Home Ideas

Teaching your little one to sew has never been easier (or more fun!). More

We’ve got apple. We’ve got pumpkin. We’ve got cinnamon. More

Maintaining an organized home just makes life easier. When everything is in its place, you can move through your day with ease. Who wouldn’t want that? That’s why we’re taking you inside some of the most organized — and stylish — spaces crafted by some of our favorite design influencers and tastemakers. Get ready to take inspiration from the Organization Chronicles.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and when you’re a mom of five, this is even more true. Consider the case of Atlanta-based interior designer Erika Ward, who admits it was imperative for her recent kitchen renovation to be conducive to her active lifestyle, especially now that she and her husband are working more from home.
Ward craved a comfortable yet stylish cooking space that would make it easy to prepare meals but also encourage her kids to assist with the clean-up afterwards (a.k.a. every parent’s dream). “My main concerns were how to control the clutter so the kids can help, how to make the surfaces easy to clean, and how to make it look pretty,” Ward says of her practical design vision.
Ward got her wish, thanks to a timeless design scheme with brilliant storage solutions. Here’s how she created her well-organized kitchen:
Maximize Cabinet Space

Rustic White Interiors

Rather than replacing the kitchen cabinets, Ward took the sustainable route and opted to salvage them. She enlisted a professional to give them a new look with a hard coat finish that complemented the overall design scheme, which Ward says “takes inspiration from the Caribbean” with its watery blue backsplash. Once the aesthetic part of the job was handled, pull-out drawer systems to store large pots and pans were installed in the kitchen’s lower cabinets. Concealing them in drawers was also a simple way to free up visual space in her kitchen.
Make Use of Under-the-Sink Storage
Under Ward’s sink is a drip tray to protect the cabinets from leaks and spills, as well as a pull-out drawer for garbage and recycling. A trash system of this nature is especially great for kids who are beginning to learn the value of self-reliance and accountability. “As you are encouraging your children to take on more responsibility at home and help out with chores, having this organization system helps them to know where things go,” Ward says.
Minimal Floating Shelves

Rustic White Interiors

There’s more than enough cabinetry in Ward’s kitchen, but there are a select number of frequently used items that made sense to keep within reach. The perfect solution? A pair of open shelves on either side of the range hood for a canister of lemons, a few of her favorite cookbooks, and a collection of dishes. But this sleek shelving solution doesn’t just serve a functional purpose—introducing this form of symmetry in the design scheme is visually appealing, too.
A Mounted Spice Rack

Courtesy of Erika Ward

Regardless of your design aesthetic, mounting your spice rack might work well for your kitchen setup. Ward loves nothing more than experimenting with recipes and testing different spices, so she made the decision to mount her assortment right on a cabinet door. “When you don’t take advantage of that interior door space—especially if you are lacking storage—it is a missed opportunity,” she says.
Having a well-organized kitchen can not only help you to make the most of your space—it’s also a great way to include the entire family in maintaining it and find more joy in cooking, even if you consider yourself an amateur chef.
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

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, here’s what you should look for. More

William Hereford

Spare rooms often become catchalls: They might house your WFH setup, your home gym yoga mat and weights, boxes of Halloween decorations that don’t fit anywhere else and, crammed in the middle, a bed for guests. While there’s no shame in getting the most out of your square footage, there’s so much to be said for offering a thoughtful, well-appointed room for overnight (or longer) visitors.
You only need a few pieces of furniture, great bedding, and charming accents, and you can have some fun with it. Think of it even as an opportunity to deploy an aesthetic that differs from the rest of the house, to make it feel like a special destination.
With on-trend decor and furniture in a range of styles, The Home Depot makes it easy to overhaul this room on a budget. For an extra homey feel, channel a stately bed and breakfast with vintage-inspired pieces — here’s how.
Look for furniture that calls to mind the past — you can’t go wrong with rich wood tones.

William Hereford

William Hereford

Bright white walls and low-profile furnishings have enjoyed time in the spotlight recently, with minimalist décor superseding moodier, more intimate settings. But the tide is turning toward a richer palette, with layers of the past and present mingling together.
To cultivate a look that reads vintage but not old, lean into darker tones that add extra character and warmth to a space. Try wood furniture with a heritage vibe: a gracious bed with a carved headboard in a deep ebony finish, a chest of drawers with antique-like bronze hardware and a sturdy side table that could pass for being built by a grandparent. Think sophisticated bungalow or chic country cottage, without any of the ruffles.

Bellmore Ebony Queen Bed
homedepot.com
$699.00

Daytona Regal Walnut Rectangular End Table
homedepot.com
$167.16

Cambridge Brown 3-Drawer Dresser
homedepot.com
$409.45

Cooper Mixed Material Luggage Rack
homedepot.com
$91.60

Layer neutral pillows and blankets over crisp white sheets (the combination never fails).

William Hereford

The easiest way to make a bed feel like it’s from a five-star hotel is to outfit it with crisp, white percale sheets and a matching blanket. Instead of a duvet, opt for a quilt to add texture and heft. Layer on a cashmere blanket for a subtle color contrast, and choose a variety of throw pillows in the same palette.
In order to create a pillowscape that doesn’t overwhelm the bed, limit yourself to four colors or patterns and don’t go overboard with numbers. For example, on top of the standard pillows on a Queen-size bed, layer two larger square Euro-style pillows in a stripe print that mirror the texture of the quilt, and then pop in two accent pillows in a dusty rose. Finish the look, if you’d like to add more, with two one-offs: an extra-long, soft grey lumbar with a leather strap detail and a grey and white stripe.

300 Thread Count Wrinkle Resistant American Cotton Sateen 4-Piece Queen Sheet Set in White
homedepot.com
$39.98

Legends Paloma Cotton Textured Queen Quilt in White
homedepot.com
$429.00

Oversized Faux Cashmere Stone Plaid Acrylic Fireside Throw Blanket
homedepot.com
$27.99

Alternate Blocks Grey and White Geometric Hypoallergenic Polyester 18 in. x 18 in. Throw Pillow
homedepot.com
$30.69

Edinburgh Mid-Century Modern Gray Pillow
homedepot.com
$21.10

Add a lounge chair for wake-ups and wind-downs.

William Hereford

Boulevard Cafe Camel Leather-Like Metal Chair
homedepot.com
$136.92

A place to sit — that is not the bed! — is a must in a guest room. It offers an element of separation between sleeping and daily life, and provides a spot to relax (plus a separate seat keeps “outside clothes” off the bed).For a classic Americana look, choose a leather piece that complements the wood furniture and adds warmth to the room. Avoid chunky club chairs; while comfy, they can take up too much space and crowd the room.
Instead, look for a chair with a slimmer silhouette, like this option with a blackened metal frame and burnt orange cushions. Not only does the plump seat make for the perfect reading nook, but it’s an ideal place to drape a jacket or set your handbag.
Frame up art in a mix of sizes for a collected feel.

Hanging art is the quickest way to make a space feel homey and lived-in. For maximum impact, go for a gallery wall. If the idea of finding and organizing enough pieces for a whole wall may seem intimidating, never fear: the best part of a gallery wall is that it doesn’t have to be perfect. With multiple pieces in varying sizes, you don’t have to fret about perfectly centering every single frame. Choose a starting point, be it the center of the wall or one side, and build from there.

Antiqued Bronze Framed Acrylic Painting
homedepot.com
$89.00

“Simple Fern IV” Framed Giclee Print
homedepot.com
$126.36

“Divided Horizon I” by Jennifer Goldberger
homedepot.com
$48.99

“Aged Paper Vintage Feather Identification Print” by Daphne Polselli
homedepot.com
$32.99

To keep with the old-but-new aesthetic, seek out a variety of portraits and botanical prints that masquerade as if they were salvaged from an old library or estate sale. Use color cues from elsewhere in the room — the bedding, perhaps — to inspire a cohesive art palette, and keep things simple with matless frames.
Dot the space with vintage (or vintage-inspired!) accessories.

William Hereford

In a hotel, it’s the small details that make a room feel special — the custom soap dispenser, the hand-painted light pendant, smart-looking cabinet pulls — so don’t skimp when it comes to the finishing touches. Now is the time to hit the flea markets or dig into your grandma’s attic for fun and quirky additions, like a carved teak tray repurposed as a catchall for jewelry and coins, a ceramic vase filled with fresh-picked wildflowers, or a crate of thrift-store vinyls.

Parker Bluetooth Suitcase Record Player with 3-Speed Turntable
homedepot.com
$52.66

Wooden Record Crate
homedepot.com
$33.07

Brown Square Wood Trays
homedepot.com
$17.47

Oil Rubbed Bronze Counter Balance Desk Lamp
homedepot.com
$44.97

Round Quartz Metal Alarm Clock
homedepot.com
$13.05

If you’re not one for thrifting, or prefer new to old, The Home Depot has a surprisingly deep collection of vintage-inspired decor, like this cute mint green table clock, a bluetooth speaker disguised as a record player, or an industrial elbow desk lamp.
Prop styling by Olga Grigorenko. More

What’s under your feet (or however you get around) is as important as anything when it comes to home. That’s why this fall, we collaborated with The Home Depot on an A to Z guide that’ll give you the confidence to make flooring choices you’ll love. Check out the A to Z handbook here.
When it comes to hardwood flooring, different styles possess varying levels of durability and sturdiness. Hardwoods (and so-called “softwoods,” which are sometimes used in homes or for outdoor porches) have a vast range of hardness that can profoundly impact their functionality and longevity in your living space. So how do you find out which woods are the hardest? The Janka Scale, of course.
Pronounced “yanka”, the Janka Scale was created by an Austrian-born wood researcher named Gabriel Janka. It assesses a wood’s resistance to wear and denting by measuring the force required to embed a BB-sized steel ball halfway into a sample. The “score” each type of wood receives is then recorded in “pound force” (lbf) on the Janka Scale.

Rule of thumb: 1,000 or above
The rule of thumb when shopping for hardwood flooring is that a Janka Scale score of 1,000 or above is the level of durability one wants in their home, and consulting the Janka Scale graphic makes it easy to see which woods rank where in the hierarchy. (If you plan to DIY your flooring, it’s also a great resource for understanding out how difficult it will be to nail into the wood when laying your boards.)
Knowing your hardwood’s rating on the Janka Scale comes in handy when you’re buying for a high-traffic room where a softer wood underfoot might be damaged by rowdy puppy paws or the crash of sporting equipment hitting the floor after practice.

Hickory and oak score high
Hickory and oak, as well as their variants, are two common hardwoods that score high on the Janka Scale and can easily withstand the pressures of an active household while still providing a timeless look. Hard maple is also a hardy option, but, as general contractor Joe Truini points out, it’s the type of wood used for basketball courts. That is to say: Unless you’re trying to give off a real March Madness vibe inside your home, it might be worth skipping.
Softer hardwoods like ash, cherry, and birch tend to have more subtle variations in their color and gradation, which can create a more sophisticated look, with a higher price tag. These hardwoods are ideal for flooring adults-only, low-traffic spaces, or homes where everyone respects the “no shoes in the house” rule. (This writer likes to think about putting down cherry hardwood as “retirement flooring.”)

Plano Natural Hickory 3/4 in. Thick x 3-1/4 in. Wide x Random Length Solid Hardwood Flooring (22 sq. ft. / case)
Bruce homedepot.com
$87.78

Red Oak Natural 3/4 in. Thick x 2-1/4 in. Wide x Random Length Solid Hardwood Flooring (18 sq. ft. / case)
Blue Ridge Hardwood Flooring homedepot.com
$64.61

High Gloss Birch Cherry 3/4 in. Thick x 4-3/4 in. Wide x Random Length Solid Hardwood Flooring (18.70 sq. ft. / case)
Home Legend homedepot.com
$93.30

Bay Point 7 mm T x 5.2 in W x 36.22 in L Waterproof Engineered Click Bamboo Flooring 13.07 sq. ft. sf/case)
LifeProof homedepot.com
$48.22

The Janka Scale can even reveal subtle hardness differences between woods that appear to be quite similar. “The most popular hardwood flooring out there is red oak, and it has a rating of about 1,290,” says Truini. But he also notes that white oak, which people don’t often consider, looks similar to red oak and has a rating of about 1,350—100 points higher than its cousin.

But hardness isn’t everything
Hardness, however, isn’t everything in a floor, and Truini recommends considering about the Holy Trinity of hardwood—aesthetic appeal, price point, and durability—when making a decision. “If you fall in love with American black walnut boards, which have a rating of 1,010, you should get them even though they don’t have a super-high [Janka] score,” he advises. Additionally, Truini lives in New England and sees pine floors in many houses. “They don’t have a rating higher than 1,000. It might dent a little more and it might wear a little more, but if you like the look of pine or walnut, you should do it.”

Consider the Holy Trinity of hardwood—aesthetic appeal, price point, and durability.

When it comes to durability, though, even the Janka Scale has its limits. The rating system doesn’t have any bearing on how well hardwood floors can stand up to stains from spilled Pinot Noir and marker accidents. That all comes down to the finish. “Whether you choose ash, oak, maple, or even walnut, they’re all hardwood,” Truini says. “They’re all relatively hard as far as just walking across it day-to-day. Even if the floor is bamboo [which has a hardness of 1,300 or more] and the finish is worn off the top, it’s going to stain.”
Having all the information possible at your fingertips before you make a major flooring decision is empowering, and will ensure the best decision for your family’s unique lifestyle. So let’s give a round of applause to Gabriel Janka, the patron saint of helping even the least math-inclined person grasp the complexities of hardwood hardness. More

What’s under your feet (or however you get around) is as important as anything when it comes to home. That’s why this fall, we collaborated with The Home Depot on an A to Z guide that’ll give you the confidence to make flooring choices you’ll love. Check out the A to Z handbook here.
Let’s be real: the installation process for any type of flooring is always a complicated, time consuming, and deeply personal process. And while methods and materials vary wildly, whether you’re installing new wall-to-wall carpet in your bedroom or giving your sunroom a porcelain tile facelift, there are foundational tips for any type of flooring installation that will benefit both the health of the project and your own personal health, especially if you are going the DIY route. The Home Depot has products, tools, and even professional installers to help along the way.

Physical health: Always use protection
It might seem like there are dozens of tools out there, depending on what kind of flooring you’re putting down—miter saws, pneumatic nail guns, trowels, drill bits, and more. (See our T section for more on tools!) But the most essential instruments in your flooring arsenal are about protecting your health, not just getting the job done.

Gel-Foam Soft Cap Work Knee Pads
Husky homedepot.com
$24.97

First and foremost, invest in good quality kneepads. Sure, you might look like a ’90s rollerblading enthusiast, but putting pressure on your knees for long stretches of time can lead to short-term pain and long-term damage. (There’s actually a specific type of knee condition—prepatellar bursitis, also known as “floor-layer’s knee”—that is the bane of professional contractors.) You can purchase kneepads that are made specifically for flooring projects, with special features such as thigh supports, gel inserts, and varying cap styles (hard-cap, curved-soft, and flat-cap) that match how much movement you’ll be doing in the pads.

Goggles are also a must for anyone who values their optical health (which is, hopefully, everyone). There are many options on the market, but choosing a pair that meets the American National Standards Institute goggle guidelines—protecting against things like chemical splash and dust—will ensure peace of mind.

“Wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes, like a work boot, when working on any flooring project.”

Oh, and this probably goes without saying, but construction zones should always be flip-flop free. Wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes, like a work boot, when working on any flooring project.

Environmental health: Dust, VOCs, and eco-friendly products
Flooring is a messy business, and can release a lot of byproducts into the air over the course of an installation process. That’s why you should prepare the safest environment possible prior to beginning your work.
Begin by closing off the room you’ll be working in, using plastic and sturdy painter’s tape around doorways, air ducts, and windows to prevent debris and chemical smells from spreading to the rest of the house. (If there are multiple entries, designate one doorway the “entry and exit” place and keep all other access points sealed.)
Always wear a protective mask when doing any sort of flooring work, whether you are cutting wood or applying sealants, to protect your lungs from dust and chemicals. While many flooring products today pride themselves on possessing low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—indeed, there are many beautiful low-VOC laminates on the market now, whereas, a decade ago, the options were slim—it’s always best to err on the side of caution and wear a mask.

10 ft. x 25 ft. Clear 6 mil Plastic Sheeting
HDX homedepot.com
$24.98

Scotch 1.88 in. x 30 yds. Tough Poly Hanging and Tarps Strength Duct Tape
3M homedepot.com
$5.97

N95 Professional Multi-Purpose Valved Respirator with Gasket (3-Pack)
Milwaukee homedepot.com
$14.97

12 Gal. 5.0-Peak HP NXT Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Filter, Hose and Accessories
RIDGID homedepot.com
$79.97

During hardwood installation projects, dust is a force to be reckoned with and must be treated as such. Consider renting a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) vacuum and using it repeatedly throughout the project to suction up any lingering particles.
And remember, fans are mostly your friend. They can help keep temperatures well-regulated while working on vinyl or tiling projects in hot weather, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends ventilating any freshly carpeted area for 72 hours after the project is complete. (Setting up fans willy-nilly in a hardwood installation, however, will just leave you with a whole lot of tiny dust tornados.)

Mental health: Extra, extra—give yourself extra time
It can be quite disheartening to read online that a flooring project should only take “about an afternoon” or “one day, total!” and realize on the morning of day three you’re not even close to being finished. Give yourself a little breathing room, and whatever the estimated “time to completion,” double it. If you finish it early? Great! If you don’t? There’s no need to stress that you’re not working hard enough or making fast enough progress. Your sanity will thank you.

Health of your home: Follow instructions, please!
There are those among us (this writer included) who are not inclined to read directions, and tend to forge ahead without knowing exactly what’s going on. With flooring projects, that’s a recipe for disaster. If a product includes manufacturer’s instructions—or rules for which products to use with certain types of flooring—always follow them to the letter. Otherwise, your house could be damaged permanently, you could lose your warranty on the product, and you’ll be left with a very expensive mess to clean up.

If a product includes manufacturer’s instructions, always follow them to the letter.

A good example of this is adhesive. Flooring adhesive is a type of permanent glue that bonds your flooring to the subfloor or underlayment. The type of adhesive best suited for your unique undertaking is determined by factors such as the condition of your substrate, the location of the room you’re rehabbing, and the flooring material you’ve selected. Whether you’re using vinyl, tile, or carpet, there’s a type of adhesive out there to match up with your product.
If you’re attaching to a concrete subfloor, for example, you’ll need a different type of adhesive than if you’re attaching to a plywood subfloor. If you’re installing flooring in an indoor-outdoor room—or a strictly outside space—you’ll need an adhesive that can handle the fluctuations of the elements.
If you follow the instructions and use an adhesive intended for carpet in an indoor-outdoor space that has vinyl, be prepared for a sticky mess on your hands. The bottom line: Always read the instructions and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines, for the health of your home.

Emotional health: Help (can be) on the way

While vinyl and laminate flooring tend to be easier to install on your own, other materials like hardwood, tile, and carpet may prove more trouble than their worth to DIY without the help of a professional. If things get too overwhelming (or if the kneepad-chic look isn’t really working for you), The Home Depot’s installation service team is always at the ready to launch a new flooring project for your family, or jump into the middle of one if things haven’t gone quite according to plan. They are the pros, after all. More

What’s under your feet (or however you get around) is as important as anything when it comes to home. That’s why this fall, we collaborated with The Home Depot on an A to Z guide that’ll give you the confidence to make flooring choices you’ll love. Check out the A to Z handbook here.

Beauty and durability can sometimes be at odds when it comes to interiors. Heirloom wool armchairs with hand-embroidered peacocks? Beautiful, but easily damaged. Rubber workout tiles in your basement home gym? They get the job done, but not exactly what you’d put in the living room. Finding that rara avis of product design that combines pretty with practical is thrilling, and porcelain tile is both.
Made from a finer, denser clay, and fired at a higher temperature, porcelain is naturally harder and less porous than other kinds of ceramic tiles. This makes it ideal for sinks and other bathroom fixtures, as well as flooring — and The Home Depot stocks hundreds of styles, from simple white penny tiles and subtle squares to exciting patterns and elegant marble impersonators. But style isn’t its only special quality — here are four reasons why it sits in a category of its own.

A wet environment is no problem

Wind River Beige 6 in. x 24 in. Porcelain Floor and Wall Tile (448 sq. ft. / pallet)
Florida Tile Home Collection homedepot.com
$721.73

Fine-grained and ultra-smooth, porcelain is far more impervious to water than other types of ceramic tile. While the bulk of ceramic tile receives a glaze that works to repel water, porcelain is the only type that must have a water absorption rate of 0.5 or lower as defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials. This means it’s a clear choice for bathrooms, mud rooms, or any space where a more porous surface might be harmed by repeat exposure to water droplets, splashes, or wet towels left on the floor. (Hey, it happens.) Porcelain is also the strongest option for any outdoor tiling situation — if you’re in an outdoor-tile-friendly climate zone, that is. (For more on outdoor flooring, see letter O!)

It’s hardier than other tile

Since porcelain is one of the hardest types of tile, it’s a go-to for high-traffic areas. Its superpower is withstanding whatever life throws its way without showing signs of wear, whether that’s attempted scuffings, stain-making incidents, and dings from dropped dishes. If a chip does pop out, porcelain has a steadfast color throughout the tile, minimizing the visibility of the damage. Most other ceramic tiles, on the other hand, have a different color beneath the visible glaze. (Encaustic tile is an exception to this, and to learn more about it, visit letter E.)
Of course, being the toughest tile on the block does come with some downsides. It’s particularly heavy and somewhat more difficult to cut than regular ceramic tile, so it can be tricky to install (but easier than natural stone if that’s the look you want). And while it follows all the same grouting and tile-laying protocol we’ve outlined in letter G, it’s important to guarantee that the underlayment can support the weight of the tile itself (particularly if you’re working on an upper-level of a building or in an older home).

There are so many patterned options

Madison Hex Matte 11-7/8 in. x 10-1/4 in. x 6mm Cool White with Black Dot Porcelain Mosaic Tile
Merola Tile homedepot.com
$3.89

If you’ve decided to use porcelain tile, but also want a geometric pattern for added interest, Jessica Pleasants, project manager at Godwin Residential Construction in New York City, cautions against getting too wild with your Escher-like creation. “It’s important to consider how the design is going to look in four or five years,” she advises, noting that patterns can look dated in a short amount of time. “If you want to use a geometric pattern, go with something a little bit more subtle that has that geometric look but isn’t overly bold.”

It’s a chameleon-like material
Porcelain is also much-beloved because it can mirror practically any type of natural stone, or even a wood grain, while providing durability and longevity.

12 in. x 24 in. Kolasus White Polished Porcelain Floor and Wall Tile (16 sq. ft./case)
Home Decorators Collection homedepot.com
$31.84

“I think porcelain tile is a good alternative to marble because it’s less porous and easier to maintain,” says interior designer Laura Umansky, who loves how easy it is to care for porcelain with simple mopping and soap-and-water spot treatment.

General contractor Joe Truini used porcelain tile that looks like tumbled granite in one of his bathrooms. He says the difference between natural stone materials and porcelain copycats comes down to simplicity of installation, uniform tile cuts, and durability. “The downside of natural stone is Mother Earth made it a billion years ago, and someone carved it out of the earth: there are defects in it,” he says. And yet, he points out, natural stone is often far more expensive than porcelain. “The [porcelain version] is uniform in strength, thickness, and size. It makes it easier to lay.” More