Forget the Open Floor Plan--It's Time to Bring Back Walls

Sofas and chairs.   A fireplace is an architectural focal point — and furniture is usually directed toward a room’s focal point. So why is it hard to find a couch facing a corner fireplace? While every room is different, designers often advise against that layout, since it causes a couch’s corners to stick out awkwardly in the room, impeding flow. Instead, most designers orient a couch and rug parallel to a wall, as in this living room by architecture and design studio  Hazelbaker Rush . A chair (or chairs) can then be placed at an angle, as pictured here. Hot tip:   Draw it! Map  how you think you want your furniture arranged and  how traffic is likely to flow through the room. Then make sure large and sharp-edged pieces of furniture aren’t in that path. Gehan Homes Another option: Place two chairs or a loveseat facing the fireplace and at 90 degrees in relation to the couch, to create an L shape, as pictured in this room uploaded by  Gehan Homes . The fea...

  Use warm tones for a cozy ambiance Warm and inviting seating (HGTV) The couple claim to love a stark, clean, modern aesthetic, but when Drew takes them to an inspiration home and shows them a simple white couch and a cushy fawn-colored couch, guess which one they like better? “This is a slightly warmer, more casual look,” Drew says of the fawn couch. “Warmer tones make it feel more lived in, makes it feel inviting.” “That’s ideal,” says Marlon, “because making our space comfortable is very important for everybody.” They end up with a nice,  soft greige sectional , then make it even more inviting with pillows and throws. A gallery wall adds family-friendly vibes “A gallery wall is an instant rush back to good times, to loved ones,” says Jonathan. But it’s important to fit it in just right with the style of the house. “Sometimes modern can make a space feel a little cold and uninviting,” says Jonathan. But he says a photo gallery wall will inspire warm memories, giving an invi...

F orget holding objects to see if they spark joy. It’s finally time for collectors and pack rats to rejoice! It turns out, all of the crap you’ve collected over the years and crammed onto shelves is actually a decorative style that’s trending on Instagram and TikTok. So welcome to “cluttercore.” More is more when it comes to this newest home style that features layers of pattern, color for days—and just about anything else you’d like to add. The look has gone so viral that tens of thousands of folks are flocking to their social channels to take “shelfies,” or selfies of their bookcases, so they can share their cluttercore designs. Homeowners are lining up their seashells, action figures, and candles shaped like vegetables to proclaim their unabashed love of cluttercore. Wondering how cluttercore began—and whether this style is one to try or one that veers into hoarding territory? Here’s more about this latest decor trend, ways to get the look in your rooms, and how to know if you’ve mo...

1. Cobwebs Dusting the inside of your home is fairly standard, but the outside? Not so much. It might seem like rain, wind, and snow should keep a home dust-free, but take a closer look. “ Cobwebs can appear  in unexpected places, and someone sitting around on your porch can notice them hanging around corners,” says  Mike Higgins , a licensed real estate agent at Blue Badger Holdings in Wisconsin. “Trust me, it’s a turnoff.” To oust cobwebs, dust, and other forms of dirt and detritus that naturally build up over time, Higgins recommends  power-washing  your home once a year. 2. Plastic furniture Plastic furniture is easy to care for, and it’s practical and cheap. But when we’re talking curb appeal, cheap is what you want to avoid here. It’s fine to bust out the lawn chairs for your next barbecue, but do everyone a favor and put them inside when the guests depart. “Cheap, plastic furniture on your porch or front lawn certainly lowers your curb appeal,” says  Cath...