Life

Rust is a quiet, subtle things that sneaks up on your pans, pots, servingware and even some furniture. The weekend’s a perfect time to rid your metal of this pesky unsightly element. And guess what? There are five eco-friendly ways to remove rust, most of which came from you, our readers! Rust comes in many different forms, but the most common in households is rust from iron oxides, where metal is exposed to water or air moisture and becomes oxygenated.

Legend and other artists are performing for free.

Most of them are tiny changes that cost no money at all, and all of them helped me feel more productive, settled, and happy with my at-home work environment.

No dress code required!

At Apartment Therapy, our mission has always been to help people create safe, comfortable, and supportive homes. But that message has felt especially relevant in the past week, as the COVID-19 outbreaks have upended our habits and rhythms. There are so many uncertainties right now, but there’s one thing we know for sure: home is more important than ever.

Time to finish all those books on your nightstand.

Day 1: Thursday, August 1 Assignment: Complete the Style Cure interview Welcome to the start of the Style Cure! This is the first day of our inaugural month-long group decorating project. Step-by-step, day-by-day, we’ll work together to makeover a room in each of our homes. Whether you choose your living room, bedroom, kitchen, entryway or bath, by the end of the month it will have a fresh, renewed look for you to show off and enjoy.

Is there any finer excuse to have friends over than dining together al fresco under the stars? Yes…sending out invites for dinner and a movie, screened in your very own backyard (tip: match the movie to the meal)!

It appears that the balloon bubble is indeed popping.

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.

If you are the sort of person who aspires to own a large number of champagne flutes, you are probably also the sort of person who enjoys entertaining at home. In that case, you’ll understand that the best glassware is the kind you don’t need to worry about: The kind where, if a friend who has enjoyed a little too much bubbly knocks one off the table, you can just clean it up and good-naturedly assure them it’s not a big deal.

Q: Hi there, my husband and I were looking for a new couch; after months of scouring the Internet, reading reviews, etc., we settled on the Ikea Karlstad. Turns out it’s being discontinued! I’m really surprised since it’s a bestseller and favorite. Can you point us toward a sectional that is similar? Thanks! -Sent by Eileenteg Editor: Oh, man, what a blow for the affordable-sofa-buying public! I hope IKEA has something even better (and cheaper? and higher-quality?

I’ve been known to splay out on the sofa on Thanksgiving Day in my unbuttoned jeans, with a glass of wine in one hand and a plate of food in the other. Guilty as charged. But if you’ve got an acute case of cabin fever, or are itching to do something more productive, there’s much to offer beyond football.

In other words, does the size of your closet determine how many clothes you keep/buy/give away? Does a studio apartment mean having an ultra-efficient capsule wardrobe, or do you just store your sweaters in the oven? I lived in a studio apartment for years and years, and had a reasonable/small closet to work with. I stored my clothes, jackets, and shoes in the closet and my socks, underthings, and workout gear in bins on an overhead shelf.

Lent. No-shave November. By nature, people love to challenge themselves. Changing the routine for a short time gives us a temporary pass to explore another lifestyle — one without meat or with the addition of a lumberjack beard, perhaps. Breaks and fasts can definitely be fun, but they can also teach you a lot about yourself. With a definite expiration date looming on the horizon, people find more willpower to stick to a diet plan or household budget.

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.

I have, I think, always loved cats, but I didn’t know it until I had a boyfriend who was allergic, and I realized that if things worked out between us I would never be able to have a cat of my very own. I was surprised by how sad this made me, and surprised when we broke up, so I got a cat, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

This week much of the US has dipped to subzero temps, and the attendant office and school closings find many of us at home, wrenched from our weekday routines, and stuck inside. Depending on your living situation and your job, this could mean a fun day at home or an exceptionally challenging work situation. Here are some different scenarios and how to make the most of them. If you are home alone and your office is closed for the day… Lucky you!

Growing up, I had a pretty well defined gift opening tradition: go see a movie Christmas Eve (to pass the time for my sister and I anxiously waiting for Christmas Day), then open one gift when we returned home that night. Then, Christmas morning, we’d wake up, sort our gifts, and then each take turns to open one gift at a time while the others watched.

Road trips tend to be love ’em or leave ’em affairs, and personally, I fall into the “love” category. While I’ve enjoyed most of my excursions, I’ll be the first to admit that there has been a serious trial-and-error process with my packing lists. Inevitably, the trips for which I was better prepared were much more pleasurable than others, but it hasn’t always been easy to anticipate just what items I’ll need.

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.

Did any of your New Year’s resolutions involve waking up earlier? Working out more? Establishing a routine? Here are some fashionable modern and retro alarm clocks to help you get out of bed on time…or early, if you please!• Made of white ceramic and steel, this chic take on the classic alarm clock is thrust into modern times with its unexpected material.

If you’re a renter, then you’re probably thinking about taking a mental checkout from our October theme (Green Building and Renovating). I can’t renovate. I can’t even paint! you think. Don’t worry, my friend. We have solutions for you, too! We call it the non-renovation renovation— temporary yet effective ways to dramatically change your home without sacrificing your security deposit.

A little over a year after the iPad first made waves, this whole tablet thing seems to be gaining traction. A growing niche of user are turning to ultra portable devices and affixing them firmly onto walls or with mounts, adding to the utility tablets offer.

Whether you’ve just moved in with your significant other or have decided to have a date spend the night, sleeping in the same bed with someone else can sometimes be a real compromise. When I imagine sleeping in the same bed with someone, I first think about the romantic ideals and completely forget about any issues such as snoring, stealing covers, and alarm clocks.

We get excited about stylish, functional, and innovative creative reuse ideas, from the myriad ways you can reuse a jar, to uses for chipped tea cups, antique bread bins, vintage card catalogs, bubble wrap, wallpaper scraps, even old gym floorboards. Here’s a big roundup of some of our favorites… The Many Amazing Ways to Reuse a Jar: • 10 Simple Uses for Spaghetti Jars • Crafty Uses for Baby Food Jars • Don’t Throw Out That Jar!

You're waging a valiant defense against germs. But what if you found out you were pawing a germ magnet every day, multiple times, without a second thought?

Month after month, I would look at my bank statement and resolve to spend less on food. The solution to that problem? Accepting reality.

You put pants on today. Good job!

This couple used a pair of sweatpants stuffed with a duvet cover and a heating mat, propped up on the couch to make the fake lap.

Would you try it?

Twitter users were claiming that the drinking alcohol can be used to make a homemade hand sanitizer.

What better way to ring in the new season?

It wasn’t until she went to repot her succulent that she noticed it was sitting on styrofoam with sand glued on top.

It’s nice to have someone—even a robot penguin—looking out for me.

For a $99 entry fee and a 350-word essay, you could own an inn on the coast of Maine.

The matching sugar and creamer pots feature ceramic mice.

This two-story space is filled with natural finishes and a neutral color palette.

Don't let this special day pass you by without making something of it.

Better make the most of your morning hours – you're never going to get them back.

Her pieces are so lifelike, it’s hard to discern what’s life sized and what’s dollhouse decor.

Some of these are truly wild in the best way possible.

While you probably already know that owning a dog can teach children responsibility, it turns out that dogs can motivate kids to read for longer periods, too.

There are a few things about the grocery store that are less-than-perfect—though the reasons behind them may be more complicated than you think.

One dog dominates the map.

Items range from comfy beds, novelty toys, and outfits so adorable we want a matching set.

Each one contains well-designed and useful items, carefully selected by local curators.

“Guess you could call this the one where they all got back together."

Experience tiny house living without committing to the lifestyle.

It saved my back and saved me time.

Here's what I'm loving about Disney+ so far.

In this case, time really is money.

Like books, book nooks are portals into another world.

Next time you open up your wallet to see a lone George Washington staring back at you, consider this list of inspiring things you can do with just a dollar.

They're like drawers you can travel with.

It’s described as “the world’s first non-ugly cat furniture.”

That's cold.

These habits and routines can lead to relationship success—and they’re way simpler than you might be thinking.

It's possible to have more energy post-5 p.m.

It's in upstate New York, but you can shop the collection online.

Here's where you'll spend the big bucks.

“I had to really meticulously design the house itself. It’s like its own universe inside this film.”

Queen Elizabeth II is finalizing plans to embark on a massive renovation project totaling just under $500 million, and is looking for the perfect planner to help the project go as smoothly as possible.

"Imagine how fun it would feel to be Aesop-soaps-in-the-guest-bathroom rich."

It allows people to “be drawn by the attractions of the terrain and the encounters they find there.”

The new tool helps you ask for directions with ease.

Add it to your travel bucket list.

"I don’t need a massage or fancy dinner. I just need no one touching me while I lay horizontal and binge on TV.”

The A in A-frame definitely stands for ambience.

While we accept all home items for who they are, these definitely made our eyes go wide.

A recent study explains why you might be spending more for Fido than Fluffy.

8 hours isn't for everyone.