Furniture

We Saw, We Sat, We Reviewed: The Most Comfortable Sofas at Article
If you've ever wondered about whether the online furniture retailer's sofas were comfortable, we went behind the scenes to find out (and here's what we thought!).
Arlyn Hernandez
May 1, 2017
5 Smart Studio Apartment Layouts that Work Wonders for One-Room Living
Arranging furniture in a small space is always a bit of a challenge—and this is particularly true if your space is a bedroom, living room, dining room, workspace, and kitchen all in one. If you’re looking for inspiration for the layout of your studio apartment, look no farther than these five diminutive spaces, whose owners came up with five very clever solutions for one-room living.
Nancy Mitchell
Apr 29, 2017
Tête-à-Têtes: The Answer to Awkward Conversation?
Let's face it: If you're going to have a conversation with someone, a traditional sofa probably isn't the best place to do it. But this is.
Nancy Mitchell
Apr 28, 2017
We Hacked the $35 RAST Dresser Two Ways: Happy Modern and Bone Inlay
The $35 unfinished pine dresser from IKEA is a blank slate for your creativity. To show how it can be customized to match any decor style—no matter if your signature look is understated or over-the-top—we hacked this dresser two ways. Keep it simple with some paint and a bit of patterned gift wrap, or embrace elaborate bohemian details with bone-inlay stenciling. Either way, you’re going to get extra storage with serious style.
AT Video
Apr 28, 2017
How Patricia Urquiola is Taking Over the Design World
For our series about influential women in design, we’re focusing this week on Patricia Urquiola, the Spanish designer who is one of the most influential figures in the world of contemporary design. Her designs are playful, colorful, innovative, and sometimes a little bit irreverent, and she’s working to redefine the look of the contemporary home. Patricia Urquiola was born in Oviedo, Spain, in 1961.
Nancy Mitchell
Apr 26, 2017
One Incredible Thing to Do With an Old IKEA Chair
If you know of an old POÄNG chair that’s looking a little worse for wear, you could take a page from Philippa Saul’s book and cover it top to bottom with a glorious, hand-crocheted (-knitted and -embroidered) country cottage and garden.
Edith Zimmerman
Apr 22, 2017
How to Turn the IKEA EKET into a Rolling Bar Cart or Bedside Table
The cube-shaped EKET cabinet has us thinking outside the box, to all the stackable, modular options this simple design presents. By adding wheels to the bottom and stacking one on top of another using Velcro, you can easily switch out the cabinets or roll them from room-to-room—proving that this little storage unit has big potential.
AT Video
Apr 21, 2017
The Modern Architectural Pioneer & Furniture Designer We Don’t Hear About Enough
Eileen Gray created one of the most iconic side tables ever (as well as the most expensive chair from the 20th century every sold).
Nancy Mitchell
Apr 16, 2017
Look We Love: Traditional Windsor Chairs in Modern Interiors
It’s always a curious thing when a piece of furniture with a pedigree that dates back centuries manages to situate itself into contemporary design (without actually looking like an antique). Such is the case with the Windsor chair. Originating in the early 1700s and taking its name from the English town of—you guessed it—Windsor, the humble wooden chair has been an anchor of English and American interiors past and present.
Hannah Toles
Apr 14, 2017
This UFO-Shaped Rocking Chair Is Out of This World
The last thing we tend to think of when we see furniture is an extraterrestrial entity, but this UFO-shaped rocking chair has us seriously reconsidering the way we view seating options. Despite the obvious stigma attached to it, allow us to assure you that this rocking chair doesn’t immediately conjure up images of sleeping babies and knitting grandmas.
Kenya Foy
Apr 14, 2017
The Best Spot for Small Space Storage May Be Right Behind You
If you're hard up for storage solutions, you may be looking below your sofa or your bed, or above your cabinets — but what about behind?
Nancy Mitchell
Apr 13, 2017
Need to Know Design Info: The Famous Furniture of Charlotte Perriand
If you haven't heard of her, you've definitely seen her work.
Nancy Mitchell
Apr 4, 2017
Can a Sofa Be Forever in Style? We’re Betting the English Roll Arm Sofa Can
English roll-arm sofas gained popularity in the 19th century, and their sinuous profile, deep, accommodating seats, and signature low arms—perfect for resting one’s head—are elements that have kept them ingrained in popular design culture even today. Now available in a wide range of sizes, colors, and fabrics—and even sleeper options—this comfy, classic style is equally at home in formal, vintage-inspired houses and modern, eclectic apartments.
Tess Wilson
Mar 23, 2017
These New Multifunctional Furniture Collections Are Coming to IKEA in April
IKEA is already one of our go-to retailers for smart small space solutions, and the new collections they have in store for us are only going to enforce that. There are several products debuting in stores and online next month especially for multipurpose spaces that we’re excited about. Here’s your first look: First up is the EKEBOL sofa. It combines wooden shelves underneath and behind the cushions within a metal frame to add storage to a piece that often doesn’t have any.
Tara Bellucci
Mar 22, 2017
This Shape-Shifting Chair Is a Small Space Lover’s Dream
Is it asking too much for a seating option to be comfortable, stylish and space-saving? Well, that treasured chair that you use as a nightstand might find it challenging to meet those expectations, but this shape-shifting Ollie chair easily hits the mark and does it with some added flair. Whether you’re trying to make the most of a micro apartment or simply enjoy multi-functional furniture, this unique chair is a small space lover’s dream.
Kenya Foy
Mar 11, 2017
The Italian Mid-Century Modern Designer I’m Only Just Learning About
As a lover of mid-century design, I’ve long been familiar with the work of designers like Charles and Ray Eames, Hans Wegner, and Eero Sarinen. But I confess that it was only recently—thanks, Pinterest!—that I became acquainted with the works of another mid-century great, the Italian designer Gio Ponti. Like a lot of furniture designers of that era, Gio Ponti was also an architect.
Nancy Mitchell
Mar 4, 2017
The Fairy Tale Story of Ms. Chesterfield, My Newest Sofa
I am so excited to announce the official debut of Ms. Chesterfield, a modern, feminine version of the chunky old Chesterfield. It’s also the newest piece in a continued collaboration between Apartment Therapy and Interior Define. I got to see it in Chicago two weeks ago, and it is truly beautiful.
Maxwell Ryan
Mar 2, 2017
Oh Joy’s Rainbow-Hued Furniture Collection for Target is Here (And We Want Everything)
If you’re someone who’s just as into statement sofas as statement pillows, then you’re really going to love Joy Cho’s latest collection for Target. And it’s a first: Joy’s love of color and pattern explodes into a new category—furniture! The new Oh Joy!
Tara Bellucci
Mar 1, 2017
Ellen’s Furniture Collection Is As Likable As Ellen Herself
Funny lady Ellen DeGeneres wants you to pull up a seat—preferably one of hers. The comedian’s lifestyle brand just debuted a multi-room collection of furniture with Thomasville. Thomasville began in 1904 in North Carolina, and continues to be a bastion of classic American furniture design. That, blended with Ellen’s personal aesthetic, resulted in the ED Ellen DeGeneres collection, which has two main styles: relaxed mid-century, and rustic modern.
Tara Bellucci
Mar 1, 2017
Sneak Peek: Our Newest Collaboration with Interior Define!
Here’s a sneak peek of the one, the only Ms. Chesterfield. I’ve been sitting on another secret for WAY too long. I’m thrilled that I can FINALLY share our newest collaboration with Interior Define with all of you. Ready for 2017, here’s my interpretation of the iconic Chesterfield sofa: a sleeker, sexier and more modern version, and she’s called Ms. Chesterfield.
Maxwell Ryan
Feb 24, 2017
Sofa Drama: How West Elm’s Peggy Went from Popular to Discontinued to Refund-Worthy in Under a Week
West Elm’s Peggy sofa has been the source of much controversy this week. Here’s how the affordable mid-century style option went from popular pick to discontinued in just about six days. It all started when Anna Hezel’s piece, Why Does This One Couch From West Elm Suck So Much?, was published on The Awl last Thursday. In it, she details how she and her partner bought the Peggy after moving in together.
Tara Bellucci
Feb 23, 2017
Home Depot Sells Beautiful Furniture (Who Knew?)
When you need a hammer, nails or other hardware supplies — home improvement behemoth Home Depot is one obvious place to turn. But when you need a dining table, baskets or a bar cart? It certainly isn’t the first place that comes to mind, however the hardware superstore’s growing selection of furniture (especially the Home Decorators Collection) has beautiful pieces if you’re willing to hunt for them. To jumpstart your search, here are 20 of my top picks.
Katie Holdefehr
Feb 17, 2017
Sneak Peek: Favorites from the New IKEA Stockholm 2017 Collection
Tomorrow, IKEA is launching the official press site for the new STOCKHOLM 2017 collection. But today, I received an advance paper copy of the catalog in the mail and just had to share some favorites ASAP: there are some really strong designs (some classic, some more funky) at very good prices. The pieces in the collection will be available in the US starting in April and I can tell you, I’ve definitely got my eye on that rattan cabinet. I see a trip to Schaumburg in my future.
Janel Laban
Feb 14, 2017
Apartment Therapy Tested & Approved: The Most Comfortable Sofas at Room & Board
With well over 48 sofas (not counting custom pieces, sectionals and all size options) in their catalog of products, Room & Board has a dizzying assortment of furniture. When we visited their Manhattan showroom in Chelsea, we were honestly taken aback by the vastness of the store, not even knowing where to start our tests. So we can understand how anyone considering a R&B sofa might have a similar plight. How do you narrow down what you’re looking for?
Arlyn Hernandez
Feb 13, 2017
Designer Verner Panton’s Home is Every Bit as Wild as You’d Expect
We celebrate Valentine’s Day a little differently around here. You see, the day of love, to us, is a chance to profess our adoration of furniture, designers, and basically anything that goes in the home. So this week, we’re sharing our passion for a handful of our favorite heralded furniture designers and the homes they outfitted and loved for themselves. Come along, people all over the design world, and hop aboard this love train.
Nancy Mitchell
Feb 13, 2017
Reviewed: The Most Comfortable Sofas at Blu Dot
Many of us have been there: You’re on the hunt for a new sofa but you’re tired of the options at your local stores, so you go online to wrangle some fresh ideas. Plenty make your “maybe” list and grace your dedicated Pinterest board, but you just can’t bite the bullet without sitting on the sofa yourself. We get it…that’s a tricky position to be in.
Arlyn Hernandez
Feb 10, 2017
Reviewed: The Most Comfortable Sofas at Crate & Barrel
Have you been eyeing a sofa at Crate & Barrel but can’t make it into one of their locations to test it out for yourself? Or maybe you have a few contenders on your list, but need help narrowing them down? That’s where the Apartment Therapy Sofa Squad comes in. We had eight of our editors hit up C&B (as well as four other stores) to couch surf through all 20 models on the floor of the retailer’s SoHo location, taking note of vital sofa-buying criteria: How deep is it?
Arlyn Hernandez
Feb 9, 2017
Introducing the Sofa Squad: Our Hunt for REALLY Comfortable Sofas
This month, we are kicking off a new series: The Apartment Therapy Sofa Squad. Internally known simply as “Sofa Squad”, our editorial team converged on New York City to couch surf our way through a hefty helping of retailers. We sat. We lounged. We plopped. We cocooned. We nestled. We faux napped (some may have actually napped.) All in the name of Sofa Squad. SS’s mission is to do the sitting and rating for you.
Arlyn Hernandez
Feb 6, 2017
Everything You Need to Know About Biedermeier Style
More than a century before the Eameses created their simple, honest furniture designed to appeal to the everyman, a style of furnishings emerged in Germany, one whose simplicity, visual lightness, and playful geometries were a herald of things to come. Biedermeier is notable for being the first decorative movement that was created by and for the middle class, and even today, after two centuries, these pieces still feel surprisingly fresh and modern.
Nancy Mitchell
Feb 1, 2017
Everything You Want (& Need) To Know Before Buying Furniture
Buying furniture can be intimidating, even if you know what you’re looking for in terms of style (if you don’t, that’s an entirely different mountain to climb.) For instance, how do you really know what you’re spending your valuable dollars on will last? What materials are best for wear-and-tear? What questions should you be asking a sales person before committing to a purchase? We turned to the pros (i.e.
Arlyn Hernandez
Jan 24, 2017
Why is Mid-Century Modern Furniture So Damn Popular?
When I graduated from college in 2005, and began furnishing my first apartment, mid-century modern design was just beginning to capture the popular imagination. Twelve years later, the trend shows no signs of slowing down, and the very designers and tastemakers once responsible for its popularity are baffled. Why hasn’t the furniture-buying public moved on to something else? Steven Kurutz of The New York Times asks, “Why Won’t Mid-century Design Die?
Nancy Mitchell
Jan 17, 2017
What’s Your Type? Fonts and their Furniture Doppelgangers
It started, as things so often do, with a Comic Sans joke. From there, our team Slack chat was abuzz with fonts and furniture (and decor) comparisons. Below are a few highly scientific, internationally renowned design (graphic): design (furniture) analogies from the creative minds of Apartment Therapy Editorial. Poor, poor Comic Sans. It just can’t catch a break! It has become the internet’s favorite whipping boy, shorthand for outdated taste and mom vibes.
Nora Taylor
Dec 29, 2016
Get Inspired to DIY: Our Favorite Before & After Furniture Transformations of the Year
Who among us hasn’t dragged home a $5 garage sale chair or a battered bookshelf left on the curb, convinced that we could make something out of it? Whether by painstakingly restoring it to its former glory or by giving it a major makeover, we just know something special is lurking beneath the cobwebs, scratches, or worse.
Tess Wilson
Dec 26, 2016
Sleep Mode: Where to Buy Matching PJs for the Whole Family (& Grownup Onesies, if that’s Your Thing)
Sleepwear is a many-splendored thing. On top of being a great last-minute gift idea, a solid set of pajamas is guaranteed to keep you (and your loved ones) comfy and warm all winter long. Luckily, the Internet likes jammies just as much as we do, and while most loungewear on the market deserves some time to shine, we thought it would be fun to focus on two of our current faves: adult onesies and matching family sets.
Caroline Biggs
Dec 5, 2016
Design Evolution: Two Rounds of Reno for a Coronado Cottage
Karyn and Jessica’s beach bungalow is an ever-evolving small space. This is what Karyn had to say in 2013: I had just moved to the island of Coronado and had the perfect bungalow apartment in mind. I envisioned something small but homey with a comfortable outdoor area. The universe must have been on my side because not two minutes after making my wish list I found the perfect studio apartment. Being a designer has its perks, especially after walking into this place.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Nov 25, 2016
Get the Look: Vintage, Eclectic & Colorful Style
Bold, colorful, and vintage — if that’s your goal, take a peek at Allison’s resource lists from her unforgettable Austin apartment to shop her style and instantly fill your space with colorful kitschy decor! charset="utf-8" src="https://d30bopbxapq94k.cloudfront.net/js/curalate-widget-client-all.prod.min.
Emma Fiala
Nov 23, 2016
Watch this Coffee Table Convert to a Dining Table in One Move
Convertible tables have been a small space staple for decades, but what they offer in functionality, they often lack in style. Paris-based Boulon Blanc wants to change that with their new transformable table. While traditional convertible tables use an X-shaped mechanism that’s reminiscent of an ironing board, Boulon Blanc has a patented rotating hinge instead. The result is an organic-inspired, transformative shape whether it’s used as a coffee table or a dining table.
Tara Bellucci
Oct 20, 2016
Design Doppelgängers: 10 (Nearly Identical) Designer Chair Look-a-Likes You Can Actually Afford
Nothing beats the real deal, but when your wallet hasn’t quite caught up to your great taste, there are ways to get the look without going ridiculously over budget. Lookalikes abound, but not everyone is in the “ok with it” camp. For those who are, we offer up the following scenario: The second you win the lotto, you’ll be on board to pony up for the originals, but until that day comes, we might find you lounging on these knock-offs of classic beauties.
Katie Holdefehr
Sep 30, 2016
Lighten Up: A Pair of No-Fail Ways to Make Furniture Look Less Bulky
There are lots of reasons why you might have a too-big or too-bulky piece of furniture in your home. Perhaps it’s an inherited piece you can’t part with. Maybe you need a large piece of furniture for storage. Whatever the case, you don’t have to live with a heavy piece of furniture visually weighing down a room.
Adrienne Breaux
Sep 30, 2016
Excel at Extra Seating: Living Rooms With Perfect Pouf Placement
Poufs, floor pillows, low ottomans and small stools—these are all great decor elements to add to a living room whenever you need extra seating or more softness. But it’s not always crystal clear exactly where your newly purchased or DIYed pouf or floor pillow should go. In the place of side chairs? As a coffee table? Kind of floating off to the side?
Adrienne Breaux
Jul 22, 2016
Before & After: A Thrifty & Whimsical Bookshelf Makeover
When bookshelves are in OK shape, it can be so tempting to leave them as is. After all, you’re just going to cover them with with books and tchotchkes, right? Sahana had to go and overachieve by putting curtains AND wallpaper on her total steal of a bookshelf duo. From Sahana: We recently moved from New York to North Carolina. While we were hunting for some furniture, we got an awesome deal of two bookshelves for $20.
Nora Taylor
Jul 9, 2016
How To Make Your Outdoor Space Feel Like Another Room In Your Home (for Less than $100)
As soon as summer hits, you may feel the urge to move everything you own outside so you can live under the sun and stars. Utilizing whatever outdoor area you have is especially important when you call a small space home, because it can give you the dining room, living room, or reading nook your place typically lacks. Whether you have a balcony, a rooftop, or an entire backyard to work with, these $100-or-less details will make it feel like an extension of your home. Give your space a glow up.
Katie Holdefehr
Jul 4, 2016
5 Contemporary Designs that Completely Redefine the Chair
One of my favorite things about home design is the wonderful variety of ways in which clever designers have re-invented the chair. When you picture a chair you probably think of one of the traditional forms of the chair, with a back and a seat and legs.
Nancy Mitchell
Jun 29, 2016
Battle of the Sofa Arrangements: Can You Guess Which Saves Space?
A. Two sofas facing each other OR B. A sofa and love seat arranged in the traditional L-shaped arrangement?
Arlyn Hernandez
Jun 27, 2016
Get the Look: A Fashion-Forward Interior Designer’s Own Home
Leirecent full tour of the home Dining table: Gregor Jenkin Benches: Similar – Parsons Bench at Target Bench cushions: custom made by Ashanti Sideboard: made by Recreate, Lei briefed them and they sourced an old sideboard for her which was then remade Glass lamp: @home Pendant lights: Hoi P’loy Rug: Alexander Joles Large pink painting: by Natasha Miller Gutman, who runs Tel Aviv Art Studio.
Janel Laban
Jun 21, 2016
Get the Look: A Chic, Sophisticated, Book-Filled European Home
The super cute family above are Esther, Álvaro and Aníbal and they live in Valencia, Spain. They own a fashionable shop called Gnomo and have style to spare, as was proven in their recent house tour. We’ve pulled out some great shoppable photos from the tour, providing you with links to the smart mix of high and low products that fill their home.
Janel Laban
Jun 15, 2016
Here’s the Recipe for the Perfect Sofa: Introducing The Maxwell
We’re officially launched! For all of you who are in the market for a sofa and want something fabulously classic, comfortable and well priced, here’s The Maxwell (with special discount just for readers), the first in a whole collection designed in collaboration with Interior Define. Designing this perfect sofa was a process that took nearly a year, but it was worth it.
Maxwell Ryan
May 21, 2016
The World’s Weirdest, Wildest, and Most Wonderful Sofas
Most sofas are well-behaved. They have a back and a seat and legs and maybe arms, and they look, well, like a sofa. These are not those sofas. These sofas (if you can even call a giant cat a sofa) dare to reimagine the very idea of the sofa, pushing ordinary furniture to weird and wild and even wonderful extremes. Above: It’s always nice to have a cat sit on your lap, but what if the tables were turned and you could curl up in your cat’s lap?
Nancy Mitchell
May 20, 2016
Inspiration File: Decorating With Raw and Live-Edge Wood
Lots of people aspire to make their home decor modern, but if you’re not careful, modern can become cold, stale and uninteresting. The cure for a mod overdose? Something natural. Like a touch of authentic, organic, real wood. Here are eight rooms to show you how it’s done. This raw wood bar top is the perfect addition to Corianne Burton‘s kitchen, as seen on her Instagram.
Taryn Williford
May 5, 2016
How Do I Choose the Right Coffee Table?
For some, the choice of what type of coffee table is easy; an intuitive design decision. Or, maybe it’s even been decided for you, if it’s been inherited from a roommate, partner or family member. For others, any number of variables—from unusual living room layouts to oversized furniture to kids or pets—can confuse the issue. Do you need a coffee table to set stuff down on while you watch TV or entertain friends? Or does the room feel too open or naked without it?
Adrienne Breaux
Apr 30, 2016
Try this Easy (and Free!) Fix When Your Furniture Feels Too Small for the Room
Upgrading to a bigger space? Good on you! You’ll love waking up every morning without the guarantee of smashing your shins on the foot of the bed as you walk around it. But you might find your old stuff looks a little, well, small in that new, more spacious apartment.
Taryn Williford
Apr 29, 2016
Little Life Savers: Clever IKEA Hacks for Small Spaces
We love good IKEA hacks and even more so when they solve small space problems.
Nancy Mitchell
Apr 13, 2016
The Most Design-Forward Sofa at IKEA (We’ve Been Spotting It Everywhere)
Clean lines keep it chic, and deep seats and comfy cushions make it a really livable sofa for real people’s real homes. Oh, and the affordable price tag is a pretty great feature, too. The IKEA SÖDERHAMN sofa line has been on the market for a couple years now, and that means designers and dwellers have had ample time to take the piece home and show us myriad ways to style it.
Taryn Williford
Mar 2, 2016
Before & After: A Basic Buffet Gets an Elegant Upgrade
When I first walked into Thomas’ home, I was struck by the amazing number of creative and personal touches that filled every room. As I got to know Thomas, I quickly learned that most, if not all, of my very favorite parts were designed and/or handmade by him! Against the living room wall, on the far end of a long room, sat an elegant buffet.
Emma Fiala
Feb 18, 2016
10 Things To Know About Your Eames Chair
So you bought an Eames chair because it was cool. It’s okay—so did I. But now when people come over and say, “I like your chair, where did you get that?” it’d be nice to tell them a little more than, “It’s from a designer.” Here are 10 fun facts about your chair that you can throw around at the next cocktail party, because, you know, knowing stuff is also pretty darn cool, too. 1.
Alison Gerber
Feb 3, 2016
3 Things You’re Buying That Are Too Small (And One That’s Too Big)
...and one that's too big.
Taryn Williford
Jan 19, 2016
Before & After: A Turquoise Chair Gets a Tropical Print Makeover
When I first looked over a few snapshots of Adrien and Jon’s house in anticipation of shooting their House Tour, I immediately latched onto the palm frond chair. I had been looking for the perfect palm fabric for a personal project and begged Adrien to reveal her source. I was soon on my way to downtown L.A. to scoop up some of the Tommy Bahama (yup, that’s right) Swaying Palms fabric from Michael Levine.
Elizabeth Backup
Dec 17, 2015
Pull Off This Classic Come-back Living Room Trend: Ultra Low Coffee Tables
You might not think about coffee table heights as the sort of thing that fluctuates throughout the years, but like any design element, the ideal coffee table height not only changes from room style to room style, but also according to what’s in vogue in living rooms that are being lived in, in the current moment. Low coffee tables are just what they sound like: coffee tables with a top surface that sits a fair bit lower than your usual coffee table find.
Adrienne Breaux
Dec 2, 2015
A Bold Bench is Just What Your Boring Living Room Seating Arrangement Needs
Benches look great in hallways and under windows. They function perfectly in an entryway. They’re a surprising but useful addition to a dining room furniture set. But in living rooms they’re often to relegated to the sidelines — along the walls — and usually housing some decor vignette. There’s nothing wrong with benches in your living room looking pretty. But they can do so much more.
Adrienne Breaux
Dec 2, 2015
Homemade Holiday Gift Idea: Make A Terrazzo Lazy Susan
Terrazzo floors and walls have been around for hundreds of years, and this lazy Susan is a good way to get the look on a smaller scale. We’ve traded traditional marble chunks with a confetti mix of colorful glass that feels both modern and timeless. It’s a great project that’s also a fun, festive and unexpected gift.
Dabney Frake
Nov 19, 2015
Before & After: A Roadside Find Goes Mid Century
This is one of my favorite furniture flip stories. I found this chrome mid-century modern chair left for dead on the roadside. It was covered with rust, mildew and grime. For a long time, it sat in my garage and just lingered. It took me a long while for inspiration to strike. I live in the country, and happen to have kind of a thing for cowhide. I had wanted a sleek, modern looking cowhide and chrome chairs for years. You know those kind of chairs?
Nora Taylor
Nov 13, 2015
A Shopping Guide to Bright Beautiful Seating
The colorful sofa trend is going strong and, as a color addict myself, I couldn’t be happier. It’s hard not to smile when you walk into a room that has a big and bold pop of color. Color may not be for everyone and the thought of such a large piece in a bright color may be intimating, but what’s great is that a colorful sofa can actually be versatile.
Melissa DiRenzo
Oct 14, 2015
IKEA + Contact Paper = DIY Magic
There are so many ways to customize your IKEA furniture, but here’s one that’s really, really easy: contact paper. And lest you were convinced that contact paper is weird and tacky and always looks terrible, these ten projects are here to prove you wrong. Above: Blogger Jonathan Lo, of Happy Mundane, bought his IKEA desk in a birch finish, but wanted something a little darker that would match his vintage midcentury furniture.
Nancy Mitchell
Sep 10, 2015
Before & After: Fireplace Gets a Quick Renter-Friendly Makeover
Jess’ rental had a beat up fireplace that was a bit of an eyesore in the middle of her living room. She found the perfect low-cost way to give it some glamour, with a classic renter’s trick that we love: Contact paper!! From Jess: The main materials are contact paper and an exacto (or utility) knife. Prior to doing anything to your fireplace make sure you give it a good wipe down so that the contact paper will stick to the fireplace surround.
Tara Bellucci
Aug 28, 2015
Before & After: $50 Table Goes Farmhouse
Robyn snagged this thrift store table for $50, and with some elbow grease, it became the farmhouse table of her dreams: From Robyn: When I walked into a thrift store and saw a two pedestals and the table top leaning nearby I knew that this was what I had been looking for and bought the table without even assembling it. I was motivated to finish this table and use it right away so refinishing a table this size could be a weekend project for someone who wanted to work long hours.
Tara Bellucci
Aug 26, 2015
Before & After: ’70s Fireplace Gets a Facelift
Rachel’s home hadn’t been updated since it was built in 1975, and it was evident in the dark fieldstone fireplace. Not having the funds for a full renovation, she got creative with paint—and boy, does it look great. From Rachel: We painted the 1970’s field stone fireplace. I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and watered it down quite a bit which allows the texture and various colors to still come through.
Tara Bellucci
Aug 25, 2015
11 Amazing Vintage IKEA Pieces We Wish They Would Bring Back
There is some pretty great stuff at IKEA. But it’s hard not to be jealous of IKEA shoppers from the 70s and 80s when you see some of the amazing stuff that used to line the retailer’s shelves. Here are eleven favorite vintage pieces that we’d love to see make a comeback. Above: IKEA’s TAJT, seen here on the cover of their 1973 catalog (via Scraphacker), is a pretty clever design — and maybe the most attractive chair-that-turns-into-a-bed I’ve ever seen.
Nancy Mitchell
Aug 17, 2015
Before & After: Live Edge Adds Life as Coffee Table
Jenny’s ambitious first-ever woodworking project was transforming this scrap wood into a live edge coffee table. Want to see how she did? We’re living for it: That little air plant looks right at home! From Jenny: One of my favorite parts about this table is the amount of detail in every inch of the board: you can see the black epoxy inlay, the knots and natural curve of the wood, and the beautiful grain details.
Tara Bellucci
Aug 15, 2015
Before & After: Blank Wall to Besta Bar
With a blank wall and no storage, Jane decided her living room needed a long credenza on a budget. Perennial favorite, IKEA’s BESTA, to the rescue. From Jane: For $290 of IKEA material cost, 6 hours of labor, and some problem solving, we’ve installed a 5 unit IKEA Besta cabinet that doubles as a wine and coffee bar! See step-by-step instructions over on A Taste of Koko. Thank you Jane!
Tara Bellucci
Aug 12, 2015
Before & After: Old Radio Sings a New Tune
Though this old radio is showing its age, it was a bargain at $25, especially given its quality (and that it still worked!). Now, to make it beautiful again… From Anna: The speakers were covered in an old and stained fabric which was really an eye sore. We tore those out and decided to replace them with custom laser cut wood panels, which I designed and cut using the awesome laser cutter at my office.
Tara Bellucci
Aug 7, 2015
Before & After: Closet Steps Up To Hideaway Playroom
Have you ever seen a closet with steps? This weird feature made it less useful as a storage space, but Aimee’s toddlers were enthralled. So she decided to turn it into playroom, for just a little over $100: From Aimee: Plastic rain gutters on the back wall serve as book shelves. Homemade cushions soften the giant steps. Cheap Ikea frames with free printables were an affordable wall art solution.
Tara Bellucci
Aug 6, 2015
Before & After: Poolhouse Makes a Splash
If my freshman year dorm is any indication, at 18, I probably would’ve decorated this poolhouse in Beatles posters. But Kevin, an Atlanta student, went for a more sophisticated look. From Kevin: For more about this project, check out Thou Swell. Thank you Kevin!
Tara Bellucci
Aug 2, 2015