Recommendations Ideas, Tips & Guides

One of the easiest things you can do to level up the look of your kitchen is to add pulls and knobs to your cabinets. There are hundreds of choices, and finding just the right hardware for your space can be a tough decision.

Plants have special super powers: the benefits of living with plants at home in general, and in bedrooms in particular, are countless. They make a room look more alive, and your bedside table brighter. Taking care of your plants can also help you wind down after a busy day. Studies have even shown that by simply touching the leaf of a plant for two minutes, you reduce your stress levels! For a healthy bedroom regime, don’t rely on plants alone, however: Good ventilation, fresh bed linens, a comfortable mattress, good pillows, and an extra blanket, if needed, help you sleep better and improve your overall well-being. But not all bedrooms are bright enough to grow healthy plants: maybe there is only one small window or you don’t have a window sill, or maybe you don’t like taking care of even more plants. If that’s the case, or if you don’t want to wake up surrounded by plants (really: who are you?), you may want to rely on some help for healthy fresh air in the bedroom. And that’s where Briiv comes to the rescue! Briiv is an air filter that uses plant power to purify the air. Briiv is as powerful as 3,043 medium size houseplants. So you can enjoy the benefits of having plants in your home without the hassle. 

“Chrysanthemums do have an image problem,” says Judy Barker, holder of the National Collection of winter-hardy chrysanthemums. A far cry from the fussy chrysanthemums that grace the benches of horticultural shows, the plants Judy recommends are easy to grow, and come in a great colour range of autumnal yellows, oranges, reds and russets, as well as vibrant pinks, sunny yellows and pure, brilliant white. They are an asset in the border and a boon to pollinating insects, but the key is plant choice. “If you want good border chrysanthemums, you have to pick plants that are fully winter hardy,” Judy says.

Each year, the holiday season might be a bit different, but there’s one constant: gifting can be difficult. That’s why we love the holiday gift guide from Google, which uses data from Google searches to know precisely how popular an item is.

“Chrysanthemums do have an image problem,” says Judy Barker, holder of the National Collection of winter-hardy chrysanthemums. A far cry from the fussy chrysanthemums that grace the benches of horticultural shows, the plants Judy recommends are easy to grow, and come in a great colour range of autumnal yellows, oranges, reds and russets, as well as vibrant pinks, sunny yellows and pure, brilliant white. They are an asset in the border and a boon to pollinating insects, but the key is plant choice. “If you want good border chrysanthemums, you have to pick plants that are fully winter hardy,” Judy says.

The holiday season is just around the corner, which means that, among other things, hosting season is too. Whether you are hosting a large holiday gathering, a formal dinner, a small get-together, or overnight guests, properly preparing your home for the event is a crucial first step. Here are seven ways that pro cleaners get ready for their own guests before the holidays. 

The holiday party has finally come to an end and it's time to clean up. To efficiently help you tidy up your home, we asked some experts for their best tips to combat post-holiday messes without the stress. From setting up garbage bins in high-traffic areas to using a cleaning caddy as you tackle each room, your home will return to its normal (and cleaner) state.

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Learning how to treat your Thanksgiving cactus after blooming is important so it will continue to display its colorful flowers every year.

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Whether you’re considering a full kitchen renovation—so long, rickety cabinets and outdated backsplash—or simply need to stock up on a few essential kitchen tools, there’s no getting around it: kitchens are expensive.  Not every aspect of your kitchen needs to blow your budget, though. We tapped two interior designers, both with extensive kitchen experience, to spill the kitchen items they say aren’t worth the splurge.  “There are so many choices when it comes to outfitting a kitchen, with just as many price points to choose from,” according to interior designer Kristina Phillips. “Most would agree that countertops and appliances are worth spending money on, but there are a few items that don't need splurging to be effective.” Read on for their recommendations, both big and small—your budget will thank you. 

During the holidays, it's important to ensure your home is in its best condition since you'll be having family and guests over the majority of the season (especially if you're hosting). Although it may be too late for a full home renovation project, you can still make small updates to spruce up your space, so it looks new and put-together for all season long.

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When the cold weather hits, we crave the comfort of a toasty, warm space. But the warmth we’re talking about isn’t from stepping out of the icy wind. It’s the feeling you get when you’re enveloped by a welcoming space—an unmistakable but hard-to-put-your-finger-on sense of comfort.

When it comes to interior design, contrast is often used for visual appeal, whether it is a mix of textures, colors, or shapes. One of the sharpest styles showcasing contrast—and most enduring—is the use of black and white design.

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Understanding amaryllis dormancy is key to helping your plant bloom consistently year after year.

From color trends to bedroom design trends, tile trends, and more, designers and home experts are using their expertise to give us the low-down on what we can expect to see in 2024. As an integral component of every home, lighting trends are not to be forgotten in that list. 

When decorating for the holidays, it can be tempting to buy new decorations to deck out your home only for them to be thrown out the year after because they no longer fit your personal tastes. We asked pros to share their favorite budget-friendly holiday decorating tips, so you can still have a festive home for way less.

Welcome the holidays without completely compromising your space to all things red, white, and green. We asked minimalist interior designers for their best tips on subtly decorating your home for the holidays so you can create holiday cheer without overdoing it.

Staying organized during the holiday season may seem challenging, but with the right products at your disposal, you'll be equipped to handle everything from guests to gift wrapping with ease.

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Watering Thanksgiving cactus correctly is key to maintaining your plant and keeping it healthy and looking beautiful.

As we look ahead to 2024, it's important to reflect back on what colors we should leave behind. Since interior designers work with so many different color palettes throughout their projects, we asked a few to share the colors they'd be happy parting ways with and why.

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Starting plants from seed opens a world of possibilities to gardeners of all skill levels. Many vegetables, annual flowers, and even perennial plants can be started from seed using a few basic supplies and easy-to-master techniques. This can be an economical way to fill garden space and enjoy a much wider variety of plants than you could find in any nursery. In this course, horticulturist Niki Jabbour will share tips and tricks from her decades of starting seeds. After covering the basics, she will delve into more advanced topics such as timing and stratification. Participants will learn about which tools and supplies the pros recommend to make seed-starting easier, and how to set up a simple DIY lighting system. Build your gardening skills and enjoy the satisfying feeling of growing plants from scratch with this fun, fast-paced course.

Snake plants are the “marathon runners” of the plant world—they require minimal care and still thrive remarkably well. But, like all plants, they can also have hard days where you can find them struggling to be bushy. If you’re wondering how to Make a Snake Plant Fuller and Bushier, this article is your go-to guide.

Each new year brings with it plenty of design trends to get excited about—and if you're longing to incorporate a new look into your space without giving it a complete overhaul, you'll want to keep reading.

Chicago-based interior designer Julie Mitchiner of JAM Interior Design is full of opinions. As she should be; Mitchiner has been reimagining and refining interiors for 13 years.

If you’re strapped for storage, your attention might turn to the laundry room. But before you start stuffing the space with bins and organizers, it’s important to know that some items simply aren’t a good fit for this area. 

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As we inch closer to 2024, we're eager to see what trends will reign supreme in the design world, especially when it comes to bedrooms.

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I have no doubt mentioned a number of times that I have been very lax in supporting my dahlias this year, inevitably resulting in a number of casualties. By way of excuse, I have been awaiting a supply of stakes from a friend whose husband coppices for a local farmer, stakes cut a number of months ago apparently, waiting in their garage and on the point of being dropped off here any time now – or at least that was my friend’s intention! At least if I receive them soon they will be ready for next year and I can have them in place when the tubers are first planted out again, as is probably recommended by professional growers!

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Sticking to the right Mirror Over Fireplace Rules will help you make the best of the place while avoiding the chances of any potential hazards. Scroll down to about them in detail.