Embrace the ‘Marshmallow Trend’ to Make Your Home Cozier
I’m Supposed to Clean That?!
If you love fall as much as we do, here’s some good news: You can live in it all year long! How? Well, as we write this, the season’s warm colors and cozy shapes are trending in home decor, and you can use them to bring the autumn indoors. Here are three subtle ways to add the season’s comfort and ease to your space without breaking the bank. 1. Get inspired by marshmallows. Yes, marshmallows! According to interior designer Loren Kreiss, 2023 is the year of “marshmallowy vibes, rounded corners, [and] soft, cozy textures.” A study out of Oregon State University found that people feel happier, calmer, more
4 Items in Your Home That Need More Maintenance Than You Think
If you wash your sheets more than once or twice a month, you already have better bedroom hygiene than 60% of Americans. But according to experts, even weekly washing isn’t enough! To get a completely hygienic night’s sleep, you should clean your mattresses every six months. Who knew? Here’s how to do it, along with tips for maintaining three other household items you’ve probably overlooked. Your Mattress — You can use dozens of methods and products to clean your mattress, but the old-fashioned way only requires two things: baking soda and a vacuum cleaner. After you’ve stripped your sheets, peel back your mattress protector and dust your entire mattress with baking soda. Wait 10 minutes, then vacuum the powder up! If you’re feeling ambitious, add a second vacuum pass before the baking soda and use a mixture of baking soda, salt, and water to lift stains. Let the concoction sit on the stain for 30 minutes, then wipe it away. Your Kitchen Backsplash — You probably wipe down your counters regularly, but have you deep-cleaned your backsplash? If not, it’s probably coated with years of grease and food particles. Start with a quick soap and water rinse to get rid of the ick. Then, use a mixture of lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda in a 1:1:2 ratio to dissolve the grease. Sponges are excellent for scrubbing tile surfaces, and you can tackle the grout with a toothbrush. Your Basement Drain (Or Any Unused Drain) — If you have a basement or garage with a drain in the floor or even a seldom- used guest bathroom shower drain, you should take a few minutes every month to pour a bucket of water into it. This will keep your drain from drying out and prevent nasty sewage odors and pests. Your Throw Pillows — Remove the covers from your throw pillows monthly and toss them in the wash to keep them from becoming smelly or discolored. Every other month, you should also wash the inside of the pillow in your washing machine or by hand, depending on its material. If you have down-filled or highly decorated pillows, take them to the dry cleaner for a refresh.
comfortable, and even more hopeful in an environment with soft-edged furniture. With that in mind, you may want to invest in a round dining room table or simply bring out your chunky knit blanket and extra pillows.
2. Swap sterile gray for
warm beige. Grays can be beautiful, but they also tend to feel cold and sterile, especially
when they dominate a space. This season, consider painting your “millennial gray” walls a warm, rosy beige to bring more life into your home. If you have a gray-on-gray palette and don’t want to paint, you can also reshuffle your furniture and decor to get a similar effect! A living room with gray walls and a gray couch might feel lifeless with a gray rug, but if you rotate that rug with a warm brown one from your office and add a plant from your dining room, you can revitalize the living area without spending a cent. 3. Lean in to copper. As Architectural Digest once reported, “Copper lends a space warmth and depth but always feels modern” — and you don’t have to go all-in with a copper bathtub or range hood to get those benefits. Instead, consider trading the silver knobs on your bathroom vanity for copper ones or thrifting a few copper pans to display in your kitchen. These utilitarian swaps will add timeless elegance to your space.
Done right, these three trends will help your home feel warm, cozy, and fall-like all winter!
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