It’s so unfortunate that cooking can be this soothing escape from the rest of your day, and then it’s followed by the worst, ickiest, biggest bummer of a chore: washing the dishes. The fact that you have to touch wet, gummy food is bad enough — let alone that you have to do it every day.

There is nothing I love more in my home than my kitchen cart. Not your bed? you ask. Your couch? Your roommate? Nope! Because here’s the thing: I built it out of trash.

Chelsey Brown’s kitchen was pretty nice from the beginning: It had modern-looking appliances and cabinets, and there was enough square footage to move around without feeling like the walls were closing in. But Chelsey found the space a little too boring for her liking. She wanted to make the room brighter and more open, while also respecting the terms of her lease and keeping costs down.

Between packed schedules and busy days at work, school, or home, we’re all constantly on the hunt for easy dinners to add to our kitchen rosters — regardless of any dietary preferences we might have. But if you’re trying to eat low-carb, we’ve got 10 super-simple recipes to satisfy your needs. They’re also delicious enough that they’ll please those at the dinner table who might not be eating the same way you are, which is always a win.

In most homes, the kitchen is a communal hub where everyone works and gathers. Because of that, it can be one of the hardest rooms to keep neat.

Fresh flowers or a new plant can transform a home as easily as the weather. But personally, I find both of them to be a giant pain in the neck. Keeping plants alive is anxiety-inducing for me, and a bouquet that costs more than my dinner is only fleetingly attractive.

There’s nothing I dread more than seeing a hand-wash tag on my new favorite shirt. By the end of the task both me and my bathroom are drenched, and I don’t really believe I did much to actually clean the item. How is me rubbing a bit of soap on my bras cleaning them?!

Laundry can be the most exhausting and tedious chore, or it can be your favorite excuse to unwind. I used to be in the former category, but I found a few things that actually make the experience pretty pleasant.

When Kristina moved into her new home, the lackluster office was of little use to the owners—besides being a place to toss mail, or hang art that didn’t fit with the rest of the home. Kristina decided that, if she was going to use a room as a dumping ground, it was going to look as fabulous as the rest of her home.

The Philadelphia row house hadn’t been upgraded much in sixty years, so Kristy knew it would be a fixer upper when she bought it. Kristy loves to cook and wanted to create the perfect workspace, so she put a lot of attention into the kitchen.

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Put classics or your favorites on display, if you have the space. This closet goes all out with bookshelves.