Action Sailthru Exclude

The pros of having pets on the sofa/in your bed/at the table are pretty clear: tons of cuddles, someone to pick up all the dinner crumbs, and no sad puppy dog eyes (or judgy cat eyes) when your loved one feels lefts out. But let’s face it: The hair gets everywhere. So, let’s talk about your pet hair strategies. Vacuums are, of course, the first line of defense if pets are allowed on the furniture.

Full disclosure: I am not musically inclined by any stretch of the imagination. But music is how my home stays connected with our multitude of friends and family around the world. I’m currently completely into Life’s Blood, the latest album of my friend Patrice who is based between Paris, Brooklyn, and Cologne. Disney’s Queen of Katwe soundtrack is also a backdrop in our home.

Stanley Steemer wants to know how you keep your home clean. Whether your mess is the result of kids or pets or…you…what’s your ritual for cleaning house? That’s the question at the center of their #KeepItCleanContest, and there’s a big bounty for showing them how: $5K cash, a starring role in Stanley Steemer’s next TV ad, and (best of all) a year of free deep cleanings.

A smaller space can actually be an urban homeowner’s dream: a beautiful, functional answer to the busy chaos of everyday life. With an eye for efficiency, square footage becomes irrelevant — and the old adage “less is more” becomes decidedly modern. So what does it take for a small space to work? When it is intentional.

The much-anticipated color of the year is here, and it takes a completely new direction from 2016’s Simply White OC-117! One of our favorite things about Benjamin Moore’s big reveal each year is how it speaks to larger design trends; this year’s is unexpected, but on point. The Benjamin Moore design team explains their arrival to this color, “People are growing braver and more confident about working with color.

For a century that’s still so young, the speed of life has changed rapidly. Now more than ever, we’re seeking ways to streamline and curate our busy lives. Nearly 100 years ago, the Bauhaus design movement began as a similar reaction. Its reigning principles, such as the unity of form and function, are still a pillar of modern, purposeful design.

From 1-bedroom apartments to larger houses, the living room sets the tone for the rest of the home. It should be calming for ourselves and our housemates, as well as any visitors we invite in; it should be equal parts comfort and style. With the right pieces, like those available at American Signature Furniture, our houses become homes. So, what should we consider to truly personalize our main living spaces? Ask yourself some basic questions: Do you enjoy having guests over?

Prize: An Aura Frame From: Aura Frames Value: $399 You have hundreds (thousands? tens of thousands?) of pictures on your phone right now. And yet, there they sit in your photos app, a 21st-century shoebox collecting dust in a closet. It’s time to get them out of digital storage and onto an IRL wall. Aura is ready to do that. Now, you may remember digital picture frames being all the rage in the mid-2000s. And you may remember tossing yours out after you used it twice.

From 1-bedroom apartments to larger houses, the living room sets the tone for the rest of the home. It should be calming for ourselves and our housemates, as well as any visitors we invite in; it should be equal parts comfort and style. With the right pieces, like those available at Value City Furniture, our houses become homes. So, what should we consider to truly personalize our main living spaces? Ask yourself some basic questions: Do you enjoy having guests over?

As summer slips into autumn, the return of the hectic schedule is inevitable: taxiing the kids (or yourself) to and from school and sports, working longer hours, squeezing in grocery runs for weeknight dinners. But as fall gets going, don’t forget to make some me-time. To help you remember, we developed this simple Mindful Moments Wall that uses Command™ Strips, Clips, and Hooks to help keep you at the center of your scheduling.

The bed, our dearest place of rest and relaxation, gets a little more appealing when the weather turns crisp. It’s important to make it an inviting place all year, of course — especially considering how much time we spend there — but fall and winter call for some extra-special touches. Like what? Oh, we have thoughts. Serene sheets. One word: flannel.

We can all agree that high-quality sheets are a solid investment. A little splurge pays off for the place where we spend a third of our lives. Key words: a little. It’s one thing to spend some cash on the right bedding, but quite another to make an appointment with a bedding loans officer. Enter Brooklinen, a Brooklyn-based upstart founded to bring people beautiful, comfortable sheet sets at a reasonable price.

Prize: $500 toward purchase at TempaperDesigns.com From: Tempaper® Value: $500 So you desperately want to update a bland room but you’re: (A) scared of commitment; (B) limited by a strict landlord; or (C) unwilling to spend an entire day prepping and painting (no judgement). Solution? Temporary wallpaper. Yes, it’s a thing — and we’re giving away $500 worth of it to one reader! Allow us to introduce you to Tempaper Self-Adhesive, Removable Wallpaper.

We’ve been fans of the tiny home movement from day one and have loved seeing its evolution as it’s gained momentum. So when we heard about Garnet Hill’s mobile boutique — an upcycled shipping container decked out as a shoppable, livable home store, complete with kitchen, bedroom, and bath — we couldn’t wait to climb inside and check it out. It did not disappoint.

Is there anyone more qualified to find the balance of contemporary style and old-time charm than Joanna Gaines? In designing her exclusive line of furniture and accessories, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines, she used her unique eye for bringing vintage comforts into today’s homes. Classic, elegant and comfortable, the Farmhouse style of decorating is all about keeping things simple and organic.

Is there anyone more qualified to find the balance of contemporary style and old-time charm than Joanna Gaines? In designing her exclusive line of furniture and accessories, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines, she used her unique eye for bringing vintage comforts into today’s homes. Classic, elegant and comfortable, the Farmhouse style of decorating is all about keeping things simple and organic.

Home ownership is a goal for many, but when you start listing all the steps involved in transitioning from a rental, maybe renting looks more attractive. But before you give up the dream, get to know Beazer Homes. The company has streamlined the home-ownership process, offering both quick move-in homes and the opportunity for total personalization. Finding your new home should be enjoyable and empowering; by helping you with all the nuts and bolts along the way, Beazer helps keep it that way.

From scooting chairs to high-heeled traffic, having hardwood floors can often mean living in fear of scratches. The truth? Scratches happen. That said, you can keep them to the minimum by switching from defense to offense. We teamed up with Bona® — the final word on cleaning and protecting hardwood floors — to share the only tips you need to keep your boards armored against nicks and knocks. Start outside. No, we’re not telling you to sweep your sidewalk.

Everyone knows the rule: No white after Labor Day. But Coco Chanel completely ignored it, and you can too. If anything, why not use the summer staple year-round to hold onto that feeling of breeziness? White-on-white has reached new heights, from linen shirts to cotton sheets and in myriad ways to mix textures and tones. To get the look, dress your bed the way you’d dress yourself: with the right fit, fabrication and details. It’s how you build an outfit, right?

Ask anyone to describe their dream kitchen (real or fantasy), and they’ll most likely list an island as one of the required features. An additional surface for meal prep, a congregation hub during parties, a place to eat — what’s not to love about the kitchen island? Aside from its multi-functionality, the island can also act as a visual centerpiece for the entire room. So, we decided to pay it its due respect.

Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing or just seeking greener pastures, selling your home can be an emotional experience. Think back to the first time you saw your new place: It felt like a fresh start, a place where you could see yourself and your family growing together. Once you’ve grown, it’s your turn to give that feeling to someone else, all over again.

</p><p> This fall, Joanna Gaines is bringing her eponymous collection of furniture and accessories to American Signature Furniture. The inspiration for Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines comes from Joanna’s love of Old World design that stands the test of time. The collection includes pieces for every room in a variety of fresh, unique design styles, but all unified by Joanna’s belief that “home is the most important place.

</p><p> This fall, Joanna Gaines is bringing her eponymous collection of furniture and accessories to Value City Furniture. The inspiration for Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines comes from Joanna’s love of Old World design that stands the test of time. The collection includes pieces for every room in a variety of fresh, unique design styles, but all unified by Joanna’s belief that “home is the most important place.

Preparing your home for children is one of the most exciting, stressful, scary, amazing and joyful times in life. That’s a lot of emotions to pack into that small spare room you’re converting into a nursery or playroom, and they’re all perfectly normal. Just don’t forget to have fun. We came up with three Glidden® playroom palettes that play off these emotions. They’re bright, beautiful and (most importantly) kid-proof.

Prize: Dining table and four matching chairs, sleeper sofa/futon, bed frame and mattress, side table, coffee table Value: $1,500 From: DHP With the school year just around the corner, many bright-eyed undergraduates are about to get a crash course in living off-campus and on their own. (Lesson 1: Pizza boxes cannot double as coffee tables.) Moving from the dorm to the apartment complex can be scary — meal plan, we hardly knew ye! — but a few versatile essentials will go a long way.

There’s nothing like the rush of finding your first-love home — the one where you can be yourself, make your own rules, and pick your own paint colors. Or maybe you’re lucky enough to have found your forever home — the one where all those pinboards can finally go from inspiration to installation.

You know that pair of jeans you pack on every beach trip that are so well worn it’s like they were custom-made for your fit? Or that tissue-thin T-shirt that’s so soft it’s the only thing you can wear when you’re sunburned? What you want from your most comfortable clothes isn’t so different from what you want in a bed. For a room that feels so relaxed it’s like you’re on vacation 365 days a year, try these 5 tips.

What if furniture could be categorized by personality type? You know, so you could just swipe right when you came across a sexy leather chaise that matched your temperament. We looked at a few of our favorite pieces from American Signature Furniture to decide what their personality types would be — and whom they’re most compatible with. The Mentor Mentors are natural-born leaders and organizers who bring people together, value sociability, and champion education.

Value City FurnitureThe MentorThe DreamerThe EntertainerLIVES Get inspired! Visit Value City Furniture for inspiration, more tips and furniture options. This post is sponsored by Value City Furniture. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Apartment Therapy possible.

Hosting guests on Airbnb is a fun way to get more out of the home you’ve worked so hard on. If you’re ready to get started, bookmark this checklist of simple things you can do to make visitors feel more at home while they’re on the road. Each is simple, but put together they’ll make a big impact. Try them for your next Airbnb crew, and watch your reviews glow. 1.

Over the years, our House Tours have shown how people live comfortably when they truly love their homes. Many of these houses may have a human’s name on the lease or deed, but it’s the four-legged residents who call the shots. Taking our inspiration from realtor.com’s “Pets at Home” video — where we see real pets in real homes they love — we’ve looked back through House Tours history and awarded our pet superlatives!

Have you ever let your cousin crash at your place for a weekend? Housed a friend for a couple days after a breakup? Given your parents a place to stay for the holidays so they feel more at home? If so, you’re ready to be an Airbnb host. And when you become an Airbnb host, the benefits go beyond the cash. Learning to market your home and welcome travelers will get you some unexpected gains. (And yes, some expected extra cash.

Kathy and Peter recently left their 9-to-5 jobs to start a new business: a production company. Their home will become their office, so it needs to be at once a calming, productive space and a lively place to raise their 2.5-year-old daughter. In renovating her new home office, Kathy has to consider that she’ll be spending a lot of time in a space that can’t trigger her asthma.

With help from the folks at Miracle-Gro, we’ve been digging through the endless inspiration and ideas generated by Apartment Therapy’s Gardening School. Led by modern homesteader and wise instructor Linda Ly, each lesson is designed to give even the blackest thumbs the confidence to plan, prep and plant their own garden. But the biggest lesson has been that gardening isn’t really about the end result – it’s about the entire experience.

Prize FromBoulder Organic Coffee Value Coffee makes the world go ’round. At least our world. So what could be better than a year of freshly roasted organic coffee, ethically sourced from the best growers around the globe? Pretty much nothing. Your Mornings Deserve This. Enter To Win! Boulder Organic Coffee has been sourcing and roasting the world’s best coffee in Boulder, Colorado, since 1999.

Determining a personal style for any room is a balance of performance and aesthetics, but in a laboring room like the kitchen, the relationship becomes especially important. Mine is casually utilitarian: a playground for the (aspiring) baker in me and a workstation for my love of Sunday-evening meal prep. At the same time, I want my kitchen to be the part of my home where I feel most, well, at home. So, what kitchen style works for you?

Digging in the dirt is one of the simplest pleasures, so don’t clutter it up with a lot of stuff. The thoughtful design Barebones uses in their gardening (and camping and outdoors) equipment keeps the minimalist approach sacred with multi-purpose use and beautiful aesthetics. They’ve curated two kits for two type of gardeners. So which kit is right for your gardening style?

Located on the third (top) floor of a 100-year old Brooklyn brownstone, my story is not unique by any means. Save for the (squeaky) ceiling fan that was likely installed in the 1990s, I am at the mercy of shade provided by a maple tree, wide open windows and the occasional breeze (did someone say perfect allergy storm?) for any form of respite during summer. And in the summer, my living room is HOT.

Have you ever stayed in one of those boutique hotels that had just the right vibe – a perfect balance of stylish and cozy, where you slept well every night and also kind of wanted to hang out there all day? One of our new goals is to make home feel that way, too. Especially the bedroom. After all, it’s the room in your home that is really all for you.

At Apartment Therapy, we feel strongly that your home should reflect your personality. And nowhere is that more crucial than in your bedroom. After all, it’s where you begin and end each day, it’s your most inner retreat from the outside world, and it’s where you can truly be you. Lately, we’ve been getting our design and decor inspiration from our travels – not only different cultures and experiences, but from the fabulous hotels and B&Bs we stay in along the way.

Oh, summer sunshine. You make us smile, you make us crave iced coffee … you make us sweat like pro athletes. It’s even true at home: Throwing back the curtains on a beautiful day makes for a lovely sun-drenched setting, but it can also seriously scorch your space (and your AC bill). Eventually, those cheerful rays might even fade the rugs and furniture in their path.

We know parents struggle selecting a nursery theme. Circus animals? Spaceships? Flowers? But what if the nursery’s theme was the reason for existing in the first place: the kids themselves? We thought on that for a while and came up with an idea we’re excited to share! Our inspiration came from “lifebooks,” the collections of photos and mementos parents create to tell the complete story of their adoptive children, but it will work well with all infants.

Getting your summer travel plans in order? Us, too. So, we checked in with the experts at Booking.com for their list of this year’s most popular destinations (culled from the top places their customers are visiting). Then, we surfed their listings for the most beautiful homes and apartments to rent for a weekend or a week. At the top of the list: U.S. beach towns, Asian cities alive with culture and European capitals steeped in history. And we had to throw in some modernism from Milan!

It’s spring! Time to vacuum your feather duster, alphabetize your spice rack, and de-scale that power-washer, right? Maybe not. We stopped by HomeSense to see what’s in store and realized that, in lieu of spring cleaning, a rapid spring refresh can be as little as 30 minutes away. Here’s how to do it. Pendants can pack a significant style punch. Consider a new pendant lamp to add ambient lighting to your space or swap out tabletop task lighting for a pendant.

Hannah and George just moved in together, and when they were house-hunting, they knew they wanted outdoor space. They’ve found a home with an amazing, enclosed front patio, but they aren’t sure how best to decorate it. It’s a small space, and they want to be able to use it all the time – for everything from just hanging out to hosting full-on dinner parties.

Marissa and Justin moved into their home two years ago, but never really figured out how to furnish their outdoor space. They use their deck and yard all the time, especially for entertaining, but Marissa doesn’t feel like the camping chairs and odds and ends laying around (um, there seems to be a puppet??) make for a particularly inviting space.

Prize: Winner’s choice of any queen size mattress from Signature Sleep & any queen size DHP bed frame Total Value: $1000 Can a good night’s sleep be affordable, too? Yes it can: you just have to learn what type of mattress is right for you. We took a look at Signature Sleep Mattresses, an extensive line of mattresses designed for every budget and every body, to find the most affordable mattress types for different types of sleepers. What’s your sleep style?

Prize: Carmela Upholstered Bed in grey, tan or navy linen, complete bed frame along with a Signature Sleep mattress Total Value: $1000 From: DHP You might not know them by name, but DHP is the company behind some of the most stylish pieces you’ll find at Target, Overstock, Amazon, Walmart and Wayfair – some of our definite go-to sources for small space living. Their unique pieces consistently pack a serious style punch but are surprisingly affordable.

Prize: $500 gift card Value: $500 From: FLOR Lots of brands like to call themselves game-changers, but FLOR literally changed the flooring game: It cut the standard carpet into squares! With FLOR, you buy as many — or as few — 19.7-inch squares as you need to create an area rug, cover a room or improvise a custom shape to suit your space.

This time of year, about half my mental energy is spent searching for gifts that match the people on my list. When I discovered Motorola’s Moto X Pure Edition designed by Jonathan Adler, I checked a few people off the list (myself, maybe, too?). Sporting the designer’s signature happy hues and graphic patterns, this smart (and sassy) phone brings high design to your most functional device.

The monthly delivery of House Beautiful is one of the only good reasons I check the mail. Lately I’ve been particularly jazzed about the new Editor in Chief, Sophie Donelson, who brings a fresh, youthful look to what’s considered America’s most established design mag – and the go-to spot for the best paint colors. This month’s issue features A-list event designer Bryan Rafanelli’s tips for a holiday tablescape in your own home.

As home gawkers here at Apartment Therapy, we’re pretty obsessed with the idea of staying in someone’s home and seeing how they live. Having stayed as guests recently in a few Airbnb homes across the country (hello, perfect cottage in Santa Barbara – miss you already!) we’ve come to recognize that becoming an Airbnb host may not seem as easy as being an Airbnb guest. If you’re like us, then you have some questions. What’s it like to be a host?

Prize: A luxury firm mattress set (any size) including foundation and frame. Value: $1400 From: Saatva ‘Tis the season to be thankful. Thankful for family, thankful for holiday twists on your fave drinks (hello spiced, mulled wine!) and thankful for a good night’s sleep. That’s right, I’m taking it there: a good mattress is one of many things to appreciate this holiday season. Enter to win a luxe firm mattress set!

Picture it: you’re in your living room with your besties, piled on the sofa for a Friday night movie. You’ve got your sweets, you’ve got your treats, now all you need to do is settle in and watch the original “Ghostbusters” for the twenty millionth time. How exactly are you going to get comfy?