Home52 – FoodWatcher

5 Totally Doable Decor Swaps to Refresh Your Home

The advent of a new year often brings with it a desire—even enthusiasm—for a necessary refresh. While I think we can all acknowledge that it’s just a date on the calendar and improvement can come in many forms and during many months of the year, I can’…

Like many people, I’m skipping resolutions this year (can we all agree to just not put that on ourselves?), but I am game for a few easy-to-pull-off ideas to help make my home feel fresh and new—all without a lot of time or money.

Calling All Plant Parents: 6 Resolutions to Make for 2021

I don’t know about you, but this year, I found had no desire to make my “traditional” New Year’s resolutions—you know the ones I’m talking about: things like eating differently, exercising more, and so on. Instead, I decided it would be more beneficial for my well-being to simply lean into things that make me truly happy, and one of my biggest sources of joy in 2020 was my ever-growing plant collection.

Houseplants and gardening have taken off in a big way in the past few years, and personally, I’ve amassed a small indoor jungle of greenery that always manages to put a smile on my face. To keep growing my hobby, I’ve set a few plant-related goals for the coming year, and I hope by putting them out in the world, I’ll be able to hold myself accountable for sticking with them.

Wait, We Need to Clean Our Rugs How Often?

My least-favorite chores are the ones that only need to be done a few times a year, because, frankly, I always forget to do them. I’m talking about things like washing curtains, dusting the fridge coils, and yes, deep-cleaning your carpets.

Can’t reme…

Can’t remember the last time you called in the pros to shampoo your rugs? You’re certainly not alone, but basically any cleaning expert will tell you that simply vacuuming your rugs isn’t enough. As the months go by, grime and bacteria inevitably accumulates deep in rugs, and even the most powerful vacuum cleaner can’t get it all out.

11 Ways to Hang Art Without Nails (Hello, Renters)

For people living in a rental, it can be really hard to feel “settled in.” You can’t make any major adjustments to the space—despite how dated the bathroom tile is or how much you hate the blinding light fixtures in the living room—and anything you cho…

For people living in a rental, it can be really hard to feel "settled in." You can't make any major adjustments to the space—despite how dated the bathroom tile is or how much you hate the blinding light fixtures in the living room—and anything you choose to do has to totally be un-doable whenever you move out.

Hanging wall art is one of the easiest ways to make your space feel more lived-in and cozy, but there's just one problem: Spackling is a total hassle. While it's not the most difficult thing you'll have to do when you move out, it's time-consuming and something you'll totally dread when the time comes, so sometimes it's better to just avoid doing it entirely. These options not only leave your wall spackle-free, but they also make your wall art a little easier to change out—perfect for indecisive decorators like myself.

Did You Know Your Cane Furniture Needs to be Moisturized?

Add a piece, or a set, of cane furniture to any room and the atmosphere instantly relaxes. Your proximity to the nearest beach dwindles, your vacation days increase (and inch closer), sunshine glimmers in the forecast. Barefooted-ness becomes a regular…

The plants used to make woven, natural-fiber furniture take many shapes, but two of the most common materials used are rattan and cane. Often confused and used interchangeably, rattan and cane are different applications of a similar material. Rattan includes over 600 different species of solid timber vine (different from a material like bamboo, which is hollow), native to tropical forests. Cane, on the other hand, is actually a specific part of rattan, which is removed from the thorny outer skin of the plant. It’s naturally very light in color, somewhat shiny, and far less porous than other parts of rattan—making it exceptional at repelling liquid spills.

Love Spotting a Reno Challenge? This Instagram Account Is a Must.

One of my favorite quarantine pastimes is walking around my neighborhood. Though I live in a rather plain 550-square-foot apartment, my little nook of Denver is comprised of red brick Tudors and bungalows built in the ’40s and ’50s. But I’ve noticed an increasing and troubling trend: these old structures are being torn down, with brand new homes popping up in their place.

These contemporary homes, defined by boxy shapes that make them look like artsy storage units, are bigger and flashier than the single-story homes that originally lined the streets. But they don’t elicit the same daydream-y feeling I get when strolling past an older house with a quaint porch and overlapping gables.

Under-$30 Bathroom Upgrades That Are Sleek, Stylish & Functional

We’ve teamed up with Philips Sonicare to share functional (yet beautiful!) products that’ll make your bathroom feel like a brand-new space—without spending a fortune. We’re starting by upgrading our toothbrush to the new Philips One by Sonicare. It not…

We've teamed up with Philips Sonicare to share functional (yet beautiful!) products that'll make your bathroom feel like a brand-new space—without spending a fortune. We're starting by upgrading our toothbrush to the new Philips One by Sonicare. It not only comes in four very cute colors, but it's battery-operated and super portable, thanks to a sleek carrying case you can take just about anywhere.

For a space that gets used multiple times a day, my bathroom isn't a place I think about much, in terms of style and design. On the other hand, I dream about redecorating my living room on a weekly (if not hourly) basis.

10 Flowers to Look Forward to Planting This Spring

Ah, springtime! The time to toss off that blanket you’ve been curled up in all winter, open the windows to let in fresh air, and best of all, start planning out your gardens (or window boxes or planters). Personally, my favorite part of spring is watching all my plants come back to life, and if you’re ready to see your gardens bursting with new greenery, now’s the time to start thinking about what you want to plant for the growing season.

Some flowers, such as daffodils and tulips, need to be sown in the fall if they’re going to bloom in the spring, but even if you missed the boat on those, there are plenty of other beautiful blooms that can be planted in March, April, or May. If you’re planning for warmer months ahead, here are some of our favorites.

How I Turned My Hallway Into a Dining Room

I am utterly devoted to taking dinner in the living room. I turn the TV on, let my meal grow cold by the time I find the perfect show, and hunch over the coffee table to spoon pasta in my mouth, eyes glazed over. It’s not the most refined picture, no, …

I am utterly devoted to taking dinner in the living room. I turn the TV on, let my meal grow cold by the time I find the perfect show, and hunch over the coffee table to spoon pasta in my mouth, eyes glazed over. It’s not the most refined picture, no, but it’s worked quite well for me so far. I think the main reason I’ve never liked sitting at the table to eat by myself is because I’ve never had a kitchen or dining room I loved.

My current “dining room” is really the size of a breakfast nook, and is directly off of my galley kitchen. It’s approximately 5x7’, and since it’s the only way to get from the living room to the bathroom, it functions more as a natural hallway. Being that I’ve never been one to eat at the table unless I really had to, I also never gave this space much thought. A year after moving into this apartment, though, it was ready for my attention.

The Piece of Decor Your Kitchen Is Calling For

It’s practically undeniable at this point that kitchens are the beating heart of our homes. They’re where we gather to make delicious food, deepen our relationships, and forge new memories (not to mention hold 3 p.m. corporate brainstorms and 11 a.m. art class). The fluidity of these spaces is of paramount importance: You have to have enough room to seat the whole family, a table that doubles as an eat/work zone, enough gizmos and gadgets to help you take on all the additional home cooking... the list goes on. But for as functional—and beautiful—as many of our kitchens are, are they truly reflective of our homes, and our style? I’d venture a guess and say maybe not.

Ask any designer and they’ll tell you the biggest impact you can make in a space is often with art. Not only does it help tie a room together, but it’s a great way for homeowners to imbue their dwellings with their unique taste and point of view. Yet, oftentimes, the kitchen is the last place we add decor layers like artwork.