Design Articles and Lists - TheCoolist

'90s decor is coming back everywhere

’90s decor is coming back everywhere, but it’s not nostalgia bringing it back

He quadrupled the rent after renovating his kitchen

He quadrupled the rent after renovating his kitchen, four years later his tenants found a detail that changed everything

It's not age that dates a home

It’s not age that dates a home, it’s one detail everyone is installing right now

It's Not That You Chose Your Kitchen Badly—It's That Seven Trends Are Aging All at Once

It’s not that you chose your kitchen badly, it’s that seven trends are aging all at once, here’s which ones

In 2026, the Goal Is for Your Kitchen to Stop Looking Like a Kitchen

In 2026, the goal is for your kitchen to stop looking like a kitchen

Your drawers are a mess not because you own too much, but because of one mistake everyone makes

Your drawers are a mess not because you own too much, but because of one mistake everyone makes

Two identical drinking glasses side by side on a kitchen counter near a window, the left one clouded with a hazy white film across the surface and the right one crystal clear, showing the visible difference between an etched glass damaged by dishwasher water spots and a healthy one.

Your dishwasher glasses come out cloudy, it’s not the detergent, it’s one detail almost no one gets right

These features made a kitchen look finished two years ago, in 2026 they make it look overworked

These features made a kitchen look finished two years ago, in 2026 they make it look overworked

That dusty old chair could be worth $50 or $5,000, it all comes down to details almost no one notices

That dusty old chair could be worth $50 or $5,000, it all comes down to details almost no one notices

dated kitchen renovation

These kitchens looked cutting-edge a few years ago, today they give away the exact year they were done

textured kitchen design

The real kitchen shift in 2026 isn’t color or layout, it’s something else almost no one looks at

A woman in a grey shirt and slippers wipes food debris off a stone kitchen island with a white cloth while cooking, with a wooden cutting board holding chopped raw tomatoes next to her.

If you clean your kitchen this way, you’re spreading germs instead of cleaning them away

Modern living room bathed in warm golden evening light, a beige sofa with a cream throw, a round wood coffee table, a jute rug, and a fiddle-leaf fig in the corner

Interior designers agree: this 10-second move makes any room feel warm at night

mixed finish kitchen design

If your whole kitchen matches in the same finish, designers can tell right away what year you did it

She Refused to Buy New Patio Furniture and Transformed Her Cushions With Old Bedsheets—Here’s the Result

She refused to buy new patio furniture and transformed her cushions with old bedsheets, here’s the result

You've Probably Seen This Wooden Spoon Trick on a Boiling Pot—Here's Why It Actually Works

You’ve probably seen this wooden spoon trick on a boiling pot, here’s why it actually works

American family sitting down to dinner together at a wooden dining table, a mother and two young children eating from plates in a warm, sunlit home

Warning: this one kitchen habit could put your family at risk of food poisoning

Drying rack with clean dishes over sink in kitchen

Her dish rack made her kitchen feel tiny, and here’s where she moved it

A woman in a gray sweater closing a black microwave door on a white kitchen counter.

She spends 5 seconds on her plate before microwaving: the reason is surprisingly clever

She dries all her laundry in a tiny studio and here's her trick

She dries all her laundry in a tiny studio and here’s her trick

Painting the floor

Forget rugs: in 2026, designers are making the floor the centerpiece and it costs almost nothing

A black leather sectional sofa with a gray throw blanket in a living room with a red accent wall and abstract black and red artwork.

No renovation needed: the $2 decorating fix that makes almost any room feel twice as big

A hand lifting the glass lid off a jar of flour with two small red bugs on the surface.

Bugs in the pantry come down to one step almost everyone skips: and it’s not about the container

Minimalist living room

Your living room has everything it needs to look good, but it doesn’t: it’s missing one thing, and it’s free

Black microwave running with a plastic food container inside, set on a kitchen counter above the stove

One container in almost every kitchen could be leaching chemicals into your food: here’s the 30-second check

Eclectic living room

Your room is perfect, cohesive, harmonious and that’s exactly what makes it forgettable

Used tea bags

Here’s what you can create just by saving your used tea bags

Curtains

What makes a room look unfinished comes down to one detail above your windows that almost no one notices

A refrigerator drawer viewed from above, packed with fresh produce, meat, dairy, eggs, and bread.

Everyone buys a bigger fridge to hold a week of groceries: this setup does the opposite, better

spices that lose their flavor

Your spices lose their flavor long before the expiration date and the real culprit is where you store them

paint trick

This paint trick makes it look like you have molding perfect for renters who can’t drill anything

Vintage lace curtains

She took down all her curtains and replaced them with something that cost almost nothing: the room never looked better

A dishwasher rack loaded with sauce-stained plates, rice-crusted bowls, glasses, and food-covered forks and spoons.

Dishwasher not cleaning like it used to? The one overlooked part almost everyone forgets to clean

Paint the ceiling

Most people paint their ceiling one safe color and miss the wall that changes everything

Older American kitchen with cream cabinets, a double-basin stainless steel sink under a curtained window, hand-washed dishes drying in a rack on the counter, a top-load washer beside the fridge, and no dishwasher anywhere in the room

Kitchen too tight for a dishwasher? Designers are finally getting one into spots that never used to fit

A freezer that stays cold

A cup of water and a coin reveal whether your freezer stayed cold the entire time you were gone

Cleaning harder the kitchen

Cleaning harder doesn’t mean cleaning better and one of these habits can be downright dangerous

Three spots to clean in the kitchen

Three spots almost no one thinks to clean hold the most bacteria in your kitchen

Bulky kitchen appliances taking up your counter space? This surprisingly clever trick gives it back

Bulky kitchen appliances taking up your counter space? This surprisingly clever trick gives it back

A kitchen that looks old-fashioned

She spent a fortune on beautiful materials: five years later her kitchen already looked dated for one reason

Cleaning Your Cooktop

These Stubborn White Marks on Your Cooktop Need More Than Water — Here’s the Fix

This Hidden Room in the kitchen

This Hidden Room Is the New Kitchen Luxury Everyone Wants

A small white kitchen island with two wooden stools, flanked by stainless steel appliances and white cabinets over a hardwood floor.

Interior designers are quietly skipping tile backsplashes: here’s what they’re putting on the wall instead

Clever Ideas to create hidden storage

No Pantry? These Clever Ideas Create Hidden Storage in Almost Any Kitchen

The washer-top hack

“Why didn’t I do this sooner?” The washer-top hack that hides plumbing

Trick to Fix a Wasted Kitchen Corner

No Renovation Needed: The Smart Trick to Fix a Wasted Kitchen Corner

Cooking Oil and sink

Warning: This Common Mistake With Used Cooking Oil Could Clog Your Kitchen Sink

These Budget-Friendly Tricks Can Make Any Rental Kitchen Look Brand New

A narrow galley kitchen with walnut wood cabinets, white stone countertops, and a window at the far end

Kitchen designers are quietly skipping cabinet replacements: what they do instead gives a custom look

Tips for Reducing Your Dishwasher's Energy Consumption

The “Cup Trick” That Could Help Cut Your Dishwasher’s Energy Use

Drying Rack Always in the Living Room

Is Your Drying Rack Always Taking Over the Living Room? This Simple Solution Makes It Disappear in Seconds

Open-plan kitchen with a sage green island and induction cooktop under twin cone pendants, tall sash windows overlooking the garden on the right, a wood-burning stove, art, and green built-in shelving on the left, wide oak flooring with layered rugs tying the cooking and living zones together

Cooking Smells Taking Over Your Open-Plan Home? This Hidden Kitchen Feature Stops Them at the Stove

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You’ve Probably Forgotten to Clean This Part of Your Oven — Here’s the Trick to Finally Reach It

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Renting? Here’s How to Give Your Kitchen a Fresh New Look — No Renovation Required

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Before You Replace Your Countertop, Try This Budget-Friendly Trick That Makes It Look New Again

Kitchen cabinetry wall with glass-front upper cabinets and matching wood lower cabinets, one section with a barn-style door front built in as a hidden dog crate

Your dog needs its own spot, but a crate isn’t it: this clever fix is quietly taking its place

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Aluminum Foil: This Simple Mistake Could Make It Less Effective in the Kitchen

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Goodbye Sleek Minimalism: The Retro Kitchen Detail Making a Huge Comeback

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Making This Kitchen Design Mistake? It Could Be Ruining the Look of Your Space

Warm oak shaker cabinets with an open pull-out drawer showing two lined bins next to a dark undermount sink and wood floor

Everyone pushes cooking scraps aside: this clever setup works way better than you’d think

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Before You Toss That Old IKEA Piece, Check This: It Could Be Worth a Fortune

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You should clean it every week, but almost no one does, it’s one of the dirtiest spots in the kitchen

A sunny kitchen counter corner with a window, a bowl of lemons, marble countertop, and green cabinets

Most Fresh Herbs Never Last a Week: This Clever Change Keeps Them Fresh for Weeks

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Interior designers are using paint colors most people would never dare to try

Marble kitchen counter with a gold faucet and dark veined backsplash above a closed cabinet

Interior designers have quietly stopped putting dish racks on the counter, this is what they use instead

Open plan living room with a gray sectional and a TV mounted on a wood panel wall on the right, with an open kitchen, island bar stools, and a staircase sharing the same space on the left

Everyone Buys a Second TV for the Kitchen: These Clever Layouts Skip It—and Work Even Better

Desk nook with a corkboard covered in family photos and a calendar, a laptop, a brass lamp, and a basket-lined shelf above, framed by white cabinet doors on either side

Small homes often lack a workspace: this clever setup creates one without taking over the room

Built-in cabin bunk bed frame with a wood ladder, striped pillows, and a large window overlooking a green mountain landscape, orange throw blanket on the built-in bench seat

Stop Wasting Floor Space: These Kids’ Rooms Use a Clever Layout to Fit Two Beds Comfortably

Put a glass of water and paper in the sink

Before leaving for vacation, she puts a glass of water and paper in the sink : the reason is clever

Tomatoes and cucumbers in the same salad

You’ve put tomatoes and cucumbers in the same salad all summer: here’s why you should stop

A kitchen cabinet cutout holding a rolled paper towel beneath a marble counter, framed by surrounding cabinetry

Stop Leaving Paper Towels on the Counter: These Kitchens Hid the Roll in a Secret Spot That’s Still Easy to Grab

1980s Country Cottage Decor

This dated 80s kitchen detail is coming back and it makes the room look custom-built

She stopped using degreaser on her kitchen cabinets

She stopped using degreaser on her kitchen cabinets : what she reaches for instead works better

Bedroom with a white bed and hanging plants beside a closet holding hanging clothes on both sides and a glimpse of built-in drawers

Small Bedrooms Are Looking Way Bigger Without Moving Walls—and This Storage Move Is Why

Most People Avoid Putting the Bed in This Spot. These Bedrooms Did It Anyway—and Look Far More Custom

Most People Avoid Putting the Bed in This Spot. These Bedrooms Did It Anyway—and Look Far More Custom

Brass kitchen faucet with soap dispenser on a black-veined marble countertop, copper pots hanging above a subway tile backsplash

Brass Faucet, Wrong Countertop? These 10 Kitchens Prove It Pairs With Marble, Wood, and Even Black Stone

Color makeovers for your kitchens. Before and after

Think You Need a New Kitchen? These 3 Color Makeovers Might Change Your Mind

Living room with a stone fireplace, built-in shelving, and cream sofas beside a tall sheer curtain, showing the room and curtain length without revealing exactly where the rod is mounted

Stop Hanging Curtains Above the Window: These Rooms Used This Secret Space to Look Twice as Tall

Stop Matching Your Sofas. These Living Rooms Look Expensive Because They Didn’t

Stop Matching Your Sofas. These Living Rooms Look Expensive Because They Didn’t

Black steel and glass wall dividing a studio apartment into a bedroom with a navy bed and a living room with a tan sectional sofa, both fully visible through the glass

No Wall, No Sliding Door: These Studios Separate the Bed and Living Room Without Shrinking

Navy blue kitchen with a full red brick wall, glass pendant lights, open wood shelves styled with plants and jars, farmhouse sink

Exposed Brick Walls Usually Look Unfinished. These 9 Kitchens Make Them Look Built-In

Zellige Doesn’t Have to Be White: 7 Kitchens That Make It the Pattern and Still Look Expensive

Zellige Doesn’t Have to Be White: 7 Kitchens That Make It the Pattern and Still Look Expensive

White KitchenAid Classic Plus stand mixer with stainless steel bowl on a wood pull-out mixer lift shelf raised to countertop height inside a white kitchen cabinet

Stop Dragging the Mixer Out: 8 Kitchen Stations That Keep It Ready and the Counter Clear

White marble apron front sink cut from the same slab as the counter on a light oak island, brass faucet

8 Kitchens Where the Sink Front Is the Same Stone as the Counter

Light blue brick tile running the full kitchen wall to the ceiling behind a stainless range and hood

Why Stop Tile at the Cabinets? These 9 Kitchens Take It to the Ceiling

No Tile, No Grout Lines: 8 Kitchens Where One Big Slab of Stone Runs Up to the Hood

No Tile, No Grout Lines: 8 Kitchens Where One Big Slab of Stone Runs Up to the Hood

The bottom of a dishwasher with the drain opening and surrounding parts caked in thick black and brown buildup, grime spread across the perforated floor around it

This Overlooked Dishwasher Mistake Is Why It Smells So Bad (And How to Fix It)

A large grid of mismatched blue-and-white plates arranged in even rows on a cream wall beside a black wood stove, with pink roses on the counter below.

7 Kitchen Plate Walls That Skip the Matching Set and Read as Real Decor in One Color

Warm oak kitchen cabinets at floor level with toe-kick panel flush and no storage visible

This One Wasted Kitchen Spot We All Miss Actually Holds a Full Row of Hidden Storage

Beige room divider with rounded square cutouts separating a living room seating area with sheer curtains from the space behind it, light passing through the openings

No Privacy in a Shared Layout? 15 Room Dividers That Fix the Space Fast

Slate green laundry nook with a wood peg rail below a styled shelf holding a laundry powder tin, potted plants, a straw hat, and a woven basket

Stop Wasting That Wall Space: 17 Peg Rail Ideas for Your Laundry Room

A white arched doorway in a neutral kitchen with shaker cabinets and a stainless range opens into a blue-gray built-in window seat nook with a wood-framed window and linen cushions.

These Kitchen Arches Make Square Doorways Look Like the Basic Choice

White-painted kitchen cabinets with gold diamond medallions and brass handles above a white painted-brick backsplash, with a gray countertop and a white range.

She Painted Her Kitchen White to “Brighten It Up”—and Instantly Regretted It

Narrow galley kitchen before renovation with dark wood cabinets, red floor tile, an exposed duct and gas meter, and a glazed back door

They Didn’t Tear Down a Single Wall But This Narrow Kitchen Feels Twice as Big

A bold navy, cream, and rust quatrefoil cement-tile mural set into the backsplash behind a pro gas range, framed by plain white arabesque tile and topped with a stainless hood.

Most Backsplashes Disappear. These 9 Kitchen Tile Murals Anchor the Whole Wall

Two dark wood louvered doors kept from the old kitchen, now set against fresh white walls and black trim, with a warm wood bar stool in front.

She Refused to Throw Away This 1980s Woodwork. The Kitchen Still Ended Up Looking Completely Custom

Kitchen before the makeover, with a silver cone-shaped hood, a busy grid of speckled gray and white tile, a green painted wall, gray laminate counters, and a built-in microwave in the cabinets

She Just Swapped the Counters and Tile. Now the Whole Kitchen Looks Brand New

Narrow dated laundry room before its makeover, with peeling plaster, an old tan tile floor, a bare counter, and a worn doorway to a green-carpeted hall

This Narrow Laundry Feels Twice as Big With Just Paint and Flooring—Now the Cats Fight Over It

Instead of Bending Down to Do Laundry, This Clever Layout Lifted the Washer and Dryer to Waist Height

Instead of Bending Down to Do Laundry, This Clever Layout Lifted the Washer and Dryer to Waist Height

A neutral bedroom with a sage green panelled wall, white upholstered headboard, and soft cream bedding, warmed by a single honey oak nightstand styled with a candle and a ribbed vase.

Why Your All-Neutral Bedroom Feels Flat (and the One Wood Fix It Needs)

The same bathroom linen closet shown dark and empty on the left and warmly lit with folded towels and styled jars on the right

Why Simple Lighting Is the Real Reason Even This Basic Closet Makeover Looks So Custom

A small rental kitchen styled with damage-free touches: a peel-and-stick patterned backsplash, a mint-green retro microwave and toaster, a terracotta potted plant, wood-topped bar stools, and a marble-look film wrap on the fridge.

Renters Are Quietly Using These 8 Damage-Free Tricks to Make Kitchens Feel Like Home

She Covered Dark Laminate Counters With a Marble-Look Wrap. Now Her Kitchen Looks Brand New

Cramped before utility room shot from the doorway, with a washer and dishwasher on the left, a farmhouse sink under the window, a toilet in the right corner, and open boiler cupboards

This Tiny Room Was Transformed. It Looks Like a Bathroom, but It’s Secretly a Full Laundry Room

Polished chrome bridge faucet with water running into a white farmhouse sink, set against cream subway tile with a window, greenery, and amber soap bottles nearby.

Gold, Black, or Brass? 13 Kitchen Faucets That Instantly Make the Room Look Expensive

A two-tone kitchen before remodeling, with white upper cabinets across the top and dark navy lower cabinets below, a stainless range hood, and a wood floor

She Wrapped Her Two-Tone Kitchen in Warm Wood—Even the Fridge. Now It Looks Fully Custom

Knit and waffle tank tops drying on wooden hangers from a hanging dowel rod against a cream wall

13 Better Ways to Air-Dry Clothes Without Using Chairs and Doors

Dark, Leaking 1980s Kitchen renovated into pure magic

Before and After: From Builder-Grade Bunker to a Bright Kitchen Full of Character

Built-in white kitchen desk under a window with a three-drawer stack, a center drawer, and an open knee-hole, the counter cluttered with a bin of folders, stacked mail, and papers, before the renovation.

They Tore Out the Cluttered Kitchen Desk No One Used. What Replaced It Became the Family’s Favorite Spot

Sage green kitchen with a double farmhouse sink below a garden window, the sill styled with pink peonies, ceramic pitchers, soap, and a brass faucet.

These 17 Kitchen Windows Look Warm and Personal, But the Windowsill Is Doing Most of the Work

Cream country kitchen before renovation, small lace-curtained window over a built-in desk nook in a tight galley layout

She Gutted Her Tiny Kitchen Everyone Loved and Turned Base Cabinets Into the Breakfast Nook–Without Losing a Drawer

Plain white painted builder-grade kitchen island box, full flat face, before its stained wood makeover

This Plain White Builder-Grade Island Got Wrapped in Stained Wood. Now It Looks Like Custom-Built

Ugly bedroom turned Fancy Home office

Bold Design Move. He Turned a Forgotten Spare Bedroom Into a Luxury Home Office

Two white IKEA cabinet carcasses standing back-to-back on adjustable legs in the middle of a kitchen mid-renovation, packaging still inside, forming the unfinished island core before the countertop went on.

They Hacked Two IKEA Cabinets Into a Kitchen Island That Looks Straight Out of a Showroom

Small laundry before renovation with a grey plastic trough, marbled wall tiles, exposed hoses and a frameless mirror

This Clever DIY Reno Turned a Dated Plastic Utility Sink Into a Bright, Fully Functional Laundry Room

Small apartment bathroom with white subway tile, a black-framed glass walk-in shower screen, matte black rainfall and handheld shower fittings, a tiled niche holding dark amber bottles, a black heated towel rail, and a windowsill styled with a potted plant, stone vase, and reed diffuser.

16 Small Apartment Bathroom Designs That Prove Tight Space Isn’t a Style Problem

Builder-basic cream shaker kitchen before its paint makeover, with brown wood-effect worktop, dark toaster, yellow kettle, and a ginger cat by the back door. Caption: none (featured slot)

She Painted Her Builder-Grade Kitchen Cabinets “Pink and Green” 7 Years Ago, and They Still Look Custom-Built

No Walls Touched, No Layout Changed. This Dated Galley Kitchen Now Looks Custom-Built After Just 4 Finish Swaps

No Walls Touched, No Layout Changed. This Dated Galley Kitchen Now Looks Custom-Built After Just 4 Finish Swaps

Small open-plan kitchen with oak and blush cabinets sitting back behind a round dining table and bright green chairs, the cooking zone blending into the living-dining area.

Kitchen Next to the Couch? 7 Small Layouts That Quietly Blend Into the Living Room Instead of Competing

Close crop of glossy orange-red cherry raised-panel kitchen cabinets with silver knobs, beside a dated white diamond-tile backsplash with black-and-green mosaic trim.

She Refused to Paint Her Dark Cherry Cabinets White. The Walnut Swap Made the Kitchen Look Custom-Built

Small grey shaker kitchen with a reflective stainless steel splashback behind a gas hob and chimney hood, shown before the herringbone tile makeover, with a red BEFORE label in the top-left corner.

She Tiled Her Splashback the Way Most People Don’t. Now Her Builder-Grade Kitchen Looks Custom

A bright abstract floral landscape canvas in turquoise, pink, and coral hangs as the single focal point on a tall white dining room wall, above a white table set with gold accents and surrounded by coral velvet chairs.

The Secret Isn’t More Frames: 12 Dining Rooms That Made One Focal Point Do the Work of a Whole Wall

Small apartment dining nook with a wood table cantilevered off a white kitchen island, two white Eames-style chairs, set with croissants and milk

No Dining Room, No Problem: These 10 Small Apartments Steal a Spare Edge to Get a Real Dining Spot

Black drying rail holding wooden hangers mounted above the sink on a marble splashback in a bright white laundry room, with a pull-out hamper and Bosch machines below.

Sick of Clothes on the Banister? These 9 Laundry Rooms Keep the Air-Drying Right Above the Sink

Small red kitchen run with marble counter and tall cupboard, the wall above left bare with one open shelf and no upper cabinets

This Tiny Kitchen Skipped the Upper Cabinets, and One Unexpected Storage Setup Replaced Them All

Three neutral throw pillows on a white sofa pairing an antelope-print weave, a cable-knit cushion, and a pom-trimmed throw, contrast through texture rather than color

The Trick Is Texture, Not Pattern: 11 Throw Pillow Combinations That Look Collected and Quietly Expensive

Built-in bedroom vanity nook with a cantilevered marble dressing ledge, brass bar pulls, a tabletop mirror, and integrated drawers set into a floor-to-ceiling white cabinet wall.

Skip the Freestanding Furniture: These 9 Bedroom Cabinet Walls Hold the Dresser, Vanity, and Nightstand

Staring at That Empty Wall? These 9 Living Room Benches Anchor It Without Crowding

Staring at That Empty Wall? These 9 Living Room Benches Anchor It Without Crowding

Minimalist bed styled with a grey duvet and a single folded brown throw against an upholstered headboard and lit wood-panel wall

A Duvet, One Throw, Barely Anything Else? These 13 Minimalist Bedding Ideas Still Look Calm, Complete, and Quietly Expensive

Soft, Slouchy, and Seriously Elegant: 19 Slipcover Sofa Ideas You’ll Want to Steal Right Now

Soft, Slouchy, and Seriously Elegant: 19 Slipcover Sofa Ideas You’ll Want to Steal Right Now

These 20 Brass Fixtures Upgrade an Already-Nice Kitchen From Good to Expensive-Looking

These 20 Brass Fixtures Upgrade an Already-Nice Kitchen From Good to Expensive-Looking

Is Your Mantel the One Spot Guests Quietly Ignore? 18 Styling Ideas That Make It Nearly Impossible to Miss

Is Your Mantel the One Spot Guests Quietly Ignore? 18 Styling Ideas That Make It Nearly Impossible to Miss

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