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.

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.

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.

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.

In the days before a big trip, our to-do lists just seem to get longer: Pack an extra phone charger! Pick up that prescription refill! Don’t forget to check in for your flight! There’s so much to remember when preparing yourself for travel that it can be easy to forget to prepare your house, too.Making sure your home is safe and sound while you’re gone is a crucial part of travel prep — but luckily, it’s not complicated.

Our dogs are family — and like family, we want to take the best care of them that we possibly can. That includes some obvious preparations to keep them safe and healthy every day: a sturdy harness and leash for walks, puzzle toys to keep their minds stimulated, and nutritious treats for when they’re the goodest boys and girls. (So, always.)There are also additional precautions you might not think of at first that can pay off big in peace of mind.

What’s our favorite way to get excited about summer? Updating our space! There’s something about these brighter days that helps us see our home in a whole new way. Maybe you want to take advantage of your living room’s natural light, turn your patio into a sun-drenched oasis, or get your dining room ready for summertime gatherings. We say ride that warm-weather energy and give your living, dining, or outdoor area a fresh new look.

It’s almost summer, also known as spend-every-possible-second-outside season. If you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor space at home, don’t just drag your beach chairs out of the basement and call it a day. Terraces, patios, backyards — they all become additional rooms when the weather is right. And just like inside, a thoughtfully designed space that matches your style will reward you every time you fire up the grill, sit outside to read, or nap in the shade.

There are times in life when “home” is decidedly in flux. Maybe you’re moving, living the digital nomad life, or trying different styles before committing to your forever design. Whatever the reason, buying furniture — and then lugging it around from home to home — might not be high on your to-do list. But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for low-quality items or miss out on your favorite trends.

When we finally start to get a peek of spring, the itch to refresh our space soon follows. The new season’s fresh scents and happy hues inspire us to zhuzh things up a bit: a bright throw pillow here, a fresh floral print there. It’s fun to infuse our homes with subtle updates that make us smile and celebrate warmer, sunnier days.We asked interior stylist Tanika Rottura how she’d welcome the seasonal shift into her space.

There’s no better feeling than the first spring day when it’s finally warm enough to open the windows. It makes us want to capture that fresh-air feeling in our decor, too. But you don’t have to go all out: Small tweaks like peppier colors, brighter lighting, and warm-weather scents are all you need to transform your space’s mood for the season ahead.We asked Monica Chavez, who’s known for her clever DIYs, how she’d welcome the seasonal shift into her space.

The transition from winter to spring is a joyful one: After months of gray and cold, the days get longer, the birds start singing, and the air fills with the sweet scent of new growth. And we get eager to bring this invigorating energy home. With a few small tweaks and touches, our spaces can take on all the color and dynamism of the season, giving us the feeling of a fresh start every day.We asked DIY maven Ursula Carmona how she’d welcome the seasonal shift into her space.

Picture it: It’s early spring, and the season’s first flowers are blooming. The air is warm but still a little crisp, with a tranquil, fragrant breeze. We’d love to hang out in this idyllic scene all day long, but since that’s not exactly practical, we’re settling for the next best thing: bringing this serene, sweet-smelling seasonal vibe into our decor.

While spring slowly reveals itself bud by bud and bloom by bloom, there’s always that one moment in the season where it just “clicks.” It’s that feeling that makes you want to leap into a brighter, breezier style moment as soon as possible. Which doesn’t have to be a major change!

We’ve all gotten heart-eyes-emoji for an expensive real estate listing. Maybe it features your dream gourmet kitchen, city view, or poolside cabana. (Or hey, all three!) It’s way out of your price range — like, way out — but you mentally save it to your “If I win the lottery” folder. Well, it’s time to find those dreams a home for real.

Finding the right mattress can feel like dating: You can kiss a lot of frogs on your way to the perfect match. Firm or soft? Spring or foam? Side or back sleeper? Well, Tuft & Needle just launched a new mattress that answers those questions handily: All of the above. The new Mint Hybrid is, quite simply, The One.

It's a matter of quality.

Name: Andreea Gaul, husband Bryan, daughter Alina, Marlo (German shepherd), Louie (corgi), Penelope (cat)Location: Charleston, SCSize: 2,600 square feetType of Home: Single FamilyYears Lived In: 6 months, ownedWhen lifestyle content creator Andreea Gaul and her husband, Bryan, moved from Chicago to Charleston, they were shocked at the amount of space they could get for their money. And they needed it!

Name: Camille, husband Jack, and son EastonLocation: AtlantaSize: 2,250 square feetType of home: TownhomeYears lived in: 1.5 years (owned)Camille Dobbins-Jackson’s very first DIY didn’t just change her home — it changed her whole career. She wanted to create a show-stopping foyer in the airy Atlanta townhome she shares with her husband and son: complete with new moulding, elegant lighting, and a museum-style gallery of family portraits.

Finding your own style can be tricky enough, let alone adding someone else’s into the mix. But when we’re sharing a space — be it with roommates, significant others, or family members — that’s exactly what we have to do. While mixing modern with traditional or boho with industrial may sound like mixing oil and water, there’s a way to do it that lets everyone feel at home. And it can actually be fun, too.

Our interior styles are always evolving — that’s half the fun of decorating! We’re constantly tweaking our decor to create a home that feels ever more ours. And while we love it when a guest compliments our efforts, like an area rug or accent chair, that’s not our favorite part. Our favorite part is getting to say, “You won’t believe the deal I got on this.” Enter Overstock.com.

This article is sponsored by Ring. All prices and savings listed in this post are as of publication and could change.There’s so much I love about living alone: decorating how I want, not hesitating to bring home yet another houseplant, never having to remind a roommate again to unload the dishwasher. But while living alone helps me feel more confident, more empowered, and more myself, it can also feel a little vulnerable sometimes.

There’s nothing like getting that big idea for a room makeover or DIY. Your mind is swimming with inspiration, ideas, and daydreams about your brand-new space. You think, “So many possibilities!” And then you think, “So. Many. Possibilities.”Don’t panic: When you’re dreaming big, the first step is always the hardest.

You can accomplish a lot in eight weeks — even a whole room renovation. That’s the spirit of the One Room Challenge®, a two-month event that encourages designers and DIYers of all experience levels to tackle that big room redo of their dreams. We’ve been following three participants along the way, from the full-of-ideas beginning to the what-was-I-thinking? middle. Now, it’s time to see the results of all their hard work.

There’s a secret step hidden in every big DIY project: not quitting. The beginning and end are a blast, with their fresh energy and job-well-done satisfaction. It’s the middle — where your room is still a mess, and you’re not sure you chose the right furniture, and why did you start this project anyway? — that can get sticky. These three designers are in the middle right now.

The holidays are about family, togetherness, and memories. They’re also a little bit about being the house that everybody wants to stay at. We kid, but there is something special about waking up to a home full of loved ones. So we want to make our houseguests feel extra welcome, with a comfortable guest room full of thoughtful touches to help them settle in.

We’re convinced that the first person to say “Work smarter, not harder,” was talking about cleaning. Of course, there’s a time and place for a roll-up-your-sleeves, crank-up-the-tunes deep clean. But keeping your home tidy day-to-day is all about efficiency: shortcuts and multitasking tricks to help your home feel clean even when it’s not, per se, spotless.

Pets love routine, and the holidays are anything but. Suddenly there are new house guests, an ornate tree in the living room, and a Santa hat they’re expected to don for family photos. Amidst all the (human) activity, it can be easy to forget that your pets, and their messes, might need a little extra attention this time of year. No worries: With some simple prep and cleaning tricks, everyone in your house can enjoy the season.

When you’re getting dinner on the table, there’s one step that often gets put off until the last minute: setting it. As prime entertaining season approaches, we challenge you to start by setting the table — and to go all out. (In fact, a common tip we hear among our favorite entertaining experts is to set the table the night before the party. It won’t get lost in the day-of chaos, and you’ll know that every part of the meal has its place.

There are few big-ticket items that withstand the test of time and look amazing in your home for decades. Even fewer that double as conversation starters and instant, interactive icebreakers at those holiday parties. In fact, we can only think of one: a piano.You might not have a piano yourself, but we bet your parents or grandparents did. Pianos used to be staples and centerpieces of the home — part statement piece, part at-the-ready entertainment.

An eye-catching floral mural welcomes visitors to Mother’s Pantry in Inkster, MI, offering a preview of the positive spirit inside: As the area’s only client choice food pantry, they allow clients to shop like a grocery store, selecting items to suit their families’ dietary needs. Supporting its community’s health is a critical mission for Mother’s Pantry, and one its staff and volunteers take seriously.

Name: Bianca JadeLocation: Brooklyn, NYSize: 2,813 sqftType of home: BrownstoneYears lived in: 1 year, rentingWhether she’s reporting on the latest fitness trends, sharing skincare secrets, or posting pics of her amazing nail art, wellness expert and TV host Bianca Jade is always on the move. So she needs her Brooklyn home — a gorgeously restored brownstone full of natural light and warm wood details — to be a place of calm and relaxation.

Name: Lisa Hayim, MS, RD, and Evan Shlofmitz, D.O.Location: North Shore Long Island, NYType of home: Single-family homeYears lived in: 2 yearsLisa Hayim is the real-talk friend we all need when it comes to wellness. A registered dietician, yoga instructor, recipe developer, wellness pro, and mom-to-be, she’s just as concerned about what goes into her body as she is about the space around her.

When we were kids, there were few places as exciting as the library. We spent hours wandering the stacks and discovering stories that stuck with us into adulthood. And the library at Philadelphia’s Henry H. Houston School has been providing that magical experience since the 1920s!The K-8 school has long been an inclusive and diverse place for students and their families, with a vibrant academic and social community.

We’re willing to bet you won’t find more smiling faces anywhere in Houston than BenCheri’ Educational Center. Since 2014, this community hub has offered local youth tutoring, mentoring, and after-school programming. From elementary school to high school, ABCs to financial literacy, BenCheri’ supports students with the knowledge they need to succeed. But the organization offers so much more than education.

Of all the perks our dream kitchen would have, what we’d put at the top of the list might surprise you: a beautiful, well-designed sink. Why? Because the sink is the heart of your kitchen’s workflow: From prep to cooking to clean-up, if your kitchen sink doesn’t function well, you’ll be frustrated every time you use it. The antidote to all that frustration is BLANCO, maker of ergonomic, durable, and totally gorgeous sinks, faucets, and accessories.

With its cozy loft vibe and big windows full of SoCal sunshine, JQ International is already a lively meeting spot for Jewish LGBTQ+ folks in Los Angeles. “J Club” — as it’s affectionately known — is the place to be for Pride events, youth group meetings, and casual drop-in hangs. It’s also an important hub for educational, mental health, and community-focused events: a safe space where queer Jewish people can feel comfortable and supported.

Nature is inspiring a lot of interior design right now, and the reason is simple: The colors of the natural world offer respite from work, life, and whatever’s on your mind. They can turn your home into a serene haven from everyday stress. So to highlight the warm, grounding power of these hues, we created a color palette layered with desert shades of mauve, bronze, and clay. Meet Earthy Pleasures.

When you think about improving your kitchen, it makes sense to start with the spot where you spend the most time — and we bet that’s not where you think. We’re talking about a gold mine of amazing upgrade potential that’s hiding in plain sight: your sink. A whopping 60 percent of our time in the kitchen is spent at the sink. (Just ask whoever in your house is on dishes duty tonight.