Ideas & Tips — Remodeling & Upgrade

One of the fastest ways to freshen up your decor is to bring a little bit of the outdoors inside, whether with a potted plant or a vase of fresh flowers. Here are our top tips for welcoming nature into your home:  Bring in potted plants: Potted plants don't have to stay outside on the patio. Real Simple magazine advises choosing a pot with at least one drainage hole in the bottom to avoid over-saturating the plant's roots with water. Buy potting soil from your favorite plant nursery, and remember that succulents and cacti require a unique soil blend. Be sure...

If you're like most people, you probably make ambitious goals with the best of intentions but then find yourself struggling to meet them. Here are some tips for setting yourself up for success from sociologist, life coach and O Magazine columnist Martha Beck: Identify your goal: You'd be surprised how many people fail to clearly identify their goal. Rather than saying you plan "to lose weight," commit to losing 10 pounds.  Break it down: Next, Beck suggests breaking down your goal into a single daily task, such as exercising for 30 minutes. Then keep dividing it in half until it...

Whether you're the consummate host or hostess or just starting to entertain, your home bar is a crucial ingredient in your recipe for success. Here are some tips for making it as sophisticated, chic and stylish as you. Bar cart  Don't hide pretty tumblers and stirring spoons away in the cupboard! Instead, arrange them in a stylish display on a retro-chic bar cart. Include objects in a variety of sizes and shapes for visual interest. A sophisticated candle holder adds a nice touch! Detailed decor By honing in on design details you can make your next cocktail hour shine. Elegant touches, like beautifully designed...