Emily Henderson's Blog, page 4

Cozy Fall Sweaters I Love

Cozy season is upon us, with “sweater weather” certainly being my favorite top du jour (likely worn while eating a soup). I found a few sweaters that I love in different styles (for different occasions), but all to feel comfortable, and many are pretty affordable. We were out at the coast all week, and it is absolutely fall weather, in the best of ways. Here’s what I’m loving:

Polo-Inspired Fall Sweaters

Polo Sweater (Extra Small)

I really slept on the Aritzia train for a long time. I found their stuff just more “professional” than I am (very cool suits) and a bit too 90s (I’m getting there). But when I shopped in person the other day, I found SO MANY things, far more than I needed. That sweater above came in a few colors, has an excellent drape (just falls in a really flattering way), and the shape is drop shoulder, boxy, and lands perfectly below the waist. Preppy and comfy. It’s also oversized, FYI.

Westley Cashmere Polo | 100% Organic Cropped Cotton Polo Sweater

The polo is an easy one to layer over as well, with the collar giving it more of a professional vibe. Jess bought the one on the right and was raving about how light and soft it is.

Striped Fall Sweaters

Sweater (Medium) | Belt (Unavailable) | Jeans (Size 26 Short) | Shoes (Similar + Size 7)

I’m not the only one who loves this sweater (it’s gone viral), and for good reason. A great cut, covered button details, easy to layer over and under, and so affordable ($30). Also comes in a few other colors.

Navy and Ivory Stripe Taylor Cardigan | Wide-Hem Sweater

I especially like stripes sticking out of a jacket sleeve or underneath an oversized blazer – it adds that pop that says “I’m low-key pretty fun” while also being comfy.

Chunky Cardigan Fall Sweaters

Oversized Slouchy Cable-Knit Cardigan Sweater

Old Navy had this excellent oversized cable knit sweater that can act as a jacket or be oversized over leggings. It’s long, very comfortable, and if I were to wear it out, I’d add a scarf around my neck or a hat to give it a punch of pattern.

This one is so chunky, so stylish, and fits great if you like boxy and wide (and not very long). The color is also excellent – not too orange (for fall) but still feels so seasonal. Warning that is pretty chunky, so great to wear on its own or layer for warmth under puffy parkas, but nothing too fitted or will add bulk/bunch up.

100% Organic Cotton Cropped Cardigan | Marled Blue Colette Cardigan | CashSoft Oversized Chunky Cardigan

Here are some other great, chunkier options.

Simple Cardigan Fall Sweaters

Sweater | Belt (Medium) | Jeans

This one was snuck into my dressing room by the salesperson (which is typically not my favorite move), but I tried it on for fun and, well, she was right. I immediately came out and said, “I would never have really been drawn to this” (mostly because it’s splurgy at $168), but my gosh, I forget how soft cashmere is. And the fit is great. I usually think thin sweaters like this aren’t that flattering, showing all the bits and bra strap bobs underneath, but not this one. It just smooths over them while also being loose. Looks like I need to give cashmere another go? I’ve worn this a lot under blazers, jackets, and as my first layer, but it can also be layered over a tank (but not a t-shirt – I think it would bunch up too much).

Blue Mist Cashmere Riley Cardigan | CashSoft Crop Cardigan

The one on the left can be monogrammed, which is pretty cute if that’s your vibe:)

Jacket-Like Fall Sweaters

Slouchy Cable-Knit Cardigan Sweater | Jeans (similar) | Boots (similar)

I wanted to try this varsity trend, which I’m not sure if it’s really me, but at $60, it’s pretty darn great. I think wearing it with a tiny skirt and tights, and maybe 1/2 tucking it would be the way to go? I love the stripe detail and the contrasting buttons.

We The Free On The Isle Cardi | Libby Knitted Jacket

Also, love these:) That red one is so good.

“Quiet Luxury” Fall Sweatshirts

Sweatshirt (Extra Small)

I’m not selling it too hard in this photo, but this sweatshirt is GREAT. It’s super oversized (so great over leggings, but for me too big to wear over big pants) and has this deconstructed hem that feels very “The Great,” while not having the same price point. It’s literally called “Big Hug”.

Henley Sweater | Mongolian Cashmere Boatneck Sweater

You could throw these on for almost anything.

Patterned Fall Sweaters

Sweater (Small)

This is another sweater that is FAR more comfortable than you’d think. It looks like it’s wool (and maybe it is), but it’s this crazy soft, fluffy blend that feels like you are wearing nothing, and yet is still so warm. Magic. It comes in burgundy and cream as well. The fair isle pattern is so classic, it’s thin enough to still layer well under coats (it looks chunky, but it’s medium weight and stretchy, so still easy to layer).

Fairisle Crew-Neck Cardigan Sweater

I just bought this one, but it hasn’t arrived yet. Perfect for fall and into the holidays (and winter in general).

Ciana Fair Isle Wool Blend Sweater | Embroidered Frill Sweater

These are obviously great too!

Western-Inspired Fall Sweaters

Yes, this is my favorite as far as style goes. I’ve been wearing it like crazy – over all the t-shirts, with my boots, with the scarves, over stretch pants, around the house, and around the town. It’s just excellent, cool, stylish, warm, cozy, easy to wear – all the things.

Madeline Western Crew Sweater | Raglan Cardigan Sweater

I don’t own either of those above, but I sure want to. The blue stitch over the brown is PERFECT.

Boldly Stitched Fall Sweaters

Sweater | Socks (similar) | SOFA!

For the sofa shoot last January, I had this in both brown and black, below, and the style has really taken off this season. It’s so simple, and yet the contrasting stitch detail takes it next level and keeps it from looking more basic/boring.

Romilla Whipstitch Sweater | Sienna Whipstitch Cardigan Sweater

Slouchy Rollneck Fall Sweaters

2025 Rollneck Sweater | Opal Rollneck Sweater

As someone with larger ladies, I don’t wear high-necked sweaters much, but these are all so classic, pretty, and look like they drape really well.

A Great Oversized Turtleneck

Straw Hannah Wool Blend Turtleneck Sweater

Happy sweater weather, ladies

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 20, 2025 01:00

Recreate Emily’s Halloween Front Porch And Graveyard From An Unexpected Source

We’ve just passed the halfway mark of September, so we feel very ready to start talking about Halloween decorations. My best friend even told me this past week that all she wanted to do was get a fancy coffee and go buy Halloween decor (instead of going to work, duh). It was then that I asked if she’d ever looked at Wayfair? Yes, that Wayfair! They keep showing off their “one-stop shopness”. You can, of course, buy a beautiful sofa (I mean that’s where ours are exclusively sold:)), a great appliance, cozy bedding, a pretty outdoor umbrella, and cute holiday decorations! To give you a little sampling and get you in the spooky spirit, I’m using Emily’s Halloween front porch and “graveyard” from two years ago to show you how to recreate it with only decor from Wayfair. Let’s dive right in.

The front door is such a fun and easy spot to decorate for the holidays, and Em is a pro at it. Since her kids are getting a little older, she went a little more “classic spooky” than sweet kid spooky.

68″ Halloween Thirsty Tree | 15 In. Black Twig Halloween Wreath with LED Lights

Black twiggy trees, branches, and wreaths are a great way to get an elevated but festive look. This tree is high impact! It’s tall, a bit creepy, and yet, kinda pretty:). Such a great piece that’s meant to be used for many years. Then that wreath has the black twig look, but has LED lights, and sweet little (not scary) bats. It’s a great balance of cool and cute. Oh, and it’s on the smaller size, which I also love the look of. Slightly more understated:)

Painted Twig Witch Hat | 6′ Black Twig Garland 48 Purple/Orange Lights

Maybe you want more twiggy decor. Look how great this witch’s hat is! Another cool but sweet piece. But if you want to go a little full out, try this black twig garland. There are a million ways to use it (think Christmas garland hacks). Plus, this one has purple or orange lights (Em’s Halloween favorite), and there are a few different settings. What’s not to love?

Let’s talk more about bats…

20″ Halloween Hanging Black Bat (Set of 3) | Black Metal Bats (Set of 5)

Depending on how you want to use them, they too can easily be high impact, and for my fellow small space dwellers, they don’t need any floor real estate. Em chose to use a couple of larger ones, like the ones on the left, to bring your eye up and add to the creepiness of the front porch. But if you want to go a little less realistic/cuter, I love those metal ones on the right.

Spider Decoration Kit With Spider Web | Giant Spider (Set of 2)

If you’ve been following for a minute, then you know Em doesn’t decorate for Halloween without huge spiders and an equally huge web to match. Wayfair has a lot of great options, but these ones were my favorites. The set on the right comes in 4 different sizes, so you can go for a more medium size or a REALLY large set. How much do you want to creep out your neighbors is the real question:)

3 Piece DIY Decorative Pumpkin Set | Pose-N-Stay Skeleton

Two other must-haves on the Emily Henderson Halloween decorating list are pumpkins and life-size posable skeletons (well, at least one). We really love the texture and colors of real ones, but this set on the left is a DIY kit, so you can decorate your own! Or if you just want to keep them unpainted, I kinda love them that way too:) Wayfair also has a lot of skeleton options, but again, this one seemed like a slam dunk. It’s got A TON of great reviews, too!

Do you have a little outdoor entry moment like Emily? Here are some great pieces to help recreate her version.

Bag Of Doll Head Set (Set of 12) | Halloween Black Crow (Set of 2)

Emily is a vintage gal at heart, so “vintage” doll bodies or doll heads (like the ones on the left) really help her lean into that part of her style. It’s creepy without being too scary. Now, the crows, on the other hand, are super creepy to me! I’ve also had a fear of birds for um…as long as I can remember. But having some faux crows perched, I will admit, looks really cool. Even if you don’t have a table set up, there are so many ways to display them. For example…

See how Emily also put them on her black spray-painted large branches? It’s such a cool look! But what’s also a cool look, if you have the space, is a graveyard. It’s kinda peak Halloween decor, right?

Spooky Cloth (Set of 4) | Halloween Black Crow (Set of 2)

Well, Em started off her covered walkway with lots of spooky cloth. That’s another Em Henderson favorite that is also super high impact. And here are the crows again, in case you needed another nudge to be convinced about how cool they are:)

In my family, we had personalized gravestones (i.e., “Here lies Julia Helen. Had to kill her to stop her yellin…poor mom lol), but they were on cardboard and not even close to being as cool as the ones that Em has or that are on Wayfair right now.

Halloween Tombstones Foam Yard Decorations (Set of 5) | Creepy Arm Wall Halloween Decorations

Exhibit A. See? So cool! I love the varied shapes, that they are all different, and worn looking. I also LOVE those creepy arms! They can be attached to a wall, but coming out of the ground might be even cooler.

And what is a Halloween graveyard without a lot of bones scattered about…

9 Piece Skeleton Yard Figurine | Bag ‘O Bones Set (Set of 2)

Need I say more? Both of these sets are perfect to achieve this look. Man, I wish I had my own yard to recreate this. I love going on my morning walks and seeing all the homes that really go all out. If you can, BE ONE OF THOSE HOMES!

But of course, you can’t leave out the giant spiders and hanging ghosts of your graveyard!

Gigantic Hairy Scary Fake Spider | 35″ Halloween Hanging Ghost

Here are two truly great options if you are missing them from your collection. That spider comes in SIX different sizes, and man, it’s a real creepy crawler with all that hair. A very effective spooky addition to your decor. And is it even Halloween if there aren’t hanging ghosts? Not in my house and not at Em’s house. This one is a great size, a great price, and has great reviews. It’s a no-brainer:)

So there you have it, a great Halloween decor resource that we know, love, and trust. If you need to add to your decor this year, we highly recommend Wayfair. Happy decorating, my spooky friends!

Love you, mean it.

This post was sponsored by Wayfair, but all the words and thoughts are mine:)

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kailtin Green | From: Our Front Porch Decorated For Halloween (+ How It Looks Spooky At Night For Trick-Or-Treaters)

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 19, 2025 01:00

My Recent Vintage Haul – More Art Always

I really try not to step foot in an antique mall/vintage store if I don’t have a photo shoot/room reveal coming up – it’s just too dangerous. I will find something, and it’s not necessary to keep hoarding if I don’t think I have a place for something immediately (right???).

But…recently Brian and I were on our biking trip in the San Juan Islands, and we popped into a vintage shop, Smorgasbord on Orcas Island, and I would have left with far more if I had the room in my carry-on. It was so good. And the owner, Melanie (I think!!), was a reader, which made me feel good (she has great taste and was very cool). I wanted everything, so I came home with some “souvenirs” to memorialize the trip. I also like to think of it as my duty to make sure these really good stores and dealers stay in business, especially if their prices are excellent (so fair). Here’s what I came home with (in addition to a few other recent finds)

This watercolor came from an estate on the island, and I thought it was the perfect piece to remind me of this trip (which was super special with Brian). I can always find a place for more art (especially this size), and I think I’m going to hang it in my bathroom. Unsure if I want to reframe it in a darker wood, maybe even with a green matte, but we’ll see if/when I get to it.

Brian and I both really loved this wooden handled piece – we thought it would be the perfect napkin holder for our dining table (or outside).

As if I needed more wooden pieces, but these are so good and were such a good price, and easy to pack. The wooden dish is perfect for a nightstand or bathroom for jewelry, and the mixed candlesticks are perfectly eclectic and special. Yes, a hoard, but also a great gift?

I couldn’t pass up this beautiful footed green piece of pottery, obviously. I think it was $22 and just felt both really special and easy to style with.

Ok, now these weren’t from Smorgasborg. I needed art for my brother’s family room reveal, and it needed to be moody with hits of burgundy (in a perfect world). So I texted Purl and said, “Any cool art for this room?” and sent him a photo of it. He had a grouping of these, unframed, and I chose these three. He framed them in simple wood, which is perfect, and we hung them vertically on the wall together. I really love all three. After framing, they ended up being $330 for all three, which I felt was fair for both original art and the framing labor/supplies.

This guy (and the lamp below) I bought for myself on Mother’s Day at Monticello Antique Mall, which also sells mimosas :) I think it was under $20 (I hope, lol, I actually think it might have been $12?) and I’m not sure when/where it’s going to make its debut, but it’s quirky and weird and cool, so clearly I had to buy it.

Now THIS lamp is pretty incredible. It wasn’t cheap ($120), but I figured if I were in Italy and I stumbled upon it for that price, I would buy it, so why not save the money on the flight/shipping?? Let me know if you need help rationalizing anything vintage – it’s a real skill. I still have to get it rewired, which will likely cost more than the cost of the lamp, so I’m waiting til I know where it will go but it reminded me of the colorful Tiffany lamp in our kitchen that I’m absolutely obsessed with so I feel confident that I can find a place to add another colorful lamp that truly delights the eyes.

I LOVE this little piece of art and bought it for myself. It’s simple, with good texture and easy to incorporate into a lot of my gallery walls that have more abstract paintings in them. It’s by designer Anastasia Ratia.

Last but not least, another piece of art by Purl, a local artist whom I’ve commissioned for my coffee table, my corbels, and my oversized paintbrush and pencil from. He’s an artist who can do anything, honestly. I love the colors and the odd sense of balance.

What’s your favorite piece????

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 18, 2025 01:00

How To Layout A Living Room Like A Pro – 1 Room, 3 Ways!

Laying out a living room feels like something that should be easy, but rarely is it a one-size-fits-all situation. Sometimes there’s only one logical option, but often there are a few, so it’s up to you to decide what will work best for you and your family (or you and your roommates, or just for YOU!) When we were shooting our sofa and chair collection, Room Service (AH! It’s still so exciting to say that), Emily thought we should do a “1 living room, 3 ways” post and shoot our furniture in three different layouts. It turned out so great, is visually super informative, and everything is from Wayfair, which makes it easy and accessible:) Ok, let’s look at the room:

While I don’t have exact measurements of this space, this is the general layout. It’s a classic rectangular living room, which does give them a lot of furniture configuration options. There is the focal point of the fireplace, which plays a huge factor and needs to be considered with all of the layouts.

Here are some standard living room rules to help you figure out your own living room!

RULE: Give 30″ to 36″ of a walkway between large furniture pieces (if your living room allows for it) if not then at least 18″-24″.RULE: Make sure there is no less than 3.5′ and no more than 10′ of space between seating.RULE: If possible sofas should never be flush with a wall. Pull it out 3-5″ and give it some breathing room.RULE: Your coffee table should be at least half the length of your sofa.RULE: Your coffee table should be no more than 4″ higher or shorter than the top of your sofa seat cushions.RULE: Your area rug should be large enough for at least the front legs of the sofa and all chairs to rest on top of it.RULE: Allow about 24″ between the wall and the rug in a large living room, and between 10″ to 18″ in a smaller one.RULE: Make sure the shade of your floor lamp is covering the bulb when you are sitting down.RULE: Keep your side table close enough to set down a drink with ease. Which is typically 2-3″ from the height of the arm.

Let’s get into the first and simplest one…

The Classic Single Chaise Sectional

Easy peasy, right? One sectional, a coffee table, and one (or two if needed) side tables. It’s a great seating arrangement. Want to see it in real life??

Here you go! Our Milo sectional is pretty perfect if I do say so myself. It’s a big boy, so for a longer room, it’s ideal. And the styling of this room is neutral but so alive with the quiet patterns and hits of black. I also just love that floor lamp so much. So yes, this is a great, classic layout that no one could complain about…unless they wanted a little more seating:)

Two Sofas Facing Each Other

For a room that doesn’t revolve around a TV and offers less “everyone snuggle on the same sofa” vibe, the two sofas facing each other is an incredibly elegant and equally as simple setup. Instead of 4+ people getting on the same sofa, this layout offers a bit more personal space and puts the attention on the people in the room. Y’all get to look at each other!

Especially with a special sofa like Alice (those curves are so pretty in this photo and even more so in person), having two facing each other looks stunning. A big coffee table is important to balance out the scale. Also, don’t forget, at least, those front legs need to be ON the rug:)

As you know, this is how Em’s living room is set up, and soon she will be getting her very own set of green Alice sofas (in the 96″ though:)) Another fun option is to mix up the sofa colors if you want to make a more eclectic statement! Let me show you in the next and final layout.

Two Sofas + Two Chairs

This one, of course, is amazing because you get THE MOST seating, you can still space out and interact with everyone in the room, as well as, have a comfortable little movie night since there’s a sofas facing where a TV would go (also in this example, our Suz chairs swivel, so they can also easily face the TV or fireplace).

See the mix of colors?! All neutral in their own ways, but fun and vibrant. They also don’t all compete with each other. This kind of layout gives you such an opportunity for style mixing. The Barb sofa and the Suz chairs are a bit more inspired but playful.

While the Oscar sofa still has special details, but is a little cleaner and classic. They all play so well together and again, offers so much seating. Who wouldn’t want to sit in this room?! I also think that the cream rug lets the colorful furniture pieces shine. The balance is perfect.

So there you have it. You have options when it comes to laying out your living room, and above all else, it needs to work for your home and your life. Ask yourself, what do I want the main purpose of this living room to be? A TV room? A hang and talk room? How many people do I want to be able to seat comfortably? That’s how design should be – a room designed around how you actually live and not the other way around. And when you are ready to design your room, take a peek at Room Service and, of course, Wayfair because their catalogue of amazing pieces is a total one-stop shop for every style, and every home. Happy designing:)

Love you, mean it.

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 17, 2025 01:00

This Tapestry Headboard Will Make Your Home Feel Like Fall 24-7 (+ 68 Other Cozy On-Trend Fall Decor Picks)

The first official day of fall is next Monday, September 22, though still technically being summer hasn’t stopped anyone (including us here at EHD) from fast-forwarding onto the next season, at the very least from a decorating perspective. And while many consider fall decorating “heavy on the pumpkin,” I much prefer something less “seasonal” and more setting the mood for the long haul. Thankfully, Jess did much of the heavy lifting with her past the other week on the six trends to make your home cozy for fall (and beyond), and I’m here today to round it all out with some shopping with a couple of new ones from me.

Fall Trend #1: Burgundy

I’ve been riding high on burgundy for years, so color me happy now that trends dictate it be offering on all kinds of accessible products for across the home. Blankets, mirrors, lighting, serving dishes, and even wallpaper are all getting the maroon treatment, and I love it. While I love a punch of unexpected red for that wow factor, burgundy is more hushed. The less flashy person in the friend group that knows everyone’s secrets, is super smart, and has a touch of dark humor. Burgundy is the bass player of the band, while red is the lead guitarist. I’m here for it.

Digging up finds was easy, as this color is everywhere right now. Some non-committal decor would include a pretty catch-all dish from Schoolhouse (#1), some splatter enamelware serving dishes (#5), or a super affordable little vase for some fall blooms (#7). Ready to go all in? Opt for more permanent fixtures, like this well-priced sconce by Chris Loves Julia (#3), a very cool modern nightstand to break up standard wood tones in your bedroom (#9), and a sweet yet impactful wallpaper I’m kind of obsessed with (#11).

Fall Trend #2: Outlining

I feel incredibly validated seeing “outlining” as a trend Jess pulled out. Years ago, when I was designing the bedroom I revealed on this site, I planned on doing a ceiling outline after having an image I saw in a high-end magazine stuck in my head from a decade or so prior. Because we were moving shortly after my shoot, I decided to skip it, but I’ve long loved the outline detail. It’s fun to see it a bit more in the mainstream now. While most of the examples Jess showed in her fall trends post involved wall treatments, I wanted to find an actual product that spoke to the look.

You are most likely to see outlines or borders in textiles, though I stretched the limits a bit with a great sofa from Sabai with red piping (#8) and a petite chest/side table with a colored and patterned border (#7). I’m very into that citrine Pepper Home pillow (#5) with the blue fringe border, though you can customize it many different ways on their website. A scalloped border on pillow shams from Bed Threads (#1) brings two trends together, as does the rounded edges on the wool rug from Allmodern (#9). Keep it classic with bordered bedding from Williams-Sonoma, or add a cool, soft yet modern touch to your sofa with a high-quality throw (#3).

Fall Trend #3: Tapestries

Tapestries are *the* hottest trend on this whole list—perhaps I should have started with them? These oversized and often dramatic wall textiles are absolutely everywhere, especially dark, moody landscapes. You may have noticed the beautiful tapestry above Mallory’s sofa in her recent living room reveal (it’s #2 here!). That room is a testament to how well they work in not just traditional or regal settings but also modern or minimal aesthetics. Here’s a rundown of some of my current favorites:

I’ve long been fascinated by the work of Jaime Hayon, so I was thrilled to see #1, which is by the Spanish artist and designer through Lumens. Similar to Mallory’s, #4 has some cooler tones in it and is more vertical than horizontal. My picks shown at #7 and #11 are also predominantly blue, which I think are a bit more “friendly” to work into a room. If you’re after some scenic depictions of country life or Medieval art, check out #6, #10, and #12. Don’t forget that you can always use a rug as a tapestry if it’s not too thick, which is why I picked #8 from Joon Loloi by Drew Michael Scott of Lone Fox, as well as this fun little vintage number from the 1990s (#5). And for something totally different and vibrant, #9 is a patchwork Pakistan textile that would be the star of whatever wall it graces.

1. Hayon x Nani Tapestry | 2. Verdure Tapestry: Antique French Linen Landscape Wall Hanging | 3. Hillside Haze Tapestry 76″ x 58″ | 4. Verdure Tapestry: Antique French Landscape Print on Heavy Linen | 5. Vintage 1990s Brown Green Hand Embroidery Wall Tapestry | 6. 1990s 18th Century Tapestry Recreation “The Gypsies” | 7. Antique-Inspired Verdure Tapestry: French Linen Wall Hanging with Brass Standoffs | 8. Lone Fox x Joon Loloi Hollyhock Printed Tapestry Rug | 9. Vintage Pakistani Textile Wall Hanging | 10. Vintage Large Medieval Tapestry | 11. Maeve Traditional Teal Blue Forest Landscape Tapestry – 57×55 | 12. Vintage Country Lifestyle Tapestry

Fall Trend #4: Semi-Sheer Taupe Curtains

Want something more romantic and warmer than white curtains with plenty of light-filtering capabilities? Semi-sheer taupe curtains may be just the thing! From my research, it’s clear “taupe” is one of those colors that is somewhat up to interpretation, but essentially, it’s a warm dark beige-gray. You may also find it difficult to find “semi-sheer” by name, but what you’re after is a thin linen, cotton, or even an actual sheer with lining (available mostly through custom drapery retailers).

If your budget is robust, consider these gorgeous drapes from Nordic Knots (#1), or custom picks from Two Pages (#3) or Gotain (#6). Ready-to-hang options can be found at places like West Elm (#2), H&M (#4), IKEA, and even Amazon (#9) from as low as $30 for a pair of panels (#5) to around $100, give or take (#2 and #8).

1. The Sheer Linen – Hazelnut | 2. Sheer European Flax Linen Curtain in Dark Flax | 3. Joy 100% European Flax Linen Sheer Curtain Pleated | 4. 1-Pack Wide Lyocell-blend Curtain Panel in Beige | 5. SILVERLÖNN Sheer Curtains – 1 pair in Beige | 6. Sheer Linen Curtain Sand | 7. Belgian Flax Linen Unlined Curtain in Warm Gray | 8. Coffee Cloud Linen Sheer Curtains | 9. Linen Sheer Curtains – 2 Pack Khaki

Fall Trend #5: Whimsical Beds

I was a bit surprised to see this on Jess’ list, but if you know anything about me and my design leanings, you’ll know I was also delighted. Whimsy is a big factor of rooms that make my heart pitter-patter, though usually in small doses. A bed being one of the largest moments in our sleeping quarters, it’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure.

I rounded up a grouping of antique, vintage, and new beds and headboards, with a huge spectrum of pricing. Obviously, the most expensive ones being antique, whether from the 1890s (#7) or 1920s (#5). I’m seriously eyeing #1 because the price is so good and it would be perfect for my daughter’s next big-girl bed, and speaks to her love of all things Frozen. Though man, I’m very into that tapestry headboard from Anthropologie (#4) and the full-print upholstered bed from CB2 (#6). Another fabric option is from the collab no one asked for—The White Lotus—but the product itself is quite beautiful (#8).

1. 1990s Handpainted Scandinavian-Inspired Full Size Headboard | 2. Handmade Bone Inlay Floral Design Blue Headboard | 3. Vintage Italian Patina Hand-Painted King Bed | 4. Gia Francois Tapestry Headboard | 5. Antique Circa 1920 Country House Hand Painted Single Bed | 6. Diana Queen Bed Landscape Blue | 7. King-Sized Headboard Featuring a Pair of Danish Painted Panels in the Pompeian Taste, 1890 | 8. Facade Lotus King Bed – The White Lotus | 9. 1940s Vintage Handpainted French Headboard

Fall Trends #6: Chrome Finishes

Bonus trends! There were some parts of Jess’ post that were hard to bring into product roundup form (the color palette she highlighted, for instance), so I decided to add two other trends to the conversation to round out this post: Chrome, and twists—up next. Now, chrome isn’t distinctly a fall fashion as it’s become more and more popular in the last year or two, but it would be silly not to include it here since there is so much product on the market now to justify it. Chrome is everywhere, and I think it’s such a sharp, edgy finish that could fit into any room, even if just in small doses.

Try it on vases (#3), table lamps (#4), or pretty catch-alls (#7 or #9). A coffee table (#6) or side table (#1 or #5) is the next size up, or opt for it as the frame of an armchair (#2) for a deeper commitment. Or, my long-time favorite, in an object such as the Tangle sculpture (#8), which pivots at multiple joints to create endless sinuous shapes (I want one for the center of my dining table one day).

Fall Trend #7: Twists & Braided Wood

And finally, the final trend roundup of the bunch: Twists! This one is more under the radar, I think, not to mention harder to find product for, but it’s there, and it’s visible if you keep your eyes open. Some of the wood pieces originally felt a little dated to me, but in the right room, or in different materials, it’s just a different visual touch that adds softness and character.

You can buy into this cozy trend for as low as $11 with a cute twisted taper candle from Etsy (#4) or a thicker pillar candle for about twice that from McGee & Co (#8). I’m very into the twisted marble tray (#1) and the chunky twist mirror from Anthro (#2). Both the console table (#5) and side table (#7) are fairly classic with its turned twisty legs, but for something with some more flair, take a look at the table from Joon Loloi (#3).

And there you are, my friends! I like these kinds of shopping posts because we don’t all need new curtains or sofas or case goods, but sometimes, picking up a $40 candle holder just feels really good and fun, like you’re part of something, no matter how silly that sounds. Tiny pleasures are immensely important to me in these tumultuous days, so by all means, pick up a new-to-you tapestry to transform a room in your home, or a splatter platter to liven up your next dinner, whether it’s solo or with guests.

Until next time, friends…

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 16, 2025 01:00

This Tapestry Headboard Will Make Your Home Fell Like Fall 24-7 (+ 68 Other Cozy On-Trend Fall Decor Picks)

The first official day of fall is next Monday, September 22, though still technically being summer hasn’t stopped anyone (including us here at EHD) from fast-forwarding onto the next season, at the very least from a decorating perspective. And while many consider fall decorating “heavy on the pumpkin,” I much prefer something less “seasonal” and more setting the mood for the long haul. Thankfully, Jess did much of the heavy lifting with her past the other week on the six trends to make your home cozy for fall (and beyond), and I’m here today to round it all out with some shopping with a couple of new ones from me.

Fall Trend #1: Burgundy

I’ve been riding high on burgundy for years, so color me happy now that trends dictate it be offering on all kinds of accessible products for across the home. Blankets, mirrors, lighting, serving dishes, and even wallpaper are all getting the maroon treatment, and I love it. While I love a punch of unexpected red for that wow factor, burgundy is more hushed. The less flashy person in the friend group that knows everyone’s secrets, is super smart, and has a touch of dark humor. Burgundy is the bass player of the band, while red is the lead guitarist. I’m here for it.

Digging up finds was easy, as this color is everywhere right now. Some non-committal decor would include a pretty catch-all dish from Schoolhouse (#1), some splatter enamelware serving dishes (#5), or a super affordable little vase for some fall blooms (#7). Ready to go all in? Opt for more permanent fixtures, like this well-priced sconce by Chris Loves Julia (#3), a very cool modern nightstand to break up standard wood tones in your bedroom (#9), and a sweet yet impactful wallpaper I’m kind of obsessed with (#11).

Fall Trend #2: Outlining

I feel incredibly validated seeing “outlining” as a trend Jess pulled out. Years ago, when I was designing the bedroom I revealed on this site, I planned on doing a ceiling outline after having an image I saw in a high-end magazine stuck in my head from a decade or so prior. Because we were moving shortly after my shoot, I decided to skip it, but I’ve long loved the outline detail. It’s fun to see it a bit more in the mainstream now. While most of the examples Jess showed in her fall trends post involved wall treatments, I wanted to find an actual product that spoke to the look.

You are most likely to see outlines or borders in textiles, though I stretched the limits a bit with a great sofa from Sabai with red piping (#8) and a petite chest/side table with a colored and patterned border (#7). I’m very into that citrine Pepper Home pillow (#5) with the blue fringe border, though you can customize it many different ways on their website. A scalloped border on pillow shams from Bed Threads (#1) brings two trends together, as does the rounded edges on the wool rug from Allmodern (#9). Keep it classic with bordered bedding from Williams-Sonoma, or add a cool, soft yet modern touch to your sofa with a high-quality throw (#3).

Fall Trend #3: Tapestries

Tapestries are *the* hottest trend on this whole list—perhaps I should have started with them? These oversized and often dramatic wall textiles are absolutely everywhere, especially dark, moody landscapes. You may have noticed the beautiful tapestry above Mallory’s sofa in her recent living room reveal (it’s #2 here!). That room is a testament to how well they work in not just traditional or regal settings but also modern or minimal aesthetics. Here’s a rundown of some of my current favorites:

I’ve long been fascinated by the work of Jaime Hayon, so I was thrilled to see #1, which is by the Spanish artist and designer through Lumens. Similar to Mallory’s, #4 has some cooler tones in it and is more vertical than horizontal. My picks shown at #7 and #11 are also predominantly blue, which I think are a bit more “friendly” to work into a room. If you’re after some scenic depictions of country life or Medieval art, check out #6, #10, and #12. Don’t forget that you can always use a rug as a tapestry if it’s not too thick, which is why I picked #8 from Joon Loloi by Drew Michael Scott of Lone Fox, as well as this fun little vintage number from the 1990s (#5). And for something totally different and vibrant, #9 is a patchwork Pakistan textile that would be the star of whatever wall it graces.

1. Hayon x Nani Tapestry | 2. Verdure Tapestry: Antique French Linen Landscape Wall Hanging | 3. Hillside Haze Tapestry 76″ x 58″ | 4. Verdure Tapestry: Antique French Landscape Print on Heavy Linen | 5. Vintage 1990s Brown Green Hand Embroidery Wall Tapestry | 6. 1990s 18th Century Tapestry Recreation “The Gypsies” | 7. Antique-Inspired Verdure Tapestry: French Linen Wall Hanging with Brass Standoffs | 8. Lone Fox x Joon Loloi Hollyhock Printed Tapestry Rug | 9. Vintage Pakistani Textile Wall Hanging | 10. Vintage Large Medieval Tapestry | 11. Maeve Traditional Teal Blue Forest Landscape Tapestry – 57×55 | 12. Vintage Country Lifestyle Tapestry

Fall Trend #4: Semi-Sheer Taupe Curtains

Want something more romantic and warmer than white curtains with plenty of light-filtering capabilities? Semi-sheer taupe curtains may be just the thing! From my research, it’s clear “taupe” is one of those colors that is somewhat up to interpretation, but essentially, it’s a warm dark beige-gray. You may also find it difficult to find “semi-sheer” by name, but what you’re after is a thin linen, cotton, or even an actual sheer with lining (available mostly through custom drapery retailers).

If your budget is robust, consider these gorgeous drapes from Nordic Knots (#1), or custom picks from Two Pages (#3) or Gotain (#6). Ready-to-hang options can be found at places like West Elm (#2), H&M (#4), IKEA, and even Amazon (#9) from as low as $30 for a pair of panels (#5) to around $100, give or take (#2 and #8).

1. The Sheer Linen – Hazelnut | 2. Sheer European Flax Linen Curtain in Dark Flax | 3. Joy 100% European Flax Linen Sheer Curtain Pleated | 4. 1-Pack Wide Lyocell-blend Curtain Panel in Beige | 5. SILVERLÖNN Sheer Curtains – 1 pair in Beige | 6. Sheer Linen Curtain Sand | 7. Belgian Flax Linen Unlined Curtain in Warm Gray | 8. Coffee Cloud Linen Sheer Curtains | 9. Linen Sheer Curtains – 2 Pack Khaki

Fall Trend #5: Whimsical Beds

I was a bit surprised to see this on Jess’ list, but if you know anything about me and my design leanings, you’ll know I was also delighted. Whimsy is a big factor of rooms that make my heart pitter-patter, though usually in small doses. A bed being one of the largest moments in our sleeping quarters, it’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure.

I rounded up a grouping of antique, vintage, and new beds and headboards, with a huge spectrum of pricing. Obviously, the most expensive ones being antique, whether from the 1890s (#7) or 1920s (#5). I’m seriously eyeing #1 because the price is so good and it would be perfect for my daughter’s next big-girl bed, and speaks to her love of all things Frozen. Though man, I’m very into that tapestry headboard from Anthropologie (#4) and the full-print upholstered bed from CB2 (#6). Another fabric option is from the collab no one asked for—The White Lotus—but the product itself is quite beautiful (#8).

1. 1990s Handpainted Scandinavian-Inspired Full Size Headboard | 2. Handmade Bone Inlay Floral Design Blue Headboard | 3. Vintage Italian Patina Hand-Painted King Bed | 4. Gia Francois Tapestry Headboard | 5. Antique Circa 1920 Country House Hand Painted Single Bed | 6. Diana Queen Bed Landscape Blue | 7. King-Sized Headboard Featuring a Pair of Danish Painted Panels in the Pompeian Taste, 1890 | 8. Facade Lotus King Bed – The White Lotus | 9. 1940s Vintage Handpainted French Headboard

Fall Trends #6: Chrome Finishes

Bonus trends! There were some parts of Jess’ post that were hard to bring into product roundup form (the color palette she highlighted, for instance), so I decided to add two other trends to the conversation to round out this post: Chrome, and twists—up next. Now, chrome isn’t distinctly a fall fashion as it’s become more and more popular in the last year or two, but it would be silly not to include it here since there is so much product on the market now to justify it. Chrome is everywhere, and I think it’s such a sharp, edgy finish that could fit into any room, even if just in small doses.

Try it on vases (#3), table lamps (#4), or pretty catch-alls (#7 or #9). A coffee table (#6) or side table (#1 or #5) is the next size up, or opt for it as the frame of an armchair (#2) for a deeper commitment. Or, my long-time favorite, in an object such as the Tangle sculpture (#8), which pivots at multiple joints to create endless sinuous shapes (I want one for the center of my dining table one day).

Fall Trend #7: Twists & Braided Wood

And finally, the final trend roundup of the bunch: Twists! This one is more under the radar, I think, not to mention harder to find product for, but it’s there, and it’s visible if you keep your eyes open. Some of the wood pieces originally felt a little dated to me, but in the right room, or in different materials, it’s just a different visual touch that adds softness and character.

You can buy into this cozy trend for as low as $11 with a cute twisted taper candle from Etsy (#4) or a thicker pillar candle for about twice that from McGee & Co (#8). I’m very into the twisted marble tray (#1) and the chunky twist mirror from Anthro (#2). Both the console table (#5) and side table (#7) are fairly classic with its turned twisty legs, but for something with some more flair, take a look at the table from Joon Loloi (#3).

And there you are, my friends! I like these kinds of shopping posts because we don’t all need new curtains or sofas or case goods, but sometimes, picking up a $40 candle holder just feels really good and fun, like you’re part of something, no matter how silly that sounds. Tiny pleasures are immensely important to me in these tumultuous days, so by all means, pick up a new-to-you tapestry to transform a room in your home, or a splatter platter to liven up your next dinner, whether it’s solo or with guests.

Until next time, friends…

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 16, 2025 01:00

See How Mallory Turned Her Coat Closet Into A Speakeasy

Spoiler alert: this might just be my favorite project I’ve ever done. But before I show you everything, let me back it up a bit and tell you how it all came to be. My living room (which was just revealed!!) and dining room (which is coming soon to the blog!) are open to each other, and smack in the middle of the two spaces is this coat closet. It’s your average closet – truly nothing special. It’s filled with coats, ladders, extra toilet paper, the works. Nothing glamorous and all the stuff that needs hiding. Super functional, but we have a fairly large closet and some cabinets in the hallway, so it wasn’t totally necessary.

Yup, confirmed this is your average, unorganized coat closet. Living room is to the left, and the dining room is to the right. While it was nice to have extra storage, and I could’ve just organized this space and left it as is, there was another issue I was having. Our kitchen (which is so cute and full of vintage tile) is charming but tiny. Like it barely fits a tiny fridge. So we hardly have enough space to store food in there – but barware and alcohol bottles?? FORGET ABOUT IT! It truly was a disaster when it came to bar storage, and I was desperate to find literally any solution.

During COVID, everyone had their little hobbies they picked up – whether it was baking bread, getting into calligraphy, or what have you – and learning to make craft cocktails was mine. I also LOVE to host, and therefore I love to have a full bar so that when people come over, I can make literally whatever they want. Negroni? Done. Feeling more of a margarita vibe? Coming right up. Oh, you want a martini? Shaken or stirred, baby? That’s the energy we like to have when guests come over, and hey, it’s cheaper than hanging out at your neighborhood bar, so why not incentivise cocktails at home?

But yeah…storing a full bar in my itty bitty kitchen? There was no way. Plus, I hated the idea of people coming over for a dinner party where I’m cooking and then everyone pops into said tiny kitchen to grab a drink. What can I say, I like my space when I’m prepping food!! I want my guests to be able to grab a drink, sit on the couch, and not come near if the stove is on fire, haha. So I started doing some thinking…and I thunk and thunk and finally thought…wait, is that a key for a door handle on that coat closet?? Imagine if that key opened up to a little speakeasy…

so that’s exactly what I did…

Lamp | Silhouette Art Frames | Cabinet

Except I ended up taking the door off because it was too much work and too pretty to not look at all the time – so I still call it “The Closet Speakeasy” but it is fully open to anyone who walks in!! Honestly, sometimes I still debate putting this door back on, but we have a cute mirror outside the door, so it just kind of gets in the way…see below:

And then now that my living room is finished, this is what it looks like right outside the closet door! I did a DIY bookcase situation that I’m absolutely obsessed with. The whole space just feels way more pulled together now.

It’s actually comical because I had this idea for the closet speakeasy and HAD to do it. I created this closet before I had a real dining table, which is so hilarious and shows questionable priorities. So yeah, this was the first space I finished in my apartment, and it only took 2 months, but let me tell you it was certainly more of a thing than I was expecting (it always is, isn’t it?)

Jacket | Skirt (unavailable) | Shirt (unavailable) | Shoes

Person for scale! Hi! My main inspiration was the wine bar at the Parker Palm Springs – if you haven’t been, it’s iconic (also, I’m clearly very obsessed with The Parker as it was also a major source of inspiration for my 500 sqft studio apartment). It’s an ultra sexy, low-ceilinged wine bar that fits about 20 people, maybe 30 max. I love the intimacy and knew I could create something similar in this very intimate closet bar, which seats 1 or 2 max if you’re playing 7 minutes in heaven.

I’ve always had an affinity for high gloss, lacquer walls, and I knew that was going to be the best way to make this tiny space feel larger and to bounce the light around. So I started experimenting with ways I could create that look, knowing full well that it’s not a renter-friendly, easy, or affordable solution. There are a ton of vinyl peel-and-stick wallpaper options, but they’re not super wide. I thought the seams might make the space look cheap, so I ended up finding a patent leather fabric and stapling it to the walls (and then I covered the staples with trim so it’s super seamless). I ordered 8.5 yards because I initially did the door as well, and the total was $250 for all the fabric. At $30 a yard, this was SO affordable, looks super high end, and beats a lot of wallpaper pricing out there, let me tell ya! The staples will be a thing to get out, but not impossible, and honestly, I doubt I’m going to take this down. The next tenant will probably be pumped to have this bar, so I’m definitely going to try to leave it if I can! Surprisingly, though, everything in here can be removed with almost no damage to the closet. I kept the rod as well, so I can put it back on the closet rod sockets like it was never touched.

Okay, enough waiting, let’s take you deeper into this closet speakeasy, shall we??

So, as I briefly mentioned above, we chopped off the closet rod in about 5 seconds with this powerful tool my boyfriend, Austin, brought over. Then we proceeded to install shelving (which I’ve never done before, but it needed to be SUPPORTIVE because of all the bottles and such that would live on here). We used these objectively ugly but super supportive brackets to hold up the back of the bookcase (I covered most of them up with the mirrored backsplash, but you can see a bit of them on the bottom of the top shelf – we photoshopped them out in some of the photos but see the photo below where I left them in), and then we used these pretty wood brackets to support the front of the shelves.

I found the perfect wood cocktail glass holder for under this shelf and painted everything a color-matched red to the patent leather walls. I’m very obsessed with the look, especially with the way the brackets frame these glasses. I love me some glassware, so this was honestly critical for storage purposes!

And then I also added battery-powered LED light strips to the shelves and these acrylic shelves to lift the bottles up and have the light shine through – the closet had no light, so this made a huge difference!

This shot above is the only one where you can kind of see the ceiling – which is really where my Parker Palm Springs wine bar inspo shows off the most! I ordered 9 of these tiles and then hung them up with command strips and they’re a dream! They really make the whole space.

Okay, let’s talk about the mirrored backsplash! I was looking into ordering real antiqued mirrors, but let me tell you – they cost a pretty penny. I really wanted to save on the backsplash since I wasn’t going to take this space with me, so I found these mirrors in a pack of 12 for $25. I ordered two packs and some spray paint and got to work! I followed Lone Fox Home’s technique (go 12 min into the video!) which is to layer this spay paint, then this and this, and then dab on alcohol ink, and it worked really well but I oversprayed it a bit, so I used nail polish remover to bring some of the reflectiveness back in and I LOVE how it turned out. Okay, now it’s time for the cabinet saga…

Cabinet | Wine Fridge | Wine Glass Cubby

Okay, getting this cabinet in here was so hilarious. Let me explain. So I found this gorgeous burlwood cabinet that was the EXACT width of this closet, and since it was from Home Depot, I was like…this will definitely come in pieces and I’ll install it inside the closet when it shows up, and it will be perfect. Well, it most definitely did not come in pieces – this thing came BUILT. AND SHE WAS SOLID. But I was determined to disassemble this bad boy and get it in the closet. So I enlisted Austin to come over and help me cut into it with some of his fancy power tools (dating me is awesome, BTW). You guys, this thing would not budge. We took out every screw we could find, hacked away at it with a saw, and nothing. For two straight days, I tried breaking it apart, and everyone was starting to think I was insane. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting different results, and I was certainly at that point until I took a handsaw straight to the side of the wood and snapped this thing into two (cleanly and nicely, though). It was actually crazy. BUT this guy fit so perfectly in here that I reassembled it inside and hammered it in so it’s perfectly tight and secure. Like this thing is going nowhere, and you would never know the frankensteining I had to do to make it work. So, if you’re in the market for a burlwood cabinet that’s high quality at an affordable price point, might I recommend this one? It’s nearly impossible to break or rip apart lol.

And then case you haven’t noticed…I’m a bit extra…so obviously I put a wine fridge in here (duh!) It took forever to find one that was tiny enough to fit – and this one was still a bit too deep, so I took the back of the cabinet out and then pulled it one inch from the wall (see here). I ran an extension cord on the left side of the speakeasy and painted the cord cover to match, so you don’t even notice it’s there.

Oh, and then I have one more bonus image for you!! The lamp you’ve been seeing in all the photos is a vintage lamp I found for $10, which was a total steal. I ended up getting gifted my DREAM Louis Poulsen PH lamp (which is objectively one of the coolest things to ever happen to me), so I tried it in here and I LOVE. I had it here for a bit and then put it on the piano in my living room because I feel like it is a bit tall for this space?? Comment your thoughts on which lamp you like more and if the door should be on or off:)

Louis Poulsen PH lamp

So that’s how the closet speakeasy all went down. Kinda crazy…I know. I don’t do things half-assed, so here we are…

THANK YOU for reading and following along. If you want to see every step of me putting this closet together (including ripping the cabinet apart with my bare hands), you can check out part one, part two, and part three over on my Instagram. I’ll see ya in the comments!

*Design by Mallory Wackerman
**Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 15, 2025 01:00

The Link Up: An Awesome Portland Design Event, Mal’s Sweater Org Hack, And The Most Incredible House Tour

Happy Sunday, everyone! Did you see we’re doing another VELUX Brighter Days Makeover Giveaway?? It’s one of our favorite types of makeovers because who doesn’t love an amazing skylight? So head to that post to see if you qualify and then APPLY! Aside from that, the EHD team is gearing up for a “Birthday Retreat” (all of our birthdays are in either September or October) and we are pretty excited. Don’t worry, we’ll be very productive:) Ok, links??

This week’s house tour put our jaws on the floor. Nicola Harding designed the most unreal new-build English chalet that is bursting with color and texture, but in a way that feels like a magical hug. You have to see it for yourself.

From Emily: Hey Portland folks, the first annual Nest Fest is happening September 20th in SE Portland, put on by the Willamette Weekly. They have a slew of design activities in all of our favorite stores (in the GOAT blocks). A ton of my favorite stores are involved, and I’m really, really hoping to make it. IF you are in Portland and around that weekend, go support local design. All information is HERE.

From Caitlin: It finally happened: I was duped. Fooled. Bamboozled, even. The perpetrator? This marble catch-all that looks way older and way more expensive than its $22 price tag. I spotted it on the coffee table in a friend’s home and asked which flea market or antique store she’d sourced it from (like an absolute DOPE), and was stunned to learn that it was, in fact, BRAND NEW. My ego was bruised – I will never hear the end of it! – but I live to fight another day. (And for what it’s worth, I would have paid up to $40 for it at the flea market. Good looking stone is good looking stone!)

Also from Caitlin: I am delighted to report that The Paper – the spinoff of The Office – is actually great! I’ve made it through the first five episodes – it’s laugh-out-loud funny (once you get past Domhall Gleason’s American accent, which is jarring. He’s just so quintessentially British! He shouldn’t sound like that!) and endearingly idealistic. I’d say it feels more like an Abbot Elementary or a Parks and Recreation in tone (it’s a bit lighter, more playful, occasionally silly), but I really think it has a shot at being a classic American sitcom. Maybe it’ll even reenergize the markets for local papers! In any case, kudos to the team on pulling off such a highly anticipated reimagining. (I’m just so glad it’s actually good!!!!!!!)

From Jess: As I’m prepping for my MOTO shoot (that’s in just over a week!!) I needed a shop vac. Yes, my sweet little balcony was in desperate need of a cleaning. It had so much debris on and in the cracks of the tiles. Basically, my normal vacuum would not do. So now I’m the proud owner of this guy! I love it. But FYI, horsepower is important. I got a 4-gallon, 3.5-horsepower one first that was useless. Confused, I called my dad, who asked, “Well, what’s the horsepower?” You gotta have at least 5…” Cool, cool, cool. Great to know that info AFTER I purchased that less powerful one. Anyway, if you need a shop vac that’s a good size but not huge, and powerful, the Bunges are big fans of this one (Les has the same one).

Also From Jess: I’m in my skort era apparently and recently got this light blue satin/lace one (I sized down a size) AND this faux leather one (in chocolatier brown) that I very appropriately wore to the Goo Goo Dolls and Dashboard Confessional concert last weekend. Hands Down, some of my favorite new pieces;)

Garden Walk Linen Pillow | Reika Round Dining Table | Arvo Table Lamp

Rajaa Hand-Loomed Rug | Boedie Dining Chair | Looped Wood Full Length Mirror

Helmi Floor Lamp | Rivas Foot Stool | Reika Plinth

Sarah Sherman Samuel and Lulu and Georgia did it again, but maybe even better! This new collection, Reverie, is incredible! We truly want every piece. The way this collection plays with shapes and scale is bold, chic, and yet we think, versatile. No misses here. Congrats to these awesome teams!!

From Mallory: I used these sweater bins back when we did our $150 EHD closet makeover challenge, and they were a GAME CHANGER. The perfect solution to storing sweaters/foldable shirts/pants/etc, because you can grab the items out of the front of the bin and they’re clear, so you can see what’s inside. I’m a huge fan – they made my life SO much easier and they’re on a 40% off sale right now!!

From Arlyn: When I was a kid, I would shovel chocolate Teddy Grahams into my mouth. I loved them so much I’d even turn them into a bowl of cereal (good lord). Now, as a grown-up, I, uh, don’t do that anymore. But I found the next best thing with the added benefit of fiber and even some protein! Simple Mills is one of my go-to cracker brands at home, and their Chocolate Brownie Cookies taste exactly how I remember Teddy Grahams tasting. Chocolatey, sweet, but made from things like watermelon and sunflower seed flour, and flax. My kid and I love them, and I don’t feel any which way about popping a few into her lunch box. I linked to their website where you can find stores they are sold in, but you can also grab them on Amazon if you shop there.

From Marlee: My hair holy grail this time of year is everything Amika. A general practice I live by is: the colder and wetter it gets outside, the less I wash my hair. As it gets rainy in Portland, there is no greater sensory nightmare for me than going into the rain or cold with already wet hair (I’m strictly air drying in the summer). It feels weird, it just never dries, and when it does, it’s insanely flat on top and frizzy all around. The turn of autumn marks the period of my curling iron, blow dryer, dry shampoo, and texture spray living on my bathroom counter for the season. Not only do the Amika products smell AMAZING (people always compliment my “perfume”), the dry shampoo doesn’t feel like it leaves extreme buildup like other ones, and really feels like a little goes a long way. Their texture spray is the greatest for bringing volume back into my hair as it starts to go flat and get greasy, and a hack I learned is that this works SO well for balancing out my cowlick on my part. My hair gets extremely brittle in the winter, and I also looooove their hair mask – it truly leaves my hair so so soft and feeling super healthy and shiny. Their branding is super cute but if you’ve ever overlooked it because it seems kind of trendy, I’m here to tell you it’s not! Also, almost every hairstylist I’ve gone to in the last few years uses it!

From Gretchen: Is it the end of summer? Sure. But I find myself buying statement sunglasses by the boatload. I was shopping in store at Free People a few weeks ago to grab some last minute lewks for a vacation. I found some perfect jeans (which are sadly no longer available as they were on a major sale) and two pairs of sunnies. This pair felt like a great shape on my face–a classic black rounded lens with a slightly hexagonal feel up top. Easy, cute, practical, $25. Score! But THIS pair was straight up for fun and fashion reasons… my attempt at looking like a “cool girl”. Blue lenses, modern and chunky aviator shape, with a warm brown frame, $30. Double score!

Thanks for spending time with us today, and get ready for a VERY cool reveal tomorrow:)

Opening Image Credits: Design by Mallory Wackerman | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: MOTO REVEAL: How Mallory Made Her Boring Living Room Feel Homey In Just One Month

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 14, 2025 01:00

Really Good Fall Jackets (Barn Jackets FTW)

I think it’s safe to say that barn jackets are having a moment – I suppose they are western adjacent and full of utilitarian nostalgia. But we mostly love them because they are easy to throw on and wear, have mixed materials (usually denim or canvas with a different collar), and ample pockets. I found a few at the mall that I wanted to show you, as well as a couple of other fall jackets that are pretty dang great for the season. I tried them all on with my favorite Korkease fall boots and barrel jeans that I can’t seem to quit.

Renacida Jacket (Extra Small) | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

This jacket surprised me at $60 from Shopbop, and Kaitlin (our photographer who has decidedly cooler style than I do) bought it immediately. It’s a thicker cotton that is just so easy to throw on (which I have been doing for days), and I love that it’s a stripe (always). So many pockets, y’all.

Renacida Jacket (Extra Small) | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

Now it’s VERY oversized. I’m wearing an XS small, and it’s still big. We like this look (and it looks awesome with tall boots), but def size down even if you want oversized.

Denim Trapeze Jacket (Medium) | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

This Madewell jacket was hard to find, I think because it’s so popular, but I found it at Nordstroms. It’s pretty perfect.

Denim Trapeze Jacket (Medium) | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

It’s polished (we love the dark denim, contrasting thread, and brass buttons), and the trapeze-style back gives it a solidly not utilitarian vibe. I’m wearing a medium here, so I would size up (the small might have fit, but not in the way that I would have wanted a barn jacket to fit – you don’t want them to be fitted per se).

Canvas Barn Jacket (Extra Small) | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

Now this one from Old Navy was excellent (Old Navy has always done utilitarian jackets so well – I have last year’s that I still wear frequently). They only had the XS small in store, and it fits, but I would definitely have gotten a small so I had more room to layer or just throw on more casually.

Canvas Barn Jacket (Extra Small) | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

It’s simple, solid, affordable, and comes in a few different colors.

Denim Lady Jacket (Small) | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

I love that this lady jacket is in a darker, bolder tone (versus the typical bright colors). It’s fitted, polished, and flattering – GREAT for a city job where you want to look good commuting to the office and yet still thin enough to keep it on inside.

Denim Lady Jacket (Small) | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

The leather and brass details pop off the dark denim perfectly :)

Cropped Barn Jacket (Small) | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

Of course, I ended up keeping the most expensive one (from J.Crew – so hopefully on sale soon!). I have an event in Texas in October, and this has a matching skirt that is so cute, so as a set it’s pretty striking and yet simple.

Cropped Barn Jacket (Small) | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

I loved the boxy crop, the squared off pockets, and the trapeze back (very similar to Madewell’s, I just loved where it landed on me, better). The small is still pretty roomy, so I could layer on thinner sweatshirts.

Knit Sleeve Crop Chore Jacket | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

This one mixes both canvas, cable knit, and denim – pretty dang cute. It’s really cropped and the color is perfect for fall (and looks great with all denim colors).

Knit Sleeve Crop Chore Jacket | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

Definitely the coziest of the bunch with the sweater material.

Jacket (Small) | Jeans (Size 26) | Favorite Boots (Size 7)

I tried really hard to tell myself I didn’t need this guy, but it’s just really, really good. I had found a Rag & Bone 1/2 trench at Nordstrom an hour before for like $450 and didn’t even let myself try it on, but honestly, this one is way better.

Jacket (Small) | Jeans (Size 26) | Boots (Size 7)

It’s structured without being stiff. I feel like you can throw it over any t-shirt and look pulled together, even professional. After we shot this, I found one from Tuckernuck, which I didn’t buy, but if you want a tan version, this one looks GREAT.

Here are some others I loved but didn’t get a chance to buy and shoot:

Khaki Drew Short Trench Coat | Cropped Trench Coat

Cropped Bomber Jacket | The Cropped Utility Jacket

Short Waxed Chore Jacket | Waxed Canvas Barn Jacket

The Ranch Jacket | Denim Oversized Bubble Jacket

Oh, and in case you missed it, I did a full fall outfit idea post. Check it out here! Happy fall, folks. xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 13, 2025 01:00

38 PRETTY Home Utility Tech Items—Doorbells, Thermostats, Smoke Detectors—No Need To Hide These

Two weeks ago, I came out swinging with a post entitled “Design Hot Take: Can Designers Stop Trying to Hide Everything Useful?” In that piece, I went off about hiding things like thermostats and doorbell chime boxes behind art, routers, and remotes inside faux boxes, photoshopping things like outlets and cords out of images…the home utility tech stuff. And don’t get me started on the should-we-or-shouldn’t-we TV discussion. The comment section was alive and well, with many agreeing with my sentiment that perhaps we’ve gone too far in our quests for “aesthetic” homes, and that we’re spending too much time and energy trying to cover up things that someone decided along the lines didn’t need to be hidden because they were ugly.

But many of you also brought up a good point: We wouldn’t want or need to hide these things if their design were even remotely decent. Could a someone okay-looking smoke detector exist out there? What about a chime box someone could actually classify as striking or interesting? While I’m not willing to die on the hill of having good-looking home utility items or bust, I would be lying if I said I didn’t appreciate something that looks better than it should.

With that in mind, I decided to research items that are nicely designed (or at the very least, good-looking), such as thermostats, doorbells, chime boxes, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and cord management boxes. Most are available in the US with two exceptions (I’ll call them out, don’t worry). Some are custom, and you’ll need to inquire about the price (also noted). But in general, I think all of the below are vast improvements on the cheap or basic options we tend to find in our homes. If the finer details matter to you—and cheesy alliterative subtitles—keep scrolling.

Tempting Thermostats

I’m not sure what a “tempting” thermostat is, but to jazz up a post with somewhat clunky items, I decided to have some fun with silly section headers, and there are few words I could use to describe thermostats that look good. Word smiths out there: Add some ideas to the comments.

OKAY, enough of that nonsense, “pretty” thermostats are a rare breed. I did find a company called Polar Bear Design (#4) that makes a very pretty bespoke thermostat with Lutron tech, though keep in mind this specific product isn’t available in the US (check their list of installers on their website if you’re an international reader and interested). Lutron itself, though, has a premium thermostat face with lots of color and metallic options. This is going to be the priciest pick here, of course. As for ready-to-buy products, it’s really just the Google Nest (#1 and #3) and Ecobee (#5) that have the most streamlined, small interfaces. And if you have baseboard heating units, be sure to check out the brand Mysa, which has this simple and unobtrusive thermostat (#6).

Sexy (Well…Passable) Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

A reader in that post I mentioned earlier talked about hoping to find a black smoke detector for a room they were working on with a darker hue on the walls and ceiling, and they found nothing. I tried really, really hard to find a black smoke detector that was nice, and did, indeed (#2). BUT, did you know that smoke detectors are often white both to blend in with white ceilings and walls, but also because the white plastic is fire-retardant, thanks to the addition of bromine (which causes yellowing over time).

And look, I know nothing here sparks creative inspiration, but frankly, they’re not supposed to. They’re supposed to be easy to warn of us disaster, but all the below are fairly slender and flush and look a touch more “elevated.” I have one from X-Sense () in my bedroom and in our downstairs office space, and we like that the battery lasts 10 years, so we aren’t concerned with incessant beeping happening at 3 am anytime soon. Note that #5 and #6 are from a Scandinavian company called Jalo, and are only available in the UK and the EU. They should not be used in the States due to different regulations. (But I sure wish someone would make something that fun or different.)

1. | 2. Owl Wired Smoke, Carbon Monoxide, Motion, Sound, Temperature, Humidity & Air Quality Detector | 3. SimpliSafe – Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector – White | 4. SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm | 5. Jalo Smoke Alarm Kupu 10 – Scandinavian Design | 6. Jalo Smoke Alarm Kupu 10 – Scandinavian Design – Chrome

Darling (& Techy) Doorbells

Growing up, we had one of those half-inch-thick wide, three-inch-tall plastic white button doorbells. I kind of thought…that’s all there was. Nowadays, there are tons with all the bells (ha) and whistles (see #1 by Google or #5 from Ring). Cameras, LED lights (#2, #3) so you can see where to push at night, and even just upscale standard non-tech ones (like all the ones from Rejuvenation – #4 and #6).

Charming Chime Boxes

First came doorbells, then came the chime boxes. While many of the high-tech doorbells either come with their own plug-in chimes or offer a compatible one to purchase, older doorbells or more low-tech versions will work with traditional chime boxes. The thing is, every one I’ve had has either been completely forgettable or just a clunky white or cream plastic box stuck on the wall nearby. BUT! It can be much better than that, I promise. This category of items is less about being inconspicuous and more about being seen in a way that adds some flair. I’m really into the wood chime box covers from Etsy (#1, #2, #7), one being fairly modern, another craftsman style, and the bottom one riffing off Frank Lloyd Wright style. Of course, you can go all out with something bold and brass like this organ-like option from Rejuvenation (#4) or add some color with #6 from Lumens. If you’re about metallics, there are some choices in traditional nickel, modern nickel, and brass.

Cute Cord Management Boxes

And finally, some cord and cable org. While I’ll never see the need to guinea rig a stack of books or a rattan basket to cover a modem or cable box, I do sign off on these types of boxes to house power strips and excess cords because those can quickly become a tangle of spaghetti and collect so much dust. In the past, I’ve had plastic ones like the Yamazaki one at #3, but there are even beautiful wood versions like this walnut box from Etsy (#2) or this cherry one (#6), also from Etsy. For the maximalist, this cobalt blue little house from Finnish Design Shop is so much fun. West Elm even sells this very beautiful appliance cord box for things like your coffee or tea stations (though warning: it’s pricey).

—

And there you have it: 38 cool or, at the very least, somewhat decent home utility tech items for your home if you don’t want to live your life either with ugly/builder-grade options or hiding things behind picture frames and inside boxes like social media has convinced us is the only way to a beautiful home.

Until next time…

Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson and ARCIFORM | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: The Farmhouse Entry Reveal (+ How To Hang A Gallery Wall O n Wallpaper)

View more on Emily Henderson's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 12, 2025 01:00