Aurelia Butler

It’s a common misconception that decorating your home with expensive pieces is the only way to make it stand out. Whether you want a minimalist, modern, bohemian or eclectic design aesthetic, there are a myriad of options to enhance your space without going over budget. To inspire your next look, we asked five inspirational interior designers to share their favorite home pieces. They give insight on how they made the decor work for their style, and they offer useful advice on how you can, too. When it comes to planning your home’s overall look, you can always find ideas and similar products to complement current design trends (don’t miss our roundup of smart decor ideas for 2022). And if you have a passion for crafts, consider adding character to your home with creative DIY home decor projects or upcycling your pieces. Before you even think of renovating and buying an excessive amount of decor that might break the bank, see how these designers beautify homes in a cost-effective way.Naïka Andre: Woven Floor Baskets

Justin Cole Photography

Justin Cole Photography

As the founder and principal designer of NJA Interiors, Naïka Andre combines her Haitian heritage with her love of travel to make eye-catching and vibrant designs throughout a space. In her client’s home, they included a colorful Senegalese woven floor basket into the design that she purchased from a local small business in Brooklyn, NY. While her clients use it to store blankets, the storage possibilities are endless. “It’s multifunctional and works in various settings,” Naïka says. “You can use it as a shoe bin in your entryway, a laundry hamper in your bathroom or to store toys in the family room.” Check out NJA Interiors

Shop Woven Baskets

Woven Seagrass Tall Round Basket

west elm
westelm.com

$59.50

Tilda Two-Tone Woven Basket

Pottery Barn
potterybarn.com

$179.00

Natural Diane Seagrass Striped Baskets

rugsusa.com

$49.90

Cotton Rope Basket with Corn Skin

LuxiLilyBaskets
etsy.com

$39.99

Emma Kemper: Murals

Nick Glimenakis

Seth Caplan

Emma started her design firm, Emma Beryl Interiors, in 2015. With her work, you’ll find a combination of vintage and modern pieces, along with a mix of unexpected materials that make a room pop. This includes designing this kids room with a striking mural — perfect for bringing creativity and a sense of adventure into a space. “When you are designing a kid’s room, it’s important to embrace color and imagination to make the space come to life,” she says. “I love that this mural feels appropriate for a toddler, but will also be something that an older child will love, too.” Emma considers a kid’s room to be one of “the best places to take chances and do something fun.” Check out Emma Beryl Interiors

Shop Emma’s Wallpaper and Similar Looks

Emma’s Pick
Jungle Wallpaper

PIXELANDWALL
etsy.com

$39.95

Menagerie Peel & Stick Wallpaper

York
riflepaperco.com

$65.00

Watercolor Forest Animal Wallpaper

ElegantWalls
etsy.com

$18.00

Tropical Forest Peel and Stick Wallpaper

TapetShow
etsy.com

$312.14

Bria Hammel: Botanical Artwork

Aimée Mazzenga

Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss

Bria Hammel, founder and creative director of Bria Hammel Interiors, loves adding botanical artwork to projects. “For our Fargo Project’s sunroom, we opted for this black and white eucalyptus art, as it adds the perfect pop of contrast against the white fireplace mantel for a graphic, statement moment,” she says. If you don’t have a green thumb but love plants, botanical artwork can be easily incorporated into any part of your home for a lively aesthetic.Check out Bria Hammel Interiors

Shop Botanical Artwork

Botanical Print

Minted
minted.com

$36.00

Botanical Framed White Frame Set

ArtbyHannah
amazon.com

$25.99

Bria’s Pick
Black and White Eucalyptus Art

Brooke & Lou
brookeandlou.com

$195.00

Flower Canvas Wall Art

Mofutinpo
amazon.com

$26.90

Imani James: Greenery

Erica J. Simmons

Marc Mauldin Photography, Inc

Atlanta-based designer Imani James, uses fresh flowers and plants in her interiors. “Fresh greenery is particularly attractive when included in vignettes, on top of nightstands and placed in empty corners,” she says. “Hydrangeas and orchids add an instant touch of elegance.” Her favorite plants are Monsteras, Birds of Paradise and snake plants for their ability to take up space in empty nooks, while improving indoor air quality.Imani’s note: “Snake plants help convert used-up carbon dioxide back into oxygen as you sleep at night. So, they are especially beneficial in the bedroom!” Check out Imani James Interiors

Shop Greenery

Large Bird of Paradise

The Sill
thesill.com

$174.00

The Hydrangea

Urban Stems
urbanstems.com

$50.00

Monstera Deliciosa

The Sill
thestill.com

$52.00

Elegant Orchid

1800 Flowers
1800flowers.com

$38.49

Jeannelly Jay: Photo Gallery Walls

Shekeidra Booker

Courtesy

As the founder of Ivyleaf Interior Decor, Jeannelly Jay enjoys creating photo galleries to spruce up empty walls — especially in common areas such as entryways or living rooms. While adding character to your interior, she also believes they make great conversation starters. “The best way to create a photo wall is to pick images that you absolutely love, printed in the same orientation,” she explains. “Whether vertical or horizontal, as long as the sizes of the pictures are the same, you can create a design that is clean and symmetrical.”Jeannelly’s design tip: You can easily arrange photo walls with measuring tape, a pencil and a level (to ensure they’re hung perfectly). If you find the task to be too difficult, she suggests hiring a handyman for a mess-free installation.Check out IvyLeaf Interior Decor

Shop Gallery Wall Prints and Frames

Gallery Wall Eclectic Decor Set

7ArtPrints
etsy.com

$9.00

10 Piece Gallery Picture Frame Set

Wayfair Basics
wayfair.com

$46.99

Maximalist Gallery Wall Set

Unratio
etsy.com

$16.61

Multi-Mat Wood Gallery Frames

West Elm
westelm.com

$35.00

Mariah Thomas
Assistant Editor
Mariah Thomas is an Assistant Editor at Good Housekeeping, where she covers home decorating ideas, gift guides and DIY projects.

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Regardless of your interior design style, there’s no denying the thrill that comes with giving your home a spring refresh. To make the decorating experience even more fun for you this season, J.Crew’s new home collection with Liberty, the luxury British fashion retailer, is worth a look.The limited-edition home line is exactly what you’d expect from two popular fashion retailers—a lively mix of florals, stripes and tie-dye designs that can easily inject personality into your space. If this is your idea of perfect warm-weather decor, you’re in for a treat. You can now shop bedding (starting from $198), sleep masks ($29.50), four-piece napkin and placemat sets ($40 and $50, respectively) and much more.

Liberty X J.Crew XL Navy Sheet Set

J.Crew
J.Crew

$198.00

Liberty X J.Crew Blue Coral Napkin Set

J.Crew
J.Crew

$40.00

Liberty X J.Crew White Printed Tablecloth

J.Crew
J.Crew

$80.00

Liberty X J.Crew Purple Blue Placemats

J.Crew
J.Crew

$50.00

While you’ll love browsing through their floral dining and bedroom essentials, including eye-catching shades of navy, white, purple, and coral, you’ll be delighted by their other cheerful home essentials. This includes their fun two-sided puzzles (who doesn’t love friendly competition?) and beautifully designed playing cards for a day of family fun or simply entertaining friends. And if you’re looking to send a special person in your life a loving letter, don’t miss the patterned note card sets that are sure to bring a smile to their face.

Liberty Prints Sleeping Mask

J.Crew
J.Crew

$29.50

Liberty X J.Crew Two-Sided Puzzle

J. Crew
J. Crew

$25.00

Liberty X J.Crew Playing Cards

J.Crew
J.Crew

$17.00

Liberty X J.Crew Note Card Set

J.Crew
J.Crew

$18.00

Ready to give your home the spring makeover it deserves? Shop the J.Crew and Liberty home collection while there’s still time. You can even enjoy 30% off some of their limited-edition items with the code: SPRING.

Mariah Thomas
Assistant Editor
Mariah Thomas is an Assistant Editor at Good Housekeeping, where she covers home decorating ideas, gift guides and DIY projects.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

They say home is where the heart is, and when you think about it, it’s true. It’s where so many of the big and little things in your life happen. It’s where the meals are cooked for your family, where the gifts are wrapped for birthdays and holiday celebrations, where the mundane but necessary chores get done week after week, where the keepsakes are stored and organized and the memories are made year after year. Recognizing how much goes on, we all could really use some tips on how to make life at home much simpler. From making your own weed killer to whipping up creative cocktails to serve at your next party, there are so many things to learn to ensure your home continues to be the comfortable and the creative space that you love so much.JOIN GH+ NOWThat’s where Good Housekeeping’s new book Home Skills: Master Your Domain with Practical Solutions to Everyday Challenges comes in. Newly released this March, Home Skills is full of expert advice and genius solutions for every corner of the house. Luckily for you, if you sign up for GH+ today, you’ll get special access to 14 essential household hacks for free straight from this amazing book. These tips will help you transform your home, save you time and money, and give you a better idea of what to expect when you purchase the Home Skills book for yourself. Intrigued? Here’s a quick look at what’s inside.

GH

GH

GH

Join Our Membership Club to Get Unlimited Access

Want to learn even more? Sign up to be a GH+ member for only $20 to get special access to this sneak peek of Home Skills. In addition, you’ll also get special access to our 12-recipe Meal Prep Guide as well as access to all of our exclusive guides, including our 30-Day Giving Challenge, Beautifully Organized Guide, Healthy Holiday Handbook and more. GH+ will also grant you unlimited access to all site content, exclusive deals and discounts with our favorite brands, a chance to be a product tester, exclusive access to GH experts, a one-year print magazine subscription and more!

Annie O’Sullivan
Editorial Assistant
As a member of the Special Projects Team, Annie works with the GH Tested program writing up product reviews and roundups and helps plan and run annual expos and events like the GH Parenting Summit, Xmas in July Expo, Cleaning Summit, Winter Essentials Expo, and more. More

If you’ve ever considered adding a standalone greenhouse to your yard, you know how big of an investment it can be. According to Maya Haynie of deVINE Plantery, prices can run between $1,000 and $5,000 for decent prefab options, or closer to $20,000 if you’re looking for something custom. But thanks to Amazon, you may just be able to fulfill your greenery dreams for under $100 (yes, really!). The Home-Complete Walk-in Greenhouse currently retails for $89.95, making it a major steal. Plus, it doesn’t skimp on storage. The unit fits eight durable shelves for storing and displaying plants and gardening supplies. Since it’s a walk-in greenhouse, there’s also additional floor space for taller plants (and enough space for an adult to go in to water).

Walk-in Greenhouse

Home-Complete

$67.92

With a steel frame and a PVC cover to keep budding blooms away from pests, it’s just as perfect for outdoor use as it is for indoor gardening. And while the unit does require some assembly, it doesn’t require any tools and the instructions are easy to follow, at least according to some of the 3,500 five-star reviews. “I found it to be easy to assemble and quite roomy inside,” writes one customer. The Home-Complete greenhouse is available to ship now (you can even get Prime delivery!). Not sold yet? Check out some of Amazon’s other greenhouse offerings below:

Walk-in Greenhouse

KING BIRD

$139.99

Sliding Door Greenhouse

AMERLIFE

$219.99

Tunnel Greenhouse

VIVOSUN

$289.99

Screen Door Greenhouse

Quictent

$110.99

Love shopping for your home and scoring the best deals? We can help.

Nathalie Kirby
Senior Editor of Content Strategy
Nathalie is the Senior Editor of Content Strategy at House Beautiful where she covers everything from home decor to the latest news.

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With spring in full swing, now is the best time to get started on your cleaning and decluttering checklist. Even though it can take a lot of work, cleaning eliminates germs and bacteria from the surfaces that you interact with (trust us, your phone needs a good cleaning). What’s more, studies have shown that cleaning may help manage stress, decrease your anxiety and even make you feel more accomplished.

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Even if you’ve deep cleaned your home a thousand times before, there are always new tips and better tricks to learn. With the help of Carolyn Forte, the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care and Cleaning Lab Executive Director, who has been testing and reviewing cleaning products with the brand for over 40 years now, you can pick up the absolute best advice that will make your spring-cleaning experience easy, effective and dare we say it, enjoyable. JOIN GH+ NOWIn Good Housekeeping’s new Ultimate Cleaning Guide, available only to GH+ members, Carolyn shares her favorite cleaning supplies, techniques and exclusive secrets that she has tested over the years. Not sure what vacuum works best on your hardwood floors? Have a huge stain from an unfortunate red wine accident? Wondering how often you should be cleaning your electronics? Not even sure where to start? This exclusive digital guide has all the answers and more.To give you a preview of what to expect, here’s one of Carolyn’s top tips:How do I remove old stains from carpet?Reappearing stains happen when you’ve erased the stain from the surface of a carpet but failed to deal with the portion of the stain that’s trapped or hidden down below. So before you toss the evidence of that red wine-stained rug or cover up that coffee-stained corner, try these simple steps:Spritz a cloth with carpet cleaner, then work the carpet cleaner into the base of fibers — with your fingers if you need to — rinse well and blot.Fold a sheet of paper towel into quarters and place it on top of the area.Weigh it down with a heavy pot or vase and leave it overnight. Any leftover stain will be absorbed by the paper towel.When it’s dry, toss the dirty towel and fluff the tufts.

Join Our Membership Club to Get Unlimited Access

Ready to get access to all of Carolyn’s cleaning knowledge? Sign up to be a GH+ member. When you sign up, you will receive access to this guide, as well as past exclusive GH+ guides, like our 14-Day Declutter Challenge and our 7-Day Meat-Free Meal Plan. In addition to these bonus guides and challenges, GH+ members also receive unlimited access to digital content, special money-saving deals and discounts, the chance to be a product tester, a one-year magazine subscription, and so much more!

Annie O’Sullivan
Editorial Assistant
As a member of the Special Projects Team, Annie works with the GH Tested program writing up product reviews and roundups and helps plan and run annual expos and events like the GH Parenting Summit, Xmas in July Expo, Cleaning Summit, Winter Essentials Expo, and more. More

Spring is here, which means it’s time to embrace the beauty of the season by decorating your home with a gorgeous floral arrangement. If you’d like to take a bit of a break from getting a bouquet delivered, you can easily put your DIY skills to the test with lovely artificial blooms.That’s why we’re showing you how to make egg carton flowers. They’re not only a great way to celebrate the arrival of spring — they can also help you spruce up your home for Easter since, as you know, finding easy, affordable ways to upgrade your place is always a good idea in our mind. Believe it or not, these instructions are simple enough for novice crafters to follow. You’ll begin by cutting up your egg carton, designing the cups with acrylic paint and finally, assembling everything to show off your beautiful creation. Happy crafting!What You’ll Need

3 Pack Floral Wire

Phinus
amazon.com

$7.99

$6.89 (14% off)

20-Piece Paint Brush Set

Artstorys
amazon.com

$8.99

$7.99 (11% off)

Acrylic Paint (24 Colors)

Artecho
amazon.com

$23.99 More

Shopping for the best sheets is tricky enough, but throw in technical terms like percale and sateen and it can make it that much harder to decipher which set is best for you. While these terms can be confusing, they’re actually pretty simple: They describe the weave of the fabric. While the fibers — which can range from cotton to linen to microfiber and more — let you know one aspect of the fabric, the construction is just as important to consider.The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab tests dozens of sheets each year, evaluating them for aspects like softness, durability, appearance and more. We put them through the wringer using our specialized lab equipment, then have consumer testers provide in-depth feedback during real-life use. We’ve tested hundreds of both percale and sateen sheets in the past five years to find the best options for every type of sleeper. Here’s how to decide which weave is right for you.What’s the difference between percale and sateen sheets?Percale sheets are light and crisp, while sateen sheets are silky smooth. The difference is due to how the yarns are woven. Even though they’re made with same materials — cotton or cotton blends — the structural differences result in very different textures and physical properties for each material.

Percale sheets have a basic one over, one under plain weave that allows for more interlacings — points where the threads overlap — making it one of the more durable fabrics used in bedding. This structure also provides percale’s signature light and crisp feel while offering the necessary breathability to maintain a comfortable body temperature. On the other hand, sateen sheets typically have a four over, one under satin-like weave that provides a smooth feel and nice sheen. Plus, it doesn’t tend to wrinkle as much as percale. Both types of sheets are available in a wide range of thread counts. While higher thread counts don’t usually translate to better quality sheets, we’ve found that sheets in the 300 to 500 range have a great balance of softness and durability. What is percale?Percale sheets are known for their crisp feel and lightweight quality and are often compared to button-down shirts, which typically have the same 1:1 weave. This classic sheet is also airy and breathable, making it a great option for hot sleepers or those who live in warmer climates. The downside to percale sheets is that they can feel rough or scratchy compared to sateen sheets and tend to wrinkle more because of their crisp, durable nature.Pros:Feels lightweight and crispBreathableDurableTake Note: Wrinkles more easilyCan feel roughBut while percale can often feel rough compared to sateen, L.L. Bean’s Pima Percale Sheet Set still earned high softness ratings with consumer testers, thanks to the premium Pima cotton, and excelled in durability testing in Lab. Testers also loved the breathability and raved about the cool-to-the-touch feel. If you’re on the search for an even softer percale sheet, ope for Parachute’s Brushed Cotton Sheet Set. It earned high marks for softness while maintaining a comfortable sleep temperature, making the brushed percale material a tester favorite. For a more durable fabric with a lived-in look, i.e. not wrinkle-free, choose the Gryphon Comfort Washed Sheet Set, which testers described as not too soft or thick. Or if you prefer something organic, Coyuchi’s Organic Percale Sheets have the same relaxed look with GOTS-certified organic cotton that one tester called “soft, luxurious and yet crisp and cool.”

Top-Tested Percale Sheets

Best Percale Sheets
Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set

L.L. Bean
llbean.com

$159.00

Best Brushed Cotton Percale Sheet Set
Brushed Cotton Percale Sheet Set

Parachute Home
parachutehome.com

$169.00

Best Relaxed Cotton Percale Sheets
Comfort Washed Cotton Percale Sheet Set

Gryphon
gryphonhome.com

$169.99

Best Organic Percale Sheets
Organic Crinkled Percale Sheets

Coyuchi
coyuchi.com

$208.00

What is sateen?Sateen sheets stand out for their smooth feel and slight sheen, with some fabrics having a slippery or silky texture. Sateen bedding is ideal for those who prefer softness over crispness. The fabric is also inherently more wrinkle-resistant compared to percale and some sateen sheets are even treated with a wrinkle-resistant finish for an iron-less, picture-perfect look. But keep in mind that sateen sheets can feel heavier or thicker than percale sheets, so they’re best suited for someone looking for a cozy, soft sheet, and don’t provide the same breathability afforded by percale. Pros: Silky and smooth feelSlight sheenDurableTends to wrinkle less than percale Cons:May feel too thick for some Not great for hot sleepersThe Brooklinen Luxe Core is one of the most popular sateen sheet sets available with quality fabric that’s both smooth and durable. Not to mention, the fitted sheet includes game-changer “short” side and “long” side labels for easy bed making. And if you want effortless, wrinkle-free sheets, take a look at Garnett Hill’s Wrinkle-Resistant Solid Sateen Bedding, which earned top marks for smoothness and wrinkle resistance in Lab without any ironing. For an even softer feel, The Company Store Legends Hotel Sheets earned some of the highest softness ratings across all other cotton sheets in our tests, with testers calling them “ultra-luxurious.” Or if you’re looking for organic sheets, opt for the Delilah Home Organic Cotton Bed Sheets. Not only are they GOTS-certified organic, soft and lightweight but they’re also under $200.
Top-Tested Sateen Sheets

Most Popular Sateen Sheets
Luxe Core Sateen Sheet Set

Brooklinen
brooklinen.com

$175.00

Best Sateen Sheets
Wrinkle-Resistant Solid Sateen Sheets

Garnet Hill
garnethill.com

$227.00

Softest Sateen Sheets
Legends Hotel Sateen Sheets

The Company Store
thecompanystore.com

$94.00

Best Organic Sateen Sheets
Organic Cotton Bed Sheets

Delilah Home
walmart.com

$189.99

So which is better: Percale or Sateen?Our testers typically prefer the feel of sateen in side-by-side comparison tests, but ultimately it’s a matter of personal preference. Our evaluations show that while percale fabric is inherently stronger and sateen is inherently softer, both sheets perform well in Lab and at home with consumer testers.If you love a light, crisp sheet with good breathability and aren’t bothered by wrinkles, go with percale. If you prefer a soft, smooth sheet with a little more wrinkle resistance and thickness, go with sateen.Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Grace Wu joined the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2022 as a textiles product reviews analyst with a focus on hands-on testing and evaluating consumer data. Prior to working at Good Housekeeping, Grace earned a Master of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University, with extensive research in chemistry and nanotechnology. With a strong background in textile engineering, Grace has evaluated all sorts of bedding products including sheets, pillows, silk pillowcases and more using specialized laboratory equipment in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textiles Lab and feedback from hundreds of consumer testers.

Grace Wu, Good Housekeeping Institute
Textiles Product Reviews Analyst
Grace Wu evaluates fabric-based products including clothing, accessories and home textiles, and has earned a Master of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University.

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