Enjoy a perfect slice of backyard life by making a DIY pizza oven stand.
No day full of family, friends, and fun is complete without a great dinner to close out the night — and pizza makes for the perfect topping to any backyard party.
Follow along with Doug Scott, landscape designer and host of Exmark’s Done-In-A-Weekend project series, to learn how to build a DIY pizza oven station.
This DIY outdoor pizza oven stand will complement any grilling area. (Exmark)
Pressure-treated boards will stand up to the outdoor elements. (Exmark)
Materials
Legs
(4) 2 inch x 2 inch x 32 inch pressure-treated boards
Frames
(4) 1-inch x 4-inch x 26 1/4 in. pressure-treated boards
(4) 1 in. x 4 in. x 34 1/2 in. pressure-treated boards
(1) 1 in. x 4 in. x 24 1/2 in. pressure-treated board
Cleats
(2) 1 in. x 2 in. x 31 1/2 in. pressure-treated boards
(2) 2 in. x 2 in. x 21 3/4 in. pressure-treated boards
Top
(5) 2 in. x 6 in. x 48 in. pressure-treated boards
Shelf
(10) 1 in. x 4 in. x 24 1/2 in. pressure-treated boards
Riser
(7) 1 in. x 4 in. x 21 in. pressure-treated boards
(2) 1 in. x 4 in. x 24 1/2 in. pressure-treated boards
Backboard
(9) 1 in. x 4 in. x 24 in. pressure-treated boards
(2) 1 in. x 4 in. x 53 1/2 in. pressure-treated boards
How to Build a Pizza Oven Station
The two 1-inch x 4-inch boards give the legs extra support. (Exmark)
1. Take two of the 2-inch x 2-inch leg boards and one of the 1-inch x 4-inch x 34 1/2-inch frame boards. Place the 2-inch x 2-inch boards on both ends of the 1-inch x 4-inch board, making sure to align the edges and corners.
Then, take the other 1-inch x 4-inch board and repeat the step above for the other end of the 2-inch x 2-inch leg boards, but instead align it about five inches from the end of the leg board.
This 1-inch x 2-inch cleat will hold up the bottom shelf boards. (Exmark)
2. Screw a 1-inch x 2-inch cleat horizontally along this second 1-inch x 4-inch board, making sure it’s aligned between the 2-inch x 2-inch leg boards.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the second pair of legs.
The 1-inch x 4-inch x 26 1/4-inch frame boards complete the frame for the top. (Exmark)
4. Stand up both sets of legs, making sure the ends with the 1-inch x 4-inch boards are flush with the ground, and that the sides with the cleats are pointed inwards. Take the 1-inch x 4-inch x 26 1/4-inch frame boards and use them to connect the two sets of legs, screwing them into the corners of all four frame boards.
5. Flip the build over.
These notches make the bottom shelf line up flush with the frame boards (Exmark)
6. Next, take two of the 1-inch x 4-inch shelf boards and cut out a 2-inch x 2-inch square on the corner of each end of both boards. These squares should be on the same side of the boards.
Screw the newly cut board onto the cleat. (Exmark)
7. Take your newly cut boards and nest them in between the top frame boards, making sure the square you just cut out is flush with the leg boards, and screwing them into the 1-inch x 2-inch cleats.
The bottom boards should be spaces enough for water to drain. (Exmark)
8. Then, take the remainder of the shelf boards and screw them in between the two you just placed.
This middle board gives the top more support. (Exmark)
9. Screw the 1-inch x 4-inch x 24 1/2-inch frame board, aligned horizontally, into the middle of the top 1-inch x 4-inch x 34 1/2-inch boards.
The top boards will be screwed into these front and back cleat boards. (Exmark)
10. Screw 1-inch x 2-inch cleat boards on the front and back of the very top of the build.
Just like on the bottom shelf, the top shelf boards should have some space between them. (Exmark)
11. Take all five of the top boards and screw them into place, using the cleats you just installed.
The backboard support boards should be spaced about 5 or 6 inches apart. (Exmark)
12. Take the 1-inch x 4-inch x 53 1/2-inch backboards and screw one to line up vertically with the back left corner of the build. Screw the next board in, spaced out about five or six inches to the right of the first.
The riser boards should extend 1 inch off of the inner backboard. (Exmark)
13. Take the other 1-inch x 4-inch x 21-inch riser boards and screw them horizontally in front of the vertical boards you just installed, aligning them so the right vertical support is one inch off the end of the 1-inch x 4-inch x 24-inch boards.
The oven platform creates space for utensils under the pizza oven. (Exmark)
14. Finally, put together the oven platform by placing the 1-inch x 4-inch x 24 1/2-inch boards on their sides (long ways) and screwing the 1-inch x 4-inch x 21-inch boards to adjoin them, making sure all the corners are flush.
Watch the video to see how it’s built!
Of course, no build is complete without the paint or stain to match your backyard aesthetic, and the necessary sealer to help it withstand everything Mother Nature will throw at it.
Once your DIY outdoor pizza oven stand is assembled, all that’s left to do is invite your friends and family over, buy the ingredients and bake away!
Looking to breathe new life into your outdoor spaces? Look no further than simple, cost-effective DIY projects. Exmark’s Done-In-A-Weekend project series will help you enjoy a better backyard life!
That said, there have been plenty of tasks that have come as a surprise since becoming a homeowner — things I used to leave to a landlord or, more often, leave totally unattended because I didn’t realize they even needed to be done.
But when I was working on redoing our bathroom last fall, I hit a snag that came with a pricey lesson. I had hoped to replace our standard-issue low-neck faucet with something more modern and stylish, which the internet assured me I could totally do. I assembled my tools, I pulled up my YouTube videos, and I slid myself underneath the vanity to get to work.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get far. I knew that step one to any project involving plumbing was to turn off the water locally. That meant reaching under the sink to turn two shutoff valves — one for hot, one for cold — so that they were completely blocked and no water would make its way from the main water line to the sink. I turned on the water at the sink so I had real-time feedback on my progress. I turned the handle that controlled the left valve, which turned off without issue. Then, I turned the handle for the right valve until I couldn’t any more. I looked up to the sink, and the water was still running. Huh.
Over two hours, I fussed and futzed over the two handles, using my hands, my hands plus grippy rubber bands, my hands plus pliers, and my hands plus WD-40 to try to get the valve to close. And while I was able to turn the actual handle, the valve housed inside of it would. not. close. Nothing worked. Finally, I gave up and called a plumber.
Backup was thankfully fast to arrive, and even faster to fix the issue. It turns out the shutoff valves in my 65-year-old house had become sticky over time, a common issue among older homes. My bill came to around $200 to have the plumber replace the old valves with new ones that would effectively open and close when you turned them, allowing me to (hours later) finish my full remodel.
While he was working, my plumber told me a secret: This pricey visit could have been avoided by giving the shutoff valves under the vanity a little workout by fully closing and opening them a couple times about once a month — a chore that takes literal seconds. Giving those valves a bit of a stretch helps prevent mineral buildup that can lead to them sticking in the future.
Functional shutoff valves aren’t just important for doing DIY home upgrades like I was. In the event of an emergency — an overflowing toilet, a clogged sink — the shutoff valves help you to cut off the water supply to the affected fixture. If you’ve ever tried to staunch an overflowing toilet, you know how important that can be.
Since my plumber’s visit, I’ve been periodically giving all the valves in my house a little twist. It’s not always once a month; usually it’s just when I remember to do it, but that’s better than nothing. When you think of it, try to give yours a stretch, too. It could save you from paying hundreds of dollars for a plumber visit — or even thousands for repairing avoidable water damage.
Megan is a writer and editor who specializes in home upgrades, DIY projects, hacks, and design. Before Apartment Therapy, she was an editor at HGTV Magazine and This Old House Magazine. Megan has a degree in Magazine Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She is a self-taught weighted blanket connoisseur.
Britt is a stargazer and sunrise-chaser with a collection of magic erasers, and a fascination with the fantastic. A storyteller at heart, she finds inspiration in all the small things, and can likely be found singing show tunes, catching up on K-dramas, or going on adventures to satiate her natural-born wanderlust. (Sometimes even all at the same time.)
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
My cat, housemate, and I live in a small apartment in a questionably secure walk-up — cue the violins. Since you’re either a regular here and are familiar with our city living conundrums or you’re here for help working through your own, let me cut to the chase: The Floyd Sectional was custom-made to fit my space perfectly, hand-delivered directly into my living room, and survived (nay, thrived) through a month’s worth of red wine spills and my cat’s incessant scratching. It has proved itself to be the sofa to end all modern, modular, customizable, pet- and mess-friendly upholstered sofas. Plus, now through July 4, you can get it for 15 percent off!
It took me all of 10 minutes with a tape measure and Floyd’s Sectional Builder to design my own perfect sofa — admittedly one of the quickest decisions I’ve ever made. Because there isn’t a Cheesecake Factory menu-amount of options when you’re choosing your modules, colors, and add-ons, the experience isn’t overwhelming. That said, everything you could need, from neutral off-white and rich green upholstery options to multiple right, left, and middle sections, give you more than enough customization possibilities. I opted for the off-white fabric in order to really put it to the mess test.
Supply chain issues gave my anticipation for delivery a few weeks to build, but instead of delivery day being expectedly chaotic, it didn’t involve breaking a sweat carrying boxes nor did it involve breaking any down afterward. The Sectional was carried in pieces and placed exactly where I wanted it in a matter of minutes. I was instantly able to toss some throws on it and get right to the best part: lounging. And, boy, does this sofa suit the job. The Sectional is designed to be wider than your average sofa, and since those few extra inches don’t feel like they actually take up much more room, the difference in terms of comfort is drastic. It’s not the kind of couch you sink down into, which is very much my preference. I can sit, lay, and even sleep supported on the Sectional, and it’s not challenging to get up from (and I’m certainly not groggy or sore when I do).
Yes, the Sectional is certainly handsome and ideal for most every decor style and home size, but I was concerned by how much it looked like a beacon for my cat’s restless paws when it arrived. It’s now been a month of unregulated scratching and claw-assisted stretching, and only a single thread on the Sectional’s upholstery has managed to come loose. It was easily snipped to reveal the sofa just as it was the day I got it. My concern soon shifted from my cat to myself: How long would it take for me to totally ruin this off-white sofa?
The good news is that multiple red wine spills, acrylic paint splatters, and mysterious stains haven’t been any match for the coated and stain-resistant Floyd upholstery. The best part about this is that the Sectional doesn’t have the look or feel of coated polyester, but it gives you all of the material’s easy-to-clean benefits. Plus, it’s thousands of dollars less than others we’ve seen of its quality and caliber (especially now that it’s on sale). This sofa is truly everything I’ve been looking for, and for now, at least one of my city life conundrums has been resolved.
Heather Bien is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer whose work has appeared on MyDomaine, The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, HelloGiggles, and more. You’ll often find her making pitstops for roadside antique shops, drooling over original hardwood floors, or perfecting her latte recipe.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Pyrex is an American kitchen classic, but as with all kitchen classics — especially ones that have been in the family for generations — there will be scuff marks, scratches, and all sorts of damage. A simple hack, however, promises to make your decades-old Pyrex look brand new.
Over on Instagram, antiques collector @vintagebarandkitchen has demonstrated how to restore a scuffed Pyrex bowl using a multi-purpose polish called Peek. In the video, they first try another method, one with hot water and soap, but it fails. Then, they try the Peek method, wiping the bowl with polish before rinsing it under running water. The result is like magic, the scuff marks having disappeared in an instant.
“This transformation was so satisfying! This was the most scuffed up Pyrex I’ve ever found, and now it looks so shiny and brand new,” said @vintagebarandkitchen.
For those who have never used Peek before, it’s a polishing compound that cleans metals such as chrome, silver, brass, and aluminum, as well as fiberglass and ceramics. It can clean almost any surface, but @vintagebarandkitchen has a few warnings:
“I know there are people who recommend against using Peek on Pyrex because it’s a mild abrasive, but it really does work great to get out marks like these. And the finish is still perfectly glossy!” Several Amazon reviews mention successfully using it on Pyrex, as well.
They added, “please note that these marks are on top of the paint! If there are scratches through the paint, with paint missing, that can’t be fixed, unfortunately.”
People in the comments also suggested products like baking soda, toothpaste, Bar Keepers Friend, and Comet, some of which you might already have at home.
You know how in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” Toula’s dad Kostas Portokalos walks around with Windex to cure everything? Well, that’s how my mom acts with her DIY miracle spray.
Over the holidays, I returned home to Australia after two years away. A lot had changed: my local cafe shut down, the neighbor’s home had been knocked down and rebuilt, and my mom was suddenly obsessed with cleaning everything. Within the first five minutes of my arrival, she had taken out her clear spray bottle for a little show-and-tell. It was as simple as mentioning a few scuff marks on my suitcase that piqued her attention. “My miracle spray will get those out so easily,” she said. And it didn’t stop there. “Look, look at it! How good is it! Isn’t it incredible?” she’d repeatedly exclaim throughout my stay.
Considering she got the recipe from a sales associate at the grocery store while in the cleaning aisle, you can imagine how shocked I was when she wouldn’t pass it on — rather, treating the concoction like a precious family heirloom I wasn’t yet ready to honor. But after much persistence, I finally have the recipe and I’m excited to share it with all of you.
To make my mom’s miracle spray, you’ll need 3 cups of water (half a cup will be boiled), 1 ½ heaping tablespoons of washing soda, ⅔ cup of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, and ½ or 1 tablespoon of pure essential oil. Use a measuring cup and spoons to measure out the ingredients. Boil half a cup of water and mix it with the washing soda until it’s dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients. Pour it all into a 30 or 32 ounce spray bottle — and there you have it!
The vinegar and dishwashing liquid help to dissolve dirt, grease, and grime. For the essential oil, I used eucalyptus, but you can play around with the scent and amount used based on how strong you want it to be. What surprised me the most about this miracle spray was the hero ingredient: washing soda, not to be confused with baking soda.
Washing soda has a higher pH than baking soda — it’s at an 11 and the latter is at an eight — resulting in more cleaning power behind it. It’s also a natural cleaner and water softener. Washing soda is typically found and used in the laundry to remove tough stains, but it’s actually an incredibly versatile product. You can use it in the bathroom to unclog drains and remove grout and scum, on an outdoor grill with blackened caked-on grease and food, and even to clean garden tools.
Studies say you start turning into your mom in your thirties. Well, I seem to be getting a head start because I too am now obsessed with this natural all-purpose miracle spray. Mom was right, it really is as good as it gets.
U.K.-based online garden center Primrose has published a report on the most popular flowering plant of 2021, and it’s neither roses nor tulips, but instead, petunias.
The flower was found to be every gardener’s favorite bloom, according to the company’s sales data, selling more units than any other plant. It’s not hard to see why: petunias are bright and lively, have a sweet scent, and are easy to grow and maintain.
“Perfect in plant pots, among shrubs or in flower beds, petunias can be easily grown almost anywhere outdoors,” wrote Primrose. “They also come in a choice of striking colors, from hot pink to intense purple to rich red.”
Next on the list of 2021’s most popular plants are cherry blossoms, geraniums, apple trees, fuchsias, verbenas, rose bushes, clematis, wisteria, and lavender.
“It’s no surprise that U.K. gardeners opted for well-known, long-established plants in 2021. With such a turbulent year, many of us wanted stability and turned to the trusted, traditional flowers that we know and rely on, like petunias and geraniums,” explained Primrose’s gardening specialist Evie.
“Shades of purple were common too, such as with the popular verbena, wisteria and lavender. Perhaps this was the beginning of the Pantone Color of the Year 2022, Very Peri, as we began to embrace more originality and creativity in our gardens by adding a pop of purple.”
For indoor plants, kalanchoe was the most loved, outselling more than 30 different houseplant types — including monstera and philodendron — and made 19 percent of all houseplant sales.
“It’s interesting that most of our favorite houseplants are tropical or subtropical, since not many of us could travel in 2021,” said Evie. “For many of us who were missing island hopping across white-sand beaches and soaking up the sunshine, a tropical houseplant could have been a way to bring the holiday back home.”
“Surrounding your home with lots of leafy houseplants is a great way to reconnect with those tropical locations while enjoying the other benefits of plants, like improved mood and better air quality,” she added.
“We can expect the houseplant takeover to continue in 2022, as Pinterest recently predicted that we will choose plant-based interior design to stay connected with nature — another good reason to invest in plenty of houseplants!”
You can check out Primrose’s full report, which also lists their top 10 bestselling trees, top 10 garden trends for the year, and the trends that withered in 2021.
If you spend a lot of time at home, life is much more relaxing when you have comfy furniture that makes lounging around feel like a reward. As great as it is to take advantage of these warm and sunny days, the sun can be draining, and you’ll want somewhere shady and cozy to recharge. My family has always made it a priority to furnish our homes with cozy den and patio furniture because we spend the most time there, and Lovesac has been one of our favorites for years, both indoors and outdoors. I’ve spent literal hours sinking into multiple Sacs at once (We have three!) while binging Netflix or unintentionally drifting into an afternoon nap. With small children at home, a perk of the covers is that they can be removed and machine-washed, stress-free. I can’t tell you the number of times my nieces have spilled juice and smushed snacks into the sofa cushions, and the stains have washed out every single time to make the couch look as good as new!
Lovesac also makes giant cloud-like chairs and modular sofas, called Sactionals, that have an array of durable and customizable covers, sizes, and styles; including wedge seats for a curved sofa, rolled arms, and storage seats for blankets, fitness gear, toys, and small items that would otherwise clutter the room. Over 250 mix-and-matchable covers are available (along with free swatches) in a variety of fabrics such as leather, velvet, and convertible 2-in-1 reversible styles. With so many to choose from, you’re sure to find a cover that’s pet-friendly, child-friendly, or one that suits your tastes in general. Most importantly, they fit snugly around the furniture so you aren’t fussing over a poor fit. You can also select accessories and add-ons to further elevate the Sactional, such as a power hub to conveniently charge devices and a Guest Rest Bedding Kit that transforms the sofa into a temporary bed. As a result, it’s a stylish piece of furniture that adapts to your lifestyle as you need it to and not the other way around.
If you’ve been considering furniture from Lovesac, no matter how long, consider this your sign to take the leap! You can easily find a Sactional that literally fits your space, regardless of size, since they’re wonderfully small-space friendly and can be separated and rearranged in a snap. An added bonus is their “Designed for Life” Philosophy: Lovesac Sactionals are made to be the last sofa you’ll ever have to buy. As part of that philosophy, you can replace covers, cushions, pillows, and entire sections as needed so you don’t have to buy a whole new couch if it gets damaged or if you need to make adjustments to accommodate a new space after moving.
Right now, Lovesac is having a HUGE July 4th Sale on their versatile Sactionals, knocking 20 percent off the price. Additionally, if you go for the standard fill, you can get an extra five percent off, meaning you’ll save up to 25 percent off in total! That includes outdoor Sactionals and StealthTech if you opt for it, which is essentially sound and wireless charging embedded right into the sofa. Along with the Sactional sale, you can also get 30 percent off select Sac bundles through July 17. But wait, there’s more: Mark your calendar for July 1-4 because Lovesac is having a flash sale in which you’ll get 25 percent off Sactionals and 20 percent off everything else. Even with a big sale, furniture shopping can be stressful, and to ease that pressure, Lovesac also offers free shipping and a 60-Day Home Trial.
If you’re ready to see Lovesac for yourself, check out some of my favorite picks below and visit the website to build the Sactional of your dreams.
Get this look: Start with the 4 Seat + 4 Sides Sactional as your base. From there, add and attach two seats plus one additional side, and then rotate as needed.
Get this look: Begin with the 2 Seats + 4 Sides Sactional, and customize it to your liking. Separate from the sofa, add two seats without backs to create the ottoman. For the chairs, add two more separate seats and add a back to each.
3 Seats + 5 Sides Sactional and 2 Seats + 4 Sides Loveseat with 2 Ottomans, $7,586.25 (normally $8,925)
Get this look: The good news is you don’t have to fully assemble two Sactionals on your own. Simply choose the 2 Seats + 4 Sides Sactional and add another seat without sides, then do the same with the 3 Seats + 5 Sides Sactional. You could also add two ottomans to one Sactional and none to the other. Either way, the price will be the same, and that’s couldn’t be more convenient!
Get this look: Begin with the 3 Seats + 4 Sides Sactional as your base, pull it apart to swap out the right side arm with a Deep Side and add two more seats. Rotate the corner seat so its long side faces the left side of the Sactional, and then attach another seat with sides and a seat without sides at the end. The demo of your Sactional will look like it’s missing a pillow in the corner, but don’t worry, all Lovesac seats come with one so you can arrange them to your liking. For the ottoman, add two storage seats without sides. The MovieSac Squattoman Bundle is shown here with Dove Channeled Phur covers.
Britt is a stargazer and sunrise-chaser with a collection of magic erasers, and a fascination with the fantastic. A storyteller at heart, she finds inspiration in all the small things, and can likely be found singing show tunes, catching up on K-dramas, or going on adventures to satiate her natural-born wanderlust. (Sometimes even all at the same time.)
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Name: Lærke Victoria Plougmann Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Size: 721 square feet Type of Home: Apartment Years Lived In: 2 years, owned
Lærke, who runs a popular Instagram account and is a sales advisor for Danish fashion brand By Malene Birger, loves to express herself artistically and visually. “Creativity is the focus point of my everyday life,” she writes. And the small apartment in Copenhagen she owns is an expression of her passion for creativity.
“The building is more than 80 years old, which brings out a lot of quirks and beautiful details in the architecture, like rosettes on the ceiling and French glass doors,” she writes. “Since I moved in two years ago, the space has seen its fair share of DIYs and renovation projects. I love that I’m able to mix the 1940s with the 2020s. I’m a firm believer that ‘old meets new’ creates the most integral connection.”
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: My style is a mix of Danish design classics, kitsch, colors, patterns, and shapes. By now, I don’t think that anything is too crazy or “too much” for me. I love the odd and sometimes almost “ugly” pieces, which brings out personality and makes the space completely my own.
Inspiration: I find great inspiration in colors, art, patterns, and atmospheres. I cherish the feeling a certain place or situation can contribute, so it’s completely natural for me to think in these lanes when decorating. The color scheme in my bedroom, for example, is inspired by a sunrise and the curtains in my living room evoke a rainbow.
Favorite Element: My favorite element must be my living room! It’s a multifunctional space with room for coziness, clutter, and play. I love the color scheme and the joy it brings me. The living room is a collection of shapes and patterns — a color explosion, if you will, and I always find myself happy and content looking at this space. My friend once drew parallels between my living room and Pippi Longstocking’s Villa Villekulla, a place where norms exist to be broken. That’s the greatest compliment anybody could have ever given me.
Biggest Challenge: The apartment is quite spacious for it to be just me living here, but I still had a hard time figuring out how to fit in all of my ideas and purposes in each room. I tried to overcome it by making the living room a multifunctional space. It’s a television area, dining space, and workspace all in one. I can change the layout of the space regarding the purpose, which has been very helpful!
Proudest DIY: My proudest DIY is my papier-mâché fruits. I made them from scratch, and the design process and the actual execution took me hours. I love the dimensions of them and the childish almost theatrical feeling they bring to the space. So far I’ve made a strawberry, an orange, a pea pod, two cherries, and a banana. I’ve become obsessed.
Biggest Indulgence: My “Secret Garden” rug designed by Poppy Kalas for Layered is a precious possession of mine and my biggest indulgence. The rug was on the top of my wishlist and I enjoy it every single day. It’s formed the framework for the rest of my living room — worth every single penny!
Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? My passion is to create, therefore my home is filled with furniture, decorations, and art I’ve made myself. For instance, the giant papier-mâché fruits, the tile tables I made with my father, the mirrors in the hallway, and the gold mobile I’ve made with my mother all coexist.
What are your favorite products you have bought for your home and why? I’ve chosen everything carefully and am therefore connected to it all, since everything means something special to me. If I have to highlight something, the rainbow curtains in my living room mean a lot to me. The colors stimulate me and make me feel happy and safe. For me, it’s pure color therapy. The weather in Denmark is often gray and wet, so the idea of the rainbow curtains was to make sure I would always be guaranteed great, sunny weather in here. If it’s dark and cold outside, I can draw the curtains and suddenly I’m in a bubble of warmth, color, and energy. It’s my very own rainbow hideout.
Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: I’m truly an unorganized organizer. No matter how hard I try to become one of those people where everything is labeled and easy to access when needed, I have to surrender to being a mess. If you’re a bit of a collector like me, and an unorganized one as well, I have found that hidden storage space is key. Do you have high ceilings? Then build in shelves to use in that space. Do you have lots of room under your bed? Go ahead and use the storage space under there.
What most people get wrong about using color in their home: That it has to be chaotic and tiring to the eye. It doesn’t! You can achieve just as peaceful and calm a space by using colors as you would white or beige.
What are the biggest tricks/secrets to using color in decor? Stick to a common thread: a certain color scheme, or a color you like that can be the blocker or repeater in your interior. If you wish to fill your space with lots of colors, though, forget about coherence and let the colors speak for themselves. Don’t be scared, take a leap of faith! If it turns out wrong, a re-do is always a possibility.
What’s your favorite wall paint color of all time: I have a hard time choosing, hence why all rooms in my apartment have different wall colors. But, I must say, I love the peachy wall paint color in by bedroom. It’s so warm and inviting, and feels like waking up to an embrace.
Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? Jump into the crazy ideas, and be completely indifferent to what people may think about you or your decorating style. A home is personal, and the most important thing is that it creates happiness and a feeling of security for you.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
This piece is part of Color Month, where we’re showing you the best ways to inject more color into your home and life. From paint color combos to vibrant house tours, head over here to see it all.
Adrienne loves architecture, design, cats, science fiction and watching Star Trek. In the past 10 years she’s called home: a van, a former downtown store in small town Texas and a studio apartment rumored to have once been owned by Willie Nelson.
