Luckily, thesedecor faux pascan be avoided. Otherwise, you execute the risk of creating a sterile space that lacks personality. This is the best way to avoid a sterile space that feels more like a hotel than a home. Trinette Reed / Stocksy Want more design inspiration? Good lighting transforms a space by enhancing its functionality and aesthetic appeal, Cooper says. And without it, your home can look poorly thought out....

Instead, don’t be afraid to mix and match, the designer suggests. Including unexpected touches is never a bad idea. Want more design inspiration? Vasyl Cheipesh / Getty Images Accent Walls Designers are oftentimes divided onwhether or not accent walls are a smart choice. Gasparovic falls into the anti-accent wall camp and believes that incorporating one negatively affects the look of a room. She recommends mixing in a variety of types of textiles for a more luxurious result....

Refinishing your hardwood flooringmay be easier and cheaper than you think. Are Your Wood Floors Dull as Dirt? Sure, it’s a no-brainer that dirt and dust make floors look dingy. The Spruce / Margot Cavin Fortunately, restoring dirtywood floorsthat have lost their sheen can be relatively straightforward. Deep Cleaning is as Easy as One-Two-Three Agood deep cleaningmay restore your tired floor’s former luster. Here’s what to do: Afterward, mop using a micro cloth and concentratedcleaner for hardwood floors....

Once you complete the maintenance and reassemble the unit, restore the power. Remove Debris Once a month, head to youroutside unitand visually inspect the area around it. Remove any debris on and around the unit, including mulch, leaves, sticks, and more. Capelle.r / Getty Images As this debris builds up, it can block the unit’s airflow, which will compromise performance. If specified, rinse off the cleaner. After cleaning the coils, use a fin straightening tool to gently straighten the fins....

Some fabrics can comingle in the washer and dryer and others should travel with only their own kind. Here are seven combinations of items that should never be washed together. Microfiber bath towels are woven from synthetic fibers and are “lint attractors”. The Spruce / Sanja Kostic Wash them together and your microfiber towels will havehundreds of tiny cotton pillsstuck to the fibers. They will never be the same again....

The Spruce / Brie Goldman Before diving headfirst intospring cleaning, its always a good idea to declutter first. If done well, the end result will be a breezy, beautiful home thats ready for warmer weather. But where to begin? The Spruce / Brie Goldman The goal is tomake your home function betterand keep running that way, she says. A little organization now will make daily life smoother well beyond spring."...

Between the crowds, the competing “deals” (isit even a deal? Be diligent about crossing things off. According to Brittany Bishop, a life coach based in Connecticut, it can help you stay on task. fotostorm / Getty Images Want more holiday inspiration? Prepare Physically and Mentally Making a list isn’t the only way to prepare. You should also prepare yourself physically and mentally. Even if things don’t go as planned, this strategy still helps....

Want more gardening tips? Plants with soggy bottoms can result in root rot and other issues. You also may find that leaky pots lead to floors and surfaces that are warped and moldy. The Spruce / Leticia Almeida This is a surefire way of creating dimension within a room, too. Plants sitting all at one level can look bland and a little flat. Look forindoor vining plantsthat can handle the area you’ll be placing them (e....

The best alternative storage option is afireproof, archival-quality container, Wirick notes. Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Wirick advises against keeping candles, crayons, or any other meltable items inside of plastic bins. Kilito Chan / Getty Images Doing so, she says, can lead to a gooey mess, especially in attics or garages. Toner says that you’re better off opting for vacuum-sealed bags instead. Looking to keep things extra sanitary? Cris Cantón / Getty Images...

However, keeping some of these items in your shed actually might be doing more harm than good. The safest place to store fertilizer is in a cool, dry place. Want more cleaning and organizing tips? The Spruce / Candace Madonna Seeds Seed packets as well shouldn’t just be tossed in the shed. Plus, you want to keep them from any pets or wild pests that might wander into the shed....

But some surprising items often slip through the cracks. If you eat in bed, have pets, or sweat a lot, you should wash pillows quarterly. Special pillows like body pillows or throw pillows should be cleaned every three to six months, she said. Anastasiia Krivenok / Getty Images Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Tip Check the care label. Many pillows can be machine-washed on a gentle cycle, but foam pillows may require spot cleaning....

But no matter where you seek out your finds, the thrifting trends will be the same. Here are the seven thrifting trends we should expect to see in 2025, according to experts. Meet the Expert Want more design inspiration? Emily Henderson Design/ Photo By Kaitlin Green Fewer Neutrals Whittney Parkinson Design The backlash to neutrals will begin. The pendulum is also swinging back in the opposite direction. (Surrealism was an artistic and literary movement that aimed to release creativity in the unconscious mind....

Spoiler alert: lots of creative storage solutions ahead. Meet the Expert Pick Your Spot Living. LLC Theres this common misconception that you need a separate room to create a hobby space. Pekic / Getty Images But the organizing whizzes we spoke to couldnt disagree more. Or, maybe you have an extra closet that is nothing but a catch-all for junk. Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Living. Simplified. LLC Invest in Multifunctional Furniture Nothing beats multifunctional furniture, especially when youre tight on space....