Guided by color magic, which uses colors to guide spell-casting, I've started using colored pens to help evoke results from my daily journaling and to-do lists.

Alissa Schulman

Jul 28, 2021

6 Household Uses for Mint

Whether you have a mint plant growing on your windowsill or a bottle of mint essential oil that you’re not sure what to do with, there are several household uses for the herb. Below, six household uses for mint you may not have thought of before.While you’re at it, also be sure to check out our guides on how to grow herbs indoors, what the best indoor herb growing kits are, and the 10 easiest herbs to grow.

Carolin Lehmann

Jul 11, 2021

5 Garage Items You Should Always Buy Secondhand, According to Home Stagers

There's no need to buy everything brand new.

Sarah Kuta

Jun 2, 2021

4 Apartment Accessories You Should Buy Secondhand

Thrifting pros share their takes on those under-the-radar gems you should seek out at the thrift store, especially if you're a new renter in a small space.

Kate Streit

Jun 1, 2021

5 Things You Can Buy at a Thrift Store to Organize Your Kitchen

Each of the five suggestions below are commonly found in resale retail, and they just might be what you need to get your kitchen under control.

Jennifer Prince

May 13, 2021

7 Things for Your New Home That You Should Always Buy Secondhand

According to real estate experts.

Sarah Kuta

Apr 1, 2021

3 Window-Cleaning Mistakes Keeping You From Streak-Free Glass

Sure, the toothpaste splatters might be gone, but it's far from crystal-clear. Here are three ways to fix your technique.

Shifrah Combiths

Feb 11, 2021

8 Things to Eliminate From Your Living Room Right Now (That You Won't Miss)

Promise!

Adrienne Breaux

Nov 9, 2020

6 Habits All Impossibly Organized People Have in Common

Organized people share a list of common practices that leave them well-rested and organized, while the rest of us are running around like overwhelmed chickens with our heads cut off.

Dabney Frake

Nov 1, 2020

8 Things Smart Shoppers Look for When They Thrift

If there's anything I learned from my piano fiasco, it's caveat emptor, or "Let the buyer beware."

Shifrah Combiths

Sep 27, 2020

8 Super Stylish Ways to Deal with that Awkward Spot at the Foot of the Bed

Don't miss the chance to do more with this seemingly small amount of space.

Melissa Epifano

Sep 3, 2020

Check Out These 4 Tips Before You Rent a Storage Unit

According to an expert.

Melissa Epifano

Aug 1, 2020

The Unfortunate Truth About Your Favorite Trendy Houseplants

We’ve all seen those deceptively gorgeous houseplants on social media. You know the ones everyone drools over—the glamorous fiddle leaf fig, gem-like string of pearls, elegant maidenhair fern, and cascading rosary vine. They all look amazing in photographs, but there’s a lot more to caring for these plants than meets the eye. If you’ve fallen victim to Instagram plant envy, learn these tricks of the trade and keep your plants alive longer.

Molly Williams

Jul 18, 2020

5 of My Favorite Tropical Plants, Because Winter Is Dead to Me

Most of the plants we grow in our homes come from the tropics. That’s because, from a plant’s perspective, our climate-controlled houses more or less resemble the year-round warmth of a jungle habitat. However, there are some universal challenges to growing tropical plants indoors, namely, humidity and water. Jungle plants are used to high humidity, so they can have a hard time thriving in the dry indoor air of North American homes, particularly during the winter.

Rebecca Straus

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?

Dabney Frake

Jul 17, 2020

Lessons Learned From Photographing Stylish Homes

I’ve been photographing house tours for Apartment Therapy for years (I’m the House Tour Editor now). And I’ve been able to walk through and capture homes with beautiful, inspiring and bold interiors. But all the homes I’ve photographed have had more than just good style in common. Many of them have had elements that make them not just beautiful to look at, but enjoyable and comfortable to be in.

Adrienne Breaux

Jul 17, 2020

Pimp My Small Kitchen: 10 Cheap, Renter-Friendly Improvements

All the small space goodness from last month inspired me to make some tweaks and additions to make my small Brooklyn kitchen more serviceable and user-friendly (especially since I am its primary user). The changes are affordable, renter-friendly and, hopefully, helpful to some of you simmering and sautéing away in your own small kitchens. 1. Over-the-Stove Cutting Board: small kitchens are a challenge not just for storing things but for actually cooking.

Carrie McBride

Jul 17, 2020

7 Things You Should Know Before Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets

If you’re looking for a relatively painless, low-cost way to update your kitchen, and have ever been on the internet, you know that painting your cabinets is the way to go. Honestly, I can’t think of better dollar-to-dramatic improvement ratio on any other project. And the news gets better: It’s way easier now than it was the olden days, before the miracle of chalk paint.

Dana McMahan

Jul 17, 2020

8 Surefire Ways To Save Money On Laundry

Every kid with a piggybank knows that careful saving can add up. If you could find a way to save just $4 a week at the laundromat or in your own laundry room, you’d have over $200 at the end of the year to use however you like! Here are 8 simple steps I feel confident will put those extra dollars in the bank. 1. Wait until you can wash full loads.

Alison Gerber

Jul 17, 2020

What Does it Mean When Your Plant Is Leggy?

Healthy houseplants are generally described as full and bushy. They’ll have lots of dense, sturdy growth and the leaves will be crisp and green rather than limp and yellowing. If your houseplant is “leggy,” it simply means it has gotten a bit unkempt and scraggly, like a formerly stylish haircut that’s grown out unevenly and is riddled with split ends. Leggy houseplants are marked by flopping stems, uneven and sparse growth, and a general look of untidiness.

Rebecca Straus

Jul 17, 2020

5 Big (Yet Common) Plant Mistakes You’re Currently Making

Indoor plants are a vibrant source of beauty in your home’s otherwise inanimate landscape. And keeping them healthy and happy is a quiet source of joy for many people. But the opposite is also true: Struggling houseplants not only drag down your space’s appearance, but they also bring us down too.

Shifrah Combiths

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.

Taryn Williford

Jul 17, 2020

5 Things You Can Do On Your Summer Break to Increase Your Home’s Value

You don't have to fully renovate to boost the value of your home, or even its "wow" factor. Instead, tackle these small projects this summer.

Colleen Egan

Jul 17, 2020

How To Fight The Rental Battle of the Beige in Every Room in The House

Between beige walls, brown floor tiles, and oak wood cabinets, most rental apartments have cornered the market on neutral. If your walls are the color of a bandaid, and your landlord has no pity for your palette woes, it’s up to you to take the bull by the horns and deal with it. One of the easiest ways to combat the lack of vibrant color is with really bold bedding and artwork. You’d never walk away from Jen & Kirstie’s happy, welcoming rental and think it’s boring.

Dabney Frake

Jul 17, 2020

Create More Visual Harmony in Your Home

What is harmony, when it comes to one’s home? Well, in general, it’s a feeling of peace and cohesiveness. It’s more than just feeling like everything goes together — it’s the sense that the whole space is better for every element in it. It’s a way to create a sense of calmness throughout your entire home that makes your life just a little bit better. And here are six ways to add more of it to your home!

Adrienne Breaux

Jul 17, 2020

Foolproof Ways to Keep Your Succulents Alive and Thriving

Succulents are delightful little plants that boast a variety of fun colors, textures, and shapes. They are sometimes said to “thrive on neglect,” and while they definitely don’t require much fussing over, it’s still best to know what they like and what they don’t. Here are our top tips for succulent growing and care. Simply put, succulents are plants that store water in their stems or leaves, which are thick and fleshy.

Shifrah Combiths

Jul 16, 2020

Moving Checklist: What to Do When Downsizing to a Studio

Is 2016 the year you move from your current apartment to a compact studio? One-room living can be a great way afford living closer to the action in a city — but it comes with challenges. Even more challenges if you’re downsizing to a studio from a larger apartment. Read on for ways in which you can make downsizing a little easier if you’re moving into a studio in the near future. With small studios, come small kitchens.

Adrienne Breaux

Jul 16, 2020

5 Things Fresh Tulips Need to Look Good and Last Longer

It’s March, which means tulips are popping up in stores everywhere. Take advantage of the tulip season, and learn the dos and don’ts for making them last longer and look their best. Plentiful clean water is pretty important to these pretty little flowers. When you’re first arranging them in their vase, re-cut each one so water has the best chance to travel up the stems.

Dabney Frake

Jul 16, 2020

Before & After: A One-Weekend Bathroom Refresh (+ Painting Tips from a Lazy Perfectionist)

With the warm season starting, I’ve become obsessed with all things white. So I’ve returned to my rental white walls in the bathroom, which feels so fresh and clean for summer. Check out the results below. I used the same color on the baseboard and moldings so I didn’t need to worry about that clean line of paint as the color changes (the most frustrating part of a painting job to a self-proclaimed lazy perfectionist).

Theresa Gonzalez

Jul 16, 2020

Bathroom Remodeling Tips: How to Plan Ahead for the Smoothest Possible Process

All this week we’re talking about bathroom renovations, starting with Ashley’s recent remodel, and following up with tons of helpful posts about the process! So you’re thinking of remodeling one of the most necessary rooms in your home – not an easy task to take on! Luckily, there are ways you can prepare to take the pain out of a bathroom remodel. Here are just a few to get you started: When it comes to a remodel, always make sure you have a contingency fund.

Audrey Bauer

Jul 16, 2020

Make It Last: How to Update & Repair Vintage Wood Furniture

We’ve all heard the phrase “they don’t make ’em like they used to,” which in my experience, cannot be more true when it comes to quality-made furniture. Dovetailed drawers or burled wood veneer seems to have been replaced by the convenience of assemble-yourself, particle-board furniture. Although these pieces are affordable, the poor construction quality makes them practically disposable.

Cate Henderson

Jul 16, 2020

A Welcoming Atmosphere: How to Create (or Boost) It In Your Home

Atmosphere is the je ne sais quoi ingredient to interiors. You can’t really put your finger on it and it’s not really something you can buy in a box to add to your home. But it’s the thing that differentiates a great home from just a good one, and it’s the thing that makes guests want to stay and linger in your home as long as possible. How do you get it (or make your existing atmosphere even better)? Well the answer to that isn’t easy.

Adrienne Breaux

Jul 16, 2020

Initially Cheap Products That Are Actually Quite Expensive Over Time

This is a “get off my lawn” type of post, when I curmudgeonly grouse about how much things cost, and how we’re being swindled by young punks who don’t know how easy they’ve got it in today’s world. My pet peeve of the day is products that are very inexpensive (or in some cases free) at the outset, but require expensive refills or supplies to keep them item working. Don’t get me wrong: I love some of these things.

Dabney Frake

Jul 16, 2020

5 Things That Take a Room from Good to Great

Have you ever looked at a room in your home and thought “it needs a little something else” — but not quite been able to put your finger on what? If so, then this post is for you. In the same way that the right accessories make any outfit better, these five things will take any room in your home from good to great. There’s nothing like a rug to really tie a room together.

Nancy Mitchell

Jul 16, 2020

10 Clever DIY Projects to Hide Household Eyesores

Here’s the unfortunate truth about 99% of all living spaces: every house and apartment—large or small—likely has something that’s weird, oddly placed, or just plain ugly. These persistent little problems (cords, vents, pipes, outlets) might drive you nuts, but stay they must, especially if you are a renter. The only solution is to get creative…. Here are ten common household eyesores, and DIY projects and ideas to help you disguise them: 1.

Dabney Frake

Jul 15, 2020

The Broke Person’s Guide to Decorating: The Cheapest, Chicest & Most Effective Tricks

Have hardly any money to spend on your home decor? Have NO money to spend on your decor? It might seem impossible to design a home that won’t end up looking like your budget was zero, but it is possible to get creative and design a home that still looks great despite your small (or non-existent) budget. Here are some of our favorite tips. Really work on designing your spaces to optimize each room’s flow and feeling.

Adrienne Breaux

Jul 15, 2020

Propagation Station: How To Make Plant Babies

All the resources you need to save money, one new baby leaf at a time.

Amelia Lawrence

Apr 22, 2020

How To Create Your Own Mini Jardin d’Hivers

Depending on where you live in the world, winter could be a dark, gray, cold (potentially miserable) string of days that has you stuck inside hoping spring comes soon before you go stir-crazy. If that describes you right now, you might find solace in this inspiring design idea that could be translated to your own home — no matter where you live. There was a lot to love in Isabelle’s Peaceful, Poetic Haven in Switzerland.

Adrienne Breaux

Apr 14, 2020

5 Tasks to Check Off Your Thanksgiving To-Do List a Week Early

If you’re preparing to host Thanksgiving dinner this year, you may be feeling like this week is the silence before the storm. Rather than let nerves build to a day-of crescendo, here are some things you can check off of that Thanksgiving to-do list a full week in advance, freeing up time on the holiday itself: Make a shopping list. Depending upon what’s on your list, you might be able to even get your shopping out of the way now, before stores are overcrowded.

Regina Yunghans

Mar 12, 2020

5 Apartment Therapy Tips I Use All the Time (and 5 I’ve Had Bookmarked for Years That I’m Just Never Going to Do)

I’m in my fourth year of writing for Apartment Therapy, and I’ve been an Apartment Therapy/The Kitchn reader for even longer. Like all of you longtime folks, I’ve definitely found many tips from our sites that have changed the way I operate, while others that I was so gung-ho on—projects and tips that I was sure I’d get right to work on—have been languishing on the island of I’m-never-going-to-actually-do-this for years.

Julia Brenner

Mar 11, 2020

The Commandments of Decorating an All-White Room

Sticking with all-white in an interior space has a lot of advantages. Light and airy, you’ll be left with bright spaces that feel refreshing and peaceful. Those who rent will find solace in being able to work with can’t-paint white walls. Not having a lot of colors in a space allows the people to become the paint that splashes colorfully on your home’s palette. But creating stunning all-white rooms isn’t as easy as simply leaving out the color.

Adrienne Breaux

Mar 11, 2020

8 Ways to Make a Small Kid’s Room Feel Bigger by Drawing Attention to the Ceiling

Just because you can’t actually make a room bigger, doesn’t mean you can’t trick the eye into making it appear and feel bigger. One of the most effective ways to do this is to draw the eye upward toward the ceiling making the walls seem higher and giving the room an air of expansiveness. Here are eight real-room examples—not all of them are small—but you can apply the ideas to your own small room. Embellish the ceiling.

Carrie McBride

Mar 11, 2020

5 Simple Ways to Make Your Home a Haven

Lately my day job, combined with being almost seven months pregnant, is leaving me pretty tired by 5 p.m. I’ve been thinking more and more about what makes my home a comfortable place to be — something anyone can relate to. Here are some of our best tips for making your home a cozy place that you’re always happy to come home to. 1. Diversify lighting. I’m a proponent of having three points of light in a room.

Kim R. McCormick

Mar 11, 2020

Our Best Decorating Ideas: How To Layer for Added Comfort & Style

As the days and nights get chillier, it’s time to talk about layers. Taken literally, this means those extra blankets and throws you pile on to stay warm. But it also means all the decorative elements you add to a room to create interest, texture, and depth. Whether layers increase your physical comfort, please the eye, or hide parts of a room that make you cringe, there are tons of reasons to go multi-dimensional.

Dabney Frake

Mar 11, 2020

The Do’s & Don’ts of Holiday Lights

I don’t understand people who say Christmas lights put them in a good mood. They obviously must be paying somebody else to do their light purchasing, stringing, and storing—because holiday lights are a major headache. But you can make the whole process a little bit easier if you keep a few of these easy tips in mind.DON’T buy too many or too few lights. Plan ahead and get only what you need.

Taryn Williford

Mar 11, 2020

The Ultimate Guide to Making Any Rental More Energy Efficient

Think that because you don’t own, you have no control over your home’s energy use? Not true! Here’s our ultimate guide; full of links to quick, easy and yes, even inexpensive, ways to reduce your carbon footprint and lower your bills (your landlord will thank you!). Most of these changes are likely to pay for themselves in energy savings over the duration of your rental.

Rachel Wray Thompson

Mar 11, 2020

5 Double-Duty Room Combos that Always Work

Maybe you’re making room for a new baby’s nursery or that cave of collectibles you’ve always wanted. Or maybe you just like living small. No matter what your motivation is for maximizing your space, the best way to do it is by combining two functions into one room. Here are five classic double-duty room combos we see all the time, proving that when it comes to a thoughtful layout, you can kill two birds with one stone. 1.

Taryn Williford

Mar 11, 2020

8 Tips for Mixing Styles at Home (Without Looking Like a Crazy Person)

Homes that layer in different styles are dynamic and interesting. But too much mixing and your eye doesn’t know where to land, and winds up confused and unhappy. The most successful rooms seek some common ground, where everything finds a way to get along. Here are ten ways to mix aesthetics, without getting a raised eyebrow: COLOR: Using a consistent color helps your decor hang well together and look more cohesive.

Dabney Frake

Mar 11, 2020

5 Sneaky Little Secrets of Successful Small Spaces

Because it's all about getting creative.

Nancy Mitchell

Mar 4, 2020

Finally! Your “Me” Home: Decorating for Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type

Who knew that four letters could bring so much clarity to your life? It’s like the Myers-Briggs personality test looks deep into your soul to see the most genuine parts of you–the way you make decisions, the way you look at the world. And once you get in tune with those aspects of yourself, you gain a whole new perspective on everything in life, including how you decorate your own home.

Taryn Williford

Mar 4, 2020

The Small Space Rules Designers Wish You Would Break

Breaking the rules isn't just fun when it comes to design, it can actually pay off in the final product.

Danielle Blundell

Feb 26, 2020

How To Make Your Home Look 10 Times Better in 10 Minutes Or Less

By looking at your home like a stylist, you can unlock the potential that's been there all along.

Nancy Mitchell

Feb 14, 2020

I Bought a $170 Vacuum From a Thrift Store for $20—And You (Probably) Can Too

These eight quick tests will tell you if a used vacuum works well, and if it had a rough past life.

Ashley Poskin

Jan 12, 2020

How To Carve a Pumpkin

After examining endless short, tall, lumpy, skinny, and funny-looking specimens, you finally picked out that perfect pumpkin and are now ready to take it home and carve it. But before you get started, take a look at our materials list and stop by the hardware store to pick up a few important tools that will help to get the job done safely and accurately. Compass saw Fleshing tool (an ice cream scoop or ladle will work too!

Ashley Poskin

Dec 19, 2019

How To Wrap an Extension Cord Like a Boss

There are things contractors do that we all should take note of, and electrical cord storage is one of those things. It’s important to properly store your cord to elongate its lifespan- plus, it will save you the headache of having to unwind 100 feet of tangles and knots. The Over Under method is quite possibly the most popular way to store cords.

Ashley Poskin

Dec 19, 2019

How To Hide Home Wires

No matter how clean your space actually is, a tangled bundle of wires can instantly make the room appear messy and unorganized. Make your space clutter free and ready for its close-up with one of these helpful hints. Before you start: Turn off and unplug all your appliances and do a quick sweep to remove any dust bunnies that may have taken up residence in your wire pile.

Ashley Poskin

Dec 19, 2019

Nearly Every Room in This Eclectic Farmhouse Is Fabulously Decorated

Kate Pearce thrifts for a living... and her gorgeous newly renovated house is filled with incredible finds!

Apartment Therapy Submissions

Dec 1, 2019

8 Sneaky Ways to Create the Illusion of More Space

These are pretty clever.

Dabney Frake

Nov 26, 2019

How to Be a Good Thanksgiving Host to Guests with Disabilities

Here's how to host a Thanksgiving celebration that's accessible for all of your guests.

Kelly Dawson

Nov 19, 2019

Why You Should Keep a Roll of Duct Tape in the Kitchen, According to Reddit

Reddit found a genius hack for this all-too-common situation.

Kenya Foy

Nov 1, 2019

5 Ways to Speed Up Your Slow Wi-Fi Connection

There’s a good chance you’re not experiencing the full internet speeds you’re paying for. A weak wireless connection is often the bottleneck between advertised maximum speeds and the reality of waiting for pages to load and files to download. So what’s the point of paying for all this speed if you can’t take full advantage of it?

Jason Yang

Jun 26, 2019

Stop Doing These 10 Things That Are Dragging Your Home’s Sophistication Down

Because we’re not living Pinterest boards and no one gets it right 100 percent of the time, I think we all have certain aspects of home decor and housekeeping that we ace, and other aspects that we struggle to get a handle on. I know I do. Here are 10 common issues that may be diminishing your home’s sophistication along with some easy tweaks to help you self-correct. Rumpled sheets look, well, rumpled.

Julia Brenner

Jun 16, 2019

100+ Tips for Frugal Living: How to Get Thrifty and Save Money

You might have financial goals at this point in your life. Or, you might not. But here’s the good news: it’s completely possible to save money and still have a happy, fulfilled existence. You just have to adopt a frugal mindset, and put practices in place to help you succeed. To help you out, here are 100+ ways to get thrifty and reduce your cost of living… 1. 6 Tips for Creating a ‘Buy Better, Buy Less’ Budget 2. How To Have an Adult Apartment on a Budget 3.

Dabney Frake

Jun 5, 2019

100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend

It’s the start of the first three day weekend of the summer, so in keeping with (and expanding upon!) recent Apartment Therapy tradition, we put together a big list of DIY projects to consider for the days ahead. From crafting to cleaning, renovating to relaxing, there is an idea here for everyone – 100 to be exact! Join Us on Pinterest:Apartment Therapy Learn to make your pics prettier: How To Instantly Improve Your Photos Give your dining chairs a new (tufted!

Janel Laban

Jun 5, 2019