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Oyin Antwi, Apartment Therapy contributor and cofounder of Via Asha Design, and her husband landed in a new Brooklyn rental just before the world started shutting down last year, which ended up being a great move since their space turned out to be, in Oyin’s own words, “exactly what the doctor prescribed to heal.” You may recognize her apartment from her home tour. Her space is already gorgeous, but even pro designers need a refresh every once in a while.

Johanna Beach is an interior designer and serious DIY expert (we’ve previously consulted with her for expert cloffice tips) who lives in the Windy City and is lucky enough to have a small but beautiful balcony with cascading ivy and an exposed brick wall. Given that Chicago balconies aren’t exactly year-round spaces, Johanna wanted to give hers a refresh to be sure it could meet its full potential and get more use than ever this summer.

Apartment Therapy’s lifestyle director Taryn Williford lives in a beautiful loft in Atlanta that over the years she has designed with a calm and comfortable touch. The loft is one of seven in a converted pickle factory, which gave the building its sweet (but briny?) name of the Pickle Factory Lofts.Taryn describes her style as Industrial Eclectic, an aesthetic that embraces her space’s former life but warms it up with cheeky tchotchkes, well-placed dramatic colors, and plants.

Broadway actor Justin is a man of many talents: When he’s not performing in Tina! The Tina Turner Musical, he’s photographing other performers’ headshots for his side hustle, Jshoots. But when the pandemic hit and Broadway closed, Justin was doing it all in the New York apartment he shares with his fitness instructor boyfriend — who, of course, was also working from home.

As a freelance graphic designer, Julia needs space to create. She also needs storage for her many notebooks and art supplies, a system to keep all her various projects on track, and plenty of colorful inspiration. That’s a tall order for a cozy New York apartment, where she lives with her husband and cat.While most of the world struggled to figure out the WFH lifestyle last year, Julia already knew the drill.

Working from home takes on a whole new meaning when your colleagues are five-year-olds. When Molly, a bilingual elementary teacher, transitioned to teaching kindergarten and first grade remotely from her New York living room, she didn’t just need a desk. She needed a dynamic virtual classroom that allowed her to sit, stand, stretch, and use her learning board, where she displays various teaching materials.

DIY your way to salty, sweet, or savory seasonings for more flavorful margaritas. They make great personalized gifts, too!

While this year certainly has its challenges, here’s a silver lining: People across the country now working at home have saved an average of 54 minutes on their daily commute. That’s nearly an hour saved each day from the grind of gridlock. Before you pile another meeting or errand on your schedule, consider this: What if you used those 54 minutes just for you?We love a good sheet mask as much as the next person, but don’t be afraid to think bigger.

Houseplants add instant warmth and energy to a space, but they can be intimidating: Am I watering too much? Not enough? What the heck is indirect light, anyway? Don’t worry! There are plenty of pretty plants that deliver green vibes — and bonus style points — without requiring a degree in botany. We picked seven favorites that will look great in any room.