Weekend Projects

Apartment Therapy Weekend Projects is a guided program designed to help you get the happy, healthy home you've always wanted, one weekend at a time. Sign up now for email updates so you never miss a lesson.

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This Weekend's Project:

Try This Happy, Healthy-Looking Plant Tip I Learned from My Mom

Every time my mother would finish "editing" a plant like this, she'd say with her signature sparkle smile, "See? Look at how happy it looks now!"

Shifrah Combiths

Nov 4, 2022

Catch Up on Past Assignments:

This Weekend: Don’t Forget These Manageable Micro Zones

Are you just about to start your annual spring cleaning, poised to attack and refresh your entire home? We applaud your efforts! But if that’s not you, that’s okay too. Whether part of a bigger spring clean or on their own, concentrating on a few areas that are totally do-able, but equally worthy of attention this weekend will be worth it. Remember, it’s not about perfection. It’s about progress.

Dabney Frake

Oct 13, 2022

This Weekend: Let the Sunshine In

With summer almost upon us, it’s impossible not to think of watermelons and swimming pools and lemonade and all those other sunshiny things. But opening your windows for some fresh spring air can bring some not-so-pleasant things to light — like window tracks littered with dead bugs or screens full of dust and pollen. This weekend, whether you tackle one room or the whole house, get some windows sparkling so nothing gets between you and those golden rays.

Shifrah Combiths

Oct 13, 2022

This Weekend: How Long Has It Been Since You Cleaned These Three Things?

There are the things you clean regularly, and then there are the things…you don’t. Sometimes it’s because you dread it, and something it’s because they just don’t need attention all that often. Either way, it’s got to get done sometime, and this weekend might be the perfect time. Consider this your friendly nudge and reminder.

Dabney Frake

Oct 13, 2022

This Weekend: Curb Your Home’s Worst Clutter Culprit

Even the cleanest and most organized homes can get cluttered and super overwhelming fast. Because there’s one thing that piles up faster than a shopping cart in the final minutes of Supermarket Sweep. Unless you’re ready, and keep on top of it every single day, you’ll soon be buried under a suffocating mountain of stuff. This weekend, take the time to conquer this particular mess, and feel lighter almost immediately. Tame the Mail Mountain: Has your mail taken over your life?

Dabney Frake

Oct 13, 2022

This Weekend: Even If You’re Busy, It’s Time To Pile It On

Okay, so it’s the weekend and you’ve been busy — probably the last thing you feel like doing is cleaning and bringing in heavier bedding. We totally get it — but a clean bedroom and freshly layered bed create a domino effect whose benefits multiply. You’ll sleep better, and feel better getting up in the morning. All it takes is a little effort this weekend and you’ll be ready to reap the rewards. Go Clean Your Room!

Dabney Frake

Oct 11, 2022

This Weekend: Make The Most Out Of What You’ve Got

You might have started June with a bang, but are you still going strong? Don’t make the mistake of simply counting down the days until fall, in mourning prematurely, without appreciating the right here, right now. So — come September — you’re not wondering why you never saw your friends more than once this summer, and where did all that time go? Make a Quick Getaway: Every Friday marks the beginning of a mini-summer vacation.

Dabney Frake

Oct 11, 2022

This Weekend: Make a Few Minor Home Adjustments To Save Major Money

Streamline your home’s energy usage wherever you can? It’s a no brainer, for both your personal finances and for the common good. Simply unplug the vampire appliances sucking you dry, make little tweaks to your mindset, and get your home up to snuff. Just a few little improvements can really bring your numbers down and increase savings over time. Assess Your Home’s Situation: Get a handle on your home’s energy use, and identify what’s needlessly using up resources.

Dabney Frake

Oct 11, 2022

This Weekend: Tame These Tiny Troublemakers & Stop Swatting This Spring

Insects get antsy this season, bugging out over the warmer weather, and emerge from their winter hideouts eager for spring. You’re more apt to share space as they move around and seek out new homes for the season. Instead of warily eyeing them (bracing yourself for a sting or bite), stake your claim and prevent creepy crawlies from winning your turf war.

Dabney Frake

Oct 11, 2022

This Weekend: Replenish & Organize Your Supply of Household Cleaners

Spring cleaning is just around the corner. Rather than rallying the mental and physical energy to gather tools and make cleaners right before you start the actual cleaning, get everything ready to go beforehand and stored in the smart and sensible place. Having your supplies organized feels great and makes one less hurdle for you to climb before getting started.

Dabney Frake

Oct 11, 2022

This Weekend: Deal With These Three Trouble Spots in Your Kitchen

Even if you clean up every time you cook, there will always be food bits and residue — think crumbs and grease — that are pesky pros at working their dirty ways into every crevice and cranny in your kitchen, not to mention clinging stubbornly to surfaces. Even if things look clean overall, there are certain spots that are easily forgotten in the day to day. Zero in on these three spots and choose one (or more) to tackle this weekend.

Dabney Frake

Oct 11, 2022

This Weekend: Spruce Up Your Messy, Tired Entryway

Your entryway is the gatekeeper to the rest of your home, fighting against the road salt, melting snow, and mud tracked in this time of year — not to mention all the people passing through with mail, coats, groceries, and other gear. This weekend, help this hard-working space do its job by giving it a little TLC, clearing it of the mess and dirt. But don’t worry, it won’t take long to make it through this checklist and turn this high-traffic spot into a sparkling clean zone.

Dabney Frake

Oct 11, 2022

This Weekend: Practice This Money-Saving Mindset & Reap Rewards for Years

We regularly share clever hacks and methods to make do with less. All that is well and good, but I keep returning to this one basic, everyday way to save hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars in the kitchen. And it’s so very simple. Clean Your Cookware: Help return your pots and pans to their former glory with these tips and techniques.

Dabney Frake

Sep 27, 2022

This Weekend: The Dreaded Task We All Have To Do Sooner or Later

This weekend, tackle one of your home's scariest spots.

Shifrah Combiths

Sep 27, 2022

A Zero-Cost Way to Add More Plants to Your Space

If you're ready to take your plant parenting to the next level, the delight of making plant babies will take you there. Here are 15 plants that are easy to propagate.

Shifrah Combiths

Sep 27, 2022

This Weekend: Get This Room Ready For The Main Event

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and your kitchen is about to go through the cooking and cleaning equivalent of crossfit meets morning bootcamp meets spin class meets a marathon, all in the span of a couple of days. The whole holiday will go a lot smoother if you do a few things to help your space perform at its peak. Consider this your pre-holiday stretch before the big workout ahead. Make Your Fridge An Organized and Spacious Oasis of Calm: Your fridge is Ground Zero on Thanksgiving.

Dabney Frake

May 5, 2022

Weekend Projects: Try a Social Media Fast

Take a break — then tune into any differences in how you feel without social media in your daily life.

Shifrah Combiths

Jan 28, 2022

The Only Thing You Really Need to Wash This Weekend

We're talking about the "clothes chair" and you probably know what we mean.

Shifrah Combiths

Jan 21, 2022

4 Tried-and-True DIY Cleaners Literally Anyone Can Make

Try making one of these super-simple formulas this weekend.