8 effective ways to create more space in your home

KATIE CHARLOTTE FIEDLER

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've already encountered a few or a group of spotted lanternflies in your yard, you may need to take extra steps to protect your yard since this invasive pest can damage the ecosystem around them.

We’ve all been there: The first summer heat wave comes to town and your air conditioner stops cooling, leaving you stranded in the heat. Air conditioners work hard year after year, but they do require a little upkeep and maintenance to run their best. If your air conditioner’s not cooling properly, there are a number of potential reasons. Some are simple, while others may require a service call from a certified HVAC technician. Here, we’ve outlined 7 potential reasons for your conditioner not cooling—and how to remedy them.

Epsom salt is extremely beneficial when it comes time to tackle your household chores, so you're going to want to start keeping it on hand if you're not already.

If you love coastal style, there's no reason not to incorporate actual seashells into your home as decor—and it doesn't matter whether you actually live by the water or just wish that you did. Interior designers love how shells can add charm and character to any space.

Planning some house parties this summer? As you compile your guest list, give some thought to those who will not be welcome—notably mosquitos, ants, wasps, and other nasty pests. 

My sister recently purchased a condo with a shockingly expansive wraparound balcony. The only problem? She has no clue how to fill the space. How much furniture is too much furniture? Should it match the black and white decor she’s collecting for her interiors? Is the comfy lounge chair she’s been eyeing really worth the investment? In an effort to answer these questions and more, I reached out to several California-based designers for their insights. 

Oliver Furth, a fourth-generation Los Angeles native, A-List interior designer, and AD100 winner, is best known for his irreverent ability to blend different styles and eras seamlessly. He is a firm believer that making a home for oneself is in itself an act of optimism and the most important ingredient when designing any space is joy. 

Gulla Jónsdóttir is an Icelandic architect known for her dynamic forms that have found their way into award-winning projects in the West like the La Peer Hotel, Palmilla in Newport Beach, and Sandbourne Santa Monica, the latter of which just opened. From her Los Angeles-based design studio, she shares insights on how to integrate organic beauty and function into your own home.

We're sharing handy cleaning and organizing tips to help you prep your place for guests in a flash when you don’t have time (or willpower) to do a deep clean. From easy-to-execute tasks to tools that make the job infinitely easier, use these tips to whip your place into shape when you’re looking for big results in next to no time.

Collaborative post