The Well-Kept Home

January/February

GOOD THINGS

INSTANT UPGRADE

What Lies Beneath Whether your dressing area is tiny or you just firmly believe that there should be a place for everything, this trick will be music to your ears. Repurpose a piano bench into a vanity seat by painting it to complement your space and adding a cushion (we covered a piece of foam in fabric and Velcroed it to the wood), lining the built-in storage bin with paper, and filling it with clear trays to hold hair products and tools. No more curling irons junking up the place—bravo!

Cameron & Sons Unfinished Duet piano bench with storage, $80, discountmusicaloutlet.net.

QUICK FIX

On-the-Spot Solution

To pretreat clothing stains without having to hoof it to the laundry room, hang a mini kit in your hamper and stock it with a small bottle of acetone (it helps remove grass and grease), detergent (for collars), and vinegar (great on mustard, coffee, and more). For more stain-removal tips, go to martha stewart.com/stain-chart.

Woven hamper, $165, brookfarm generalstore.com. Bamboo utensil holder, $8, containerstore.com.

PLANT NOW, PICK LATER

Scatter poppy seeds (like Papaver somniferum) directly on bare winter ground— even on top of light patches of snow. The seeds need weeks of cold to germinate, and plants will begin to emerge in spring.

GOOD LIVING

Home, Style, Beauty, Health

THE PALETTE

PALE PINK + CAFÉ AU LAIT

Sure, you could paint your walls a classic neutral—a white, gray, beige, or can’t-go-wrong greige. But we love the idea of warming up a room with a new neutral, a pink that’s as soft and pretty as the inside of a seashell. This chic shade gives all who come near it a lovely glow—and it’s a BFF to latte-hued accents like these stunning roses, luxe gold accessories, and so much more.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHELSEA CAVANAUGH

ON THE WALL Spring Blossom by Benjamin Moore paint, benjamin moore.com.

THE DETAILS: West Elm Parsons mini console, in Champagne, $349, westelm.com. Minted “Soft Shimmer No. 2” print with matte-brass frame, 18" by 24", $230, minted.com. Eric Bonnin Ceramics Tiny Lilas vase, $25; and Lilas vase #1, $55, ericbonnin ceramics.com. Jayson Home brass offering bowls, from $45 each, jaysonhome.com.

The Well-Kept Home

GOOD LIVING

Once a year, remove cabinet pulls and soak them in warm soapy water while you wipe the doors. Then polish the pulls before putting them back on.

Cupboards near the stove are prone to greasy buildup. Wash their undersides every few days.

Clean It Like You Mean It

The kitchen is the hardest-working room in your house, and you probably tidy it up and wipe it down daily, if not hourly. To make maintenance easier, follow our guide to deep-cleaning the toughest areas. With some Earth- friendly formulas and elbow grease, your space will shine.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY NICOLE FRANZEN TEXT BY ALICE ANDREWS

Every couple of weeks, clear off open shelves and cleanse them with a warm, damp cloth. The same goes for pendant lights.

Make a tile backsplash sparkle by spraying it with a mixture of one part lemon juice to two parts water, then scrubbing tiles and grout from the top down.