Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Category: Interior Design

10 Tips for a More Energy-Efficient Home

Energy-efficient home improvements, even small changes, can lead to a more sustainable home and significant cost savings. From budget-friendly window coverings to additional insulation or new appliances, a range of options are available and can make a real difference in your home’s energy consumption. Below, we reveal some of our favorite tips for creating a more energy-efficient home.

Use More Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

There has been a widespread movement toward swapping incandescent light bulbs for LED versions. This quick fix allows you to immediately make your home more energy-efficient, as the new LED light bulbs “use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs,” according to the experts at Better Homes & Gardens. As a bonus, the longer-lasting bulbs will save you cash over time in replacement costs. You may also want to audit your overhead lighting and table lamps. Not all areas of your home require bulbs boasting the same wattage. Changing a brighter bulb for a more intimate glow where it is effective can also yield noticeable energy savings.

Apply Low-Emissivity Film to Windows

While many new windows have embedded coatings to help protect against the heat and ultraviolet rays that flow into the home, older ones rarely have this feature. Enter low-E film. As The Spruce explains: “Low-E films usually contain metal or metal oxide as the material that counteracts the UV rays.” In addition, the Magazine reports: “Manufacturers often state that low-E films reflect between 70- and 80-percent of solar heat gain in the summer or conserve over 50-percent of interior heat in the winter.” And because it reduces the amount of UV light that comes into your home, the product eases the amount of sun damage to your artwork, furniture, and rugs. This coated plastic film is easy to apply. It’s available in rolls and can be cut to fit your windows, no matter their shape. It’s a quick way to create a more energy-efficient home without the higher cost of installing new double-paned windows.

Wash Laundry in Cold Water

Washing laundry in cold water may seem like it goes against all of our early teachings, especially when cleaning white fabrics. But many detergents are now formulated for cold water loads. Merely turning the setting to cold takes seconds, but it yields measurable savings, as “up to 90 percent of energy spent on washing goes towards heating the water,” according to the pros at Real Simple. As for drying your clothing, if you live in an area like Southern California that rarely sees rain, consider hanging your clothes outside to line dry. You can also set up line drying systems inside your utility room or an airy room in your apartment. If that isn’t feasible, ensure that your dryer has a full load before hitting start.

Lower the Water Temperature

Check your water heater’s thermostat. As Better Homes & Gardens explains, “most water heaters are set much too high at 140 degrees Fahrenheit.” If this is the case, consider lowering the temperature by 20 to 30 degrees. The Magazine reassures that even with this change, “the water will still be comfortable.” And you’ll see the savings in terms of the amount of energy needed to run the unit and in your pocketbook, whether you use gas or electric to power your water heater.

Set a Programmable Thermostat

Speaking of thermostats, adjusting your home’s programmable thermostat is another quick and effective way to achieve a more energy-efficient home. This easy fix isn’t just about raising your home’s cooling system a few degrees or lowering your heat in the winter. Better Homes & Gardens applauds the fact that programmable thermostats allow “you to set times for the air-conditioner or furnace to run and won’t waste energy on an empty house.” The Magazine also loves that this small change can “save about 10% on your energy bill.”

Monitor Your Refrigerator

Minor adjustments to your refrigerator or freezer can help you along the way to a more energy-efficient home. Start monitoring your refrigerator and freezer settings to ensure that you aren’t keeping the settings too cold. Real Simple reveals: “Recommended temperatures are 35° to 38°F for the fresh food compartment and 0°F for freezers—anything colder means wasted energy.” How you store your leftovers may be critical to how your refrigerator operates. According to the Magazine, just covering liquids and wrapping up leftover foods will give your compressor a break. When left uncovered, food and beverages can release moisture that may force your compressor to work harder than necessary. Lastly, check to be sure that your refrigerator and freezer doors seal tightly. If not, replacing the seal is an affordable way to get your refrigerator running optimally.

Seal the Gaps

The average house or apartment loses considerable heat or air conditioning through gaps around windows and doors. In homes, cracks throughout the attic or basement can create air leaks that force your HVAC system to work overtime. Start by applying weather stripping around doors to help create a stronger seal. As a bonus, the weather stripping will dampen sound, so jarring slamming noises also will be cut to a minimum. Add caulking to your windows and any cracks you find.

The experts tell Real Simple that “‘ducts are also a common source of leaks, so have your contractor look for holes, tears, and other signs of leaking ducts and seal them.’” You may want a contractor to check your chimney and plumbing stack for energy drains, as well. These basic changes are not only energy-efficient home upgrades, but they’ll result in a more comfortable home no matter what the season.

Replace Filters and Tune Up Your HVAC

When was the last time your HVAC system was checked by a licensed professional? Has your HVAC filter been in place for more than three months? Better Homes & Gardens cautions that “a dirty filter increases your energy bill and shortens the life of your heating and cooling systems.” You can help by bringing in a professional to check your systems every year to verify that they are working at peak efficiency. Meanwhile, simply washing or replacing your HVAC filter every three months will improve your air quality and extend the life of your system.

Add Eco-Friendly Home Insulation

It’s not unusual for older homes to be under-insulated, which forces your HVAC system to work harder to keep the temperature at a comfortable level for you and your family. Upgrading insulation in the attic floor and inside the walls can go a long way toward creating a more energy-efficient home. With this in mind, the editors at The Spruce began investigating several eco-friendly options that you may want to consider. Fiberglass (aka glass wool), mineral wool, sheep’s wool, polyisocyanurate panels, denim insulation, and cellulose insulation have all gotten high marks from the Magazine’s experts.

Invest in Energy-Efficient Home Appliances

Better Homes & Gardens reports: “Major appliances are your home’s third-biggest energy hog, behind heating, cooling, and water heating.” This means that older, inefficient appliances are likely to be pulling too much energy when operating, and your repair bills may be mounting. If you have been thinking about making a change, and have the budget to do so, start reviewing appliances that have an Energy Star label because, as The Spruce reveals, “appliances carrying the Energy Star rating typically are 10 percent to 20 percent more energy efficient than non-rated models.” As there is an array of Energy Star products, review the Energy Guide label for all new large appliances to get more insight on how much that appliance will draw under normal usage. It also will help you determine the energy and cost savings you’ll enjoy as you invest in these more environmentally friendly products.

June 4, 2022
Creating Indoor Spaces for Your Family Pets

You love your furry friends, and you want to create the best possible indoor spaces for them. You are not alone; pet-care spending now accounts for more than $75 billion every year. Design teams are taking notice. They are crafting adorable pieces and building extraordinary spaces to ensure that your pet is happy and healthy, and you can learn from them. Want to upgrade your home’s pet-friendly zone? Read on as we offer some of our favorite tips for creating cozy indoor spaces for your family pets.

Select the Best Flooring

While your pets may roam throughout your apartment, condo, or house, you may still want to give them a designated zone. This indoor space will be a place for their beds and toys. It will be a safe place for them to retire to when your home quiets for the night.

Creating indoor spaces for your family pets does not require a huge investment, although if you do have the budget for some remodeling, there are changes you could make that will help keep the pet zone clean and welcoming. Ceramic tile is durable and stain-resistant, so if you already have ceramic tile flooring in a particular area of the house, it could be the best place for your pet’s indoor space. Hardwood floors can be easily cleaned, but they might show scratches from long nails on larger dogs, and your pet may be prone to skidding. If you already have hardwood floors or your heart is set on adding them, consider putting down mats, including the anti-fatigue mats that work wonders in the kitchen.

Avoid Carpeting

Many apartments and condos already have carpeting, which can be snagged by pet toenails (potentially hurting your pet and damaging the carpeting). Low-pile is your best bet if you have some say in the décor, but if not, think about creating your indoor pet space in the kitchen. Otherwise, you may want to put down carpet squares or washable runners over the existing carpet to aid in clean-up and to make your pet more comfortable.

Take Advantage of Existing Indoor Spaces

Do you have a large unused crawl space in your condo? Do you have an attic that is woefully under-used? Do you have a basement or family room that is begging for attention? All of these areas have the potential to be much-loved indoor spaces for your family pets. If your crawl space is contained and drywalled, this can be the perfect kitty hideaway or impromptu doggie den provided there is enough space for beds (especially this practical and cushiony moving blanket pet bed that is earning raves at Martha Stewart Living). It’s even better if there is enough room for scratching posts or treat-releasing toys. Just be sure to remove the crawlspace door so that your pet doesn’t feel trapped.

Family rooms and finished attics give you even more options when it comes to creating an indoor playroom for your pets. If you have anxious pets, it’s a place where you can turn on a tv or computer to play engaging programming – you’ll be amazed at how much is available specifically for your furry pals. Interactive cameras allow you to not only keep an eye on your pet when you are working, but they often give you the ability to talk to them while you are away. And depending on the dimensions, you might even be able to place litter boxes or pee pads in a designated corner that won’t significantly reduce their room to play.

Try Some DIY

Is space a premium in your studio apartment or tiny home? Martha Stewart Living recommends a DIY project that transforms an old side table (or even kitchen table) into an indoor doghouse. The top can still act as a useful surface, but the unused area below can become functional in a few moderately simple steps. The idea was suggested to the Magazine by Kara Whitten of A Kailo Chic Life. If you have the tools at home, all you need is birch plywood, glue, decorative wallpaper (or paint), and finishing nails. If you don’t have the tools, you may be able to get your local hardware store to pre-cut the side wood pieces and create a more streamlined entry. For details on how to put this adorable indoor doghouse together, visit Martha Stewart Living.

Install a Catio

Catios are becoming increasingly popular for renters and owners alike. While many are built as patio enclosures with ramps, bridges, perches, and pet-safe flowerbeds, interior designs take into account your home’s accessible space and make the most of it. This is true whether you live in a three-bedroom home or a fully mobile tiny house. Editors over at Martha Stewart Living love the multi-level mazes that offer stimulation and opportunities for cats to exercise. How do you create your own catio space? Martha Stewart Living advises: “Pre-made catios can be purchased online, or you can order catio designs and build the enclosures yourself with a handy checklist.”

Indulge with Pet Beds

Your family pets deserve the coziest beds possible. Whether you are introducing a new animal into the home or hoping to upgrade your space, designers are having a great time creating soft, unique beds that will prompt endless purrs and wagging tails. For small areas, your family’s favorite feline will love the cozy cave from Uncommon Goods even more than the editors at Southern Living. And the Mid-Century Modern vibes are strong with the Sauder Natural Sphere Cat Tree from Kohls that is turning heads at Real Simple.

Does your pup demand the finer things in life? You’ll both love the Wentworth Tufted Dog Sofa from Frontgate. Real Simple reveals: “It comes in four color options and features a robust wooden frame that holds up to 80 pounds of pup. Choose from stain-resistant micro-velvet or a faux leather finish.” If your eye leans toward multi-functional furniture, you won’t be able to resist the Lula Entryway Dog Bed from Joss & Main. Real Simple raves about its cushiony practicality: “Not only does it offer a cozy spot for Max to lounge, but it also features convenient storage. It’s got multiple hooks perfect for storing keys, leashes, and jackets, as well as a lower drawer for miscellaneous pet supplies.”

Consider the Little Things

Finally, little things can make a significant difference to your pet’s indoor spaces. For example, Rachael Ray In Season recommends helping older pets by investing in “a step to help them onto furniture.” For cats, scratching is one of their methods of communication. To save your furniture and make your cats happier, Lynn Bahr, veterinarian and founder of cat toy company Dezi & Roo, tells the Magazine that the best plan is to add a scratching post in every room. Bahr advises: “Go for a variety of posts—vertical, horizontal, cardboard, sisal, loofah. A nice mix of shapes and textures will keep your cat happiest (and your sofa safer).”

April 29, 2022
Art Deco – Then and Now
In honor of Better Homes & Gardens® celebrating its 100th anniversary, we are taking a look at previous home trends that are making their way back into our lives. Keep an eye out for more of our ‘Then and Now’ blogs to learn about these looks and how to achieve the trends we are thrilled to have returned.

From the past to the present:

Art deco was popular in America and Europe throughout the 20s, 30s, and 40’s, and now the iconic style is making its way back into our homes. The advances in modern technology in the 20s inspired the look, which can be seen in the geometric shapes and smooth lines. Today, people are saying goodbye to grays and minimalism and looking to liven up their spaces by embracing the glamor and elegance of the Art Deco trend with modern twists. Read on to discover just how you can reboot those sophisticated silhouettes.

What is Art Deco?

What exactly makes up the art deco style? It’s a bold yet luxurious look with symmetrical motifs, patterns, and bright colors. It’s all about making a big statement and trying to create an elegant yet fun space. Some ingredients that make up this strong look are geometric shapes, gold and metallic pieces, arch designs, and of course, decadent detailing.

How to achieve the Art Deco look:
- Embrace striking colors such as deep yellows, greens, blues, purples, and pinks
- Bring in geometric shapes such as triangles and trapezoids
- Incorporate luxurious looking fabrics such as velvet
- Consider silver, gold, chrome, and black accents
- Include metallic accents
- Use polished wood and lacquer finishes
- Consider a sunburst mirror
- Go gold and go for opulence
- Tap into patterns! Look for wallpapers, cushions, and rugs with patterns such as leaves, trapezoids, chevrons, or zigzags
- Think about furniture that adheres to the streamlined, symmetrical, and modern look
- Bring in sweeping curves
- Go glam with a striking chandelier or a vintage piece
March 31, 2022
Redefined Farmhouse Style
Redefined Farmhouse is a very popular home trend, and we can see why. Max Wilker, Style Director at Dotdash Meredith, talks about how this look is a fresh, modern twist on the traditional farmhouse style of the past. “It’s still relaxed and comfortable but has visual cues of clean lines, modern sensibilities, and simplicity, plus hints of industrial,” he stated. Wilker recommends sticking to a neutral color palette with saturated, high-contrast tones partnered with black accents when creating this look in your home. It’s about creating a warm and cozy space full of charm and character while not looking overly rustic or modern. Learn how to transform your home below.

How to achieve the Refined Farmhouse style:
- Stick to a neutral color palette for an open and airy look
- Use light and medium-toned woods
- Say hello to shiplap walls
- Try to balance the old and new
- Incorporate industrial or barn-inspired lighting
- Get an apron-front sink
- Have clean and smooth lines
- Add wood beams to the ceiling
- Use pops of colors sparingly. You can do this with plants and blue hand towels or pillows
- Add texture, whether with furniture, stone, textured walls, or with fabrics and upholstery
- Consider matte or brushed finishes
- Add black accents to create a beautiful contrast
Shop this look:
March 31, 2022
Maximalism – Then and Now
In honor of Better Homes & Gardens® celebrating its 100th anniversary, we are taking a look at previous home trends that are making their way back into our lives. Keep an eye out for more of our ‘Then and Now’ blogs to learn about these looks and how to achieve the trends we are thrilled to have returned.

From the past to the present:

Believe it or not, Maximalism has been around for decades. It started off as a way to showcase your riches, as people collected exquisite objects and put them on display. Later on, the trend became more focused on displaying your personality. In the 70s, it evolved into a popular interior design trend, and today, the fun and playful layers are popping back up to say hello. After spending an abnormal amount of time indoors due to the pandemic, people started looking for more joy in their homes – which is exactly what this trend is all about, JOY.

What is Maximalism?

Maximalism is about saying goodbye to the rules and embracing fun patterns, colors, and textures. The interior design trend is about creating joy in your space and embracing self-expression. When designing a space, you don’t have to hold back or worry about things clashing. Use layers of texture and colors and tell a story in your home that makes you smile. Put your personality on display.

How to achieve Maximalism in interior design:
- Use bold and vibrant colors
- Layer, layer, layer
- Put meaningful items on display that make you smile or remind you of a happy memory
- Let your personality show, and don’t worry if others will like it
- Use patterns such as floral and animal prints
- Embrace wallpaper, even on the ceiling
- Put out statement pieces such as a unique antique or a playful rug
- Don’t be afraid to mix and match styles
- Make your home an expression of you
March 14, 2022
Easy DIY Entryway Ideas

One of the most overlooked spaces in homes and apartments is the entryway. People often find themselves stumped for low-cost, high-impact ideas to make this area sing. Whether your entry is long and narrow, open and undefined, or just plain small, there are terrific design options that will allow you to make a real change and can (often) be done over a long weekend. So, what are some of our favorite DIY entryway ideas?

Dazzle with Entryway Color Blocks

There are few spaces that won’t benefit from a fresh coat of paint. This is especially true of your entryway, which sees a lot of traffic. Whether your door opens into your main room or a long hall, it might benefit from a dash (or more) of color. Adding a brilliant yellow, soothing blue, or moody green color to your door will transform your entryway instantly. It’s an easy DIY project that has big results for renters or owners. Yes, renters will have to return the door to its original state before moving out, but that is an easy fix, and the joy you feel whenever you look at your new door will be worth it.

Geometric design is taking over interiors, and painted shapes are being used to create visually appealing zones even in homes with open-concept living. Picture a colorful oval that extends above your doorway and onto the walls around it or a gentle arch that incorporates the door. Both techniques will draw the eye upward, making your ceilings look higher.

Is your entryway particularly small or short? Dramatic colors can transform the space into an experience. Dark, moody colors can feel like an embrace when coming from outside. Is your entry a tricky shape? Consider adding a freehand (or stenciled) mural as one of your renovation ideas. Depending on your design inspiration, this DIY project could require very little paint, keeping the cost of your renovation low.

Introduce a Drop Zone

Are you frustrated that you don’t have an easy place to drop your purse, keys, wallet, masks, mail, or other paraphernalia when you walk in the door? One of the most popular DIY entryway ideas in the last two years has been the introduction of a front door drop zone. Do you have an older console table, bench, or bar cart that isn’t getting as much use as it once did? A coat of paint, a new stain, or a good polish can make your older furniture like new again. The upcycled piece placed near the door can help keep your stuff organized and easily located when you add bins, baskets, or trays to collect small, easily misplaced items and mail.

If you are particularly handy, consider bringing some extra style to some unfinished wood cabinets and turning something uninspiring into the perfect entryway console table. The experts at Martha Stewart Living took two unfinished IKEA “Ivar” Cabinets and made them into a functional and fabulous console unit. You can make this idea your own by painting the units your favorite shade using low VOC or vegan paint, adding wood legs to raise the units to a more comfortable drop zone height, and installing hooks inside the doors to add even more storage. If you are short on space in your entryway, you could choose to stack the cabinets or even mount them to the wall.

Install Wall Hooks

Wall hooks or pegs are a terrific option for improving organization in an open-concept or small space. They offer a place to hang your coats, umbrellas, masks, and keys that is easily accessible and neatly contained. Real Simple loves small-space organizers like the Parker Mirror and Hook Rack because “it has a mirror, comes with hooks for holding keys and scarves, and includes a shelf for that hand sanitizer you need to slather on when you get home.” You can also install design-forward hooks directly into the drywall or get crafty by screwing hooks into a rustic piece of wood that you can stain or paint to complement your décor.

Upcycle Seating

According to Real Simple, “one element every functional entryway should have: a spot to sit down and take off your shoes (and coat, and scarf).” We agree! Is your entryway tiny? Look for a small bench or footstool at your local flea market that can be restored. If you are handy with a staple gun, you can grab some of your favorite leftover fabric and foam to create a cushion that will make your entry seating look beautifully customized without spending a lot of money.

Of course, if you have a long entryway, your renovations could include a refurbished Deacon’s Bench or a narrow settee. Like Martha Stewart Living’s editor Lorna Aragon, your next great DIY idea might start with a vintage church pew you find at auction. Aragon thought “the curved arms reminded her of Swedish antiques” and painted it Scandi blue. But rather than stopping there, she added a “ticking-striped cushion made with two-inch-thick foam.” The piece’s final look included a slightly weathered-looking finish that also protected it from snowy hats and spring rain-dampened coats.

Incorporate Useful Storage

Once you’ve added your upcycled seating and space-saving wall hooks, ponder the best places to incorporate helpful storage. For small entryways already boasting wall hooks, Real Simple loves the idea of placing “a sturdy … hamper, or cubby shelf to corral shoes.”

Is there space below your door-side bench? You can add organic cloth or sustainable bamboo baskets under the bench to house hats, gloves, shoes, and more. Even if your entryway is tiny, you could incorporate something like the Container Store’s eco-friendly Lotus Bamboo Storage Bench. It’s only 20 inches wide, but it opens at the front to reveal hidden shoe storage that will instantly organize and tidy the shoes you use each day. While the cushion it comes with is lovely, you can easily detach the top and recover it in your favorite leftover fabric (or latest find) for a DIY renovation project that will take only a couple of hours.

Welcome the Weather

Do you live in a region that sees abundant rainfall? While you can always hang umbrellas from the pegs or hooks, you will need to place a tray or mat below that space to capture falling water droplets or mud. Martha Stewart Living is a big fan of the shiny copper boot tray from Williams Sonoma. The Magazine explains: “It’s long enough to hold the entire family’s footwear, and so great-looking, you’ll want to keep it out ….”

As for your umbrellas, a simple DIY idea also comes from Martha Stewart Living. They detail a DIY project that transforms “an inexpensive flower bucket into a nice-looking umbrella stand by painting the bottom of the bucket with glossy oil-based enamel paint.” It does take 24 hours to dry, but the basics can be accomplished with only a few supplies (including sample size paint) and at a minimum of expense.

Create a Welcoming Landing

Whether you have a split-level home with a landing, an extended foyer, or a tiny apartment, a quality, high-traffic rug can bring warmth and welcome to your entryway. Southern Living recommends decorating the space with a sustainable, flat-woven rug or cowhide. Why? The Magazine reveals: “Both rugs are incredibly easy to maintain and are available in a variety of sizes and colors.” If you are searching for eco-friendly ideas, consider organic jute options. You can also search for reversible rugs, like the Hebe cotton area rug that Southern Living favors. Not only is this black/off-white geometric gem beautiful, washable, and made from recycled cotton, but it can be flipped for more use between cleanings.

Dress the Space

You will be amazed at how quickly the addition of a mirror or engaging artwork can dress your space. Much like the idea of an entire wall mural, a dramatic, soothing, or whimsical art piece will set the tone for guests as they enter your home. Whether you place a large, vertical photograph on a wall opposite the door or at the end of a long foyer, or a horizontal masterpiece that seems visually to flow towards the inner rooms of your home, you can make an impressive statement. You can even upgrade the frame with a little bit of paint, gold leaf, or polish.

Mirrors are also a terrific option near the door. Not only are they great for “last looks” as you leave the house, but they bounce light in ways that can make even tiny entryways feel inviting. Real Simple agrees. The Magazine reveals that “designer Robin Henry brought plenty of character into the home’s primary point of access with two large pieces of art—a gorgeous four-foot-wide mirror.”

Martha Stewart Living is also a fan of brightening your entryway by “[creating] a ‘window’ using basic bevel-edged mirrors” over a floating shelf. In fact, it’s one of their favorite DIY entryway ideas. Once the floating shelf is installed and painted to match your walls (visually hiding the piece), they recommend: “[Adding] a grid of mirrors above, leaving about an inch around each to mimic windowpanes. For a flush, bracket-free look, attach the mirrors to the wall with construction adhesive made for mirrors.” And voila! You’ve created a focal point that will wow in just hours.

February 2, 2022
Home Organization Tips for Small Mudrooms

Do you love the idea of organizing your space so that your home can have a functional mudroom? You are not alone. People are constantly searching for tips on turning even the smallest spaces into useful mudrooms so that they can finally corral everything from muddy boots to extra masks, keys, and phone chargers. If you find yourself wishing for a tidy mudroom, read on as we offer home organization tips that will help you craft the ideal mudroom in any space.

Install Hooks

The very first thing you can do, no matter how big or small the proposed mudroom space, is put up hooks for coats, scarves, and masks. Hooks are one of the best organizational tools you’ll find because they are relatively easy to install and affordable. You can go for a standard set of hooks, ones that are welded to other wood or metal platforms, or hooks that are part of a mirror and shelf system. And depending on the size of the hooks, you can also hang up easily misplaced items like keys or pet leashes rather than creating an additional drop station.

Are you stumped about positioning? Designer Jade McNeil offers this tip to Martha Stewart Living readers: “‘Hooks [should be] at arm-height to hang coats easily,’” while also keeping them clean and off the floor. With this in mind, you may want two tiers of hooks to make everything accessible to the entire family.

Does your home have zero free wall space to set up a hook/drop station? The experts at Better Homes & Gardens offer this terrific home organization tip: “Solid doors offer plenty of vertical space for hooks, while doors with windows up top can be outfitted with hanging items on the bottom.”

Choose Sturdy Seating

While you do not need a lot of furniture to make your mudroom useful, design experts agree that having sturdy seating can be a big plus. Southern Living is a fan of adding benches to mudrooms. Not only does a bench allow you to take off your muddy shoes or snowy boots more easily, but it becomes a terrific home organization tool. Southern Living raves: “Benches offer ways for even more storage, whether under the bench with drawers or inside the bench with a flip-top.” Even simple benches offer enough space below them to store shoes, snowboards, and other seasonal gear that would otherwise take up valuable closet space.

DIY Boot and Shoe Trays

If you have beautiful floors near your main entryway that you fear for every time someone comes in from the outside with sandy, wet, or muddy shoes, a durable tray may be the most affordable way to protect your flooring and allow for easy cleaning. Southern Living recommends trying this DIY tip: “Buy a plastic boot tray and fill with pebbles (at your local craft store) for an effortless, DIY boot-drying area that will go with any décor style.” The shoe tray can also double as a repository for dripping umbrellas, eliminating the need for a separate umbrella stand.

Select Durable Flooring

If you are planning a more extensive remodel for your mudroom, take the opportunity to select durable flooring. Your mudroom will be the spot in your home that sees the most traffic. It needs to handle the usual wear and tear and the elements that may come with it. Martha Stewart Living offers this flooring tip: “If you’re in the process of adding a mudroom to your home, opt for solid flooring, such as ceramic tile, luxury vinyl, or even stone; these options are more durable than hardwood or carpeting when it comes to wet weather.”

Add Shelving, Corkboards, or PegBoards

Are you short on time but long on the need for home organization solutions? The pros at Better Homes & Gardens offer this tip for creating an affordable mudroom: “Take an afternoon to convert chaos into calm. Corkboard, S-hooks, drawers, and bars transform a sliver of blank wall into a by-the-door command center for outerwear, bags, and keys.” PegBoards are also terrific for garage or laundry mudrooms as they make hanging up small tools, gardening gloves, dustpans, and brooms a snap.

Building small shelves in and around doors and windows can also provide your home with organized storage space for occasional use items. Better Homes & Gardens applauds: “Narrow shelves can be good spots for long-term storage of seasonal items like winter gloves and summertime hats.”

Do you have an unused or underused bookcase that could fit beside the door leading into your home from the garage, inside the laundry room, or by your main entrance? A terrific, zero-cost tip from the experts at Better Homes & Gardens is to repurpose it as an organized storage solution that is ready to go as part of your new mudroom. The Magazine explains: “Shift shelves in a big bookcase to make larger areas for coats and boots and tighter spaces for flats and accessories. Assign a number to each family member and purchase decorative items with preprinted numbers, such as hooks, mugs, boxes, and bags, to bring order to your home — no additional labeling required.”

Build a Drop Station

If you have the space to create a larger drop station, you will love the promise of organization it brings to your daily life. If you are doing a significant build and have the budget, it’s time to create a space that addresses all of your storage and charging needs. Phoebe Schuh, the founder and creative director of PS & Daughters, tells Martha Stewart Living that people designing from scratch should “[build] drawers with charging docks to eliminate countertop areas covered in wires as a smart way to streamline the space.” And if you have the room, Schuh goes even further by recommending to the Magazine that people can create a mudroom that is actually an “organized ‘command center’” when they install a small desk or countertop area in the mudroom for things like “‘car keys, calendars, schedules, incoming mail, and outbound envelopes (don’t forget the stamps).’”

Create a Chalkboard Wall

If your entryway has a long narrow hallway and a front closet, removing the doors to the closet can create an ideal mudroom. But while it’s perfect for adding hooks, bins, and benches, it may not be the command center you may desire yet. Real Simple has a home organization tip that you may enjoy: On the wall opposite your new mudroom, create “a giant chalkboard wall calendar [to keep] everyone on top of schedules and to-do lists.”

Hang a “Last Looks” Mirror

When finishing your home’s new mudroom, add one final element next to the space, on the back of the door, or within the mudroom itself: A mirror. Southern Living agrees: When days are stressful and rushed, you’ll appreciate having a “last looks” mirror “for that last hair, makeup, and outfit check on your way out the door.”

February 2, 2022
Adopting the Minimalism Lifestyle as a Green Initiative

The Minimalism Lifestyle movement has gained worldwide attention, not just as a way to declutter but as a way to live more mindfully. In the home, it’s about addressing our tendencies to overconsume and to refocus ourselves toward more deliberate living. This doesn’t mean that you have to live in a spartan home and never find joy in a purchase. Instead, it is about understanding how your choices as a consumer can create a more sustainable and balanced world. From the clothing you buy to the food you eat, we are offering suggestions on how adopting the minimalism lifestyle can help you go “green.”

Shop for Clothing with Intention

Have you ever purchased clothing on impulse even though it didn’t really fit or feel comfortable once you got it home or it arrived via FedEx? Do you have wardrobe pieces that are hiding in the back of your closet with the tags still on them? You aren’t alone. Fast fashion grabs your attention. Marketing makes you feel as though you have to have it, and after a week of working hard, you may feel like you deserve the treat. The Minimalism Lifestyle movement isn’t about never shopping again. It isn’t even about pairing your clothing collection down to the classic ten pieces that rely heavily on neutrals and black. Instead, Minimalism is about intentionality and refocusing your shopping habits to lean more heavily on buying quality pieces that you will love and wear for years.

Fast fashion is notorious for its negative impact on the environment where the clothing is dyed and manufactured in mass quantities. The desire for cheap jeans and t-shirts drives a machine overseas that is often dependent on exploitative labor practices, dye processes that lead to toxic run-off into local streams and lakes, and manufacturing that relies on intense energy usage. Those clothes are then shipped to stores worldwide, where there is enormous pressure to stock with the latest, newest things. Where clothing used to be seasonal, fast fashion is creating 52 “seasons” a year. Of course, mass-produced clothing also falls apart faster, requiring you to buy more, while the used clothing is sent to landfills.

There are designers and retailers who are taking a new look at the “waste loop” in the fashion industry. Martha Stewart Living was impressed by Eileen Fisher’s efforts to combat it. The Magazine explains the project: “Their Renew program has been helping to close the waste loop in the fashion industry by taking back any unwanted Eileen Fisher items in exchange for a shopping discount. Collected garments are then repaired and upcycled into new items or recycled into new raw materials.” They’ve also started focusing on water and energy usage in their dye-houses, and “the company is looking for even more ways to bring sustainable practices into the spotlight, like switching over to all-organic linens, humanely-harvested wool, and recycled polyester.”

An intention-filled response to fast fashion means that you are dedicating yourself to a lifestyle of buying only things that you truly need and are quality products. When you do, you’ll find that your closet is filled with things that you love, fit, and will stand the test of time. And you’ll be doing the environment (and your wallet) a huge favor.

Rethink Toys

Children and their parents are exposed to a seemingly endless barrage of toy and game marketing. We often feel pressured to buy more because we want our children to be happy. Approaching toy shopping mindfully can be incredibly beneficial to your child and the environment. In fact, as Parents revealed, “numerous studies have shown that depending on toy type and quality, having fewer overall [toys] can lead to more creative, imaginative play.”

How do you start on a minimalist, green path for toys? Begin by focusing on toys that spark the imagination and skip the ones made from plastic as a lifestyle choice for going forward. According to the experts at Parents: “[Plastic toys] are shiny and inexpensive, nearly impossible to recycle, and get tossed away faster than items made out of, say, wood, which are more long-lasting and easier to pass on.” From there, try your local buy/sell groups to re-use toys that older neighborhood children have grown out of rather than buying new.

Repair Before You Buy

Patagonia has long been known for focusing on sustainable, eco-friendly options when it comes to sourcing for its clothing brand. They utilize organic cotton, hemp, and recycled materials, including wool and nylon. But did you know that your much-loved Patagonia wear can now be repaired for free? It’s true! Rather than tossing your old Patagonia gear, Martha Stewart Living reports that “the brand … offers free repairs to further help fight the amount of textile waste heading to landfills.”

At some point, it seemed cheaper or more convenient to throw away everything from electronic toys to iPhones as soon as a problem presented itself. However, all it takes is one quick YouTube search to discover detailed instructions about how to repair nearly everything in your home. So, before you toss out that vacuum cleaner, check to see if you need to buy a new belt or unclog the canister accessway. Admittedly, it’s not quite that easy to resurrect a cracked iPhone. The good news is that businesses are popping up in cities across the country that can replace your screen in just a few hours. While there is some cost to that, it is a lot less expensive (and requires fewer resources) than buying a new phone.

If you really can’t repair something, there are “green” ways to dispose of them. Martha Stewart Living applauds Best Buy’s highly successful e-waste initiative. According to the Magazine, “[since] 2009, their unmatched recycling program has helped consumers responsibly dispose of more than 1.5 billion pounds of electronics and appliances (they’ll take back all your tech gadgets regardless of brand or condition)….”

Upcycle, Upcycle, Upcycle!

If you have already gone through the minimalism process of gathering the household items, clothing, toys, and furniture that you don’t use (or “doesn’t spark joy,” per the amazing Marie Kondo), take another look to see if any of it can be upcycled to meet your current needs. Now, be careful. Don’t use this as an excuse not to rid your home of excess. However, if you love DIY, this could be a great way to turn something you aren’t using into something that serves a much-needed purpose and reduce.

Real Simple is a huge fan of upcycling as part of a minimalism lifestyle, and many of their projects take no more than a couple of hours to complete. For example, do you need a dry-erase board in the kitchen? Their editors love the idea of “[framing] a pretty piece of fabric or paper, then [writing] temporary to-dos on the glass with a dry-erase marker.”

Do you have any earrings in your jewelry box that have lost their mate? Real Simple loves reader Bailey Mulholland’s idea of using the single earring stud as pretty pushpins for your office bulletin board.

The editors at Martha Stewart Living are fans of upcycling worn rugs as tote bags, throw pillow covers, and even the cover for pet furniture.  Empty candle jars can be vases, ladders can be transformed into nightstands, and even old canoes can find new life as a surprisingly festive buffet table for al fresco meals and celebrations, according to the Magazine.

Reduce Food Waste

Adopting a minimalism lifestyle can also mean reducing your food waste and buying locally. Instead of grabbing pre-cut, pre-washed greens and veggies from the supermarket, consider shopping at your local farmers’ markets. Not only will your produce be delightfully fresh, but you’ll lessen the amount of plastic packaging that has to be thrown into the garbage and reduce the fuel costs associated with shipping products to the grocery store. Also, when people buy locally, they tend to shop more mindfully and are more likely to cook with their market finds.

Rachael Ray In Season is a big fan of doing your weekly shops at farmers’ markets. The Magazine offers tips on how to shop like a professional. In addition to ideas like “rather than nibbling mindlessly, use those giveaways to broaden your palate,” the Magazine recommends going in the morning for the freshest produce, but an hour before closing to get the best deals. They also suggest talking to the farmers to find out more about how their crops are grown, including whether they practice sustainable farming, or “how often their blackberries are sprayed.” Of course, the best tip of all from Rachael Ray In Season is that “[buying] and cooking fresh fall produce when it’s in season — like squash, peas, mushrooms, onions, grapes, potatoes and more — is good for the planet, saves you money, and is guaranteed to taste better.”

January 4, 2022
Cozy Winter Decor Ideas That Will Delight Until Spring

Are you searching for winter decor ideas to keep you feeling cozy and inspired during the frosty months ahead? Winter decorations go far beyond the traditional holiday delights. From candle lanterns to versatile porch styling, there is a wide range of options for anyone who wants to give their space a refresh that won’t feel dated when the new year arrives. Read on as we reveal some of our favorite (and easy to implement) winter decor ideas.

Introduce a Soft Glow

There is something remarkably inviting about the soft glow of candlelight in the winter. In fact, it inspired one of Better Homes & Garden’s favorite winter decor ideas: Garland candle lanterns. The Magazine recommends taking your hurricane lanterns out from storage (or thrifting them) and encircling the glass with fabric wire. From there, they suggest that DIYers “use greenery and white berries or even fresh herbs or juniper berries to decorate.” This is such a simple DIY project, but you’ll love seeing their cozy presence on mantels, buffets, and dining tables throughout the season.

Add Textile Wall Hangings

Do you have an empty white wall that has been hard for you to decorate? Consider adding a natural textile wall hanging. If you are interested in purchasing something for the space, pick a piece made from natural fabrics like wool, hemp, or even bamboo. In fact, you might be surprised to learn how popular 1970s-inspired macramé is right now. There’s a cozy nostalgia to these knotted art pieces made thoroughly modern with a reclaimed wood support beam. If you are looking to DIY the hanging textile, Better Homes & Gardens reveals: “Simply loop chunky yarn pieces around a piece of driftwood and cut ends at an angle to form a center point. Embellish with beads and tassels to add color or add knots to add structure to the wall hanging.” Before you know it, that empty wall will be so eye-catching, you will wonder why you didn’t try this project sooner.

Ward Off the Winter Chill

As soon as the temperature dips, it’s time to wrap yourself in luxurious textiles made from natural fabrics. Midwest Living recommends “[replacing] bright summer florals with subdued blanket plaids, or [nestling] into tactile fabrics in soft colors,” as well as “[draping] a couch with a fuzzy angora throw (and [wrapping] up to watch TV)….” Flannel sheets are always a delight to sink into, and you’ll love sleeping in a room darkened with thick velvet drapes. Not only will the fabrics help you ward off the chill, but this winter decor idea brings instant visual warmth to your space.

Layer Textured Blankets

Real Simple describes this time of year as a “season of nesting,” which makes it the perfect time to enjoy “‘chunky knitted blankets, cozy throws, and lots of textile layering, [to add] warmth and coziness to the home in the colder months,’” according to home design expert Justina Blakeney. If you have a metal frame bed, you can embrace this winter decor idea by draping a folded earthy-hued blanket over the frame to create a cozier looking headboard. You also can achieve a layered look even with your summer-weight duvet. As Real Simple explains, you can just as easily “layer a knitted cotton throw over your linen duvet” before snuggling in for a much-welcomed nap or some serious reading time.

Transition Your Accessories

Small changes can transform your space into a haven during the blustery winter months. Midwest Living loves the idea of replacing a simple lampshade with “a velvety suede alternative.” Soften your lightbulbs so that you can enjoy a subtle golden cast in late winter afternoons and evenings. You can even “skirt a table and layer on a nubby wool throw” in warm earth tones to bring visual interest, as well as a general feeling of being cocooned and insulated against the elements.

Spray a Calming Scent

A particular scent can inspire memory, a sense of comfort, and peace. If the winter season has you feeling stressed, Justina Blakeney tells Real Simple readers that it may be time to spray aromas that are calming – like Lavender. Blakeney is also a fan of “‘earthy scents like myrrh, frankincense, and sandalwood [which] are great for the winter because they are grounding, promote balance, and are the next best thing if you (like me) don’t have a fireplace to cozy up next to!’” Every person has one or two scents that they respond to more strongly than others. Vanilla is also a classic choice, and it might just inspire you to start baking to brighten a wintry afternoon.

Bring Your Winter Decor Ideas Outside

Design experts at Martha Stewart Living are urging readers not to forget their favorite summer perch: The porch. With a few quick changes, you can create a snug nook to enjoy even when the temperatures plummet. Of course, adding cozy throws is among the Magazine’s favorite winter decor ideas, but they also applaud the additions of versatile wooden benches, which can be made “seasonally appropriate by changing out your summer or fall outdoor pillows for a set that feels more wintery.” They also love adding handcrafted doormats that “can withstand the heaviest dirt, mud, snow, and more,” log hoops for some rustic charm that is “both functional and stylish,” lustrous string lights, and a welcoming wreath.

While it is true that wreaths are often associated with the holidays, Martha Stewart Living suggests trying a fragrant wreath that will instantly put you in a positive mood. Among their favorites is the Creekside Farms Fragrant Pod Wreath. It’s a picture-perfect winter decor idea “made up of three kinds of eucalyptus leaves, nigella flowers, and sculptural lotus pods.” You might love it so much that you may be tempted to leave it up long after the snow has melted.

January 3, 2022
Easy Ways to Refresh Your Home for the Holidays

Welcoming friends, family, and other loved ones into your home for the holidays can be exciting, particularly if it has been a while since you’ve played host. As you look around, are you concerned that your entertaining spaces might not be as ready as you’d like them to be for the season’s celebrations? No problem! We reveal some of our favorite tips to help refresh your home for the holidays.

Elevate Your Entryway

Start with a light cleaning at your threshold (inside and outside). This means sweeping up the fallen leaves, sprucing up the holiday wreath, dusting off the welcome mat, and removing the excess clutter from around the door. After that is done, it’s time to assess two critical areas: the front door and the entryway. Martha Stewart Living’s home editor is a fan of starting with an easy fix; “Lorna Aragon sprays her entire front door—glass, frame, and handle—with Windex glass cleaner.” It’s inexpensive and makes your door instantly ready for holiday lights and decorations.

Inside, if the hall or entryway baseboards are filled with dark scuff marks, you can quickly get them pristine with a product like Mr. Clean Extra Durable Magic Eraser. But if the space still doesn’t sing, you may want to make a small investment by buying a longer hall or entry rug. As Martha Stewart Living reveals, the “[rolling] out of a longer rug (with its XL footprint) … stops more dirt than the average doormat and won’t stain. Plus, it adds a finish to the space that will make your home feel pulled together and ready for company.

Lighten Up Home Entertaining Spaces

New lighting can make a world of difference, particularly if you are swapping outdated fixtures or ones that don’t reflect the ambiance you want in your entertaining spaces. The experts tell Real Simple that one of the easiest ways to refresh your home for the holidays is to “try a multibulb pendant over a dining table or a decorative flush-mount fixture in the entryway.” They also love the idea of giving “table and floor lamps a modern update by trading bell-shaped or pleated shades for crisp white drum shades.”

Do you have a spare mirror that you’ve been planning to hang? This is the perfect time. Not only can mirrors make entertaining spaces feel larger, but they maximize light. Interior designer and home decor maker Jana Bek suggests to Real Simple that those adding a mirror for seasonal festivities (and beyond) should strive to “[hang] one opposite a window, a piece of artwork, or wallpaper to increase the impact of these elements in your space.” Mirrors will amplify the impact of holiday lights and decorations, allowing a few decorations to go a long way.

Rearrange the Furniture

Don’t underestimate the impact of rearranging your home’s furniture before the holidays. If you plan on entertaining a lot during this festive season, consider bringing in a long side table from another room to serve as a buffet or moving out items that might block the flow of guests. If there are club chairs in your bedroom that fit with the decor in your entertaining space, bring them out and arrange them in such a way that will encourage comfort and conversation.

Once the furniture is in place, look at their accessories. Are your cushions or pillows on your sofa or side chair looking a little limp? Interior designer Katie Raffetto advises Real Simple readers to “give [cushions] new life by upgrading your inserts.” Raffetto recommends “an insert made of ’25 percent down and 75 percent feather that is two inches larger in length and width than the pillow jacket.’”

Finally, how are your throw blankets looking? Sprucing up your cozy throws is a quick and easy step towards refreshing your home. You can swap out your throws for ones that feature holiday themes or colors or simply give them a good cleaning. Martha Stewart Living loves the idea of “[tossing throw blankets] in the dryer on the steam setting with a few wool dryer balls, [and sprinkling] the balls with a few drops of essential oil to infuse the whole load with a soft scent.”

Revive the Rugs

Consider steam cleaning your rugs, particularly those that cover high-traffic areas. Professional cleaning services will get your entire home done in just hours, and they will even include upholstery cleaning in the deal. You can also easily rent machines at businesses like Lowe’s and focus your steam cleaning efforts on the areas you know need it most. It’s a holiday refresh that will yield benefits well into the new year.

Awaken Your Walls

Are your walls feeling less than inspiring? The good news is that it is easy to awaken them. If you have the time, money, and inclination, choosing a new paint color for the walls in your entertaining space will give your home a lift for the holidays. However, you don’t need to make that significant of an investment to feel an impact. In fact, Real Simple suggests that revitalizing your walls might be as simple as changing your artwork. The Magazine applauds the idea of “[introducing] a new piece or simply [rearranging] your frames.”

New York City interior designer Libby Langdon tells Real Simple that she enjoys the idea of “[installing] a photo ledge, [leaning] a few pieces against the wall, and [swapping] them out each season so your room stays current.” Of course, if you want a wall refresh that is Christmas-specific, consider covering a painting, mirror, or flat-screen TV with wrapping paper and a bow for your holiday events. It’s a decorative step that is simple and easily removed when the celebrations wind down.

Stock Welcoming Provisions

Martha Stewart Living recommends stocking up on sweet, salty, and crunchy “shelf-stable” goodies if you have guests staying with you over the holidays. You can put them out in the kitchen in seasonal storage containers, set them on side tables in your entertaining spaces, or put together a decorative basket of options that can sit in the guest room. You’ll also want to make a pitcher of craft beverages (alcoholic and nonalcoholic options) that are easy for your guests to grab themselves from the refrigerator or off of your bar cart. If you know that they have a favorite wine, you can either stock up for your drinks or dinner hour or set aside a bottle with a bow on their nightstand as a holiday welcome gift.

Prep the Powder Room

In addition to giving it a good scrubbing, you can refresh the powder room that guests are most likely to use by injecting a sense of the holiday spirit into the decor and styling. The pros at Midwest Living agree that “carrying the seasonal theme throughout the house is a thoughtful touch.” What are some of the Magazine’s favorite touches? “Fir-scented soap and winter-motif hand towels are an easy way to make even the powder room glow with holiday spirit.”

Stage a Holiday Shelf

Speaking of carrying holiday cheer throughout your home, Midwest Living also recommends adding small, festive touches throughout your living and working spaces. While you may already have decorations set up by the chimney with care, you’ll be amazed at how cheered you will feel by having a holiday shelf in your family room, office, or dining room. When refreshing your home for the holidays, the Magazine suggests that “[transforming] a bookshelf into a cheerful display with pinecones, candles, and spruce greenery can change the aesthetic of an entire room.” It’s an easy, affordable change to make that can incorporate decor pieces from other places in your home. And if you have kids, they’ll love putting together crafts or pictures to add to your very merry shelf.

December 1, 2021