Home Ideas

With our Disney trips on hold for the unforeseeable future, we’re finding creative ways to bring the essence of the theme parks to us. Luckily, the magical brand is making it easy by releasing new products that bring smiles to our faces. Among them is the Chip Succulent that was made for Beauty and the Beast fans.

Disney

Chip Succulent

The ceramic “cup” is 5 inches tall, so it’s an adorable size to place on your desk or table. The Chip Potts design has a high-gloss glaze finish and has sand glued at the top to look like a real plant. It is a faux succulent, after all, so you won’t have to worry about giving it TLC.“Despite Chip’s flawed appearance, no liquids need spill from this pot inspired by the little cup from Beauty and the Beast. The faux succulent will thrive happily without watering so it’s no wonder Chip is smiling,” the description says.The new Chip Succulent has just hit shopDisney to order for $14.99. While we await our next trip to Disney World or Disneyland, we hope this puts a little sparkle in your heart in the meantime.

Caitlyn Fitzpatrick
Senior Editor
As the senior editor of social and social news, Caitlyn covers the tastiest, coolest, and strangest products for BestProducts.com, and she is the lead of social strategy for Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, and Bicycling Magazine; her work has also appeared in POPSUGAR, InStyle, Stylecaster, among others.

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Whether you’re cozying up on the couch watching a movie or crawling into bed, it’s hard to beat the heat an electric blanket can offer on a freezing cold night. The electric wires sandwiched between the blanket’s fabric layers provide on-demand warmth that can be adjusted to get the perfect level. And like other bedding such as comforters and pillows, it needs a good cleaning every so often. According to Carolyn Forte, Executive Director of the Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Lab, an electric blanket should be washed several times per season depending on use. However, with all those wires, you may wonder if it’s even safe to wash an electric blanket and if so, how to do it. Luckily, most electric blankets can be machine washed without damage. Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, we do a lot of laundry, whether it’s finding the best washers and dryers or testing to find the best blankets. Below, we’ve put together an easy step-by-step guide on how to wash an electric blanket as well as other tips on how to care for it.Products you’ll need:Laundry detergent: Our pros recommend Tide’s Hygienic Clean Liquid Laundry Detergent.Washer: In the market for a new one? The Whirlpool Top Load Washer with 2 in 1 Removable Agitator earned high marks in our tests and can definitely handle the bulkiness of a blanket or comforter.Drying rack: A simple folding one will do the trick. The Amazon Basics Foldable Laundry Rack has high ratings. How to Wash an electric blanket in a washing machine:Step 1. Check and follow the care label. Most electric blankets are machine washable and some can be put in the dryer, however, be sure to check and follow the care label instructions. Step 2: Make sure the cords are unplugged. Electric blankets have removable cords or control panels which are the source where the heat comes from. Be sure all cords are unplugged from the blanket before putting it in the wash. Step 3: Use a large capacity washer and dryer. It’s best to use a front-loading washing machine or top-loader, preferably without an agitator, like GH 2021 Best Cleaning Product Award winner Whirlpool Top Load Washer with 2 in 1 Removable Agitator, so the blanket does not get caught or stuck which could potentially damage the wires. If there are no specific wash instructions on your blanket, use a gentle or delicate cycle and cool or warm water. Step 4: Dry gently. Follow the drying instructions on the blanket. If none are given, lay the blanket flat to dry on a rack or tumble dry it on the lowest heat setting. Make sure the blanket is completely dry before using it otherwise the wiring may be damaged.

How to wash an electric blanket by hand:If machine washing is not an option or preferred, the electric blanket can also be washed by hand. Make sure all cords are removed and fill the bathtub with cold water and a small amount of mild detergent. Let it soak for a few minutes and then gently agitate the water with your hands. Drain the tub of sudsy water and fill it with clear water. Swish and squeeze the blanket to rinse. Repeat as often as needed until all the soap is removed. Carefully squeeze out excess water and roll in some towels if you can to absorb excess moisture, making sure not to bend the wires. Tumble dry on low or lay flat to dry.Additional tips on caring for an electric blanket: Unless specifically recommended by the manufacturer, do not dry clean an electric blanket or use bleach or other harsh chemicals as these can damage the wiring.Avoid high heat as it can damage the wiring, choose a low heat setting on the dryer or dry the blanket on a rack away from radiators or heaters.If you notice any brown spots, broken or exposed wires, stop using the blanket immediately and purchase a replacement: the brown spots likely mean it has overheated, causing burnt areas.
The Products You Need to Care for Your Electric Blanket

Hygienic Clean Liquid Laundry Detergent

Tide
walmart.com

$11.97

Foldable Laundry Rack

Amazon Basics
amazon.com

$38.86

Whirlpool Top Load Washer with 2 in 1 Removable Agitator

Whirlpool
lowes.com

$1,100.00

Jamie Kim
Jamie Kim is a consumer products expert with over 15 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing.

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Adapted from a vintage Good Housekeeping pattern, this tutorial for knit mittens is made modern with simple colors and easy-to-read instructions. Challenge yourself by knitting a pair featuring an embroidered heart for your loved one this Valentine’s Day, or any romantic occasion! DOWNLOAD THE PATTERNWhat You’ll Need:You can also use comparable yarns such as Purl Soho Linen Quill Worsted , Knit Picks Wool of the Andes or Lion Brand Wool Ease. If you want to invest in a set of interchangeable circular needles, we like the sets from Lykke. Try the More

Since its inception in 2018, the Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) has been passionate about celebrating the work and voices of Black creatives — a mix of talented interior designers, architects, artisans and artists. Now the BADG is bringing their inspiring message to an even larger audience with the launch of a stylish home collection for Pottery Barn, available on PotteryBarn.com now. The new offerings, which Pottery Barn created with BADG members Penny Francis, Casi St. Julian and Lisa Turner, include a range of more than 25 products that are meant to elevate the experience of entertaining at home. Consumers can shop an assortment of statement dinnerware, table linens, bar essentials, games, as well as bedding must-haves, ranging from $29.50 to $249. Every piece in the thoughtful line is designed around the concept of “Black Joy” with a focus on four themes that speak to BADG’s mission — unity in the quest of inclusion and equity; triumph over tribulations; celebration of love and family; and harmony as a connected community.

Courtesy of Pottery Barn

“For us, ‘Black Joy’ is possibility and empowerment, a celebratory theme that is woven into our collection,” said BADG Founder Malene Barnett. “This partnership with Pottery Barn builds on our mission to honor ancestral legacies while embracing liberatory creative practices. We love creating spaces to celebrate Black culture in design, and our collection invites everyone to celebrate with us.”This is the second time Pottery Barn has collaborated with BADG. Last year, the retailer sponsored the group’s Obsidian Experience, a virtual show house that explored the significance of home for Black families. Shop the Black Artists + Designers Guild x Pottery Barn collection below and show your support for Black makers.

Shop the Black Artists + Designers Guild Collection for Pottery Barn

Celebration Stoneware Dinnerware Set

potterybarn.com

$159.00

Unity Embroidered Pillow Cover

potterybarn.com

$69.50

Unity Hurricane Candleholder

potterybarn.com

$69.00

Close-Knit Throw

potterybarn.com

$149.00

Joy Lumbar Pillow Cover

potterybarn.com

$49.50

Triumphant Vases

potterybarn.com

$183.00

Unity Handcrafted Wire Serving Bowl

potterybarn.com

$59.00

Celebration Glass Tumblers

potterybarn.com

$49.50

Embroidered Sentiment Napkins

potterybarn.com

$48.00

Triumphant Etched Handcrafted Ice Bucket

potterybarn.com

$79.00

Celebration Backgammon Set

potterybarn.com

$149.00

Rhythm Handwoven Charger Plate

potterybarn.com

$29.50

Monique Valeris
Senior Home Editor, Good Housekeeping
Monique Valeris is the senior home editor for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand’s home decorating coverage across print and digital.

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You heard it here first: living room bars will be all the rage in 2022. While a cozy night in with your favorite movie and libation is nothing new, the pandemic fueled an unofficial home bar renaissance. Home bars filled a void when crowded dives and buzzy cocktail lounges were closed, and more recently, they’ve been put to the test as many of us are entertaining again. “This trend started during the lockdowns and, as we’ve all got used to staying at home more, continues unabated,” designer Emma Green told House Beautiful when predicting trends for the New Year. Whether you’re tackling a full-scale basement bar renovation or live in an apartment where even a bar cart is a tight squeeze, now’s the moment to build your very own bar. It will unlock new potential in any space by adding both style—think decorative glassware and cocktail recipe books—and function. And you can do it on a budget, too. If it still feels overwhelming, grab a glass of wine and relax, because we’ve got you covered. Below, we break down everything you’ll need to build a bar in the comfort of your own living room. You’ll need a bar cart, glassware, bartending tools, mixers, cocktail recipes, and a few accessories.To make the project come together in a cinch, everything featured here is available on Amazon. Start now and you could have a brand new bar in under a week. Time to host happy hour in style.Interested in learning about the best tricks to maximize space in your home? We’ve got you covered!BAR CARTSBar carts are the quick, simple, and budget-friendly solution to building a bar at home. With the right bar cart and a few accessories, you’re one “buy now” button away from making your home bar dreams a reality. Construction woes, be gone! Thanks to their growing popularity, it’s easier than ever to find the right cart for your space. You can go full-gilded glam with gold hardware and mirrored shelves, rustic with wood and metal finishes, a traditional acrylic trolley route, or anywhere in between (I’m opting for this mid-century mahogany moment). If none of these from Amazon are quite your aesthetic, check out some of our other favorites here.

Cadman Acacia Wood Bar Cart

Christopher Knight Home

$209.99

Sinclair Gold Serving Cart

Silverwood

$159.99

$109.12 (32% off)

Wood & Metal Wine Rack

WGX Design For You

$219.00

Odessa Gold Circle Bar Cart

FirsTime & Co.

$121.30

Maliza Marble & Gold Bar Cart

South Shore

$226.52

Clear Acrylic Serving Cart

Coaster Home Furnishings

$299.00

$193.99 (35% off)

Iva 3-Tier Swivel Bar Cart

Safavieh

$255.75

Marshall Metal Utility Cart

Ameriwood Home

$54.00

$40.68 (25% off)

GLASSWARECocktails just taste better when served out of fancy glassware. Whether you’re going with a bar cart, open shelving, or something more elaborate for your home bar design, having a sparkling set of vessels at the ready is a must. Not only will they add some decoration to your space, but they’ll also make your bar that much more functional. Martinis, mules, and a champagne toast will be at your fingertips!

Crystal Rocks Glasses

Farielyn-X

$25.99

Martini Glasses

Lenox

$49.95

$42.11 (16% off)

Moscow Mule Mugs

Champagne Flutes

Vintorio

$26.99

BARTENDING TOOLSImpress your friends with your bartending skills the next night you entertain. Whether you’re a budding mixologist or like to keep things simple, a solid set of bartending tools will meet you where you are—and up your cocktail game. All of the options below come with essential tools like a shaker or mixing glass, jigger, muddler, and strainer. If you’re starting from scratch, some also include a corkscrew, ice tongs, liquor spout, and more.

10-Piece Bar Set with Bamboo Stand

Mixology & Craft

$79.99

$49.97 (38% off)

24-Piece Gold Cocktail Set

SOING

$54.99

Rabbit Essential Bar Tools Set

Rabbit

$82.12

18-Piece Bartender Kit

Oyydecor

$35.99

MIXERSWe’ll leave the spirits up to you, but there are a few mixers every home bartender should have at the ready. Stock these essential mixers on the bottom shelf of your bar to impress your guests (or treat yourself) with a top-shelf cocktail every time.

Pure Cane Simple Syrup

Stirrings

$10.39

Premium Tonic Water

Fever-Tree

$37.51

Sweet & Sour Mix

LAVA

$46.99

Aromatic Bitters

Angostura

$30.49

COCKTAIL BOOKS One of the final touches to a home bar is a sensible stack of cocktail recipe books. They’ll be there to inspire when it comes time to whip up a batch of drinks, so be sure to pick books that fit your personality, skill level, and the vibe of your bar. If you’re honing the cocktail craft, this guide to 3-Ingredient Cocktails is a lifesaver. If you’re well-versed in your favorites and want to learn something new, grab a book that dives deep into the history, flavors, and traditional drinks from a particular region or culture.

Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails

David Kaplan & Nick Fauchald

$40.00

$35.99 (10% off)

Spirits of Latin America: A Celebration of Culture & Cocktails

Ten Speed Press

$24.99

$13.69 (45% off)

3-Ingredient Cocktails

Robert Simonson

$18.99

$15.99 (16% off)

Women’s Libation!: Cocktails to Celebrate a Woman’s Right to Booze

Merrily Grashin

$18.00

$10.39 (42% off)

ACCESSORIESLike most things in life and design, no bar is complete without a few accessories. Transfer liquor from bottles with brazen labels into a crystal decanter, or use serving trays to keep everything organized. These final touches will join your collection of spirits, glassware, bartending tools, and recipe books to take your bar from a work-in-progress to a veritable speakeasy.

Matte Coffee Table Tray

Montecito Home

$49.95

$40.99 (18% off)

Crystal Decanter with Starburst Detail

Bormioli Rocco

$21.97

Sphere & Square Silicone Ice Cube Trays

glacio

$19.99

$17.75 (11% off)

Double-Wall Stainless Steel Ice Bucket

FineDine

$26.99

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Heath Owens
Heath Owens is a Commerce Editor and Writer at Hearst Magazines, where he covers fashion, home, tech, gifts, and more. 

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Here’s a dirty little secret: Bathrooms don’t always get the attention they deserve when it comes to renovations. While homeowners are busy drooling over their fantasy kitchens — or, as WFH becomes the new norm, creating a home office space — the bath can start to slip down the priority scale. And yet fewer things are more impactful than transforming the room where you start and end your day into a jaw-dropping retreat.Looking for a little inspo? We’re here to help. This trio of bathrooms — brought to life by The Home Depot — show how nicely your own space can clean up with just a little bit of effort. Maybe it’s adding some eye-catching tile or a bold pop of color, or finally scoring the freestanding tub you’ve always wanted. No matter the project, it’s time to jump right in. Bold and Beautiful

The Home Depot

If you’re the type who loves to live in color, this rich-looking room, which melds three vibrant shades, is your ideal. Thanks to the grounding emerald green and white Carrara polished porcelain tile carried up from the floor, the glossy blue scalloped mosaic shower panel and gray-hued subway tile accent wall complement each other instead of competing for attention.Keeping most of the other elements neutral or natural (a white vanity, a teak shower mat, a garden seat hand-built from reclaimed wood) helps the focus stay on the vibrant walls. Hang a few favorite pieces of art and — voilà — you’ve got a masterpiece.A Crisp Classic

The Home Depot

Gleaming porcelain flooring, a subtle herringbone backsplash, and sparkly chrome fixtures give this airy space luxury-spa vibes. And with double vanities in blue (a soothing color that’s been shown to help calm your mind), you’ll get an extra dose of relaxation every time you step inside the stainless shower enclosure beautifully accented with aqua glass mosiac tiles.And while this space doesn’t come with its own personal masseuse (if only!), it does offer endless chilling-out opportunities in the form of a standalone acrylic flatbottom tub.Picture of Bliss

The Home Depot

Who ever said that neutrals were boring? Case in point: This gray and white space that’s anything but blah with its elegant wainscotting (painted Behr Ultra’s Natural Gray) and polished marble mosaic tile allow the geometric backdrop to be the star by pairing it with quieter pieces. Think timeless Carrera marble-topped vanity, polished brushed nickel and chrome fixtures, a frameless shower door, and white porcelain flooring.Every bathroom’s made better with a freestanding tub like this acrylic flatbottom pick just made for bath bomb-filled evenings in. Add a wooden caddy, your favorite scent, and a good read, and you’re all set to soak to your heart’s content.

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Leveling up your bathroom might sound like a huge undertaking, but the truth is, giving this space a new look you love doesn’t have to mean a major reno — or maybe even any reno work at all. (And how nice would it be to get ready every morning with better lighting or an uncluttered countertop?)The key is to focus on little switch-ups that make a surprisingly big difference and to rely on a solid all-in-one source, like The Home Depot, where you can find all the elements you need to pull it off: vanities, cabinets, lighting, hardware, accessories, and more. Still not sure you’re ready for a revamp? These 12 easy ideas will inspire you to spruce up your space.Go for the BoldYour vanity is the visual focal point of any bathroom (and key to your grooming and storage needs), so it deserves to be a truly standout piece. Consider a sleek floating version for a modern, boutique-hotel look, or choose one with a brightly colored finish as an unexpected statement piece in the room.Get ReflectiveHere’s a no-fail way to add instant sparkle to your space: Trade out your tired medicine cabinet for a pair of clean-lined mirrors above your vanity. (The supplies you stored there can find a new home in the cabinet below, in stackable organizers to max out that space.) Keep the room’s look cohesive by opting for mirrors with frames in the same finish as your lighting fixtures and hardware.Brighten Things UpSconces on either side of your medicine cabinet or mirror will illuminate your vanity and mirror area evenly — no unflattering overhead shadows! — and give the bathroom an updated look too. If you want to avoid electrical wiring, go with plug-in versions.Refresh Your WallsWant the chic look of tile but not the tricky DIY work that goes with it? Bring in peel-and-stick wallpaper that looks just like tile but takes a lot less time and effort to install. Bonus: It’s a simple element to switch out later if you decide you want to change things up.Get the look! Perfect picks for a wow-worthy bathroom.

Sandon Vanity

Home Decorators Collection
homedepot.com

$2,199.00

Modern Mirror

Home Decorators Collection
homedepot.com

$129.00

Carisa Gold Bath Light

Progress Lighting
homedepot.com

$60.00

Peel and Stick Chrome Tile Wallpaper

Tempaper
homedepot.com

$34.60 More

Remodeling a bathroom is one of the most satisfying home improvement tasks because of its multi-pronged payoff: It’s your chance to combine all the practical features you need with a personalized style you love — and create a relaxing retreat in the process.If you’re taking on this project yourself (or even a part of it, like installing tile), it’s helpful to have a go-to source for practical guidance — and with its DIY project guides, how-to workshops, and project calculators to help you figure out how much material to order, The Home Depot is a smart bet. And when you’re ready to get started, you can shop for everything from tubs and vanities to showers, tiles, and finishing touches, all from the same spot. (You can even More