6 At-Home Habits You Already Have That Are Also Helping Your Plants
According to experts.
Mar 17, 2021
The Important Step You're Missing With This $3 TJ's Bathroom Upgrade
Are you using your eucalyptus properly?
Mar 8, 2021
This $11 Amazon Find Turns an Evening Routine into Spa Night
Splish Splash
Your most frustrating bathtub woe, instantly solved.
Mar 3, 2021
5 Ways to Help People in Texas Right Now
From making donations to calling your representatives.
Mar 3, 2021
I’m Obsessed With Vintage Pyrex, So I Asked Experts How to Collect It
Their tips will help you grow your collection in no time.
Mar 2, 2021
Simplehuman’s New Solution Will Make Your Small Kitchen Compost-Friendly
I've been compost-curious for a while, but adding this to my kitchen was the push I needed to finally start the practice.
Feb 5, 2021
Budget Basics: The Best Organic Bedding Under $100
Organic bedding is not as unusual (or boring) as it used to be. Companies like Plover Organic, LOOP, and Coyuchi have set the standard for beautiful and environmentally-friendly bedding, but there’s one problem: they can be kind of expensive. Is there such a thing as budget-friendly organic bedding? Yes, there is! Here are our top picks for organic bedding—sheets, blankets, and pillows— all under $100.
Feb 1, 2021
Plant Prefab’s New Passive Homes Push The Boundaries of Sustainability
Take a look at the RPA LivingHomes 1, 2, and 3.
Jan 31, 2021
This Designer Depicts a Post-Pandemic World with Vehicles Transformed Into Planters
Designer Nicolas Abdelkader has created a collection of photos depicting his vision.
Jan 19, 2021
These Solar Panels Are Made from Plant Waste
NEWS
They're made from crops that were destroyed by natural disasters.
Jan 18, 2021
This 195-Square-Foot Tiny Home on Wheels is Powered by the Sun
For life on the road and off the grid.
Dec 28, 2020
The One Thing You Should Never Do With a Gift You Don't Like
According to an etiquette expert.
Dec 21, 2020
This App Calculates Your Carbon Footprint and Lets You Offset It from Your Phone
All those flights, train rides, and Uber rides really add up.
Nov 27, 2020
IKEA Wants You to Go Green on Black Friday This Year
Yes it comes with step-by-step illustrated instructions.
Nov 27, 2020
I Finally Found a Sponge That Doesn’t Totally Gross Me Out
Regular sponges are basically small rectangular germ incubators, but this silicone options doesn't gross me out at all.
Nov 24, 2020
10 Organic Mattresses You Can Shop Now
Yup, they exist.
Nov 21, 2020
This 3D Printed Sustainable Cabin Gives New Life to “Waste” Wood
It projects and embodies an eco-friendly ethos.
Nov 11, 2020
This Feel-Good Facebook Group Will Solve All of Your Decluttering Problems
Joining your local Buy Nothing group and offering up your unwanted items is mutually beneficial to both you and any potential recipient, as you're not only decluttering, but also "gifting" something useful to someone else.
Nov 9, 2020
Want to be a More Ethical Plant Parent? A Biologist Answers 4 Questions You Didn’t Think to Ask
A simple tweak in your perspective could protect vulnerable ecosystems—and help garden-variety plant parents grow, too.
Nov 10, 2020
This Sustainable Tiny Cabin Is Built to Withstand Tropical Climates and Blend In with the Mountains
It's flexible design leaves the surrounding environment untouched.
Nov 6, 2020
Jessica Alba’s Favorite Under-$30 Pan Has A Secretly Luxe Detail
It looks way more expensive than it is.
Oct 29, 2020
The Secret to Getting Rid of Food Smells As You Cook Is Already in Your Pantry
Brussels sprouts are no match.
Oct 28, 2020
Natural Bug Repellents to Keep Your Dinners Outside Bearable
There’s nothing like a swarm of mosquitoes or army of ants to ruin your time outdoors. Even though bugs are often useful, they can put a damper on picnics, BBQs, and simply chilling outside, and leave you with some nasty bites and stings. Thankfully it’s fairly simple to find ways to keep bugs away.
Oct 24, 2020
6 Little Ways You Can Spend More Sustainably at Home (and Save Money, Too)
Try one of these cost-saving swaps.
Oct 20, 2020
A 304-Square-Foot DIY Tiny House on 16 Acres Is a Dreamy Off-Grid Paradise
There are vegetable gardens, fruit trees, sprawling forests, solar energy rainwater collection systems, and a truly STUNNING greenhouse/bathroom made from upcycled wood-frame windows, just to name a few of the amazing structures on this 16-acre homestead.
Oct 21, 2020
The First Thing You Should Do When You Get New Shampoo and Conditioner
The one tiny change that can cut down on hair-washing time, reduce consumption and packaging waste, and save money.
Oct 8, 2020
IKEA Will Stop Selling Non-Rechargeable Batteries to Reduce Global Waste
Non-rechargeable alkaline batteries will be removed by next year.
Oct 4, 2020
These Stylish Velvet Couches Are Made From Recycled Water Bottles
Sabai, an eco-friendly furniture company, doesn't want you to sacrifice style for sustainability.
Oct 4, 2020
LEGO is Ditching Single-Use Plastic Packaging, Thanks to Some Smart Kids
LEGO announced it will phase out all plastic bags within its kits with recyclable paper packaging within the next five years.
Sep 21, 2020
This 107-Square-Foot Cabin Is a Model Example of Sustainable Craftsmanship
The micro home honors the surrounding environment where it was built.
Sep 8, 2020
The Best “Grown Up” Futons
Growing up, the only type of couches my family owned were futons. I thought they were the coolest — you could change the covers, they expanded for sleepovers, and they seemed much more modern than an overstuffed sofa. Nowadays futons are more often associated with dorm rooms than cool furniture. However, there’s no denying a futon’s small space convenience. Here are a few convertible options for your post-collegiate home.
Sep 2, 2020
This New Home Collection is Like if West Elm and Eileen Fisher Had a Baby
Because they are having a baby—a new sustainable denim collection for your home!
Aug 25, 2020
This Tiny House-Inspired Wooden Camper Can Comfortably Sleep a Family of 3
Each trailer is crafted with sustainable materials.
Jul 28, 2020
The First 3D Printed House in the Czech Republic Could Float on Water
Would you live in a printable home?
Aug 2, 2020
These Homes Built on Stilts in Bali Are Like Luxe Treehouses For Adults
Oh, to be quarantined in a luxe treehouse in scenic Bali.
Aug 1, 2020
How One Scandinavian City Is Creating Low-Cost Sustainable Housing for Its Young People
It represents hope for the future of Stockholm’s housing market, which has been going through a crisis for the last few decades.
Jul 29, 2020
You Can Save Big on Organic Bedding and Bath During Boll & Branch’s Summer Sale
The entire site is 20% off right now!
Jul 27, 2020
Experience Nature in Cozy Cocoon-Shaped Pods at This Eco-Friendly Resort
This seedpod resort takes eco-tourism to a new level.
Jul 26, 2020
Add One of These 11 Resourceful Kitchen Habits to Your Routine This Weekend
Weekend Projects
The goal isn't to completely streamline your kitchen into a waste-free zone. Just focus on one effort, and make it a habit you can sustain week after week.
Jul 21, 2020
Humane Rodent Control
I recently discovered evidence of mice in my apartment, err… actually, my cat discovered them for me. She’s a great hunter and tormentor but, as I discovered after a few hours, not a killer. Mice are one of the most horrifying things I can imagine in my home, so I’ve researched a few humane ways to get rid of them.
Jul 18, 2020
How To Install a Dimmer Switch
Dimmer switches are great, not only do they provide opportunity for mood lighting and ambiance, but also save money due to reduced power usage. Almost all the lights in my home are on a dimmer switch, except for the bedrooms, where we’d actually like to have them the most.
Jul 18, 2020
The Ten Commandments of Buying Used Furniture
You see a chair on the curb. It’s sitting right in front of your building and it’s free. Or, you’re at the thrift store and spy a cheap sofa. But something holds you back. You’re just. not. quite. sure. If only there were guidelines — holy reminders if you will — of things to keep in mind while looking at used furniture. How do you decide if it’s the right thing to re-do? Or if you should run in the other direction?
Jul 17, 2020
Before and After: Stock Tank Gardening Project
I’ve been in love with galvanized stock tank gardens for a long time and posted a roundup of my favorites last summer. Finally, I’ve gotten the chance to exercise my green thumb and take the first, small step to adding a little style to the exterior of my home.After nearly a year of renovations to the interior of my home, I’ve finally had the chance to start adding a little curb appeal.
Jul 17, 2020
7 Ideas to Steal from the Boston Magazine Design Home
A couple weeks ago, I got to preview the beautiful Boston Magazine Design Home 2014 in Salisbury, Ma. While I was inspired by many of the rooms and green features of this net zero energy home, these were the seven décor ideas I wanted to steal for my own space: Note: While its eco-friendliness is a huge draw, I’m going to focus on purely decorating tips. To find out more about its energy efficient features, visit the Design Home website. Here are my seven decorating ideas to steal: 1.
Jul 17, 2020
14 Foods You Can Re-Grow from Kitchen Scraps
That trash is treasure.
Jul 17, 2020
5 Ways To Use A Coat Rack (Other Than The Obvious)
Yesterday we talked about 12 different ways to use a bookcase in your home. Did you miss it? Check it out for sure as they’re one of the most versatile furniture pieces you can own. Today we’re back with a few more suggestions, but this time for the entryway staple: the coat rack.1. In The Bedroom: The harder we work to keep our closet items paired down the easier it can be to put a coat rack to use as a closet (especially if you use a small bookcase for folded items).
Jul 17, 2020
The Ultimate (Probably Practically Free) Dress Up Box Checklist!
Ssh! We’re putting together a dress up box for my kids this year for Christmas! To aid in my quest for putting together the best dress up box ever, I have made this handy “Ultimate Dress Up Box Checklist”. How many of these do you have in yours? Or, even better, waiting to add to yours, currently lying around your house? Used adult clothes: short dresses (they will become full length on a child) bridesmaid dresses (possibly cut short?
Jul 17, 2020
Before & After: A Revived Wooden Mirror
After spending four muddy days under flood water this mirror was on top of a pile of trash, destined for the tip. Then I got sentimental and retrieved it. It was too wet and filthy to bring inside so it spent the next 6 months outside before I finally decided it was time to make it work or let it go. I toyed with the idea of painting it bright yellow but in the end I couldn’t do it, so I kept it simple and tried to return it to its former glory.
Jul 17, 2020
7 Kitchen Waste Items to Use in the Garden
Composting kitchen scraps for use in the garden is a classic green living practice, but there are many kitchen waste items that can also be put to good use in other ways in the garden. From hot peppers to paper towel rolls, here are seven kitchen waste items to make your home and garden healthy and happy. Paper Towel Rolls: Trim them down to about 2 inches high and press them into the soil around seedlings, this serves as an added layer of protection from pests such as slugs.
Jul 17, 2020
Before & After: A Raised Garden Bed
During the last year, we focused mainly on fixing up the inside of our house. But 2011 is all about the outside, and we got to work before the holidays so we could eat out of our first food-producing garden come early spring. So far, so good. Take a look!We’re grateful that we have a lot of real estate to work with. Our first raised bed (the one pictured here) is four feet wide, eight feet long, and a foot and a half deep. It needed a cubic yard of dirt to fill it up!
Jul 17, 2020
How To Build A Raised Bed in a Metal Trough
Whether you call it a stock tank, a galvanized metal container, or a cattle trough (being from Texas, I prefer the latter), one thing’s for sure: these metal bins make for perfect and visually interesting raised garden beds. They’re cheap and come in a variety of sizes, so surely you’ll find one for your space. Then, follow these steps to create your own raised bed.
Jul 17, 2020
10 Things to Make With Felted Wool
As spring winds down, bringing the oh-so-hot temperatures of summer all the closer, we are knee deep in cleaning. In the midst of purging and decluttering, we’ve come across a handful of wool sweaters that really don’t need to make an appearance as apparel ever again. Here are 10 things you can do to reincarnate those tired old wool sweaters.Felting wool is as simple as washing an old 100% wool sweater in hot water.
Jul 17, 2020
4 Sources for Architectural Salvage in Chicago
Architectural salvage shops are increasingly popular destinations for designers, collectors, and remodelers, and for the home decorator looking for unique furnishings, there’s no better place to start a search. In part, salvage stores hold such wide appeal because the items there carry the forgotten tales of the past, and invite collectors to imagine creative reuse ideas.
Jul 17, 2020
A Safe Non-Toxic Sealant for a Wooden Highchair?
Q: What is a safe, nontoxic sealant for a wooden highchair? We have an old wooden highchair that has a tray with all the finish worn off. The tray had also broken in half where it was seamed together. I glued it together again, but I’d like to refinish it to make it easier to clean. It is in otherwise perfect condition and we want to use it for our grandchildren.
Jul 17, 2020
21 Things You Can Do With Lemons and Lemon Juice (That Don’t Involve Food)
Lemons are kind of a miracle to me. Their wizardly talents range from saving sailors from untimely scurvy deaths, to working equally as well in savory and sweet dishes. And on top of that, lemons are an ace all-natural cleaning agent to use around the house. Lemon is a cleanser and deodorizer that can work wonders for your skin, wardrobe or dresser drawers. Make a serum to calm your puffy, swollen eyes. Mix lemon juice with sugar or salt to create a deliciously smelling body scrub.
Jul 17, 2020
10 Natural DIY Citrus Cleaners
We are big fans of natural cleaners here on Apartment Therapy, and generally they are very easy (and inexpensive!) to make. I personally try to use citrus in my cleaning repertoire whenever I can because I find it to be an effect whitener and grease cutter, and it leaves the room I am cleaning pleasantly fragrant. Here are 10 of my favorite DIY citrus cleaners and cleaning techniques. Please share your favorites in the comments below! All Purpose: 1. How To Make Homemade Citrus Cleaner 2.
Jul 16, 2020
The 10 Best All-Natural and Organic Mattress Sources
Buying a new mattress is a big investment, and knowing where to go to find the best options for your health and for the planet—not to mention for a sound night’s sleep— is key.
Jul 16, 2020
Before & After: Coffee Sack Upholstered Chair
You have to love a project that not only makes over a sad old chair but also reuses old coffee sacks. This creative re-use project not only features repurposed fabric but also looks great too! Check out the fantastic results after the jump.Many of you have seen similar chairs using grain sacks selling for a pretty penny, this step by step tutorial by Doesn’t Cost the Earth shows you how you can get the look for much less using organic coffee sacks.
Jul 16, 2020
Does Turning Down the Heat Really Burn More Calories?
In response to my recent post, Trying To Cut Down On Heating Costs? Go Gradually, a commenter wrote, “If I feel a little cold, I just tell myself that I am burning more calories when I am chilly… because that’s true.
Jul 16, 2020
7 Ways To Use Doilies In A Fresh and Modern Way
The word “doily” just sounds old and musty, doesn’t it? In reality, they’re small little works of art that can be found all over at local thrift stores and estate sales. After we mentioned using them as wall art yesterday, we thought a proper roundup was in order to showcase their true modern beauty. Here are 7 ways to put them to use and get them out of the linen closet!
Jul 16, 2020
Beautiful Oversized Hanging Plants
Plants are well known as great way to add some color, texture and life to a space, and when they also happen to be beautifully oversized hanging plants, they also bring the drama. We’ve rounded up some examples from our archives and around the web. 1. An oversized Boston Fern adds texture and brings character to the room. Gregory and Jenny’s Relaxed Hippie Bungalow Tour from Apartment Therapy. 2. Following curve of a staircase these Bears-Paw Ferns have a cascading effect.
Jul 16, 2020
Famous Writers’ Small Writing Sheds and Off-the-Grid Huts
When I hear the phrase “writing hut” or “backyard shed” my imagination practically squeals with delight. A small, intimate space furnished with the essentials. Low impact, high inspiration. This is probably why I love going to North Dakota and why I want to pull a Pollan and build my own little house.
Jul 15, 2020
Out of the Closet: How To Make a Rope Wrapped Hanging Clothes Bar
Tired of pulling my shirts, all wrinkled and creased, out of my over-stuffed closet, I decided to come out of the closet completely and create a hanging clothes bar in the corner of my bedroom. Say goodbye to these colorful (but useless) drawers-turned-shelves and hello to my new rope wrapped hanging clothes bar…This is actually a project I’ve had in mind for a couple of months.
Jul 15, 2020
Before & After: Under Stair Storage Redo
Like many other small space dwellers, we have almost no closet or storage space in my home. The tenants before us took the first step to maximize the dead space under the stairs by removing a partition wall to open up the area, and installed a drop down hatch under the stair. Unfortunately they didn’t install a railing and instead only those awkward, sharp rectangular boxes — after several falls down the stairs it was painfully obvious something needed to change!
Jul 15, 2020
Energy Saving Task Lighting in the Kitchen: 10 LED Under Cabinet Lights
I recently installed under cabinet lights in the kitchen of my rental apartment, and for a relatively small investment, they have made a big impact: They provide lighting for such kitchen tasks as dish washing and food prep, and their ambient glow is a pleasant alternative to the harsh overhead lighting I relied on previously. Fluorescent, halogen and xenonTOP ROW1. NON LED Countertop Light, $20 from IKEA2. LEDme Button Light, $54 from WAC Lighting3.
Jul 15, 2020
Before & After: A Budget Garden Makeover
Since moving back to our rented home we’ve been slowly rebuilding the gardens around the house. Working with what we have and focusing on the growing-not-mowing philosophy, we turned the space near our front door in to a useable garden space for less than $20.Until recently the space was only used to access the hot water system.
Jul 15, 2020
Pallet Furniture: How to Choose and Prepare Reclaimed Wood for DIY Projects
Pallet projects, in every possible form, were early guests to the DIY party and have stayed around ever since. Using them for the reclaimed wood certainly has its risks (more on that later), but you can’t beat the price (which is usually free). Here’s a guide to everything you need to know: finding, choosing, cleaning, and breaking down one for use. Once you know the what’s what, you can decide for yourself if they are worth the effort.
Jul 15, 2020
Before & After: New Uses for Old Doors
After moving to Saratoga Springs, NY, which is famous for its horses and horse track, Lucianna Samu became obsessed with old horse stall doors. She began collecting and refurbishing the doors for projects around the house. Below are pictures of a liquor cabinet and a kitchen pantry that Lucianna created by hanging the doors on modern sliding rails.According to Lucianna, My advice is that the lighter the door, the easier and less expensive the installation.
Jul 15, 2020
Before & After: Upcycled, Vintage, Budget Office Makeover
BEFOREDreary home office gettin’ you down? Take a cue from one of the lovely ladies of Fig & Sage who, after realizing the paint color on the walls made the office ‘depressing and lifeless’ in winter, transformed the room into… AFTER… a soothing, lavender-hued oasis with a wood door tabletop (salvaged from her basement), IKEA shelves and desk legs, two West Elm Parsons desks (scored for $15 each at an overstock warehouse), and neat, colorful organization.
Jul 15, 2020
Hot Tip: Deter Cats From Your Christmas Tree With Citrus
Cats and christmas trees are like salt and chocolate: they just belong together. If you have a furry feline who insists on scoping out your living room from half way up your Blue Spruce, here’s an easy way to keep them grounded for good! Try placing citrus peels like oranges and lemons under your tree skirt. In general most cats detest citrus and will keep their distance. As an added bonus, it will make your living quarters smell lovely and won’t harm anyone (albeit 2 or 4 legs).
Jul 15, 2020
A Collector’s Tiny 178-Square-Foot Apartment
We’ve seen our share of small spaces and teeny-tiny homes, but this one just might take the cake. This 178-square-foot apartment in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn belongs to 25-year-old Zach Motl. An avid collector since he was a child, Motl adheres to the “old decorating dictum that says the more stuff you put in a room (albeit artfully arranged stuff), the bigger it seems. More really is more.
Jul 15, 2020