Martin Cooper

Hey, hey. It’s the last day of the year and it’s time to wrap it up with the most important post of all … the most awesome, best IKEA hacks of 2018 on IKEAhackers. Well, this year has been an interesting one. One that includes IKEA hacking itself . Though, not for  the first time . Truly gone are the days where we, IKEA hackers, lurked in the fringes. It’s fascinating to see how this obscure DIY trend has grown leaps and bounds in the last few years. Folks, we’re mainstream now. What holds for 2019? More IKEA hacks, of course. But before we go there, let’s take a look at the best IKEA hacks of 2018 and give these hard-working, brilliant hackers a thumbs up. 10 best IKEA hacks of 2018 – The A-list Presenting my top 10 favorite IKEA hacks of 2018, in no particular order. #1 Jessica’s mudroom redo Jessica took an under-utilized closet, added some IKEA pieces (BESTÅ and BILLY) for storage and made them into beautiful mudroom furniture for her home. Click here to see the wonderfu

Kick 2019 off right with these home organization resolutions. Image: Rookery Design The new year is right around the corner, and you know what that means. It’s resolution time. Maybe you’re the type of person who makes about a hundred resolutions, or maybe you’ve decided to eschew the whole thing altogether because who actually keeps their resolutions, anyway? And we agree, resolutions are hard. Our resolve to hit the gym or eat right usually dissolves by February. But we’ve found some home organization resolutions can transform your whole year. Tap into that January motivation to get your house in order and you’ll reap the benefits throughout 2019. We rounded up seven different home organization resolutions to get you started. Whether you tackle the whole list or choose the one that most speaks to you (and your home’s problem area), you’ll thank yourself. Here are seven ways to get to a cleaner, more beautiful home next year. Tackle your junk drawer to motivate yourself for addi

It may be hard to believe, but it’s almost 2019. That’s why we’re taking this opportunity to pause and look back at the last year at Freshome. We explored a  lot in 2018. But what really made its mark? Which daring trends reshaped our homes – and maybe even our lives? Which have enough staying power to survive into 2019 and beyond? Let’s find out as we walk through a brief 2018 design trend recap. A black accent wall? Why not! In 2018, there were no limits when it came to color. Image: AMR Design With color, anything goes Yes, neutrals are still – and will always be – important. But 2018 invited us to blow the lid off our preconceived notions about color theory and have some fun. Jewel tones  started making their mark on the scene, inviting us to amp up the saturation and give our spaces a feel of richness. Previously off-limits colors were welcomed into our homes.  Black even set itself apart as a decidedly trendy and luxurious color for walls, flooring and cabinetry. And as we

Making a move during winter isn’t exactly the most pleasant task, but sometimes it’s one that’s unavoidable.  No matter why you’re moving, it can be done. All it takes is a little extra planning and forethought. With that in mind, we’ve brought you some of our best tips for how to move during winter. Read them over as you prepare for your big day. If you follow these tips, you should be able to complete your move without the weather getting in your way. Make a backup plan in case of inclement weather. Image: John Maniscalco Architecture Plan around the weather If you live in a seasonal climate, you know that winter storms can cause life to come to a grinding halt. The last thing that anyone wants is to have their already-stressful move delayed by inclement weather. However, unfortunately, it’s a distinct possibility when you move during winter. You need to have a plan in place so that you know what to do if it starts to snow. If you’re hiring movers – which we highly recommend

The open floor plan layout featuring a large open space and plenty of light is high on the wish list for home buyers and renters. But the open floor plan layout isn’t easy to pull together. It may lack warmth, intimacy and privacy if improperly laid out. It also might seem daunting to figure out how to arrange furniture with no defined areas. It’s easier than you think to layout an open floor plan in a way that is stylish and functional. The first step is to imagine which zone will be your living, office, dining kitchen and bedroom area. Once you have a general idea of your zones, check out these gorgeous open floor plan spaces for 12 ways to rock an open floor plan layout. Arrange your furniture away from the walls To make the best use of a large, open space, float your furnishings in the middle of the room. Use the wall area as the “hall” to move from one section to another. Image: Gaile Guevara Create a “room” with an area rug When you’re dealing with a large, open floor pla

Winter is coming. Whether you live on the coast or in an area that gets blanketed in white for months of the year, it’s time to prep. Sure, your winter home maintenance checklist will look a little different depending on whether you’re braving temperatures of 10 below or just unpacking a few light sweaters. But even if you’re not facing ice and snow, the changing seasons are a great reminder to stay on top of the to-dos for your home or apartment. We’ve put together this winter home maintenance checklist to help you get ready before temperatures drop. Tackle these eight tasks to be prepped for the changing weather. Take the time to get your home’s heating system into top shape before you rely on it all winter. Image:  Mihaly Slocombe 1. Check the heating system How does your home stay warm? Whether you have a high-tech HVAC system or an old-school furnace, give it some love. Change out the air filter and test the igniter switch. If it’s been a while since a professional has servi

Some people prefer to build their homes in brand spanking new developments. For them, a fresh start with like-minded neighbors makes sense. But if you’d like to build in an already-established area, you’re looking at infill lots. Infill lots are those spaces left after developments and cities have already been populated. They might be empty lots or spaces left after old structures were removed. For some, infill lots mean access to great locations and an established neighborhood, but there are a few factors to consider. Before planning on an infill lot, decide if the spot is right for you. An infill lot could help you snag a better location. Image: Neokitchen Location, Location, Location The main draw for most infill lots is the location. These spaces are often in highly-desirable neighborhoods. But don’t make an offer just yet, since that location can come with a price. Here are some things to keep in mind: The reason for the vacant lot.  Have you considered why a lot might be

Believe it or not, the new year is right around the corner and with it will come some eye-catching new design trends. With that in mind, we went straight to the source and asked some top interior designers to share what styles they think will capture our interest in the coming year. Keep reading to learn their picks for the biggest 2019 interior design trends, as well as some tips on how to incorporate these looks in your own home. By the end of this post, you should feel ready to tackle 2019 in style. Big, bold plants are in this year. Image: A.Jennison Interiors Big, bold plants “One trend that will be at the forefront of home interior design in 2019 is big, bold plants. A dragon tree, a rubber tree or any kind of palm tree make eye-catching statements anywhere in a home.  You can flank your sofa with one on each side or situate one in any corner.  The bigger, the better here.” – Kenny Colvin, Designer,   Giant Squid Creative Incorporating plant life into your decor is a bit