Ashley Chalmers

I absolutely love outdoor lanterns—the ambiance they create at night is unmatched in the summer. But, one thing I don’t love about candles is the wax itself. If it leaks out and leaves ugly wax stains on any linens or fabrics, that's annoying enough.

While it’s been predicted for quite a while now that the once-favored gray is on its way out, that certainly doesn’t mean neutrals are going away entirely. In fact, some might argue they’re heating up… and the tones are getting warmer, too. 

Living with a tiny patio, deck, or terrace is a challenge to furnish. While the size and scale of your furniture and planters are critical factors to consider, I found it’s important to look for items that can work double duty, too.

While there’s a lot to look forward to when it comes to dorm living, the size, layout, and space available are probably not high on the list.

While college is a major change for students, it’s also a big transition for parents. Parenting from afar can be overwhelming and confusing, but one of the best ways to tackle this is to get prepared and plan ahead.

Anyone who appreciates a cute front door knows what a great first impression a beautiful color makes. That's why selecting the perfect color to don your door can be a big task—but thankfully, we have some expert help.

When creating a beautiful outdoor space, you often start with an empty space. Expansive backyards, empty decks, and beautiful front porches are easy to fill with plants, lighting, and furniture.

If you ever looked around your home and wondered what you can do to improve your design, look no further. The space might not be begging for an extensive renovation or a major furniture overhaul—it can simply come down to styling.

When you live with an all-white or neutral kitchen, adding color can feel overwhelming. The wrong color can look stark or out of place, while too much color can seem accidental or sloppy.

Cleaning the house makes you wish for a magic machine that can do it for you. And turns out, you have one right in your laundry room—the washing machine, of course.

When it comes to cleaning and organizing methods, I find the ones I use the most are the ones that give some loose structure to get you started, but then easily segue into a bigger cleaning and organizing session.

If you've dealt with stubborn stains that won't budge, don't get down about what you're doing wrong. While you can try all kinds of laundry hacks, from dish detergent to pantry staples to stain removers, the answer might be more straightforward: it actually might come down to the temperature of your water.

Aesthetics and style trend have taken over our interiors, and we love that trends are spreading into our outdoor spaces, too. This year, as organic decor and biophilic design continue to dominate our home decor feeds, a similar gardening trend is growing—literally.

There are so many great gardening hacks out there. From using eggshells as fertilizer to creatively sourcing free plants, we all know you can create a stunning outdoor space with plenty of things you can't buy at your standard garden center.

While there is plenty of design inspiration to be found for decorating your backyard and outfitting your front porch, it seems one outdoor area is often ignored—we’re talking about your deck.

As many of us know by now, there are lots of great ways to repurpose and reuse old items at home. Rather than tossing things in the trash, reusing can be an ideal option to be more sustainable—and it's a great way to save money.

We love heeding advice from the pros on pretty much everything when it comes to home organizing. From top tips for minimizing clutter to advice for clearing out an overstuffed closet, professional organizers know best.

Whether you’re just getting started on your spring and summer garden or you’ve been planting and pruning all winter, some gardening advice is always welcome. It often feels like the tricks, tips, and hacks for helping your plants thrive are endless—and for every great piece of advice, there are some really bad suggestions out there, too.

We love helping you prioritize your outdoor spaces when the weather finally gets warm. If your space only boasts an outdoor dining set and a large umbrella, why not try transitioning your indoors out and making the most of these warm weather days?

One of the most satisfying gardening jobs is laying mulch for the first time. When done well, it creates an instantly defined, crisp appearance to your garden beds, and can make any landscaped area look polished and beautiful. 

If you’d asked me a decade ago how I fare with houseplants, I would have told you, without question, the answer is horrible. Every plant I brought home seemed to die, no matter what.

If you’ve been on TikTok recently, the chances are high that you’ve come across color analyses. From beauty to clothes, people are turning to the pros to find out which colors best suit them (any other cool springs out there?)

Right now, my house is in a state of limbo. Between two small children, our fairly extensive cottage renovation, and life in general, it makes me want to deep clean everything while also fearing there’s no real point. At least, not until we’re out of limbo. 

While we love keeping an eye on what’s trending in outdoor decor here at The Spruce, we’re also well aware that just because something looks great doesn’t always mean it's worth buying.

Planting and maintaining a thriving garden isn’t all knowledge and natural instincts—there can be an element of luck, too. Your plants’ success can be out of control with influences like rain, wind, and other weather. But fortunately, one elements can be managed to a certain extent: water.

Most contractors will tell you that re-tiling a bathroom floor is a costly endeavor. Fortunately, you can save your money and opt for peel-and-stick floor tiles instead—these are our secret to an instant bathroom refresh.

In an ideal world, storage space would be unlimited. Or, better yet, in a truly perfect world, extra space would appear the moment you realize you need more of it.

After a successful season of spring cleaning, it’s not uncommon to look around and realize your home could use some upgrades.

After seeing the once-beloved all-gray and minimalism trends take a backseat in recent years, it was no surprise another firm favorite might be slipping away, too.

How you clean your house is as personal as how you decorate it, but there’s one thing everyone can agree on. For a healthy, happy home, regular bathroom cleanings are a true must.

While doing a deep clean or a massive decluttering can be both satisfying and rewarding, most will agree that it’s generally better to tackle your chores on a regular basis. But if you’re trying to create a weekly schedule, where to begin?

Recently, I realized our outdoor area leaves much to be desired. We live in a city, which means we’re lucky to have any outdoor space at all, but as far as urban balconies go, it’s pretty bare bones in the character department. 

As much as we love a beautiful garden full of lush greenery, it’s hard to deny that starting a garden and buying plants can start adding up in price.

Once you’ve planted your grass and watched it grow into a beautiful lawn (such a proud moment) the next step is figuring out the best way to maintain your lawn. Watering is a key component of this, which means lawn watering mistakes are also one of the most common headaches.

We’re always excited to learn about trendy gardening styles and techniques, and recently, one piqued my interest. With a name like “chaos gardening,” how can you not be instantly curious?

If you’ve ever laid mulch only to watch it wash away mere days later, then you know the deep frustration it causes.