Roundup

How To Light Up Boring Lampshades: 12 DIY Ideas
I love lamp, but now I can love my lampshades too!
Tess Wilson
Aug 17, 2017
From Über-Ambitious to Super-Simple: Privacy Fences & Screens You Can Make Yourself
Got some outdoor space — a teeny balcony, deluxe patio, humble patch of grass, or minimalist concrete pad? Congratulations! Now that you’re part of the landed gentry, you’ll want some privacy. Block prying eyes, wind, and sun with these DIYs, ranging from projects requiring power tools I’ve never heard of to tutorials that amount to basically, “zip a zip tie” and “dig a hole.
Tess Wilson
Jul 21, 2017
9 Things Design-Obsessed Cat Lovers Need in Their Home
From aesthetically pleasing litter boxes to posh kitty beds, the pet industry is starting to cater more and more to the design-loving cat person and their menagerie. If you’ve ever brought home a carpet-covered cat tree only to have your cat look at it in disdain, or witness your tabby scratching up your tired-looking furniture, you must know it’s a sign. As a discerning species, your cat naturally deserves the best—and, so does your home.
Marissa Hermanson
Jul 18, 2017
Old House, New Tricks: See How 3 Gorgeous Old Houses Were Outfitted for a New Century
Old houses filled with period furniture are lovely, of course, but that doesn’t mean that they all have to be a museum. Homes are allowed to grow and change with their owners and with the times, and sometimes that results in a pastiche of old surroundings and new furnishings that’s even more delightful than the sum of its parts. Check out these three old houses whose owners have embraced modernism, with beautiful and unexpected results.
Nancy Mitchell
Sep 22, 2016
8 GIFs That May Convince You to Pick a Colorful Couch
Stop buying accent pillows. Buy an accent COUCH.
Adrienne Breaux
Jul 29, 2016
Rooms That Get It Right: For Laid-Back, Laissez-Faire Book Lovers Only
The perfectly-coiffed home library look isn’t for everybody. But capturing that “I just threw this here” look is harder than it seems. So for those of us who prefer our book storage to be a little less librarian and a lot more bohemian, here are seven rooms that get it right. A few piles tucked near the end of a desk, with a disco ball centerpiece to make it look more deliberate. Here, a spine shelf offers the backbone to what looks like just a tall stack of books.
Taryn Williford
Jul 1, 2016
Summery Style: 9 DIY Rope Rug Projects to Try
While winter brings to mind ornate wool rugs and sturdy but plain salt- and snow-soaked doormats, summer rugs can be lighter and more playful. Buy and dye some dollar store clotheslines or recycle your old climbing ropes and get to knitting, crocheting, coiling, or just good old-fashioned gluing. This tutorial requires $16 worth of clothesline rope and some hardcore crochet skills, and the result is totally spa-worthy.
Tess Wilson
Jun 17, 2016
These GIFs Show How Wallpaper Totally Transforms a Room
Tired of staring at your beige or blank walls? Paint would be an improvement, but wallpaper could be just the thing your room needs to take it to the next level. Still on the fence about wallpaper though? I “erased” the wallpaper from these three rooms so you could see the dramatic difference that happens in a space when you add patterned wallpaper (even on just one accent wall!).
Adrienne Breaux
Jun 9, 2016
No Watering Required: Beautiful Bold Leafy Plant Prints
Boisterous plant prints debuted decades ago, but these lively leaves have endured. They’ve become a classic way to add eye-catching glamour. Easier to care for than an actual plant, these bold prints add a vibrant, verdant feel to a space. Check out these eight rooms that got playful with plant prints in their design. (Pictured above:) A kitchen accent wall and ceiling use a palm print wall paper from Carleton Varney in Kristen’s Palm Beach-Inspired Home In Burbank.
Adrienne Breaux
May 22, 2016
13 of the Dreamiest Outdoor Spaces for Lazy Weekend Afternoons
A warm-toned rooftop in Mexico City filled with cacti. A tucked away French Quarter courtyard escape. Expansive and cozy alfresco spots bursting with lush plant life. These are 13 of the dreamiest outdoor spaces I’ve seen recently. And if I could, I’d park myself in any one of these locales with a book, a cold drink and the intention of not moving all day. Layers of plants and a view to die for spotted in this Bohemian Hotel in the Heart of Mexico City.
Adrienne Breaux
May 21, 2016
Divert a Dining Room Disaster: Mastering the Art of Mismatched Chairs
Mismatching in any discipline – from food to fashion – is an art, and not a science. So while I can’t exactly give you a formula for getting a mismatched dining room look right, I can give you nearly 20 different examples and tell you why they work so well. Click through to each tour for more photos of each space. Then from here, all you’ve got to do is get your figurative paint brush and try it out at home. Why it Works: The symmetry and the coordinated palette.
Taryn Williford
May 10, 2016
DIY Ideas for Making a Home on a New Grad’s Budget
Living the budget life is not easy and college grads know this more than anyone! During this exciting (read: stressful) phase of your life, having a cozy home that feels like your own space is so essential! After all, you need somewhere to kick up your feet after a busy day of chasing your dreams. If you’re on a budget, how can you create a beautiful home that’s not a mishmash of hand-me-down furniture? Here are some DIY ideas to help you stay on budget AND create a home you love.
Anusha Rajeswaran
May 2, 2016
Is There Anything I Can Do to Make This Small Room Look or Feel Bigger?
Small rooms can feel stifling. But you don’t have to knock a wall down to make a room feel and look larger than it actually is. There are design choices—both subtle and bold—that can actually make a room feel or look bigger than it is. Today’s Frequently Asked Home question: Is there anything I can do to make this small room look or feel bigger? Pick light wall colors that will expand the space.
Adrienne Breaux
Apr 24, 2016
Real Life Design Lessons: Creative Ways to Use Lighting
Light fixtures are great in the home for illuminating things, of course, but they can also be used successfully to inject drama and boldness in a room, too. Consider these novel ways to use lighting in your home to make a bold design statement. You can use lighting in your home to illuminate areas that you need to see better and to highlight interesting design elements. Nothing quite catches the eye in a space like something that’s lit up.
Adrienne Breaux
Apr 7, 2016
Vintage Charm: Tour 10 Beautiful 100-Year-Old Homes
There’s a reason that people herald the charm of really old homes. Stepping into one of these homes – built between 1890 and the 1910s – is like stepping back in time. The details, the fixtures and the architecture will transport you to a different place, captivating your attention (and certainly your envy). So hop into the Apartment Therapy House Tour time machine for a tour of some of our favorite turn-of-the-century homes.
Taryn Williford
Mar 31, 2016
Fresh Ideas for Fixing Funky Features
Sometimes there’s just something in your home that you just can’t change, but also can’t stand the sight of. These fresh ideas could help you hide, disguise or beautify an element in your home you wish you couldn’t see. While the long and narrow piece of storage furniture below the window in this small condo might look like a fancy credenza or storage shelf, it actually has two purposes. It’s a custom-made storage piece that also hides an unsightly radiator!
Adrienne Breaux
Mar 24, 2016
Beautifully Balanced Design Ideas to Steal from a Couple with Completely Opposite Decor Tastes
Allen Loeb is a lawyer. Nate Clark is a comedian and actor. And according to the couple (who share a house in West Hollywood) though they don’t bicker about much, they each have entirely different tastes when it comes to designing a home. While some might crumble under the pressure of trying to design with different tastes, these two have created a lovely home together that fits both of their personalities.
Adrienne Breaux
Mar 15, 2016
Design Ideas for Doubling Down: Rooms with Two Twin Beds
Although it’s not as common as a single bed per room, doing double (when it comes to beds) could be a solution for your guest room, your kid’s room or maybe even your own room. Check out this visual evidence that two beds might be better (or at the very least as stylish) as one. An upstairs guest room gets a Wes Anderson-vibe thanks to a cool color palette and two twin beds. A kid’s room is made sophisticated and stylish with black and white contrast and monograms.
Adrienne Breaux
Feb 13, 2016
No Frames Needed: Two Really Simple Ways to Fill an Empty Wall
Let’s banish bare walls. Because after seeing professional organizer Fay Wolf’s Silver Lake apartment, there’s no excuse for leaving a naked wall anywhere in your space. Instead, fill your big wall up with lots of little pieces that you love. You don’t even need frames, just grab some binder clips and tape and let’s go. The expanse above the sofa is a tough place to fill for a lot of home decorators.
Taryn Williford
Jan 29, 2016
Make It Memorable: 9 Quirky Creature Knockers
One sure-fire way to make your home memorable? Take advantage of every opportunity to layer in a little personal style to your space. Adding (or replacing) a door knocker is a great example of exactly this type of decor-enhancing opportunity; they set the tone for a personality-packed interior, are usually VERY affordable and the install process is a quick, easy DIY project for a half hour on the weekend. Why have a same-old, same-old conservative – or even worse!
Janel Laban
Mar 31, 2015
10 Corn Husks Crafts to Make This Holiday Season
People have used corn husks for fall crafts and DIY projects since long before the original Thanksgiving dinner. And here’s a tip: you don’t need to shuck a bunch of corn either— just use tamale wrappers from the grocery store. They are inexpensive, easy to work with, and can produce a wide variety of classic, long-lasting decorations. Here are ten to consider: Above, how to make basic corn husk flowers from The House That Lars Built.
Dabney Frake
Nov 19, 2014
Singular Style: Inspirational House Tours from Men Living on Their Own
We have a lot of really phenomenal house tours, and love revisiting them through various lenses. Last week I almost incited a riot when featuring spaces from women who live alone (here’s that post and its very controversial title). Today’s post shines the spotlight on ten guys from last year, and their approach to decorating homes that are unequivocally theirs. Here are ten favorites from the past year: 1.
Dabney Frake
Jul 8, 2014
8 Super Small Spaces (Under 400 Sq Ft!) with Big Design Ideas
You can make the most of living in any size space — from studio apartments to mansions — but there’s no doubt you need a special set of design skills to choose, decorate, and organize a tiny home. Here are eight that have done it successfully, and who have lots of lessons to share.
Dabney Frake
Apr 9, 2014
5 Simple Yet Stylish Ways to Display Stringed Instruments
Get those instruments up off the floor! I never thought I’d be the type of person to display a guitar, a banjolin and a ukele on my wall, but now that I’ve done it I actually think they look quite stylish! Hanging them on the wall keeps them safe from harm and available to play all the time. During my hunt for inexpensive string instrument mounts, I found a handful of gorgeous — mostly handmade — ones that I would love to invest in some day. Take your pick! (Pun intended.
Andie Powers
Feb 6, 2014
DIY Craft Supply Spotlight: Felt Products, Tools & Projects
There is something so wholesome, tangible and satisfying about felt. Not only is it warm and comforting, it’s also majorly colorful and energizing as well. Which might just make it the world’s perfect fabric for wintertime. Projects and ideas abound, and this is your guide. Here are some products and projects that will give you the warm fuzzies: These cute boxes were made using inexpensive stiffened felt (called E-Z Felt) found at a major craft supply store.
Dabney Frake
Dec 5, 2013
8 Ways to Turn Your Tablet Into a Bedside Clock
When we travel we use our iPad as the bedside clock. It’s large, and thanks to the Internet it always has the correct time. Of course there are an astounding array of apps out there to transform your tablet into a bedside clock, so we’ve curated the best of them in this week’s handy dandy tablet app feature.
Joelle Alcaidinho
Apr 27, 2012
20 Small Kitchens with Style
Small spaces are often tricky, and given how much gear goes into the kitchen, it’s undoubtedly one of the most difficult areas to keep compact, functional, and stylish. Here’s some inspiration to help you infuse your tiny kitchen with character and convenience.Obviously the aesthetic possibilities of the kitchen can range just as widely as that of other rooms.
Carolyn Purnell
Apr 5, 2012
The Best Paperless Invitations
I was raised to believe in the old-fashioned, inherent thoughtfulness of the hand-written note. In fact, “Santa” still leaves thank-you notes in my stocking every Christmas so that I have no excuse not to write them. I am 30. However, when it comes to party invitations, I have to admit I always go online. With features like guest tracking, easy one-click RSVPs, and pot-luck sign ups, it’s easy for both my guests and me to plan for the event!
Bethany Adams
Nov 1, 2010