The Housing Muse Podcast with Melissa Dittmann Tracey

EPSIODE 53: What's hot in 2025 for home design? To sum up, it's getting loud! Home designer and stager Krisztina Bell joins Melissa Dittmann Tracey on The Housing Muse Podcast to break down the hottest home trends for 2025 ... the paint colors, the interior and exterior home trends, all of those arches, kitchen trends and more. Find out the trends they like--and the ones you may want to avoid.  Check out The Housing Muse Blog: 2025 Colors of the Year: The Paint Trends to Watch View the colors mentioned on the episode—and see what you think.   Listen to more Housing Muse Podcast episodes featuring Krisztina Bell: https://www.housingmuse.com/guests/krisztina-bell/

EPISODE 52: Jody Costello was eager to start a two-story addition on her 1940s home that would include an owner's suite and upper deck. But she quickly learned hiring the wrong contractor for the job can be a costly mistake. A leaky roof, shoddy work, surging costs, and a constantly MIA contractor eventually resulted in a lawsuit and a three-year battle to try to recoup costs and get her project completed. Costello is now the creator of the website “Contractors From Hell,” where she helps homeowners remodel smart. Listen to her story and tips so that you never have to face a home remodeling nightmare, like she once did.  Learn more about Jody Costello: https://www.housingmuse.com/guests/jody-costello/   Contractors From Hell website (download her “7 Mistakes Homeowners Make That Lead to Disasters”): https://contractorsfromhell.com   Listen to more episodes of The Housing Muse: https://www.housingmuse.com

 EPISODE 51: What is feng shui? Can it actually make you feel good and make you like your home more? Could it even help you sell your home? Feng Shui expert and author Steve Kodad joins The Housing Muse Podcast to breakdown the principles of this ancient art to spatial arrangement and building design, and offers insights on its potential real estate impact.   Learn more about Steve Kodad (https://www.housingmuse.com/guests/steve-kodad/) and TheFengShuiCure.com (https://www.thefengshuicure.com/)   Listen to more episodes of The Housing Muse Podcast: https://www.housingmuse.com/

EPISODE 50: The overstuffed closets, cluttered counters and piles of unopened mail may be more than just household annoyances. It may be hurting your mental or physical health—maybe even more than you know. Professional organizer Linda Samuels joins The Housing Muse Podcast to offer up some helpful clutter cures to take back control over your home—and possibly your sanity!   Learn more about Linda Samuels: https://www.housingmuse.com/guests/linda-samuels-1/   How Clutter Creates Stress and Anxiety: Strategies for Decluttering (HouseLogic.com, by Melissa Dittmann Tracey) https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/cleaning-decluttering/how-clutter-creates-stress-anxiety-decluttering-strategies/   Follow @housingmuse … On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/housingmuse On X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/housingmuse   Listen to more episodes of The Housing Muse Podcast, including “How You're Cleaning Your Home All Wrong!” and “5 House Problems That Will Make You Want to Move.”   https://www.housingmuse.com

EPISODE 49: A fixer upper--that is, a home in need of some TLC--could help you strike real estate gold, allowing you to possibly even double or triple the home's value. But to get that type of ROI, you need to buy smart. We offer up 10 key things to consider before purchasing a fixer upper, whether it's your pathway to afford homeownership or an investment property.    Is That Fixer-Upper House Really Worth It? (HouseLogic.com) https://www.houselogic.com/buy/house-hunting/is-buying-a-fixer-upper-worth-it/   Does Your Home Have 1 of the 3 Major Health Hazards? (Realtor Magazine) https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/wellness/safety/does-your-home-have-1-of-the-3-major-health-hazards   Follow @housingmuse on Instagram or X, formerly known as Twitter ... https://www.instagram.com/housingmuse https://twitter.com/housingmuse   Listen to more episodes of The Housing Muse Podcast at https://www.housingmuse.com

EPISODE 48: Many of us are making mistakes in cleaning our homes, and it could be hurting our home—and even our health. Yikes! Cleaning expert Debbie Sardone joins The Housing Muse Podcast to tell us the right way to clean.  Here's some extra incentive in why you should want to: A clean home makes YOU look good. Seriously! A new study from the American Cleaning Institute finds that 60% of Americans say they feel more attracted to their partner when they take the initiative to clean the house. And, college students say they'll break up with a date if they find they live in a “dirty” home. So, save your relationship and tune in for some deep cleaning hacks!   Read my article at Houselogic.com: How to Deep Clean Your Home for Spring—or Any Time https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/cleaning-decluttering/how-to-deep-clean-your-home/   Learn more about our special guest, Debbie Sardone: https://www.housingmuse.com/guests/debbie-sardone/    Visit the Housingmuse.com for more episodes, blog posts & extras … https://www.housingmuse.com/   What's “hot” or “not” in home design? Follow the Housing Muse on Instagram @housingmuse to weigh in: https://www.instagram.com/housingmuse

EPISODE 47: A lot can go wrong with a house. It's the less glamorous side to homeownership. But if you ignore some key signs, you could find small problems quickly turn into really BIG problems that may even make you want to toss over your house keys and move. Joining the Housing Muse Podcast is Scott Loignon, the owner of WIN Home Inspection in New Hampshire. In this episode, he will share five house problems you don't want to ignore. And, here's a silver-lining: If you catch many of these house problems early enough, you won't feel like you'll have to move. So, don't start packing up those moving boxes quite yet.   Learn more about this episode's special guest: Scott Loignon with WIN Home Inspection https://www.housingmuse.com/guests/scott-loignon/   Find more episodes & articles on real estate and home trends: https://www.housingmuse.com/   8 Common Home Inspection Issues: Fix Now or Later? https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/real-estate-news/sales-marketing/8-common-home-inspection-issues-fix-now-or-later

EPISODE 46: You may have never given much thought to estate sales, but they could prove to be a “home rescue,” no matter if you're the seller or the possible buyer. Estate sales can help you quickly clear a home due to a changing life circumstance or help you offset a costly move across the country. Estate sales can be a way to score some major discounts on household items and furniture. Learn how estate sales could be the answer to your homeownership needs—and the proper etiquette if you go to one!   Learn more about this episode's featured guest: Bob Lang, brand president of Blue Moon Estate Sales: https://www.housingmuse.com/guests/bob/   Blue Moon Estate Sales: https://www.bluemoonestatesales.com   Follow the Housing Muse on Instagram @housingmuse https://www.instagram.com/housingmuse   Leave a rating or review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-housing-muse-podcast-with-melissa-dittmann-tracey/id1578371167

EPISODE 45: The money-saving episode! Home appliances and household purchases can really bite into a budget. But how would you like to save potentially hundreds of dollars? Luckily, there are plenty of studies that can help turn us into savvy shoppers when it comes to outfitting the home. Housing Muse Host Melissa Dittmann Tracey sums up all the research, including the best time to buy certain household products, where to buy and the average lifespan of products so that you can start budgeting ahead. As mentioned in this episode: Money-saving tools, apps and articles … GeoQpon app (for coupon savings): https://www.geoqpons.com/ Capital One Shopping: https://capitaloneshopping.com/ PriceGrabber: https://www.pricegrabber.com/ Google Shopping: https://shopping.google.com/?pli=1   What's the Best Credit Card for Buying Furniture? (U.S. News & World Report): https://money.usnews.com/credit-cards/articles/whats-the-best-credit-card-for-buying-furniture   Is Amazon the Cheapest Place to Buy Household Products? We Do the Math (CNET): https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/is-amazon-the-cheapest-place-to-buy-household-products/   Best Deals on Home and Kitchen Products (Consumer Reports): https://www.consumerreports.org/money/sales-promotions/best-deals-on-home-and-kitchen-products-right-now-a2058201511/   Follow us: @housingmuse on Instagram and X Housingmuse.com: https://www.housingmuse.com/  

EPISODE 44: It's the merriest, most stressful time of year! Nearly 60% of Americans say they're stressed out about the holidays, and that's mostly due to preparing and decorating the home, according to a new survey from Thumbtack. After all, guests will soon be arriving at your doorstep and judging your home. Sorry to say, but they'll be scrutinizing everything, from the looks to the smell. Let's all make a better impression this holiday season, while also lessening the stress. Sound too good to be true? In this episode, we breakdown three cleaning styles and personas—Neatnick Nancy, Surely Enough Sally and Laid-Back Laurie—to offer up practical steps to get your house ready—just in time for the holidays. Best of all, hopefully rid you of some of that holiday stress!   Home Cleaning Tips for Every Hosting Vibe (Houselogic.com)  Sound credit for holiday music: Milton Housingmuse.com Housing Muse on Instagram

EPSIODE 43: What's hot in 2024 in home design? Time to find out! From “dopamine décor” to sculptural and darker home elements and some wild color schemes, home designer and stager Krisztina Bell joins The Housing Muse Podcast to break down the trends entering into more homes. We get real on the latest design trends as well as ideas on how to incorporate them into your home—as well as those trends you might want to avoid! Check out The Housing Muse Blog: 2024 Colors of the Year: The Paint Trends to Watch View the colors mentioned on the episode—and see what you think.   Learn more about Krisztina Bell

EPISODE 42: Every crime has a setting, and sadly too often, it plays out inside a home. Even if you're a law-abiding citizen, you could face the fallout from crime in real estate. In this episode, we unpack five fearful real estate situations. Be prepared to get scared on everything from stigmatized properties, ghosts and paranormal activity, meth labs to varmints (“the snake house”—oh my!) and more. Housingmuse.com Follow the Housing Muse on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, @housingmuse.

EPISODE 41: Pickleball is serving up some serious wins in real estate, like revitalizing once-abandoned shopping malls into booming pickleball hubs. Developers are in a race to bring more pickleball courts to more places all across the country. But there's also a dark-side to America's fastest-growing sport—that's getting louder and louder.  In this episode: Learn more about the rapid growth of America's newest favorite sport and how it's shaking up real estate. Beware P-NIMBY: Pickleball, not in my backyard.  What to watch for if pickleball courts are soon coming closer to your home.   Links: Pickleball Courts Serve an Ace for Vacant Malls, Retail Stores Follow Housing Muse on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @housingmuse. Housingmuse.com – to listen to more episodes, read our blog and submit a review!  

EPISODE 40: It's one of our favorite regular segments on The Housing Muse: Quiz Time! Take our interactive quiz to test how smart you are when it comes to the latest real estate and home design trends, home maintenance and more. (Hint: If you're a regular listener to The Housing Muse, you'll fare well! Otherwise, we're going to teach you a few things.) Take our quiz and chime in with your answer to see how many you get right.   Episodes/Articles Mentioned in This Episode:   Decorate Like a Designer: 5 Affordable Home Accessories (The Housing Muse Blog) Take More Housing Muse Real Estate Quizzes! A Sophisticated Twist on the ‘Barbiecore' Craze (Styled, Staged & Sold blog) Episode 23: 10 Ways You're Screwing Up Your Home's Value Episode 29: Home Sellers Are Liars! Episode 30: 5 DIY Tasks Home Inspectors Want You to STOP Doing Episode 36: Allergy-Proof Your Landscape Episode 39: How to Clean Your Home's Indoor Air Follow the Housing Muse on Instagram @housingmuse    

EPISODE 39: Just like you clean your home on a regular basis, you can clean your home's air, too. More research is showing why you should. Consider, this stat: Indoor air can contain two to five times more pollutants than outside, according to research from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Yes, your home's indoor air tends to be more toxic than outside! Most Americans spend a majority of their time indoors, which means you could be breathing in dirty air on a regular basis. However, there's plenty you can do to change that. Housing Muse host Melissa Tracey has talked to the experts to round up several easy ways to improve your home's indoor air quality and give you a fresher breath.     Check out HouseLogic.com for more on this topic: Indoor Air Quality Solutions for Your Home Follow the Housing Muse on Instagram and Twitter Leave a review for the Housing Muse: Housingmuse.com

EPISODE 38: In part 2, we continue to highlight HGTV-inspired home design tips and tricks to make your home look as pretty as they do on TV. We also cover a few trends that may best be reserved for TV—and not real-life.   Check out The Housing Muse blog to view an infographic of TV designers' favorite home accessories: https://www.housingmuse.com/blog/hgtv-inspired-home-accessories-for-any-budget/   Follow the Housing Muse on Instagram and Twitter.   Visit the home of The Housing Muse: Housingmuse.com  

EPISODE 37: Home buyers are overwhelmingly disappointed at homes they tour for-sale. Why? Because they don't look as pretty as they do on TV. The HGTV-effect is skewing our impressions of how a home should look. But there are some easy (and affordable ways!) to get our homes looking as pretty as they do on TV. Housing Muse Host Melissa Dittmann Tracey gathers up ideas inspired by the shows and hosts on HGTV. This is part one of a two-part series on HGTV-inspired ideas. Check out The Housing Muse blog to view an infographic of the top home accessories that TV design hosts often turn to: https://www.housingmuse.com/blog/hgtv-inspired-home-accessories-for-any-budget/  Follow the Housing Muse on Instagram and Twitter. Visit the Housing Muse's home: Housingmuse.com  

EPISODE 36: Seasonal allergies can be a nuisance. Your home's outdoor plantings may be making it worse. Joining The Housing Muse Podcast is gardening guru Linda Vater to share which plants may be more prone to triggering allergies, and how to plan a landscape so that you can breathe a little easier. SHOW NOTES Learn more about Linda Vater Find gardening tips at Linda's YouTube channel Allergy Forecast Apps Allergy Plus by Pollen.com Zyrtec Allergycast WeatherWell Housing Muse home: housingmuse.com Follow the Housing Muse on Twitter or Instagram @housingmuse *DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this podcast are for information purposes only and the opinions of the host and guest. Please consult a health professional for any medical issues that you may be experiencing.  

EPISODE 35: The top concerns from homeowners recently surveyed about selling their home: They fear their home is in need of too many repairs, has an outdated interior, not trendy enough fixtures and lacks curb appeal. Sorry to say, but all of those things could potentially lessen your sales price! So there's reason to fear. But a pre-listing improvement or renovation could help—and you don't even have to foot the bill for it. Olivia Mariani from the company Curbio joins The Housing Muse Podcast to talk about this latest trend in real estate, and how it's helping home sellers see some impressive results. Curbio's website: Curbio.com Learn more about Olivia Mariani: https://www.housingmuse.com/guests/olivia-mariani/ The Housing Muse's home: housingmuse.com Follow the Housing Muse on Instagram or Twitter @housingmuse

EPISODE 34: To get into real estate today, do you need to adopt a “mooch strategy?” Possibly. Young adults have been moving back home in record numbers—and even well into adulthood. Parents are footing the bills, and even helping their adult children achieve homeownership later on—that is, when they do finally move out. The mooch strategy may be in response to an out-of-whack real estate market where first-time home buyers and renters are facing surging prices. Housing Muse host Melissa Dittmann Tracey shares three steps to the mooch strategy that reveals a legacy of mooching to get ahead, and how this trend could influence the design of our homes in the future. Visit the Housing Muse's home at housingmuse.com Follow Housing Muse on Twitter and Instagram @housingmuse

Episode 33: We take on the good, the bad and ugly of 2023's hottest home styles. Krisztina Bell, home stager and designer with No Vacancy Home Staging in Atlanta, joins the Housing Muse Podcast to talk about the designs that you can expect to see more of in the new year, including the hottest paint colors, the freedom to no longer be “Pinterest-perfect,” and even cord-free design. Plus, learn what trends are heading out this year! LEARN MORE View the 2023 Colors of the Year from the Major Paint Firms A Home Stager Shares 5 Hot Trends She's Watching for 2023 Learn more about Krisztina Bell Follow The Housing Muse @housingmuse on Twitter or Instagram. Check out the Housing Muse's home at: Housingmuse.com

Enter a judge-free zone with the Housing Muse. After all, even organization guru Marie Kondo recently said it's acceptable to not have a spotless, perfectly organized home all of the time. Maybe tidy doesn't always spark joy. As you adopt more of a get-‘er-done than perfection mantra, find hacks to solve everyday cleaning and organization challenges. And learn to stress less over the mess. Home Cleaning Tips for Every Hosting Vibe (HouseLogic.com/By Melissa Dittmann Tracey) Housingmuse.com Follow the Housing Muse on Instagram @housingmuse

You have some of these in your home. We all do. In this episode of The Housing Muse Podcast, we question some mainstream design trends that may be doing more to make our lives harder than easier. Listen in as host Melissa Tracey offers an amusing countdown to the five trends she has started to question, and why she believes you should, too.    Follow The Housing Muse @housingmuse on Twitter or Instagram. Check out the Housing Muse's home at: Housingmuse.com

The pandemic ushered in a DIY craze, as homeowners armed with YouTube tutorials and power searches on Google went to work on their homes in high numbers. But they may have taken on more than what they should have in an effort to save money and bypass waiting on overbooked contractors. Home inspectors are now spotting homeowners' not-so-handy work. Let's head into the home inspection files to uncover the most common household tasks that inspectors say they're spotting, and what could even jeopardize a sale of your home one day.   Follow the Housing Muse @housingmuse on Twitter and Instagram Read the article at REALTOR® Magazine DIY Madness! Check out these previous episodes of The Housing Muse Podcast: Ep.#6: Fix or Flop? 5 Epic DIY Fails Ep.#23: 10 Ways You're Screwing Up the Value of Your Home

Episode 29: Ninety-four percent of homeowners admit to not disclosing property defects when selling their home. Home buyers then move in and uncover shoddy repairs and cover-ups. The percentage is alarmingly high, and particularly worrisome given that so many buyers recently waived their home inspection contingency to purchase a home in a competitive real estate market. Let's dive in to what home sellers are lying about, and the potential repercussions for doing so.   Stay tuned for part 2—coming soon! We'll have more frightening stories in real estate and spotlight the red flags home inspectors are finding with DIY home projects.  *The ideas and comments expressed are my own. Survey: 94% of Sellers Don't Disclose Property Defects For Realtors: Waiving a Home Inspection Contingency? Don't Blame Me!   Follow the Housing Muse on Twitter and Instagram @housingmuse  

The interior designer behind the Siegels' famous home, "Versailles," joins the Housing Muse to talk about designing the largest single-family home in the U.S. The home, belonging to socialite Jackie Siegel and billionaire David Siegel, has been featured on the Discovery-Plus series, “Queen of Versailles Reigns Again.” Hear from designer Kim Coombs, founder and president of KBCO Interior Design, as she walks us through the eclectic styles in designing this mammoth home, including that much-buzzed about purple dining room. Also, find out how to add luxury to your own home, even on a much smaller budget. Discovery-Plus series: “Queen of Versailles Reigns Again” Kim Coombs, founder and president of KBCO Interior Design: kbcodesign.com The Housing Muse's home: housingmuse.com

But so many people are crying! A new survey shows that 50% of home buyers said the real estate process left them in tears. Here's why and how we may be able to cheer them up.   Follow @housingmuse on Twitter and Instagram.   Visit housingmuse.com to listen to other episodes and view blog posts.

Only one good thing happened in 2020 … Sherwin-Williams brought us this paint color! Find out which color we're loving as home stager and designer Krisztina Bell joins The Housing Muse to go room-by-room in offering up paint color ideas for the bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, kitchen and more. Make your home look like a million bucks with just a fresh coat of paint. (Royalty free music by Bensound.com) Follow Krisztina Bell on Instagram @krisztinabell and visit her website at Novacancy-atl.com View several of the colors mentioned and find a link to Krisztina's top Sherwin-Williams colors at the Housing Muse blog>>> Which Paint Color Wears It Best?

Homeowners may be unintentionally hurting their home's long-term value through their actions. You undoubtedly want your home's value to grow. So, don't stand in the way of making that happen! Listen in as the Housing Muse offers up 10 ways you could jeopardize your home's value. New blog post alert at Housingmuse.com! 5 Home Design Trends Making a Comeback Follow The Housing Muse's Melissa Dittmann Tracey on Twitter or Instagram @housingmuse. Want to sponsor a Housing Muse Podcast episode? Email housingmuse@gmail.com for details.

Hey, homeowners, have you noticed? It's rainin' money inside your home! Housing appreciation is in overdrive and equity is pouring in. There's never been more homes valued at a million-or plus—you may be one of them if you hold on long enough! Join The Housing Muse on this latest episode to talk about the real estate market … the real and unreal. And guess what? The Housing Muse has a new website and blog! Bookmark it >>> Housingmuse.com NEW on The Housing Muse Blog! 10 Home Features to Boost Your Resale Value Your feedback matters: Rate and review The Housing Muse Podcast

Listen to this fun, interactive quiz to see how cool and trendy you are when it comes to the latest home design trends. What is the hottest paint color of the year? Which surprising bathroom vanity color is seeing explosive growth? What furniture fabric choice is the latest must-have? And, are bathtubs—a yay or nay? Chime in with your guesses and find out what the surveys say.     Follow The Housing Muse on Twitter and Instagram @housingmuse.

When home renovations or housing flips go awry, Page Turner is the expert you want to call. The host of the new HGTV show, “Fix My Flip,” joins The Housing Muse Podcast to talk about rescuing home disasters. Turner also joins in for a “Lightning Round” on the latest home design trends.   Find more information on Page Turner's HGTV show, “Fix My Flip.”   Follow The Housing Muse on Twitter and Instagram @housingmuse.

Welcome to The Housing Muse Podcast! Host Melissa Dittmann Tracey is an award-winning journalist who uncovers the latest home design and real estate trends--the good and the bad. Listen to this short teaser on what you can expect by following The Housing Muse Podcast. (*Royalty free music by Bensound.com)

We're all getting older and there may come a point when a house no longer fits your needs or a family member's needs. Moving an aging parent, grandparent, or loved one can be stressful and cause tension in families when deciding the next steps. Mark and Rachel Healy, with the Senior Care Authority in Cincinnati, Ohio, share how “senior advisors” can help. (Royalty free music by Bensound.com) Seniorcareauthority.com / Mark and Rachel Healy with Senior Care Authority in Cincinnati Follow The Housing Muse on Twitter, Instagram @housingmuse

Gasp. Jaw drop. And be utterly surprised along with The Housing Muse at some recent trends in the real estate market. Home buyers are willing to blow their budget by how much?! Housing equity is up by how much?! The top Googled bedroom color trend?! And the average mortgage amount is how high?! Follow The Housing Muse on Instagram and Twitter @housingmuse. (Royalty free music by Bensound.com; sound effects by Pixabay)

We're all trying to keep up with the Joneses. And the Joneses keep winning! Many people admit they're taking on home improvement projects solely to impress others. They're spending thousands of dollars to do it too! In this episode: Find out what top home improvement projects are being done just to make others jealous. The personality types of house envy. How to channel your house envy in more constructive ways. Follow The Housing Muse on Instagram and Twitter @housingmuse.

Many homeowners say they regret buying their house just because of the chore of maintaining it. A lot of us are clueless when it comes to what checkups a home regularly requires to avoid costly repairs. Take a quiz to see just how home savvy you are!  *Royalty free music by Bensound.com In this episode: How much do you think home experts suggest homeowners budget annually for home maintenance? How often should you replace your fire extinguisher? What is the most neglected appliance? (You'll be shocked!) How often should you have your furnace and water heater professionally cleaned? How often should you clean the filters in your kitchen's range hood? Do you ever need to do any maintenance on a gas fireplace? … and MORE! Follow the Housing Muse on Instagram or Twitter @housingmuse

Home designer and stager Krisztina Bell joins The Housing Muse Podcast to talk about the hot trends expected to make a bigger splash in home design in the new year, from double kitchen islands, multifunctional spaces, to green colors everywhere and more. Find some trends you'll be tempted to try in your own home. (Royalty free music by Bensound.com) Follow Krisztina Bell, No Vacancy Home Staging, on Instagram @krisztinabell Follow The Housing Muse on Twitter and Instagram @housingmuse

What are the worst offenses of those who visit your home? Find out in this timely segment on hosting guests—or being one yourself—this holiday season. We'll break down three types of house guests—Cousin Eddie's, Buddy the Elf's, and Martha's—and tell you how to prepare for each style of visitor who may be arriving on your doorstep this holiday season. Royalty free music by bensound.com ****The National Association of Realtors recently featured the Housing Muse Podcast on its blog. Check out the story by Catherine Mesick … 5 Questions for ‘The Housing Muse' Podcast Host Melissa Dittmann Tracey The host of the popular new podcast dishes on the hottest home design and staging trends—and explains why you should never comb your furniture. Follow The Housing Muse on Instagram and Twitter @housingmuse  

This very well could be the hottest holiday decorating trend of the year. Forget about festive front yard decor! Unleash your inner Clark Griswold style in this prime location in your home. You'll be sure to bring some Yuletide smiles with this trend, and unlock—or should I say inflate!—a truly magical piece of the holiday spirit this season. *Royalty free music by bensound.com Follow The Housing Muse on Instagram and Twitter @housingmuse

Warm up your spaces and impress your guests this holiday season with the perfect tablescape. Megan Bestul and Stefanie Barraco, founders of the Center of It All in Detroit, Mich., offer up several ideas in how. Gather affordable ways to dress up your tables, the mistakes to avoid, and the answer to the biggest question this holiday season: To flock or not?  View Megan and Stefanie's creations at Center of It All: centerofitalldesigns.com Follow The Housing Muse on Instagram and Twitter @housingmuse to view photos and for more home design inspiration. Royalty free music by bensound.com

Choosing the right color and finishes on a home's exterior can be one of the most difficult and unforgiving aspects in home design. Learn the latest exterior home trends and how to give your home's outside a dramatic makeover. Matt Mosher, founder of Dzinly, joins the Housing Muse Podcast to offer a high-tech solution to finding the perfect colors and look for your home's exterior. (Royalty free music by Bensound.com) Visit Dzinly at: Dzinly.com View exterior home makeover photos: Follow The Housing Muse on Instagram and Twitter @housingmuse

The housing market is operating in crazy mode ... sky-high home prices and fierce bidding wars. So, is it a good time to buy a home? Or to sell? Are we in a housing bubble? Is a foreclosure wave coming? In this special fright-filled Halloween episode, let's take on some of the most pressing fears about the housing market and help figure out your next move.  Follow the Housing Muse on Instagram or Twitter @housingmuse

A home office can be anywhere—whether you have a dedicated space, spare bedroom, or even just an empty closet! The Housing Muse catches up with Dave Adams with BDI Furniture to talk furniture trends. Get inspired to find more permanent solutions to makeover your work-from-home space.   In this episode, we cover:  Desk and chair trends & considerations   Trendy standing desks—with health benefits!  Multifunctional furniture that can help you create a home office when your home's tight on space  Tips on creating the new must-have for any home office: A “Zoom Room”  Worst home office decorating mistakes  Follow the Housing Muse Podcast on Twitter or Instagram @housingmuse  Links to Share:   Learn more about BDI Furniture 10 Tips for Looking Your Best in Video Conferences  Give Your Home Office Design More Attention  Designing the Perfect Pop-Up Office 

Will trendy gray or blue kitchen cabinets age well? Should you go with granite or quartz for the countertops? What's going on with the lights ... greenery in pendants?! We talk the latest kitchen trends with home stager and designer Krisztina Bell. *Royalty free music from Bensound.com View some of the trends mentioned on this week's episode: 4 Simple Ways to Show Off the Kitchen   Follow Krisztina Bell on Instagram @krisztinabell Follow the Housing Muse on Twitter and Instagram @housingmuse 

Homes today have a serious noise problem. We've knocked down walls in opening up our floorpans and then covered our floors in hard surfaces, like hardwood flooring and ceramic tile. That has only amplified the sounds! All the noise may be making it impossible for you to work from home or find some peace and quiet. And if you have an introverted personality, you may be suffering the most!  Stop hiding in the closet looking for quiet. Listen to tips from acoustic consultants—yes, there's a such thing!—on how to quiet  down the noises coming from inside and outside a home. By paying attention to sound, you may even help your home's value too.  This episode breaks down how you can soften up the sounds in your home through smarter design choices, as well as ensure sound isn't a detriment to your property's value in the future. *Royalty free music provided by Bensound.com For more on this topic, check out my recent article for Realtor Magazine: Shhh! When a Home Is Too Loud Follow the Housing Muse on Instagram or Twitter @housingmuse for more home design inspiration. 

“The Great American Remodel” has emerged since the pandemic. And as more homeowners spruce up their space, they've taken on more of these household updates themselves. But on certain home projects, DIY can be disastrous! Home design TV shows may be making these design overhauls look too easy and make homeowners feel overconfident in their own DIY skills. Save yourself some time, money and grief, listen to the five biggest DIY fails that homeowners have taken on since the pandemic.  *Royalty free music by Bensound.com

"Wall Wizard" Brian Santos offers up the perfect paint colors for each room in your house. Which trendy colors should you use in the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, home office, or even for that challenging open floor plan? You'll gain some unexpected color ideas that can have a big impact. *Royalty free music provided by Bensound

Learn painting tips and tricks from Brian Santos--a.k.a. "The Wall Wizard." Brian shares the latest trends that draw inspiration from the Roaring '20s. Listen how these bold choices can make a dramatic difference in elevating your home's style. *Royalty free music provided by Bensound