Alcoves are often found alongside the chimney, but they may be located elsewhere in the room and, while their dimensions vary, they all provide equal design opportunity. And this is the case even if they aren’t an original part of the room – they can be added to square and rectangular modern rooms to create character. We’ve put together living room ideas that reveal the style and storage potential of alcoves, along with advice from the experts....

While they’re perfect for storage and organization, the glass jars we keep, as well as those vintage Mason jars found when antiquing, often become a large collection, so these ideas will make the most of them. Here, we’ve put together 10 ways to turn these simple vessels into something special. Mason jar craft: 10 pretty Mason jar ideas Mason jars are a country kitchen staple – and the go-to for stylish pantry storage....

You’ve probably spent hours trying out different entryway ideas, rearranging furniture, choosing paint colors and deliberating on rug styles in a frenzied attempt to make your long entrance look more spacious, light and airy. Do not panic – with some clever tricks of the trade, there are in fact multiple small entryway ideas that wall help turn that awkward entryway layout into something stylish and sophisticated, so don’t give up just yet....

If you have a long, narrow kitchen, then you’ll be more than aware of the tricky task of making it a long kitchen look wider than it actually is, while desperately searching for interior designer tricks to make your space look beautiful as well as functional. So much has changed in the way in which we design and use our kitchens over the last decade or so, but there is something reassuring in how narrow kitchen ideas and layouts have adapted – and thrived – in the modern home....

Whether you have an entire room dedicated to your hobbies, or you’re integrating them into an existing room, streamlining your craft supplies is the best place to start. Not the most ‘artistic’ of tasks, we agree, but it’ll make for more inspirational – and efficient – craft room ideas overall. Plus, once you know what you’re working with, you can be as creative as you like. Keen to make organizing a craft room your next project?...

Choosing the right outdoor seating is key to enjoying your backyard and outdoor space, not just in summer but year-round. But there is such a huge choice available – from huge squashy family-sized couches to neat little wrought iron bistro sets – it can be difficult to hone in on exactly what will suit your backyard ideas, needs, space and budget. It’s possible to pick up a new synthetic rattan outdoor sofa on a metal frame for a few hundred dollars, but most people want to choose outdoor seating that will last and still look good after years of relaxing, entertaining and al fresco events....

Perfect for use in Christmas decor ideas or as trims for cushions and curtains, ribbons are a wonderful way to bring a flourish to decorating and creative projects. However, if you’re a keen crafter you’ll know that ribbons can so easily get tangled when they aren’t stored properly and how time-consuming it can be to wind them all into neat reels. To help get your craft room ideas in order we’ve rounded up an array of handy ribbon storage ideas, from wall-mounted solutions to handy ribbon storage box dispensers....

However, for those that don’t have the space for a dedicated room there are many ways to incorporate a workspace into your existing bedroom office. To help get you started on your bedroom remodel we’ve rounded up a host of practical and beautiful home office ideas along with some tips from the experts on how to beautifully blend these two spaces. Small bedroom office combo ideas With more and more people working from home in a post-pandemic world, having a dedicated room for a small bedroom with an office is becoming increasingly important as a way to separate to maintain a stable work-life balance....

Below, we have gathered our favorite tablescapes, inspired by the best summer decor ideas, the prettiest garden party ideas, and the latest interior design trends we love. ‘This summer, all the stylish summer table decor ideas will be a bounty of color, pattern and, of course, blooms,’ says Homes & Gardens’ Editor in Chief Lucy Searle. ‘It’s a match made in heaven.’ So, if you are looking for outdoor dining ideas that focus on the table setting alone, search no further…...

‘The house definitely had some challenges as far as the quirky layout and all the angles,’ says Katie Monkhouse, founder of Katie Monkhouse Interior Design (opens in new tab). ‘It had been added on to many times since it was built so we were trying to connect the dots without removing all the quirk that gave it character. We really wanted to streamline wherever we could to reduce some of the visual noise from all the angles....

Home is a Victorian house built in 1884 in San Francisco, location of many of the world’s best homes, and is where Jeannie, founder of Lotus Bleu (opens in new tab), lives with her husband Christophe and their teenage children, Kai and Finn. ‘We bought our home in 2000. It had been in the same family for 60 years and they hadn’t updated during that time but had also not torn out any of the original architectural details, which we really appreciated,’ says Jeannie....

The substantial project was a Victorian end of terrace in Fulham owned by a family with three children. ‘With the help of Lucy Wood Architects, the house was gutted from top to bottom. We did the side return, which considerably increased the width of the rooms on the ground and first floors,’ says Amelia. ‘We added a bay window on the second floor, which transformed the main ensuite and we also added both a pod and a mansard on the second floor where the children’s bedrooms are....

With its sumptuous feel, the New Southern Louisiana Acadian property, built in 2020, is without doubt one of the world’s best homes, designed to look as though it has been in place for decades. The aim was to create a fun and colorful home that was tailored to the specific needs of a family that loves to spend time together. ‘They wanted spaces where they could all gather, spaces where the kids could bring friends and hang out, and spaces where they’d each have a room of their own,’ says interior designer Courtnay Tartt Elias, principal and creative director at Creative Tonic (opens in new tab), who joined the team after the architectural plans were drawn up....

Your living room is likely to be the place where you spend most of your time (whilst awake), so it suffers from more wear and tear than other rooms. It is also as much for unwinding as it is for socializing – meaning it is the space where your guests will spend their time, so it comes under a ton of scrutiny, too. All of this means the living room is usually the most frequently decorated space in a home, so it’s important to ensure any living room trends you indulge in remain timeless, stylish, and up-to-date, where possible....

It may take a bit of head-scratching, but rethinking your hallway ideas to ensure this lopsided space meets its full potential can come with numerous rewards, from valuable storage to a fully functioning powder room. ‘Awkward spaces like the one under the stairs present the perfect opportunity to be creative,’ says interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch (opens in new tab). ‘We make a point of devising intelligent storage solutions for our clients to help them to get the most out of their home....

While there are many drawbacks to groundhogs in your garden, the most significant of these is their ability to dig along your foundation and under your decks – causing costly damage to your property. So, it is understandable that you will want to deter them from your garden. But how can you do this humanely? The solution is Epsom salt. You may already know how to fertilize with Epsom salts, but pest control experts have shared that this household staple has more than one use in the garden....

What’s more, you’ll have seen brands claim multiple functions that might not live up to scrutiny. It seems almost laughable that you can make cookie dough, chopped vegetables, whipped cream and ground beef in the same machine. Thankfully, we’ve tested lots of different food processors, so we know precisely what you can – and what you can’t – make with a food processor. I have first-hand experience experimenting with these machines and testing their limits, and I’ll combine this knowledge with reviews from our expert testers to show you exactly what can be achieved with a food processor....

It is unsurprising, therefore, that there are a host of front door colors to avoid in terms of practicality and design – but what about wellness and the meaning behind Feng Shui front door colors? As psychology becomes increasingly important in the design world, the question of how our front door color ideas impact our daily lives has never felt so prominent. And this includes the colors that may have a negative influence on your luck....

If you’ve investigated which tones help you sleep better, you will be unsurprised to learn that light blue is at the peak of every expert’s recommendation list. However, while this therapeutic bedroom paint idea has a way of pushing you into a peaceful slumber, we’re equally as interested in the tone that will allow you to feel energized in the morning. The answer comes in the shape of yellow – the sunny hue that has the enduring ability to make you feel revitalized, energetic, and always joyful....

While the drop in temperature may come with its negatives, there is one plus that you may have anticipated since springtime – the end of this notorious weed. If you know how to get rid of crabgrass successfully, you may have managed a weed-free summer – but for many – removing crabgrass entirely can be tricky. If you haven’t already tried to remove crabgrass, you may be (understandably) waiting for nature to take its course....