Outdoor living spaces are an extension of the interior space. You can cook, eat and entertain in both spaces. Many times, they flow together with common doors and openings shared between the two. If you harmonize the styles of both spaces, the flow will be even smoother. Below are a few guidelines to help you blend your indoor and outdoor living spaces.

Blending Your Living Spaces Begins Here

• Blend colors and textures. If your inside palette is dominated by blues and greens, bring the same colors to your outdoor space. Adding the same textures to both spaces will reinforce the flow between the space. You can also use similar fabric patterns to make this visual connection.

In the heat of summer, things slowdown in the desert. The dry heat isn’t conducive to marathon running, outdoor sports, or even general cleaning. When kids are home, it’s even worse. Suddenly, your neat and tidy home is cluttered and dirty. If you’re struggling to keep your home clean over summer break, don’t let the junk pile high. Instead, use these tips to keep your home clean and your sanity intact.  

Use the Pomodoro Technique

Developed by a college student trying to get through finals, the Pomodoro technique is a productivity tool that can help your family focus on cleaning. The premise is simple: set an alarm for 25 minutes and dedicate yourself to cleaning for that amount of time. Then, take a break for 5 minutes or more. Breaking up your cleaning into manageable chunks can help you stay motivated to complete simple cleaning tasks. By keeping the amount of cleaning short, it also helps keep family members engaged.

Moving isn't considered one of the top five stressors in life for nothing.

From the day you start looking for a new place until the day you move out, transitioning to a new home calls for nerves of steel, a sense of humor and an ability to take the long view. There also is something to be said for lightening your load – literally – by deciding what items to pack and take to your new place.

You may not need (or want) one more thing to add to your “to-do” list – namely, holding a garage sale or making several runs to the closest resale shop. But hit “pause” as you scurry down your activity list and ask yourself four crucial questions so you don't get to your new home and wonder what you were thinking:

Between grilling, swimming and fireworks, the Fourth of July can be full of activities.

If you plan on hosting a Fourth of July party at your home, you know you cannot be everywhere at once or see around every corner. This is why it's in your best interest to lay down some “house rules” to keep your guests safe around the grill, pool and with the fireworks they may be tempted to ignite to close out the day. You may even want to post these rules and engage your guests in conversation about them so they stay top-of-mind throughout the party:

Everyone knows some of the most buoyant moments in life can be found in the details. Who could blame you if you want to feel some of that buoyancy in the kitchen, where you spend so much time?

Whether you're finishing a kitchen remodeling project or just want to stir things up so you have something new to look at while you cook dinner, five detail-minded design tips recommended by kitchen designers are sure to inspire double-takes:

You may be the biggest dog lover in your home, but you're also honest about the mess that delightful little fur-ball can stir up on a daily basis.

Your dog has: chew toys, pull toys, squeaky toys and balls of practically every color strewn all over your home. This collection competes for space with a dog bed – or large cushion – leashes and collars, grooming tools and bags of treats.

Just as picking up after small children is “a job that never ends,” keeping a tidy house with a dog requires daily discipline, too. This doesn't mean you have to give up all hope of having a stylish home. You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but you can learn some new techniques for bringing greater order and style to your home with your pet:

It usually looks good in someone else's home. And it always captures your imagination in a home décor magazine or as you peruse a website.

But something takes over you when you begin shopping for a bold color to paint a room in your home: you freeze and lose your nerve.

When you'd rather not apply paint to an entire room, apply some ingenuity to a few spots in your home where bold paint color can make an equally provocative statement:

Most people know every room should contain a focal point – one wall awash with a striking color or a distinctive piece of furniture that anchors a room and defines its character.

Top interior designers know, sometimes subtle touches can commingle with these grand moves to create a room that makes an instant impression – and forges a lasting one, too. These six ideas are as simple as they are clever, and they exude an irresistible aura of lighthearted fun – the pinnacle of masterful design:

We need them and rely on them every day but – look out – we can curse their limitations when they don't suit our needs.

After a few months in your kitchen, you've probably adapted to your electrical outlets like many people do: positioning vital appliances (like the coffee maker) right in front of them, even if you're less than enthused about the final resting spot. 

If it's any consolation, top designers need, rely and curse electrical outlets, too. The difference is, they know five tips that can bring harmony to common outlet dilemmas. Replicate them in your home – and put some spark in your step as you fire up the coffee maker.

Your kitchen may not be perfect, but even if you've been in your home for only a few months, you have a system, with designated places to cut, mix, pour, cook and serve.

More than charcoal goes up in smoke when you move outdoors; your system does, too, reducing even the most organized cook to feeling like they have two left hands that’re only one step ahead of two left feet. Replicate the function and purpose to your outdoor grilling area with four sensible ideas:

The area underneath your staircase can pose a big interior design challenge. These spaces are usually small and awkwardly shaped. Many people don’t know what to do with this area and simply try to ignore or even hide it. Instead of letting this space go to waste, make the most of this area and transform it into a one of a kind, practical space with one of these 5 great ideas.

1. Mini Mudroom

If you don’t already have a dedicated mudroom in your home, the area under your staircase can make a great miniature version. Installing shelving and cabinetry can give your family places to store your shoes, backpacks, handbags, sports equipment, and anything else you might take with you as you head out to work or school each day. Having this dedicated space for these items will help you keep your house tidier. Plus, you’ll save yourself the trouble of those last-minute panics looking for these things as you’re trying to get out the door on time.

It’s not too late for spring cleaning and the garage is a great place to start. While functioning as a storage area for most, getting the garage organized can make your stored items more accessible. Learn the simplest way to get your garage spic and span this year.

Take it one area at a time

If you’ve let things build up, tackling the whole space can feel overwhelming. Start by clearing out the center of your garage, moving your car out. Then, target a corner and starting top to bottom pull everything into the center of the room to go through each piece. Once that corner is complete, move on around the garage. Focusing on a single area of the garage can make cleaning seem more doable and prevent you from getting overwhelmed.

When installing an island in your kitchen, there is no “one size fits all” solution. You have the ability to control every detail – from how tall it is to the size and shape. This freedom provides you with a world of possibilities but when you’re designing something from scratch, sometimes it’s hard to know just where to start. Here are a few things to consider when designing your ideal kitchen island.