Kim R. McCormick

Living well in close quarters requires, among other things, efficient furniture placement. These studios, one-bedroom apartments, and one house show how you can make your home’s spatial quirks and shortcomings work in your favor.Studio apartments offer the obvious challenge of making one space function as several. In slightly larger apartments, the living room often works overtime as an office area, dining room, and entryway.

About four weeks ago, I declared that I was going to stop keeping my iPhone at my side overnight. I’m happy to say that I’ve stuck with the plan, and the results have been positive across the board. First, thanks to everyone who expressed support for the idea. Telling you about the plan and knowing I wanted to report back were key in getting me to stick to it.

You don’t have to give a room a full-on makeover to make it feel new. In fact, a few simple and free or very cheap tactics can quickly refresh a space — including your bedroom. 1. Clean your sheets. Nestling in between freshly laundered sheets is probably the easiest and cheapest way to feel like you’re in a new room. If you’re feeling fancy, try adding some homemade linen spray. 2. Make your bed.

image:86f5a8a99c727561ea4869de120ef8e64c197242 w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" I love the feel of plush bath mats, but mine usually end up staying tamped down, accumulating dog hair, and generally not being nice and fluffy. Given that I recently learned I have a few household allergies, I’ve decided it’s time to forgo the cotton rug.

I am about six months pregnant; while there are a lot of things I’d like, there’s one big one I need: sleep. Here are a few things I find essential to getting a good night’s rest. 1. To sleep better, turn down your thermostat. It’s science, friends. Studies suggest your room be around 60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. This same link, from The New York Times, points to another study showing that insomniacs have warmer core body temperatures just before bed. 2. Know thyself.

Colorful walls are cheerful, and light walls can be peaceful, but I think dark walls are soothing and cozy. Those two adjectives sound just right for a little one’s room. I’ve recently transitioned a guest bedroom with an almost-black accent wall to serve as a nursery. Although for a minute I thought the existing color might seem overwhelming or unhappy, I quickly realized it was a soothing and yet modern backdrop for baby. (Photos to come, once I finish the room!) TOP ROW 1.

You don’t have to be able to tell an Arak from a Tabriz to appreciate how good either rug looks in a room. They work well with modern or traditional decor, and they only get better with age.Classy and classic, oriental rugs are a reliably stylish way to add color, pattern, and history to almost any room in your house. They’ll add interest to a hallway (Image 10) and give a grownup feel to a nursery (Image 2).

Tis The Gift To Be SimpleFrom a religious and social standpoint, Shakers were radicals when they arrived in New York from England just before the American Revolution, in 1774. Like Quakers, they are pacifists. In contrast to the Quakers and most other religions, the Shakers, officially the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Coming, began with a woman leader.

When I’m shopping for clothes, I often look for tops that will go with a lot of outfits without just being a white T-shirt. I want something versatile but still a little interesting. The same could be said for the perfect rug. While they’re all in neutral colors, each of these options works for its own reason. Some have interesting texture, and others introduce just a tiny bit of another color.

Every spring I seem to reconsider how I feel about pink; that is, April and its blossoms remind me of the color’s merits. Whether you’re someone who likes the color all 12 months of the year or somebody less convinced that it deserves attention, take a peek at how different shades could work for the furniture in your home. While I love the first image, I generally prefer the use of pink when it’s a little unexpected. (After all, hot pink is not a color for playing it safe.

Now that the start of spring is seeming like a meteorological reality and not just a date on the calendar, my mind has turned to budding flowers, chirping birds, and fluffy bunnies. This list celebrates the latter, including one or two childhood classics. TOP ROW: 1. Bunny rabbit photography by K Purol Art Prints, $26 for 8×10 2. Bunny lamp by Suck UK on Amazon, $90.61 3. Black bunny rabbit print by Matou en peluche, $17 for A4 4.

Having a blank canvas to work with is fun, but when it’s really big, that can be a bit of a challenge. First there’s the question of just what you might want to put up there that’s the right size, and then there’s the question of how to do it affordably. Here are some of our favorite fixes for big, blank walls. 1. Architectural salvage elements: Salvaged elements such as shutters are big and have lots of character.

One of the best decisions I’ve made in decorating my home has been choosing a dark paint color for the room where my husband and I watch (a lot of) TV. These five homes that show how the look and feel can work in other living rooms too. In addition to minimizing your TV’s presence when the lights are on, a dark wall color creates a cozy feel. The color doesn’t have to be black — deep blue greens (Images 1 and 5) work well too.

With these frigid temperatures, I want to spend more and more time warm in bed (begone, polar vortex!). While I generally love a good dose of color, winter whites of the non-snow variety are very appealing to me right now. These bedrooms are neutral but not boring because they use texture (the rugs, pillows, and blankets in images 2 and 3) and shine (the mercury glass lamps and silvery pillows in image 1) wisely. 1.

Mirrored accents are just the thing to add a little bling to a room. Mixed with other textures, reflective side tables and consoles add a dose of refinement. Here are some options in a range of prices. TOP ROW: 1. Foxed mirror console from West Elm, $549 2. Threshold mirrored modern accent table from Target, $99 3. Square iron and glass Newman side table from Lamps Plus, $540.91 4. Plum & Bow Libby side table from Urban Outfitters, $149 5. Mirror and rust side table from Lamps Plus, $99.

Reading the comments after Christina’s closet-turned-office space post on Monday, I found some discussion about facing the wall while you work. If you have a desk at home, do you prefer to face the room or have your back to it? What about windows and doors? Or, do you prefer “floating” in the middle of the room?