Kelly Dawson's Recent Articles
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B&A: A Plain Spare Room Transforms into a “Disco Cocoon” Media Lounge
Home Projects
The new space is a grown-up secret clubhouse that goes all-out with bold design.
Apr 21, 2023
B&A: A “Dark and Dingy” 1990s Bathroom Brightens Up with a $4,000 Redo
This reno only took five days.
Apr 20, 2023
Doing This One Thing Has Made It Possible to Maintain a 25-Year Friendship
Living
It's a short-and-sweet way my friend and I stay in touch.
Feb 28, 2023
Designer to DIY: This Potentially Free Idea for Your Powder Room Is Pro-Approved
Designer Marie Trohman discusses how she put her own spin on the space above her powder room's vanity.
Feb 24, 2023
Here's Why You Should Rethink the Design Details in Your Home
These six options will make your home's most basic details look more intentional.
Feb 15, 2023
I Thought This $6 Kitchen Tool Was Unnecessary, Until I Trusted My Mom
This small detail would provide peace of mind.
Jan 30, 2023
The Simple (but Essential) Resolution Every Homeowner Should Make This Year
This habit will help you save time and money in the short- and long-term.
Jan 5, 2023
4 Home Remodeling Trends Contractors Secretly Hate
Some home upgrades aren't worth adding to your to do list.
Jan 4, 2023
4 Tips for Completing a Home Reno Project in the Short, Dark Days of Winter
Don't let an early sunset dissuade you from tackling your home improvement checklist.
Jan 3, 2023
B&A: A Cheerful Kids' Room Gets a New Life as a Grown Up Office and Guest Room
Home Projects
When this DIYer's kids outgrew their bedroom and moved into a bigger one, she wanted to give the space that they left behind a new, more sophisticated look.
Dec 29, 2022
The 10 Best Bedroom Redos of 2022 Prioritize Comfort and Clutter-Busting Fixes
Want great sleep in 2023? It might be time for a bedroom upgrade. Let these 10 amazing transformations give you the inspiration to get started.
Dec 28, 2022
The 10 Best Living Room Redos of 2022, from Minimalist Havens to Bold Hangouts
These living room redos will inspire you to take another look at your own space.
Dec 26, 2022
The 10 Best Bathroom Redos of 2022, from Serene Escapes to Dramatic Jaw-Dropp
Bold wallpaper? Quirky vintage tile? Spa-like atmosphere? These bathrooms have it all.
Dec 23, 2022
10 of the Best Entryway Redos We Saw in 2022, Starting at Under $120
These makeovers feature clever organizing ideas, bold color choices, smart DIYs, and more.
Dec 21, 2022
The 5 Home Projects Workers You Should Tip, and the 2 You Can Skip
Want to show your appreciation for a job well done? Here's your complete guide on who and how to tip.
Dec 20, 2022
5 Designer-Approved, No-Reno Ways to Make Your Front Door More Accessible
These steps will help your home feel more welcoming to all your guests.
Dec 16, 2022
10 of the Best Kitchen Redos We Saw in 2022, from Rental-Friendly to Gut Reno
We saw a lot of kitchen makeovers this year, but these 10 are among our very favorites for their clever design tricks, cool color schemes, and impressive DIYs.
Dec 14, 2022
B&A: Dreaming of Warmer Weather? Let This Stunning Patio Redo Inspire You
This family's yard redo offers multiple hangout spots that help them take full advantage of their outdoor space.
Nov 6, 2022
5 Kitchen Design Trends That Can Make Your Kitchen More Accessible
According to an interior designer!
Oct 24, 2022
The 7 Best YouTube Channels for Homeowners, According to Reddit
Home Projects
Most DIYers will tell you that this is where the knowledge begins.
Oct 24, 2022
This Genius IKEA Hack Can Turn a Laminate Tabletop into a Wood Stunner
Home Projects
A Redditor shares how a table with scratches and stains was saved.
Oct 20, 2022
B&A: An Unfinished Basement Gets an English Countryside Bathroom
Home Projects
With help from the pros, a DIYer transformed a blank space for $9,600.
Oct 19, 2022
6 DIY Skills Every Homeowner Must Know, According to Reddit
HOME PROJECTS
A new homeowner asked the Home Improvement subreddit for advice and got hundreds of responses
Oct 19, 2022
This Simple Decorating Trick Creates Visual Cohesion in a Teeny-Tiny Space
Style
In this 200-square-foot studio, a wood stain makes a big difference.
Oct 5, 2022
7 Subtle, Fun Halloween Decor Items that Even Minimalists Will Love
Style
If you’re also someone who’s looking for a more low-key take on the season, at least inside your home, this may be the way to do it.
Oct 5, 2022
A "Bed Nook" May Just Be the Small-Space Solution You Need for Guests
Style
This is how you can give visitors their own dedicated space.
Oct 3, 2022
There’s a Good Chance You’ve Been Sleeping on the Color Orange
Style
It’s a design choice that’s worth a second look.
Sep 29, 2022
Think You Have to Choose Between Paint and Natural Wood? This Home Has Both
Tours
If you hold on to a classic wood finish, you can still use as many paints as you please.
Sep 7, 2022
You Should Consider Adding Disco Balls to Your Nightstand, for the Fun of It
Tours
If you’ve been following the latest design trends, then one possible way to make your surroundings less stressful and more smile-inducing is to add disco balls — lots and lots of disco balls. 
Sep 6, 2022
Here’s a Clever Place for Artwork That You Probably Haven’t Considered Yet
Style
If you have available space beneath your windows, consider adding artwork.
Sep 5, 2022
A Brooklyn Rental’s Pretty Palette Is an Example of How to Elevate the Everyday
Tours
When it comes to the Brooklyn apartment of experiential designer Briana Guin, it’s clear that specific shades were chosen for her home from the beginning, down to the smallest details.
Sep 5, 2022
If a Room Lacks Overhead Lighting, Remember This Trick From a Paris Apartment
Style
Centering a pendant light in a space that would otherwise lack overhead lighting is a great way to ensure that your home balances style and function at any time of day.
Sep 1, 2022
Your WFH Setup Shouldn’t Be Seen All The Time, and This Trick Conceals It
TOURS
Seeing signs of work while moving around your home makes it tough to truly rest, which is why this solution from Manhattan residents Grant Griglak and Grayden Holubar is so appealing.
Sep 1, 2022
Double the Surface Area of Your Coffee Table Using This Genius Idea
Tours
A “Star Wars table” in a Michigan apartment acts as a display case and a piece of practical furniture.
Aug 25, 2022
The Unexpected, Affordable Bathroom Item That Can Help Your Houseplants Thrive
This hack serves double duty.
Aug 12, 2022
B&A: I Helped My Parents Give Their Decades-Old Bedroom a Modern New Look
Sometimes you just need a persistent (read: pushy) family member to finally finish a project you've been meaning to get to. For my parents, that person is me.
Aug 7, 2022
The 5 IKEA Finds That Apartment Therapy Staffers Swear By Most
Style
I asked my fellow AT staffers to share the IKEA finds they swear by, and some of their responses have been staples of their homes for years.
Aug 3, 2022
After Pausing My Wine Subscription, This Solution Is Making My New Happy Hour
I put a pause on my wine subscription and started looking for non-alcoholic substitutes for afternoon happy hours that still felt festive.
Jul 25, 2022
The 5 Under $25 Kitchen Tools That Apartment Therapy Staffers Use Every Day
I asked my colleagues to tell me about the under $25 kitchen tools they use basically every day, and why they’ve made such a difference in managing duties in this space.
Jul 23, 2022
6 Things You Should Know Before Starting a Bathroom Remodel, According to Reddit
Want to give your bathroom a new look this summer? Read this first for advice homeowners wish they'd known before embarking on their own bathroom remodels.
Jul 20, 2022
B&A: An Accent Wall in a Daring Color Transforms a “Boring" Bedroom in 2 Days
This relatively little project that had seriously big payoff.
Jul 11, 2022
7 Ways to Turn Your Humble Shower into a Relaxing, Spa-Like Retreat
Once you accomplish these simple tasks, you’ll feel ahh-mazing.
Jun 27, 2022
A Handheld Under-$20 Tool Is the Secret to Easy DIY Wall Moulding
DIY moulding projects might look intimidating, but you can actually complete them without a saw in sight.
Jun 25, 2022
The 8 Best Under-$1,000 One-Room Makeovers We've Ever Seen
These DIY makeovers made the most of tight budgets.
Jun 22, 2022
This DIY Lamp Looks Like a Million Bucks (But Uses Materials You Already Have)
A $0 material is the secret to pulling off this chic lamp makeover.
Jun 15, 2022
7 of the Best “Game-Changer” Home Projects You Can Do for Under $1,000, According to Reddit
As with all things in life, owning a home requires a careful balance. Since it’s yours to enjoy, after all, you want every room to resemble your specific tastes. But you probably also want to make sure that any upgrades you invest in are worth it — either in resale, or in money saved or quality of life gained before that.Deciphering which DIY projects are worth the money and which ones are skippable is a tricky task.
Jun 9, 2022
The One Thing You're Forgetting When You Wallpaper (and the $0 Way to Fix It)
Take your DIY project from good to great with this easy project you can do in minutes.
Jun 3, 2022
6 Tasks DIYers Should Almost Always Do Themselves, According to Reddit
Learning to do these tasks in your own home can save you lots of money in the long run.
May 18, 2022