Decorating

Living well in close quarters requires, among other things, efficient furniture placement. These studios, one-bedroom apartments, and one house show how you can make your home’s spatial quirks and shortcomings work in your favor.Studio apartments offer the obvious challenge of making one space function as several. In slightly larger apartments, the living room often works overtime as an office area, dining room, and entryway.

Making a big commitment like colorful walls can be a bit daunting, so spend some time getting cozy with these stunning examples of paint jobs in every color of the rainbow. As you can see, some of these spaces choose to use major color only as an accent; others go whole hog. Many offset their swath of color choice with white trim to really show off the punchy hue while a few brave souls combine their color with…gasp…more color!

Warning/workspace/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/atmedia-cloudinary-image-block/atmedia-cloudinary-image-block.php82 Black and white and gold is a striking color combination, and nowhere is that more true than in the bathroom. Gold fixtures in the bathroom is a look we’re seeing more and more of, and paired with a black and white color scheme, they add a pleasing bit of drama to a humble space.

If you’re looking for an easy and rewarding “in” to buying and selling online, there is no better option than Craigslist. Far easier than eBay, Craigslist offers more regionally relevant listings for the sharp-eyed shopper, and as a student with an uncompromising taste in good (and often expensive) design, Craigslist was one of the few venues available to me for furnishing my apartment.

And it’s making me rethink pink!

Simple silhouettes, minimal hardware, and pared-down color palettes. Let’s face it, most design enthusiasts can spot a modern piece from a mile away. (Psst… we broke down the difference between minimalist, modern, and contemporary, if you’re not up to date!) In 2018, almost every store has a slew of furniture and accessories that are inspired by mid-century modern classics—and for good reason. The style is contemporary, timeless, and looks good in virtually any space.

Full disclosure: I’ve never been skiing, or snowboarding, or so much as stepped foot on a snow-covered mountain range. But I’ve seen “Force Majeure” and have taken a virtual tour of Aerin Lauder’s Aspen home, which basically qualifies me as a pseudo expert on the après-ski aesthetic. To get the look (without actually hitting the slopes), here are some cozy ways to work ski style into your apartment that won’t look totally out of place.

And it's a fall dream!

What you do to your walls can have a HUGE impact on the look, feel and mood of your home. So start with how you’d like the room to feel — what kind of vibe you’d like it to rock — and use this guide to give you ideas for the kind of treatment that would work for your walls. Go for polka dots! Paint the on or use vinyl wall decal stickers to get the look. Go for a medium-hue gray. Amherst Grey by Benjamin Moore really sets just the right tone in the room below.

For me, maybe?

Warning/workspace/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/atmedia-cloudinary-image-block/atmedia-cloudinary-image-block.php82 Perhaps you’ve been playing it safe, decor-wise, your whole life, and are ready to do something wild. Or perhaps you have a room that you feel is finished, but you’re still just a little bit bored with it.

This is a guaranteed solution for any home — any size!

It’s easy enough to get Art Nouveau and Art Deco confused, probably owing to the fact that they both start with ‘art’. But Art Nouveau and Art Deco are actually two very distinct design movements, with very distinct looks, that appeared around the turn of the 20th century. After perusing this brief disambiguation, you may not be an expert on design history — but you can casually drop these two descriptors into conversations, and your friends are sure to be impressed.

Are you looking for ways to trim a little furniture weight around the house? Get rid of a few pieces that you thought you might need but could totally live without to have more room (and less stuff to haul around next moving day?) Examine the five furniture types we mention in this post to see if you and your home could live without them!

This is the real thing and I love it – an Eames LCW from Herman MillerLately, I’ve been seeing more not-so-bad knock offs of some classic designs.

It’s a common misconception that small spaces can’t handle large furnishings. One large piece can do a lot to make a small room inviting, anchored, and even feel bigger! Take the sofa, for instance. Arranging a small sofa in a tight space with a couple of other chairs can make a space feel over-full, with little spots of furniture all over the place (not to mention all of those legs!).

Does your bathroom have a pedestal sink? I definitely feel your short-on-storage pain. Here’s how to make the most of your small bathroom, with examples from our House Tours: 1. Add furniture. If your bathroom has a layout that allows for a freestanding piece of furniture, count your lucky stars and get to shopping. 2. Utilize the top of your toilet. If your tank has a flat top, use it for some practical and pretty open storage. 3. Any flat surface is fair game.

Hope you’re reading this one at home because it’s about to get a little risqué up in here. But for good reason. Lately, designers have been featuring the body—female breasts and butts to be specific—on housewares, art prints, embroidery, and clothing, and it’s not simply in appreciation of those killer curves. But we’ll get to that later.

(And we’re not talking tile or clay pots.)

Smart decorators know that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a home that looks great. You just need a few tricks up your sleeve. 1. Spray paint. Spray paint is a design workhorse, and a great way to give something a new look without actually buying anything new. Use it to rescue finds from the thrift store, to customize IKEA pieces, or just to give something you already own a bit of an update.

We’re powering along during our celebration of small spaces this month. For those of us who can’t get enough of the topic, here’s a group of posts from our archives presenting a nice round number (100!) of ideas and inspirations. These are time-tested, proven-popular posts that are sure to have something for everyone… dig in, dive deep and bookmark for the best results!

The popularity of cocktails is on the rise, and the home bar is making a comeback in the American home. But even if you’re not lucky enough to have a wet bar, you can still set up a dedicated space for mixing drinks, no matter the size of your home. Read on for plenty of ideas from our tours. Above: Marina has a fairly impressive collection of liquor that lives on the kitchen countertop in her New York apartment.

After you’ve picked out the architecture (or are working with what you’ve been stuck with) and after you’ve chosen the major furnishings and the paint colors, there’s the other thing that can make a room sing: skillful styling. This year, make each room pop like never before with these potent styling tricks for stand-out spaces! Add visual height to your spaces — all of them.

The British Colonial look is always especially appealing during these tropical New York City summers, when creamy neutral spaces provide a cool haven from sizzling concrete. Caned furniture is classic in a colonial interior. Lightweight and airy, it seems at home in a palm house or on a veranda (image 1).

Those tropes about walking into Target or Home Goods for one thing and walking out with armfuls? That’s the IKEA Marketplace for me. Everything’s so affordable, and I can’t escape the feeling that I’ll have my whole life together if I can just organize my kitchen like this perfect little endcap vignette. While I’ve made my share of questionable choices from the downstairs marketplace, there are three super-affordable home staples that stand out as major winners.

America is a diverse nation and the design scene here is absolutely reflective of that. Different cultural influences aesthetics have prevailed over the years, so it’s tough to say what’s characteristically American.

I look at the many House Tours that are featured on this site as a treasure trove of inspiration, and the holidays are no exception. Oftentimes when we shoot around the holidays, the spaces are decked out in Christmas decor and the homeowners personal style always shine through. Here are a few of my favorite examples: 1. Unique ornaments and a quirky owl tree topper make this tree stand out. From Natalie & Seth’s Organic Modern Home. 2. Pine cones and branches bring in texture and warmth.

Fans of the colorful style of Bri Emery, we have great news. The Los Angeles-based creative director and founder of Designlovefest partnered with Target for a new travel collection, and it’s available right now. Emery has been teasing the collection on her Instagram for nearly a week now, giving glimpses of the pieces in action in her IG Stories.

Light fixtures can be changed. Colors can be painted over. Ugly floors can be covered. They’re not all easy projects for renters who’ve found themselves in apartments cramping their style. But they’re all do-able, and importantly, reversible. Just like this solution for covering ugly appliances with removable peel-and-stick wallpaper.To be clear, Peaches of DIY and Lifestyle Blog Aunt Peaches didn’t have an ugly fridge.

Most conventional advice recommends keeping work outside of the bedroom to boost calm and serenity within a sleeping space. But apparently most conventional advice givers have never had to make it all work with just 550 square feet. The bedroom-plus-office combo has always been a solid solution for tight quarters, and here’s one more tip to keep a dual duty bedroom comfortable. With space at a minimum, corners have to be cut — four of them to be exact.

As the season of inviting people to your home to gather during the holidays nears, now might be the right time to do a walk-through of your rooms with a more critical eye. Take your home from good to great by fixing these decor faux pas before the first holiday guest arrives! While knowing that your in-laws are going to be visiting your home this holiday season may have you wishing you could run out and buy new everything, don’t.

Warning/workspace/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/atmedia-cloudinary-image-block/atmedia-cloudinary-image-block.php82 The world of design is a weird and a wonderful one, and in my line of work I see plenty of unique things.

While other perfumes will have you smelling like roses or lavender, a new scent from Le Labo will have you smelling like a work of art.

You can grab them on Amazon.

When I walk into my silly, colorful room, I am comforted by a spatial reminder of how far I’ve come and how much more comfortable I am in my own skin. 

Starting at just $22!

I couldn't even tell I was sleeping in a 58-degree apartment, thanks to these sheets.

Get inspired to start your own collection here!

Refreshed school supplies aren't just for students.

If the 2020s have taught us anything so far, it’s that planning anything far in advance is can be a dumb idea.

Scratches, dust, and cloudiness, be gone!

I keep seeing them at open houses.

Let the spookiest store around help pick your costume.

This foldable electric tea kettle tucks away when I'm not using it.

From "Cobra Kai" to "Stranger Things."

And Athena Calderone, too.

From our editors' radars straight to your own home.

You might not need those berry bins after all.

Have you ever been in a home that just feels right? One where chairs pull out easily from the dining table and conversation can be made without shouting across the living room? Well there are reasons for that, and they probably have a lot to do with the spacing and placement of furniture. Following a few simple guidelines on furniture placement will make a world of difference in the functionality of your home’s layout.

The combinations might surprise you. Move aside, neutrals! 

Plus four bonus tips for making the most of what you've got.

These actual homes — from lofts, to studio apartments, to houses — will illustrate how big 500 square feet is and what it feels like to live in such a small space.

With stylish storage solutions!

Murder your thirst, scare your house guests, and grab a Dismembered Moments candle ASAP.

In this 200-square-foot studio, a wood stain makes a big difference.

If you’re also someone who’s looking for a more low-key take on the season, at least inside your home, this may be the way to do it.

Update your space with the latest trendy pieces.

If you're in the market for a new sofa, look no further.

My expectations were sky high, but these pillows met them.

You've never seen a locker look quite like this!

You live and you learn.

Two important reminders herein: Art can be whatever you want it to be and * wherever * you want it to be!

"It’s meant to be playful and a great starter color" for people who might be color-averse. "It’s okay to try new things!"

Get organized for fall!

I got it on Facebook Marketplace, and you can find something like it, too!

If you haven’t yet gotten into the spooky spirit, it’s time, because Halloween is officially around the corner.

This is how you can give visitors their own dedicated space.

Help your pets live in style.

You probably haven't discovered them yet, so take a look!

It's truly an all-in-one solution.

From our editors' radars straight to your own home.

Starting at just $20!