’t have. After all, we want our homes to tell a story—our story—to have a soul, and to be a true reflection of who we are as individuals.

My legs are a serious contradiction. I wear pants and jeans all summer because my stems are significantly whiter than the rest of my body, but they’re significantly whiter than the rest of my body because I wear long pants and jeans all summer. For those of you out there like me, filled with dreams of tan legs and varied length bottoms, here is your shopping list. As a quick recap, 9 bottoms are the prescribed limit.