Courtney Balestier

Good design makes our lives better in so many ways. Wherever we are, myriad design choices are shaping our experiences in ways we might not be aware of — but you can be sure the designer thought of everything.If you’ve been considering a career in design that makes a difference, the New York School of Interior Design can help you unlock this beautiful world of possibilities.

This season, we’re setting our clocks way back: to the 1970s. Our favorite design trend of the fall is inspired by that dreamy decade’s desert hues, earthy materials, and sun-baked vibes. It takes that nostalgic charm and gives it a modern twist, for a fresh and timeless style that can work in just about every room — which is exactly what we did.

When Leslie moved cross-country from LA to Chicago, she found a dreamy city apartment with floor-to-ceiling views, hardwood floors, and modern conveniences. She was having trouble deciding on an aesthetic for her new-build bedroom — one of those all too familiar spaces that at first presents as an exciting blank canvas, but quickly reveals itself as a tricky style challenge. But the Brownstone Boys stepped in with a groovy idea: a subtle ode to ’70s style.

It’s not hyperbole to say we love pretty much everything that both Katie Zamprioli and the Brownstone Boys design. In New York, the Brownstone Boys (aka Jordan and Barry) restore the city’s iconic architectural style and add vintage-inspired touches for modern living. In Los Angeles, Katie uses her richly layered aesthetic to create delightfully maximalist spaces full of wit and charm.

When Leslie relocated from Los Angeles to Chicago, she found a gorgeous new apartment with gleaming hardwood floors, tall windows, and Windy City views. She wanted to add personality to her new-build bedroom but was having trouble settling on a style. So we brought in reinforcements: the Brownstone Boys.Jordan and Barry specialize in restoring their namesake architectural style, and they love helping folks solve design riddles in their own homes.

We have a pretty big design crush on designer Katie Zamprioli. She’s never met a candy-colored hue she can’t style, and her maximalist mixture of vintage finds and quirky accents is expert-level. (Not many homes can pull off a fried egg dining table.) So when Katie wanted to refresh her entryway, we couldn’t wait to see what she chose. “I wanted furniture and decor that better complemented the wallpaper,” she says.

Jordan and Barry, aka The Brownstone Boys, are living the dream. First, this DIY- and design-savvy duo turned their passion for Brooklyn brownstones into a gorgeous home for themselves. Then they started a renovation business to help other lovers of this classic architectural style restore their spaces to full glory. While the Brownstone Boys have already done enough DIYs and projects for their home to be completely stunning, they’re always down for new ideas.

Some home innovations are so game-changing that, once you have them, it’s hard to imagine life without them. Smart products definitely fall into that category. Whether you’re setting the thermostat remotely or asking Alexa to reorder toilet paper, it’s amazing to consider all the ways that technology has made our lives at home easier — and safer.

Open kitchens are — and this is a technical design term — so much fun. Abundant natural light, beautiful open shelving, and unobstructed access to the party you’re hosting, even while you prep dinner. What’s not to love?After a nine-month renovation that delivered the kitchen/dining area of their dreams, Kirsten and her husband were excited to bring it to life with their clean, modern style.

After nine long months of renovations, Kirsten and her husband couldn’t wait to get started turning their open-concept kitchen/dining area into the entertaining epicenter they’d been dreaming of.“The kitchen and dining area felt like it could be the heart of the home and the center of fun when friends came over,” Kirsten says. “The new open plan felt warm and welcoming — a perfect place for guests to relax.

The phrase “open concept” calls to mind breezy rooms, natural light, and fluid movement from one space to the next. And after nine months of construction dust in their L.A. home, that’s exactly what Kirsten and her husband had: Their newly completed kitchen and dining room renovation created a bright, airy footprint for entertaining family and friends. But it was also, for a moment, a big empty space.

You know that one accessory, maybe it’s a statement necklace or a cool pair of sneakers, that instantly makes any outfit 10 percent more stylish? There are spots in our homes like that too. They don’t take much work to shine (that’s the whole point!), yet they look amazing. And they make the rest of your home look amazing too.

Sometimes when a room needs a little reboot, the possibilities (and the square footage) can make change seem a little overwhelming. But we know a shortcut to refreshing any room’s vibe in an afternoon: Find your focal point.That’s what Apartment Therapy’s Executive Home Director Danielle Blundell did when her living room felt a bit uninspired.

Sometimes your space doesn’t need a stuff refresh as much as it needs a mood refresh. Sure, you might want to add a new element or two, but the goal is more about cultivating a new vibe than creating a new visual effect. This feeling often hits in the summertime, with its effervescent energy that has us wanting to do all the things. For Emily Paloma Sanchez, that means more get-togethers with friends in her chic SoCal home.

Part of designing a stylish and comfortable room is thinking about how you want it to feel. Whether you’re talking about furniture, paint colors, scents, or textiles, mood is what brings all those elements together into a look — and a vibe — that you love. And when it comes to decorating the bedroom, that vibe is a no-brainer: cozy cozy cozy! DIYer and design lover Elisa Mastrocolla wanted to give her bedroom an extra dose of snuggly energy without doing much work.

Going out is fun, but staying in is divine. No reservations? Wonderful. Soft pants? Yes, please. We at Apartment Therapy think that doing nothing is underrated, which is why we’re celebrating our right to relax in honor of National Lazy Day. (It’s officially August 10, but really, it’s as often as you want it to be.) And here’s a secret: relaxed, restorative nights in can feel just as special as nights out.That’s a vibe that La-Z-Boy® understands.

When was the last time you stayed home and played? If your answer was “middle school,” then hear us out: Canceling your plans in favor of some low-key indoor activities is kind of the greatest and you should try it immediately. It’s just one of the ways that we at Apartment Therapy are honoring National Lazy Day: August 10 on the calendar; every day in our hearts. A lazy day is a moment to appreciate all the reasons that staying in is way more fun than going out.

Sometimes the plans you’re most excited about aren’t really plans at all: They’re the low-key, low-effort activities that happen when you don’t feel like making a big fuss. That’s why we’re honoring National Lazy Day (August 10 — but every day, honestly) with a celebration of all the ways that staying in can feel way more fun than going out. Spoiler alert: There are a lot of ’em.

Sometimes, self-care can sound a little too much like work. (If you’ve ever struggled to get the perfect coat of polish using your non-dominant hand, then you know what we mean.) On those days, self-care is about doing less of everything. And here at Apartment Therapy, we’re honoring National Lazy Day (officially recognized on August 10 but celebrated whenever we feel like it) by embracing the idea of doing less and resting more.La-Z-Boy® knows all about that.

“Forever homes” tend to get all the attention, but sometimes home is temporary. From sojourns in new cities to landing pads before a bigger move, there are all kinds of reasons why we might not want to spend forever-home energy (and dollars!) in our current living space. But whether you’re between more permanent solutions or just haven’t figured out what decor you want to invest in, you can still make your space your own.

For University of Miami architecture and interior design student Benedetto Rebecca, a beautiful home isn’t just a perk — it’s his major. When he lived in a dorm, he made the cinder-block space feel serene with textured curtains and warm neutral bedding. Now he shares a stylish off-campus house with friends, and he wanted to start the new school year by giving his bathroom a grown-up refresh on a student budget. “It felt a little too cold,” Benny says.

As a floral designer, Rachel Clark tended to keep her space neutral so that her designs could shine. But when her white walls started to feel boring, she wanted a refresh that added color but stayed subtle enough to let her decor — from floral arrangements to vintage furnishings — have center stage. The result was part art gallery, part secret garden, and all Rachel. But it didn’t happen by accident: A lot of choices go into one pretty “after”!

Admit it: You’ve got that house. The one where guests always gush over your great taste and even better ideas, from furniture and gallery walls to paint colors and pattern-mixing. Maybe you’re even taking on projects for family and friends, selling your furniture flips, or sharing DIYs on social media. If you’re dreaming of taking your design skills to the next level, there’s a free and easy way to start.

For artist and musician Raquel Lily, their home is an extension of their creative life. Raquel loves bold colors and big design statements, but they weren’t sure what hue to choose for their living room. As the first place visitors see, and the location of band rehearsals and other work projects, the room needed a shot of fresh energy.

When engineer-turned-comedian Ayanna wanted to add some color to her white-box Brooklyn studio apartment, we jumped at the chance to play with paint. Ayanna wanted to let her “controlled maximalist” style shine without taking over the 487-square-foot space,  plus she needed a photogenic backdrop for recording videos and auditions. The result was dramatic, cozy, and as full of personality as the performer herself.

Every room starts with a vision. It gets filled in as you go — this lighting, that sofa — until your idea is so real you can almost see it. Or, until you can actually see it. That’s the idea behind Overstock’s new Design Boards: They organize all of your ideas and help you bring spaces to life.

Every aspect of Raquel Lily‘s life bursts with creativity, from their blossoming music career and cheerful fashion to their eclectic Atlanta home. But while this artist is never afraid to go bold, they weren’t sure which paint color would best bring their living room walls to life.“Being a total fan of statement colors, it was hard for me to commit to a shade,” they say.

There was already a lot to love about Dian and Tim’s primary bedroom. It got great natural light and, like the rest of their Chicago condo, had a lovely mix of architectural charm and modern updates. (Built in the 1880s, the condo building was rehabbed in the early 2000s.) But when it came to giving the white walls a coat of personality, Dian was so overwhelmed by the color choices that she didn’t know where to begin.

As a floral designer with her own business creating gorgeous arrangements and installations, Rachel Clark loves to let her decor speak for itself. She’s tended to keep the walls of her New York apartment neutral so that her flowers and knick-knacks can shine. But lately, those white walls were feeling a bit boring.“I love cool, neutral tones with fun accents, organized clutter, and a mix of vintage and modern pieces,” Rachel says.

There was nothing wrong with the guest bathroom in Dian and Tim’s cute Chicago condo, per se. But with white walls, a gray floor, and no windows, it just felt blah and dark — even with the couple’s contemporary, mid-century touches. And it certainly didn’t have the modern, airy charm of the rest of their home.Dian knew she wanted to use color to inject some energy into the bathroom, but with so many possibilities, she wasn’t sure what direction to go in.

Dian and Tim’s Chicago condo is the definition of “good bones”: Their 1880s building was rehabbed in the early 2000s, so it has that dreamy combo of architectural character and modern updates. In such a fresh space, the design possibilities are endless — so much so that Dian felt overwhelmed by all the options.This was especially true when it came to painting.

No matter how much you love design, sometimes your space is decidedly “in-between.” It’s just life! Maybe you’re saving up for your dream home, and your couch is on its last legs (literally). Or you’re relocating to a new city, but your first stop is temporary while you find the right spot. Or perhaps you know you want to change up your space’s aesthetic, but you’re still finding the style you want.

Fans of Ayanna Dookie‘s comedy might recognize her home workspace: The engineer-turned-performer often films clips in this corner of her Brooklyn studio apartment, using her stunning cheetah print wallpaper as a backdrop. Ayanna wanted the rest of her space to match that wall’s vibrancy and style and her “controlled maximalist” approach to design — while also feeling like a personal sanctuary post-divorce.

Working from home, working out from home, hosting friends, hanging as a family: We ask a lot of our houses. Sometimes, we have to get creative to make everything happen in the same place while keeping our style intact.For professional photographer Samantha and her husband, the challenge was making their eclectic and artsy Los Angeles living room more efficient and multifunctional for the whole family.

If you have little ones in your house, you know that — while they’re adorable — they’re not always the neatest. Between crayon marks on walls and toys all over the carpet, it’s tough to hit the right balance between wanting your kids to have fun and wanting your house to look its best. But it’s possible!Creating a dedicated play area in your living room can be a great way to corral the fun without compromising your design style.

When Samantha and her family moved into their Los Angeles apartment, it was a big space upgrade — especially the 200-square-foot living room big enough for chill family hangs, parties with friends, and playtime for the kids. But moving into a larger place meant that their furniture and artwork weren’t quite to scale with the room, leaving it feeling a little disorganized and haphazard.