What to Do If You Run Out of Dishwasher Detergent
If your dishwasher is already full and you need a good substitute, here are some options.
Brigitt Earley
Mar 26, 2020
Everything You Need to Know About Cleaning AirPods (And What to Do About that Gross Earwax)
After countless commutes, you might wonder: Do I need to clean something that sits so close to my ear drum? The short answer is yes. The long answer is yeeesssssssssss.
Brigitt Earley
Mar 3, 2020
5 Attic Remodels That Will Convince You to Make Use of Your Wasted Space
Inspiring ideas for one of the most commonly neglected areas of the home.
Brigitt Earley
Feb 16, 2020
10 Sweet and Simple DIY Valentine’s Day Decor Ideas
These easy projects will fill your home with a whole lot of love.
Brigitt Earley
Feb 3, 2020
9 Time-Saving Tricks Only Pro Painters Know (Until Now)
Make your next paint job a breeze with these expert tips.
Brigitt Earley
Jan 27, 2020
4 Cleaning Tips You Need to Know If You Have Stainless Steel Appliances
Though you might be tempted to grab a bottle of cleaning solution, give your appliances a quick swipe, and call it a day, the wrong technique can actually damage some of your home’s most expensive machines.
Brigitt Earley
Jan 25, 2020
7 Dangerous Things Your Plumber Wants You to Stop Doing
Plumbing issues can be a real drain (get it??).
Brigitt Earley
Jan 21, 2020
The Best Under-$200 Tricks We Want to Steal From Before and Afters in 2020
These budget-friendly ideas deserve a place on your list this year.
Brigitt Earley
Jan 13, 2020
You’re Not Washing Your Beauty Blender Enough—Here's the Expert Advice
Without proper care, makeup sponges can harbor bacteria and even mold.
Brigitt Earley
Jan 12, 2020
Everything You Need to Know About Cleaning Hardwood Floors, According to the Experts
To help you avoid a costly mistake, we asked the pros to set the record straight.
Brigitt Earley
Dec 21, 2019
Before and After: The 12 Best Kitchen Redos We Saw in 2019
Looking to cook up some style in your own home? Get inspired by our favorite kitchen redos of the year.
Brigitt Earley
Dec 18, 2019
The Big Kitchen Trends We’ll Keep Seeing in 2019
These aren't going anywhere.
Brigitt Earley
Dec 18, 2019
The 9 Deadly Sins of Bad Kitchens, According to the Pros
These are the biggest faux pas you can make.
Brigitt Earley
Dec 13, 2019
Everything You Need to Know About Granite Countertops
In the market for new granite countertops—or just looking to take care of the ones you have? We have the low-down.
Brigitt Earley
Dec 10, 2019
Before and After: 5 Inspiring Chair Redos, and One Clever IKEA Hack
You'll barely recognize the befores.
Brigitt Earley
Nov 14, 2019
You Only Need Two Supplies for This No-Carve Hobnail Pumpkin
This retro look is so chic—and super easy to make yourself.
Brigitt Earley
Oct 22, 2019
How to Create This Year’s Trendiest Pumpkin (No Knife Required)
Happy Terrazzo-ween!
Brigitt Earley
Oct 22, 2019
One Thing You Should Never Do To Your Countertop
Got marble counters? You'll want to read this to avoid future repair costs.
Brigitt Earley
Oct 13, 2019
10 Dangerous Things Your Electrician Wants You to Stop Doing ASAP
Electrical fires are the third leading cause of home structure fires, according to The Electrical Safety Foundation International. But fortunately, there are a variety of preventative measures you can take to help ensure that one doesn’t happen to you.
Brigitt Earley
Sep 12, 2019
The One Thing You Need to Change Right After You Buy A Home
When you finally get your hands on the keys to a new place, there’s lots to do: unpack, decorate, and maybe even renovate. But before you dive into the fun stuff, Redditors say there’s one thing every new homeowner needs to do.
Brigitt Earley
Sep 7, 2019
5 Golden Rules for Designing a Great Living Room
The living room is the every-room. Here's how you should design such a multifaceted space.
Brigitt Earley
Aug 1, 2019
5 Reasons Not to Hack That IKEA Product You’ve Been Thinking About
The truth is, an IKEA hack isn’t always worth your time and effort.
Brigitt Earley
Jul 26, 2019
7 Hidden Costs and Complications of Tiny Houses
Sometimes living small means paying up.
Brigitt Earley
Jun 18, 2019
This Once Widespread Kitchen Feature is Rapidly Losing Popularity
It's going, going, but not quite gone.
Brigitt Earley
Jun 13, 2019
Don’t Make These Common IKEA Kitchen Cabinet Assembly Mistakes
Swapping out your cabinets is one of the easiest ways to give an outdated kitchen the refresh it needs. But this particular item is one of the more expensive elements in a kitchen. Fortunately, there’s a solution: IKEA kitchen cabinets.Though much more affordable, going this route isn’t without challenges. We love IKEA, but readily admit assembly and installation can be rather tricky.
Brigitt Earley
May 6, 2019
What “House Hunters” Didn’t Tell Me About Buying My First Home
“House Hunters” first premiered in 1999 when I was 12 years old. I devoured episode after episode. And since they don’t teach you these practical things in school, I thought I had learned everything there is to know about home buying from the popular HGTV show. But fast forward 18 years: I got married, then pregnant. Suddenly I was eager to trade the nearly-windowless rental basement my husband and I considered home for one we could call our own.
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
Pros Weigh In: These Are The Best Paint Colors For Your Kitchen
Years ago most kitchens were dark and full of autumn tones, like red, gold, and even orange. More recently, those bolder shades have given way to all-white kitchens. Why? Homeowners are building and renovating kitchens to be open to the rest of the floorplan, rather than segmented. “Kitchens have basically become invisible to blend with the rest of the home.
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
What HGTV Doesn’t Tell You About Flipping Houses
So you want to make a cool $100,000? Popular HGTV shows lead you to believe the secret to getting rich quick is to start flipping houses. From Chip and Joanna Gaines, to Tarek and Christina El Moussa, there are plenty of everyday people making a name for themselves this way. So a few years ago, after I got married, my husband and I said to ourselves: We could totally do this. He works in construction.
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
NBC’s Craft Show Making It is What We All Need in 2018
Making It, hosted by Ron Swanson and Leslie Knope… I mean Nick Offerman and Amy Poehler, has received a lot of comparisons to the Great British Baking Show. And I totally get it: The hosts and judges are there for support and comic relief, not to critique contestants and bicker with one another. Making It is exactly what 2018 needs. Like Poehler says in the intro, “life is stressful enough—let’s make a show that makes you feel good.
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
There’s a Reason Why Tile That Looks Like Wood Is So Popular
Love the crisp, clean look of hardwood floors, but know it’s not practical for your space? Or maybe it’s simply out of budget. You could install it anyway (bad idea), you could have a pity party for yourself (no fun), or you could opt for a newly popular style of tile that’s popping up everywhere: porcelain or ceramic “wood” tiles. Why?
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
Designers Reveal the Best Colors to Paint Your Front Door
When guests walk up to your home, the first thing they see is ususally your front door. If it’s chipped and peeling or dull and drab, trust us: Your guests (or potential buyers) are going to notice. The front door is your opportunity to make a great first impression, so it’s important not to treat it as an afterthought, or worse, forget it altogether.
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
5 Bathroom Features That Are Falling Out of Favor
Take a look at any new bathroom, and you’ll notice some commonalities: sleek frameless doors rather than curtains or bulky sliding ones, bold statement mirrors in place of traditional medicine cabinets, and even a resurgence of cool colored tiles (think bright blue and emerald green!). But you know what they say: in with the new, out with the old. Just as these design elements fall into favor, others fall out of favor. So what will we see fade into distant memory?
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
Granny Pods are Tiny Houses’ Answer to Nursing Homes
After Millie Donahue’s husband died from Alzheimer’s disease, her health began to decline. She was 80 years old and had congestive heart failure combined with failing kidneys. The doctors told family there was nothing more that could be done. They recommended Millie enter hospice care. Instead, her family took her in. “I brought her into my house for what I thought was the last three months of her life,” says daughter Meg Donahue, founder of MamaSezz.com.
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
10 of the Cheap and Easiest Ways to Improve Your Home in 2019
While you’re thinking about resolutions, your mind may wander to your home: how will you make your house a better place this year? While a big project isn’t always feasible, you can still work within the existing framework of your space to transform your home into a better, more functional place. How? We asked the pros—from realtors, to contractors, to interior designers—to dish on the easiest and cheapest home upgrades.
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
7 Big Bathroom Trends to Watch Out for in 2019
When you picture a bathroom, what do you see? I envision a fairly standard space—lots of white tile and a vanity with a few drawers and a cabinet. If it’s clean, modern, and functional, I’m largely satisfied. But according to the pros, the bathrooms of the future have much more to offer. Here, the biggest, most surprising bathroom trends you’ll see in 2019. “Color, color, color,” says Nancy Epstein, founder and CEO of Artistic Tile.
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
5 Expensive Bathroom Upgrades You Can Totally Skip
There’s so much to consider when taking on a big renovation—especially one as crucial as a bathroom or a kitchen. In fact, if someone could figure out a way to ensure a project of that magnitude could be completed on time, on budget, and with no errors, they’d probably win a Nobel Peace Prize.
Brigitt Earley
May 3, 2019
Stretch Your Budget With This Simple Rug Hack
A rug is one of the easiest ways to pull a room together. But what happens when your space simply doesn’t accommodate a regular-sized rug? You could go the custom route. The problem? Having something created specifically for your space will cost you—big time. Or, you could settle for the closest size-match, but potentially wind up with a too-small rug that throws the whole room out of proportion. (Check out this handy guide to find the right size rug.
Brigitt Earley
Apr 21, 2019
5 Small Changes to Make a Thimble-Sized Space Feel Larger
Feeling stifled by your small space? Just because you’re tied to a small footprint doesn’t mean your home has to feel limiting. Just ask tiny home dwellers. All you need to do is shift your thinking. To help you maximize the space you do have, we asked designers to share their best tips—no renovations required.“When floor space is at a premium, take to the walls,” says Decorist designerErika Dale.
Brigitt Earley
Apr 16, 2019
7 Small Ways to (Potentially) Save $737 in a Week
If you’re anything like the average American, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates you spend just over $164 per day, with the bulk of that money going towards housing, transportation, and food. But in 2016, the median income per capita was estimated at just $33,205—that’s $26,855 less than the average American is spending each year. Yikes, that math just doesn’t add up.
Brigitt Earley
Apr 1, 2019
This Was the Most Popular Paint Color the Decade You Were Born
Walk into any recently renovated home today and chances are you’ll see a lot of greige—a neutral color that’s the perfect combination of gray and beige. There’s no denying it’s the paint color du jour. It’s funny how, oftentimes, you can instantly pinpoint how modern (or not) a room is just by looking at the color of the walls. Some day our children might look back and wonder why we all plastered our walls in such a boring color!
Brigitt Earley
Mar 14, 2019
What HGTV Never Told You About ‘Fixer Upper’
Here's what they didn't want you to know about the show.
Brigitt Earley
Feb 10, 2019
Is It Bad to Wash Dishes with Hand Soap? Experts Weigh In
And what about bar soap? Or laundry detergent?
Brigitt Earley
Feb 9, 2019
6 Big Living Room Rules Totally Worth Breaking This Year
What other decorating rules are just begging to be broken? Here, the experts weigh in.
Brigitt Earley
Jan 7, 2019
10 of the Best Decluttering Tips and Tricks from 2018
Sometimes all you need to declutter your space is a new frame of mind. Sounds easier said than done? Not so fast. Take a look at some of the best lessons we learned this year about how to live with less. You need to purge, but you might need that gigantic waffle maker at some point. Stop playing that game; you’ll never get the job done. Find out how washi tape can help: A Brilliant, Regret-Free Way You Can Use Tape to Declutter Your Kitchen. A marathon cleaning sesh only leads to fatigue.
Brigitt Earley
Dec 30, 2018
Apartment Therapy’s 20 Best Cleaning Shortcuts of 2018
There are no gimmicks here—just genius hacks that'll keep your home sparkling all year long.
Brigitt Earley
Dec 26, 2018
One (Way Too Common) Mistake You Might Be Making with Your Holiday Cards
There's one very important element you're overlooking when sending holiday cards—your grammar.
Brigitt Earley
Dec 1, 2018
8 Pro Tips for Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor
The right renovation can really increase the value of your home, but it’s an expensive and time-consuming process. Besides setting aside the necessary funds, the first big hurdle is deciding how you’re going to tackle the project. Although some talented folks may attempt to DIY, the vast majority is better off seeking out the help of a general contractor for big projects—bathroom updates and kitchen remodels, for example—or additions.
Brigitt Earley
Nov 11, 2018
The Salary You’d Need to Afford “The Father of the Bride” House
If you watched “Father of the Bride” with envy—admiring the complex relationship between George and Annie Banks, or wistfully dreaming up your own backyard wedding—the news that the Alhambra, California, home was for sale just a few years ago may have sent you running to mortgage calculators. What could a home like that—a gorgeous 4,400-square-foot center-hall colonial on a tree-lined street—possibly cost? And what would it take to afford something so grand?
Brigitt Earley
Oct 21, 2018