Get answers, advice, and solutions to your biggest lifestyle questions — like where to buy the best candles, how to get a great night’s sleep, and tips to nail your next WFH job interview — to level up your life at home.
Odor-busting usually comes to mind when we’re talking about garbage cans or litter boxes. But there are other areas areas that smell less than pleasant. Take your gym bag (which you may now be slinging over your shoulder more often than you did in December, go you!) for example. The thing about your gym bag and its contents is that you can’t immediately deal with offensive odors by tossing clothing in the wash or putting your sneakers in the freezer.
The world can be divided into two types of people: those who can guzzle down a bottle of red wine without any health repercussions and those who get a painful headache from just a single glass. The mystery surrounding the latter — why do some people get migraines from red wine?—involves understanding the effects of key substances found in a bottle of red. The first thing to know is the difference between a hangover headache and a red wine-induced migraine.
It’s a sad truth of housekeeping that even if you wear gloves, your hands will still wind up dry after a cleaning marathon. So we scoured Reddit and even called on a few of our favorite housekeeping experts for the inside scoop on the best hand-saving products to use during and after cleaning. From coconut oil to diaper cream, here’s what the pros say to use to keep your hands soft, smooth, and moisturized.
What’s the most important part of a nutritious diet? Most of us can automatically recite the answer: fruits and vegetables. And yet it can be tough to eat the daily recommended amount of produce, and most Americans simply don’t. I’ve certainly been among that 75 percent—the estimated percentage of us who don’t eat enough veggies. I realized, though, that part of the problem was that I didn’t really understand how much we were talking about.
For many of us, breakfast is rarely more than a cup of coffee or a piece of fruit while rushing out the door. That’s if we manage to eat anything at all: Over 31 million Americans regularly skip breakfast. There is research to back up both sides of the “To Eat or Not to Eat Breakfast” argument, but I think most of us share a wistfulness for a proper breakfast.
Good news: If you're looking for a little more contentment in your day-to-day, you've got science on your side. Try incorporating these study-backed habits into your routine.
With a new year comes new goals and fresh motivation to pursue all things health and wellness. Whether you’re trying a new home workout (cycling bikes, anyone?) or kissing that mid-day slump goodbye by focusing on a new form of nutrition, now is an opportune time to renew your focus on what it means to be and feel well. But with no shortage of (sometimes schticky and expensive) wellness trends inundating us from all angles, it can be difficult to determine what might be worth trying.
Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. Ah, the brothers that need no introduction (but we’re going to give you one anyway). Ever since the first episode of HGTV’s “Property Brothers” aired in 2011, Drew and Jonathan Scott have made viewers around the globe fall in love with their impressive renovating skills complimented by witty sibling banter.
Filling your Instagram with envy-inducing vacation selfies of you and your closest gal pals living it up may serve as a temporary ego-booster, thanks to all the likes you’re bound to rack up. But there could be more—scientific studies suggest that there’s an even more crucial benefit connected to taking girls’ trips: It’s actually good for your health.
Benjamin Franklin wrote the famous phrase, “early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” His viewpoint sounds nice, and his own personal success gives his advice some strong support. However, now night owls and researchers alike would beg to differ. During the last few decades, there’s a growing body of fascinating research on the relationship between sleep patterns and intelligence.
Winter, the season of cozy hygge, seems like it would be the best time of year to catch up on all those ZZZs we miss out on during the more active months. But it turns out that—whether or not you’re one of the 10 million Americans who suffer from seasonal affective disorder each year—the long and dark days actually wreak havoc on our sleep schedules, both in the quality of our sleep and the number of hours of rest we’re getting each night.
People can be opinionated about sleep positions, and we don’t blame them—plenty of evidence shows physical and mental health are directly linked to our quality of sleep. And according to one survey, some ways of sleeping may even more profoundly affect quality of sleep, mood, and even motivation levels in the workplace. A survey of 1,021 people from The Sleep Judge shows that those of us who sleep on our backs win the sleep lottery in more ways than one.
They say misery loves company, but it looks like joy does, too. And since the US is apparently the unhappiest it’s ever been, Americans could certainly make some pretty good use out of Finland’s “happiness guides,” and get a free summer vacation in the process.
Design and science experts have assured us that one way of reducing your stress levels is to get yourself near some water for a healthy dose of what’s known as “blue mind,” or the calming effect that simply being in the vicinity of H2O has on people. It’s not quite possible to bottle those good vibes up and take them home, but the next best option is to invest in indoor fountains, like these beautiful, zen-emitting devices by Lily Clark.
Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. “Charlie’s Angels,””The Wedding Singer,””Never Been Kissed,” “Ever After”—the list of iconic Drew Barrymore classics goes on and on (and on). As it’s known, however, Barrymore’s success goes well beyond the big screen.
There have been so many milestones to celebrate in the world of grooming expert-turned-figure skater Jonathan Van Ness. First, as we already know and have binged, the third season of Netflix’s “Queer Eye” premiered this month. Second, the Fab Five member turned 32 today (happy birthday, JVN!). And third, Van Ness’s beloved podcast “Getting Curious” aired over one-hundred episodes. Can you believe?!
For as relaxing as taking a long, hot shower can be everyday, are they really all that good for your skin? We hit up skincare experts Rhea Souhleris Grous, Director of Aesthetics at Union Square Laser Dermatology and celeb-esthetician Renee Rouleau to help us break down the effects—both good and bad—that regularly indulging in hot showers can have on your body.
Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home.If you’re a fan of “The Big Bang Theory,” you’ll recognize Melissa Rauch, who plays Howard’s wife Bernadette. She was introduced in the show during the third season and quickly became a regular—and 10 seasons later, this will be her last as the beloved TV sitcom comes to an end.
Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home.I’m putting this truth out into the universe: my life changed for the better after watching the first episode of TV Land’s “Younger” (season 6 premieres tonight, June 12).
Make room in your official collection of all things Harry Potter for a new wizardly addition: Board game and puzzle manufacturer USAopoly recently announced the forthcoming release of a new collaborative game. HARRY POTTER: Death Eaters Rising is based on the fifth book/film, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” The game, which will be available in Fall 2019, pits players against the infamous Death Eaters on a quest to ultimately corral and conquer Lord Voldemort.
New York’s Metropolitan Opera House has thought of a unique way to bring opera to the masses without putting anyone’s health at risk. Met stars will be performing audience-free recitals via live stream from incredible locations worldwide, and anyone can attend.
Dimmer switches are great, not only do they provide opportunity for mood lighting and ambiance, but also save money due to reduced power usage. Almost all the lights in my home are on a dimmer switch, except for the bedrooms, where we’d actually like to have them the most.
Ellen is back (and so are our recaps)! We’re super excited that the furniture design competition returns tonight (Monday, January 18), so here’s a look back at the New Year’s Day casting special. We get a taste of what’s to come on season 2 of Ellen’s Design Challenge, we meet the cast, and two people are gone before they got the chance to really compete. Too bad, so sad. Want to meet the cast?
In a modern world currently intrigued by minimalism, there’s something that all three adult generations can agree on: the problem of dealing with the collections curated (hoarded?) by our family members. From younger boomers and Gen X’ers sandwiched between their aging/dying parents and their own children to millennials trying to gently manage expectations (and their own limited budgets and storage space) without hurt feelings, the message is crystal clear.
You know who I'm talking about. The people who show up at the office bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, every day, like clockwork, eating the kind of food you made resolutions about.
You see a chair on the curb. It’s sitting right in front of your building and it’s free. Or, you’re at the thrift store and spy a cheap sofa. But something holds you back. You’re just. not. quite. sure. If only there were guidelines — holy reminders if you will — of things to keep in mind while looking at used furniture. How do you decide if it’s the right thing to re-do? Or if you should run in the other direction?
If I had a dollar for every time I justified skipping a workout because I couldn’t find the time, well, I’d probably have enough money to cover my woefully neglected gym membership for a year. But the reality is it can seem impossible to devote a decent chunk of the day to exercise. Still, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t. Happily, there are about a million sneaky ways to fit in a workout—even when time is scarce.
If we could live in any Disney fairytale, it would be “Beauty and the Beast.” Gorgeous architecture, a library filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and a kitchen staff well-versed in French cuisine sound like a dream to us. Mild hostage situation aside, Beast’s castle is pretty much our dream. If you’ve ever watched the movie and thought, yep, I’d like to drink a glass of wine and take a selfie in here, you’re in luck.
Ssh! We’re putting together a dress up box for my kids this year for Christmas! To aid in my quest for putting together the best dress up box ever, I have made this handy “Ultimate Dress Up Box Checklist”. How many of these do you have in yours? Or, even better, waiting to add to yours, currently lying around your house? Used adult clothes: short dresses (they will become full length on a child) bridesmaid dresses (possibly cut short?
If you love to hate goop, then we’ve got a perfect summer read for you: Gabrielle Moss’ “Glop,” a hilarious, satirical take on Paltrow’s wellness dynasty.Moss, who’s also an editor at Bustle, said the idea for the book was born in 2015, after Paltrow posted on goop about vaginal steaming. “I decided I would also steam my vagina and report it to see how closely my experience mirrored Gwyneth’s,” she says.
Using data from Google Maps, Google News Lab has figured out where we’re going, what we’re looking for and when we’re getting there around Thanksgiving. So, if you’re trying to eat Chinese food on the way to the plant nursery on Black Friday, you’re not alone—but you should probably avoid driving at 9am. So how’d they figure out that folks in Texas are particularly interested in bicycle sharing locations?
In our largely cashless society, it’s easy to go days without touching an actual dollar bill. While there’s tons of convenience that comes with credit and debit cards, the downside is that money seems less real and it’s easier to overspend when payments appear in the distant future. The cash envelope system is one way to counter that. 1. Create Your Household Budget: Sit down and figure out your income and expenses each month.
If you’ve ever lusted over Italy’s gorgeous architecture (who hasn’t?), we’ve got some news for you. The government is accepting proposals for 103 historic sites, and in exchange, they’re yours, rent free. Most of the historic buildings are old homes, inns, and monasteries, but some of the properties up for grabs are literal castles.
Your middle school dreams have come true—the intensely rainbow universe of Lisa Frank will be coming to a theater near you. The feature film, which will be a live action/animation hybrid, is currently in development. If it’s anything like classic hybrids Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Paula Abdul’s Opposites Attract video, count us in.
Name: Bradley L Bowers City: Miami, FL Style: I use the term “future-monk” to describe my style. I avoid decoration and I love to let the purity of materials merge with really funky and exciting shapes & forms. Carpenter paired with: Matt Muenster What are your design strengths? Follow-through; I think it is an underrated quality and one of my greatest assets and strengths. What are your design weaknesses? I am insistent.
Q: What is a safe, nontoxic sealant for a wooden highchair? We have an old wooden highchair that has a tray with all the finish worn off. The tray had also broken in half where it was seamed together. I glued it together again, but I’d like to refinish it to make it easier to clean. It is in otherwise perfect condition and we want to use it for our grandchildren.
Professional Organizer Amelia Meena helps clients get their homes in order and, as we all know, that often involves getting rid of things no longer needed. To help us all out as we work to declutter our homes (one less thing to think about!), I asked her to share her list of great places to donate; because if you’re clearing out, you just may be able to help out as well.
Are you an introvert who’s sworn off entertaining after too many exhausting events? Not everyone is cut out for every kind of hosting, but just because you’re not a social butterfly doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time with guests; you just have to do it the right way and play to your strengths. Here’s how.
Have you ever wandered the massive aisles of your local warehouse store, wondering why you can’t easily ask your friends and family to buy you a 120-pack of coffee pods or a 36-pack of water pitcher replacement filters? Well, now it’s only a click away, because Costco has recently announced its new gift registry.
People love LEGO. They also love Gilmore Girls. Now the two have come together in an idea so pure and beautiful that we can’t help but love it. Behold, a replica Luke’s Diner made from the toy blocks. While we’re waiting for Netflix, the showrunners, and cast to figure out if there will be more episodes of the revival or not, GG fans now have something else to possibly look forward to.
With Valentine’s Day this week, we’ve all got love on the brain. And if you’re sitting in your apartment, lost for words to express how you feel to your loved one, maybe it’s time to figure out your IKEA love language. Do you love your partner like a BEKVAM or a MALM? Take this super scientific, highly romantic quiz to find out. A. Knowing someone is serious about our relationship B. Being one half of an “it” couple C.
It’s Apartment Therapy reader month! Join us every Thursday afternoon for Homebody Happy Hour—it’s your chance to unwind with fellow design fans and unload your thoughts on some fun conversation topics. You can judge my very television-centric living room layout all you want, but I’m not ashamed to say that TV and movies play a huge role in my house.
Do you know what’s in your closet? Like, way in there? Do you ever find two or three of the (nearly or exactly) same clothing items because you didn’t realize you had already bought one? Do you not buy items you really like because you know you already have something — even though you don’t really love it? A closet inventory is more than just a cleverly disguised way to declutter your closet (though it is that, too).
No matter which side of the bed you got up on this morning, chances are, you could probably use a little more shut eye. Today is the tenth annual World Sleep Day, an event intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important sleep related issues. We do our fair share of talking about snoozing around here, so today, we’ve rounded up our best tips for a better night’s sleep. Don’t let your space steal your sleep.
We’re not all #blessed enough to have a home office or a designated space that’s only for working, but if you have the kind of job that lets you work from your apartment, you still need some sort of workspace. Maybe you have a space you can easily transform into a desk on work days, maybe you’re one purchase or DIY project away from having the perfect telecommuting solution, or maybe you need a little help from your neighborhood coffee shop.
It can sometimes be easy to mindlessly move through your home, just going through the motions of your daily routine. Are you just existing in your home? Or are you enjoying your home to its fullest every day? There are a few ideas I’m re-reading these days to help me remember to really live in my home. 1. Laugh in it What really makes you laugh? Is it the latest viral pet video? Watch a bit before you jet off to work. Love stand-up comedy?
It came as a major blow to my ego that despite twice-weekly yoga sessions and thrice-weekly weightlifting, my left shoulder was defeated by my recent dabbling in wall painting. All this pain, just from painting! Granted, it was 8 solid hours of painting, a few days each week… Still, one doesn’t like to think that a low-impact activity can do such damage to one’s relatively young and decently strong body.
It doesn’t look like much in its stock photograph, but IKEA’s SNIGLAR crib has been turning up all over the place in our tours lately – everywhere from Sydney, Australia to Pennsylvania, USA. The crib’s airy, simple design and raw wood aesthetic work well with eclectic, modern, Scandinavian, and minimalist decor. Don’t believe us? Click through to those nurseries that feature the one-and-only SNIGLAR. 1. Elke’s Sweet As Honey Space 2.
