There’s small and then there is narrow. A narrow bedroom can be difficult to work with as this space traditionally calls for multiple pieces of furniture, such as nightstands on both sides of a bed and a dresser or armoire that may be difficult to squeeze in comfortably. This shape of room can also be difficult to work with design-wise as extra-long walls on two sides can feel endless and may lack visual interest.
Mae West was famous for saying, “The best way to get over a guy is to get under a new guy.” Despite its many implications, it was a good reminder to me that amidst all the politics of dating, as an Apartment Therapist, underneath it ALL is a bed and the BEST way to catch the new person you want is to have a fantastic bedroom. Your bedroom is the clearest expression of how you are feeling about yourself right now and is bathed in your pheromones.
In a classic Friends episode, Ross convinces Chandler and Rachel to help him move his new couch up a few flights of stairs in lieu of paying the delivery charge. A hand drawn sketch and a few “pivots” later and, of course, the couch is stuck in mid-rounding-the-corner. When moving your own furniture, there are a few ways of getting your sofa around those tight corners.
With just a few relatively inexpensive items from your local craft shop, you can try your hand at printmaking — a fun process that begins with carving a design into linoleum, and then transferring the design onto paper. Channel your 11th grade art class and set up your own little printmaking studio at home; here’s a quick tutorial!1. Gather your materials.
Sleep is good, right? So anything you can do to get a few extra winks in the morning is going to be a good idea. For instance, you could try to combine parts of your get-ready routine to save a little time and effort. Me? I swear by this trick: Before I use it on my hair, I use my flat iron to smooth wrinkles in my shirt.I find that my hair straightener does a great job of smoothing out small creases and wrinkles from my blouses and shirts.
Q: We just reupholstered our comfy sofa with an all-cotton fabric. Is there a non-toxic way to “seal” the fabric and make it more stain-resistant? I’m sure a no-eating-on-the-couch rule would help, but it’s just not realistic! My family used to use some spray that worked well, but it has a daunting ingredient list.Sent by ElissaEditor: Elissa, great job on the reupholstery! It looks like an entirely new piece of furniture.
Changing out a light fixture can be an easy, relatively quick way to update a room, and it can often make a dramatic difference. Here’s a quick guide on removing the old fixture, leaving just what you need to connect your new one. • safety glasses• circuit tester• screwdriver• step stool or ladderInstructions1. First, shut off the power at the breaker or fuse box.
When painting, choosing the perfect color is only the first step. Picking the right paint finish is another key ingredient in determining how your final product will look and wear. How to choose? Read on to discover the pros and cons. Paint finishes come in three general categories: flat (or matte), low-luster (eggshell and satin) and gloss (or semigloss). Choosing between them is simply a matter of weighing your room conditions, need for durability, and personal taste.
A year and a half ago I moved from Houston, Texas to New York, New York, and from a 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom townhouse to a 250-square-foot studio. And you know what? I love my new space, and my new city, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a bit of an adjustment to live in a studio apartment.
Architectural designer Nick Waldman and cookbook author Sarah Waldman learned a lot of lessons when they renovated a house built in the 1920s on Martha's Vineyard.
Applying fabric to a wall with liquid starch is a great solution for renters and commitment-phobes alike. A bit time-intensive, yes, but the results are just about as good as it gets. And unlike some wallpapers, you can take it with you when you move! This kitchenette turned walk-in closet (old house, used to be multiple apartments..) had great light and was begging for some inspired design.
If you’re living in a home with a small bathroom, you’ll face unique challenges when it comes to decorating and storage options. So don’t let the area above your toilet go to waste! Whether you install art, shelving, or even just accessorize the top of your toilet tank, decorating above a toilet can make all the difference in your bathroom. Below, we’ve rounded up 13 of our favorite ideas for what to do with that weird space above your toilet, from storage to décor.
When cold weather and long, dark days begin to set in, most people begin to wonder what’s the best way to keep warm without running the heat? After all, nothing’s better than feeling warm and toasty in your own home, and plus, freezing temps definitely make it harder to get out of bed. Whether you’re hoping to cut back on energy bills, or you live in a home without heat, it’s possible to keep warm without cranking up the radiator.
These small-space dwellers turned closets into miniature home offices, installed fold-down desks, designed custom solutions, and worked with what they already had to create highly efficient work zones... that also looked great, too.
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.
