Decorating

Bunk beds usually conjure the image of summer camps or crowded kids’ rooms, but not here.

I’ve spent many years of my life living in and loving the city of Chicago, where interior spaces are relatively small and people can’t wait for the warmer months (40 below, no thank you). As soon as summer hits, folks flood the parks, beaches, and rooftops to host picnic after picnic. Picnic baskets aren’t hard to assemble—in fact, they’re pretty straightforward despite their loosey-goosey nature. You just have to think about what you may need in a pinch.

Live a little with these contrasting mixes of wallpaper and carpet.

These bedrooms prove exposed beams are great for interiors.

Name: Joan Hiller Location: North East, Portland, Oregon Size: 432 square feet Years lived in: 1 year; rented Joan is a music publicist, painter and all–around creative, energetic lady. Her apartment functions as her office and her painting studio; she shares the space with her companion of almost thirty years, her turtle Sheldon. Spending time in Joan’s apartment was like watching her consciousness explode into a living space.

Name: Sarah Schmitz and Fred Gray Location: Berkeley, California Size: 1,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; OwnedPlants make a house feel fresh. Just take a look at Sarah and Fred’s leafy Berkeley abode. The beautiful one-bedroom house came with the Christmasy poinsettia out front, but the rows of potted succulents and happy houseplants are the result of Sarah’s own green thumb.

Let me tell you, this thing works.

Everyone has a bit of a different take on small space living: it’s all about purging your stuff. No, it’s all about organizing your stuff. Wait, it’s all about storing your stuff! But one thing is for sure: you know an amazing small space when you see it. Small spaces are king on Re-Nest. Yes, we love them for their lower energy and heating bills, and yes, we love them because they force us to edit, organize, and reduce our accumulation of stuff.

In case you’re still judging yourself for using furniture as a makeshift clothes rack, here’s a reason to shirk your shame immediately: a coat check chair. The tagline for the Kickstarter project sums it up nicely: “Your closet. Reinvented. Into an iconic designer chair. Let your closet join the party.

Because pride doesn't end with June.

Who could’ve predicted that living in a bus would be considered #homegoals? Well, when you get a tour of Buster, a former mining company bus-turned-decked out home, it’s not difficult to envision yourself setting up shop inside of a repurposed vehicle. Another one of Paved to Pines’ projects, Buster is one of those conversions that elicits an instant chorus of “oohs and aahhs,” and “When can I move in?

The story of chintz' '80s heyday and its subsequent decline and return to popularity are just a small part of its evolution.

When’s the last time you ventured over to #FurnitureTwitter? Don’t let the hashtag fool you: This home-centric corner of the web isn’t as bland as it sounds, especially since IKEA now allows you design your own sofa online, and some sofa artists have created truly hilarious masterpieces.  If you’ve never used it, here’s how the customized planning tool works: It gives users the options of size, color and layout.

Even if you can cram 100 people into your tiny apartment for a party, it doesn’t mean you have room for 10 to sit down to dinner together. If you’re lacking seating, here’s a few ways to help your guests find a place to land!1. Folding Chairs: When extra seating is needed, folding chairs always seem to come to the rescue. They can be plain or they can be elaborate in design, but one thing is for sure, we appreciate their ability to tuck out of sight when not in use!

You spend time there every day. Isn't it time for an upgrade?

Blessed with only enough room for a twin bed? Trying to make a double work for two while you save up for that California king? Buying a bed that’s properly in proportion to your space (or your budget) means you’re usually left wishing there was a little more room to spread out at night. Not all of these strategies will work for your life, and some of them only give you extra space visually.

Name: Beth, Jeff, Ruby, and Fiona Location: Bixby Knolls, Long Beach, California Size: 1,000 square feet Years lived in: 6 years; OwnedSet back off of a quiet street in Bixby Knolls is Beth and Jeff’s lovingly crafted one-story 1920s home, shared with daughters Ruby, 4, and Fiona, 9 months. But it wasn’t always so quaint. When they purchased the home six years ago, it was dilapidated and in desperate need of TLC.

Name: Michael MurphyLocation: Brooklyn — New York, New YorkSize: 615 square feetYears lived in: 5 — ownedAs an interior designer, Mike is used to working on high-end projects for which he might source a sofa for $45,000 without blinking an eye. But when it comes to his own home, he intentionally aims for a more relaxed look through a combination of vintage modern furniture pieces and his own personal handiwork.

Get inspired for a boho-chic home.

We asked some of our readers what Pride means to them and how they celebrate at home or in their communities. Here’s what they shared.

The effort is to minimize waste and improve the lives of our furry, four-legged friends.

The prefab cabin is on a peaceful, remote spot in New Zealand.

You never forget your first time.

Parents don't always know best... at least, not when it comes to design.

You're totally embracing the plant parent life and don't care who knows it.

Design experts weigh in on the rise (and fall) of the terrazzo trend.

Your bed is never fully dressed without a bench.

All good things, all good things.

Feeling daring? Have a paint project planned this weekend and want to find a color that will really get you out of your comfort zone? Painting your walls, architectural elements and furniture bold colors is one of the best ways to add interest and personality in a space, make your home stand out, and make your home look good. We’ve got some gutsy hues from real-life homes to take the fear out of worrying they won’t work (you can see they do!).

Do you remember the #10YearChallenge that was going around earlier this year? The “challenge” asked that people post a photo of themselves from 2009 next to a photo of themselves in 2019. It was a cute way to reflect and mock our tastes from a decade prior. Then it divulged into one meme after another and honestly, some of them were downright brilliant. Well, the challenge has shape-shifted away from memes.

We asked a few art aficionados for advice on how not to hang up wall art at home, and here’s what they had to say.

It's easy to incorporate instruments into your home styling so that they remain 100 percent functional, while still reflecting your tastes and complementing a room's existing color scheme.

The look of the kitchen is changing — already granite countertops and dark wood cabinets are starting to look a little late 90s. If you’re thinking of renovating or building a house (or just like looking!), here are five of the top trends for modern kitchens. And the best part? Some of these are things you can do right now, without spending much money at all. White and WoodIt’s modern, but warm — the best of both worlds.

Because we’re not living Pinterest boards and no one gets it right 100 percent of the time, I think we all have certain aspects of home decor and housekeeping that we ace, and other aspects that we struggle to get a handle on. I know I do. Here are 10 common issues that may be diminishing your home’s sophistication along with some easy tweaks to help you self-correct. Rumpled sheets look, well, rumpled.

‘Tis the season to take a dip in cool water or lay out with a drink in hand if only for the sole purpose of putting your super cute swimsuit on display. Yes, we’re talking about pool season, which for many, is one of the most anticipated activities during this sweltering time of year.  One place steel-nerved people will be clamoring to go for a swim in the future is this mind-boggling 360-degree pool infinity pool that’s set to be constructed on top of a London skyscraper.

If for some reason you haven’t yet binged all of “Fleabag,” get yourself to Amazon Prime immediately and dig in. Overflowing with dark humor and darker drama, it felt appropriate to focus on the dark and moody restaurant bathroom where season 2 opens. Our protagonist is wiping blood from her face, staring into a show stopping art deco style mirror.

People are buying dinnerware, plates, and bowls specifically for (and from) Instagram.

Turns out, plenty of interior designers use the IKEA’s ultra-practical wares in both decorating projects and their very own homes.

There is one show-off of a tool that I deeply believe everyone should have in their kitchen.

Take versatility to a new level.

Practical setups to style an entryway.

Only halfway through 2019 and the first wave of 2020 color announcements have begun. This week, PPG revealed that Chinese Porcelain is the first 2020 Color of the Year, and now Behr has unleashed their 2020 Color Trends palette. (June has been feeling very colorful.) We’re not just dealing with one hue, nay, a whole array of 15 that work together to achieve a common goal: a connection to the natural world.

Behr announced their choice for 2019's Color of the Year, and it's a lovely and livable shade.

I’m all for pale, creamy walls, but surely every home needs at least one room painted in a color that’s deep, dramatic, and just a little bit dangerous? Here are 10 gorgeously, glamorously dark colors available from Behr. Dark blues like Behr’s Evening Hush (770F-6), above, have the lovely ability to make rich, warm materials like wood, bronze, and cowhide look even richer and warmer.

While most of us are welcoming summer, PPG Paints is looking into the future with their 2020 Color of the Year announcement. And being color addicts ourselves, we’re fully on board with this breaking news that fuels our hue-filled lives. Ready to find out what the popular shade is six months in advance? Say hello to Chinese Porcelain, a mix of cobalt and moody ink blue. Why this color, you ask?

When “Big Little Lies” premiered last year, we immediately got sucked into the intrigue, the LIES, the depictions of female friendship, and that insanely good soundtrack, but what’s stayed with us ever since are the gorgeous interiors of those drop-dead gorgeous Monterey homes that populated the HBO series.

Time to really own your morning coffee routine.

How to style a vanity or getting ready station to make it both functional and stylish.

I personally can’t get enough of reusable totes — they’re compact, eco-friendly, and handy for every task imaginable. Whether you’re transporting a stack of library books to loading up on fruits and veggies at the farmer’s market, reusable totes are lifesavers. Luckily, there seem to currently be more amazing options for sale than ever before. We’re sharing five of our favorites for every task under the sun.

Writing words in floor tiles is now popping up everywhere.

Forget houses, these stylish RVs and campers will make you rethink living in a van.

With IKEA’s annual Democratic Design Days happening in Sweden last week, information on all the new collections and collaborations are rolling out quicker than this robot can assemble an IKEA chair. The Scandinavian retailer has good news for folks who are constantly on the move: RÅVAROR, a new line of items that briskly transforms small spaces into smart spaces, and packs up just as easily.

A few months ago, we asked you to share your fave small space design tips and there were some great ideas! We loved your suggestions and enthusiasm and definitely picked up some fab tips for our own small space. After the jump, check out the compiled list and pick up a tip or two.4 Tips For Making a Small Office Feel Big 1) If you have a small space use small pieces that fit the scale of the apartment. Your space will feel bigger.2) Keep it clean!3) Get rid of the clutter.

Let’s go on a journey, shall we? We’re going to pretend we’re having an outing at the movies together. Now let’s pretend the movie theater we choose is some hip and innovative spot that has double beds instead of chairs. That’s exactly how date nights can go now at the new “VIP Bedroom” theater located in the Cinema Pathe movies compound in Spreitenbach, Switzerland.

The brand is best known for its colorful, retro 1950s-style refrigerators.

We have those classic “bang head here” desk signs and tension balls to help people relieve stress on the job, but Georgia-based design studio studio dtttww (an acronym for don’t take this the wrong way)  recently came up with an invention that encourages humans to blow off some steam in public—in a healthy and (presumably) safe way.

Matching dining room sets are overrated.

These galactic-inspired home items will add to any decor.

Thank you for being a friend, ladies.

Ideally, our furniture can reveal something about how we live and what we value. But in reality, other factors like cost, space and what is available in the marketplace ends up limiting us or diverting us from our true values. We might believe that form should follow function, but own an uncomfortably lumpy hand-me-down desk chair. Or we might fantasize about a huge snuggly sofa, but only be able to haul a spindly loveseat up the stairs.

Do you roll your eyes at those staged closets in catalogs with their 4 dresses and 2 pairs of shoes? If you don’t have enough closets — or any — you can still create a tidy exposed closet without getting rid of your wardrobe.Matchy, matchy. When your closet is exposed for all to see, the easiest way to create a seamless look is to have matching storage solutions. Shoe boxes, hangers, shelves, etc, should match each other, if not follow one color scheme.

True confession: I’ve been keeping something – a deep dark decorating secret – from you lovely people. Last week, IKEA sent me an advance copy of the new 2018 catalog. I’ve been carrying it from my desk to my bedside table and back again each day, sneaking peeks whenever I could.

Affordable and easy-to-install, removable wallpaper is a goof-proof way to revamp your space without committing to something permanent. And good news: Amazon offers an array of stylish peel-and-stick wallpaper options so you can upgrade your place in a pinch — for cheap.

Yes, even tiny bathrooms can benefit from a storage cart.

Ok, sure, sure. It’ll work well as a storage solution just about anywhere, but we all know where and how this would really shine: as a room divider! Buildable-to-size with a variable mix of open and closed storage, the adjustable heights will make it a possibility for all sorts of studios, apartments and homes that could use some more definition to their space.

During an incredible visit last week to the White House (for a sneak peek at the new Obama state china service), I swung by the kitchen and snapped all the photos I could manage while hearing about the upcoming State Dinner from the two talented women who are in charge of all things culinary for the Obamas. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the kitchen of most famous family in the nation (which was much more compact than expected!

Name: Kim & ScottLocation: Logan Square, ChicagoSize: An itty bitty 650 square feetYears lived in: 2.5 happy years A perfect tour for small spaces month, here is an expanded look at the colorful condo that is the inspiration behind the blog Yellow Brick Home. Located in Chicago in a nearly 100 year old building, this recently renovated Logan Square space got a strong dose of individuality from its owners.

Tis The Gift To Be SimpleFrom a religious and social standpoint, Shakers were radicals when they arrived in New York from England just before the American Revolution, in 1774. Like Quakers, they are pacifists. In contrast to the Quakers and most other religions, the Shakers, officially the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Coming, began with a woman leader.

Bonus: it's all on Amazon.

Because your books deserve to be housed in style.

Psst… reds, blues, and yellows are making a comeback in home decor.

Name: Faith Location: Arlington, VA Room: Dining Room Size: about 140 square feet Own or Rent: Own This is an update from the #MakeoverAmerica road trip! We’re traveling across the United States to tell people about Complete + Happy Home, and while we’re at it, we’re saving the country, one room at a time! Design Prescriptions are hour-long visits where Maxwell offers advice on what readers can do to improve their homes.