Plus pro tips on how to make the most of the good and minimize the bad. We all like to think we have good taste, but not all of us are quite literally trained to have an eye for design. For an interior designer, it's their job to notice what an untrained eye may not. As it turns out, there’s quite a few things. When an interior design expert approaches a new room for the first time, or surveys a newly completed project, they are drawn to certain things that make or break the space.

7 Things Designers Immediately Notice When They Enter A Room

Our 2024 Southern Living Idea House in Kiawah River makes a friendly first impression. A tabby sidewalk deposits neighbors and visitors from the street onto the front porch, where they’re greeted by blossom-filled planters and glowing gas lanterns. Of course, you expect the front of a house to put its best face forward, but at the Idea House, our side door (the entry point from the garage and driveway) makes for an especially cheery welcome too. That’s all thanks to the friends’ entrance—the feature that belongs in every Southern home.

Why A Friends' Entrance Is A Must-Have In A Southern Home

Real Homes

From metro tiles to marble, sealed wallpaper to colorful designs, our bathroom backsplash ideas will help you choose the right addition to your room

10 gorgeous bathroom backsplash ideas for every style space

How To Accommodate Everything In A Narrow Bathroom?. Small, tight and tricky spaces on the whole are more and more frequent in our homes, and designing, styling and decorating them takes time and effort. This roundup will definitely ease the life of those of you who have a narrow and long bathroom as we’ve prepared some lovely ways to style one and some tips to design it easier.

48 Smart Narrow Bathroom Decor Ideas

House Digest

If you have gaps above your cabinets that are just blank spaces, try decorating the area with something that will brighten up the entire room.

Spruce Up The Dead Space Above Your Kitchen Cabinets With A Dazzling Design Idea

At a glance, satin nickel and brushed nickel may seem indistinguishable. Truthfully, they’re very similar: They both showcase a timeless, silver-like sheen perfect for kitchen and bathroom finishes, including faucets, light fixtures, and cabinet handles. In fact, interior designer Bambi A’Lynn Bratton points out that some home decor retailers even market them under combined names that can be confusing, blending the terms “satin” and “brushed.”

Satin Nickel Vs. Brushed Nickel: Which Finish Is Right For You?

HELLO

Bringing the outdoors in - or Biophilia - has become one of 2024's biggest interior design trends. The process, which involves adding natural elements to the home, has been proven to promote a calmer, more peaceful environment

What are Biophilic interiors? How bringing the outdoors in is proven to make you happier

One of the best ways to elevate your home's curb appeal is by choosing the best siding and trim. We share expert advice on what to know when making these decisions for your own home.

The Best Siding And Trim Ideas

Designing a home is a fun way to express your style and let your creativity flow. However, it also comes with many challenges, and sometimes, the ideas you have in your head fall flat once they make it to the room. While good design often comes down to personal preference,...

10 Things People with Well-Designed Homes Never Do

Think twice before you wiggle into that new pair of jeans. I have a confession: Despite my practically compulsive need to use hand sanitizer after pumping gas, I often wear new clothes without washing them—especially if I have a fun outing planned the day the new duds land on my doorstep. Of course, I have my limits (linens, activewear, and the like all take a spin through the laundry before use), but generally, I’m not too precious about the preliminary wash cycle. If you, too, are in my camp and would like to continue to dwell here, you should probably stop reading now. We asked experts to weigh in, and they unanimously agreed: Washing before wearing is the move. Here’s the good, bad, and ugly of why you should be launder new clothes before you wear them.

Should You Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them?

We take our barbecue seriously. Southern standards are high for juicy, tender smoked meat and the sauces we deem worthy as accompaniment—so much so that we take road trips to the South’s best barbecue joints and fiercely advocate for our favorite condiments. (Whether you’re choosing Alabama White Sauce or a vinegary Eastern North Carolina BBQ sauce, that’s your business!)

Hot Pockets Is Bringing Back A Fan-Favorite Flavor Perfect For Summer

Real Simple

Here's how to balance your redecorating budget.

3 Home Decor Items You Should Always Splurge on (and When to Save Instead)

Livingetc

The designers of these powder rooms took big swings with wallpaper choices for spaces that are small in size, but big in personality

These 6 Powder Rooms With Incredible Wallpaper Have Us Convinced It's the Best Way to Impress Guests

Dengarden

This room would look right at home in a 19th century French chateau.

Decor DIYer Paints Her Bedroom Ceiling and the Result Is So Chic

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NewsNinja

"They accidentally gave us 2 washers and a dryer when we only ordered 1 of each". Last month, Lowe’s experienced a glitch that lowered the price of its $2,300 Midea jumbo capacity refrigerator to just $169.

‘Lowe’s messed up’: Shopper says they got $2,300 fridge at Lowe’s for just $169

When you're working your way through a sinkful of dirty dishes for the third or fourth time in a day, it’s understandably tempting to scrape plates and everything else into the kitchen sink. After all, the sink is right there. Despite their tempting convenience, if you want your sink to last a lifetime—or at least avoid having the plumber on speed dial—it is best to keep drains for soap, water, and smaller food scraps.

8 Things You Should Never Put Down The Drain, According To Pros

Who wouldn't want the best looking house on the block? We're sharing smart tips and expert-approved advice for boosting your home's curb appeal all year long.

Tried-And-True Landscaping Advice

You've had more than enough time to enjoy the pastel nail colors of spring and crisp white manicures of summer, and now it's time to transition over to their moodier and more interesting counterparts for early autumn. September marks the end of summer and beginning of fall, so bridge the beauty gap by picking the best September nail shades to get excited for the season.

The 13 Best September Nail Colors, Guaranteed To Get You Excited For Fall

Kentucky State

Chances are, if you have a lawn, you have crabgrass! This fast-growing weed thrives despite heat, humidity, or drought conditions. “It’s a prolific seed producer,” says Clint Waltz, PhD, turfgrass extension specialist at the University of Georgia. “If you do nothing about it this year, expect a higher and more dense population of crabgrass next year.”

How To Get Rid Of Crabgrass That's Growing In Your Lawn And Prevent It From Coming Back

Declutterbuzz

Have you ever wondered if your home mirrors your true self? Just like people present their best selves on social media, our homes can showcase our personalities and lifestyles. Does your home reflect who you are? I hope so because this will make you the most comfortable.

Decluttering | Does Your Home Reflect Who You Are

NewsBreak

Why Plumbing Fixtures Are A Smart Splurge

Whether you’re renovating a house or starting from scratch, outfitting an entire home from floor to ceiling is a pricey undertaking. By the time you’re choosing...

Why Plumbing Fixtures Are A Smart Splurge

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