Blog Posts by Elle Decor

Clockwise from top left: Brush, waste basket, steamer, step stool, detergent, shelf unit all from Clean Slate

Like breakfast in bed or a first class-ticket, a clean house is the ultimate luxury. While it requires a bit more effort than other indulgences, it's almost always worth the trouble- and thanks to smart companies, it's increasingly easier to accomplish. To wit: Crate & Barrel's newly launched Clean Slate, a curated collection of cleaning and organizing products, ranging from lavender-scented fine fabric wash to chrome-and-wood storage shelves. We asked Sandy Hausner, who guided the launch of the brand, to share her tried-and-true cleaning tips.

HOT ON ELLE DECOR: 9 Impossibly Chic Eat-In Kitchens

1. Every house needs a great dust brush:Look for one made with a natural fiber-over time it will build up an electrostatic charge that collects dust easily. The hairs should be dense, flexible, and soft, and if you clean it with baby shampoo it'll last forever.

2. A garbage can is an element in your interior too: Think of the style as well as the functionality. Choose a heavy

As the costume designer for hit TV show Mad Men, Janie Bryant spends her days creating pitch-perfect costumes for 1960's ad men and their bombshell wives, secretaries, and copywriters-not to mention inspiring leagues of fans to bring a little bit of Betty or Joan into their 2013 wardrobes.

SEE MORE FROM ELLE DECOR: Tour Reese Witherspoon's Oaji Home

But at home in the Los Feliz house she shares with husband Peter Yozell, a tour manager, the style is much less period-specific. "I'm influenced by the 1770s and the 1970s," she says, name-checking an eclectic mix of inspirations from Liberace ("I have no fear of anything gilded or gold") to Elvis, a favorite of Yozell's. And then there's the birds: nearly every room in the house has one, whether its embroidered hummingbirds on the bedroom curtains or bold peacock feathers flanking her living room mantel.

See the full tour on ELLEDECOR.com!

SEE MORE FROM ELLE DECOR

Tour Reese Witherspoon's Oaji Home

13 Inspiring Celebrity Living

Looking for a romantic place to spend Valentine's Day? Whether you're looking to book a suite or just camp out in the lobby for a drink, these ten hotels won't disappoint

BY GRETCHEN KELLY for ELLEDECOR.com

SEE MORE FROM ELLE DECOR

Tour Reese Witherspoon's Oaji Home

13 Inspiring Celebrity Living Rooms

Ultimate Guide to Black and White Decorating

Sexy Celebrity Bedrooms

9 dream kitchens-from modern to country-inspired

SEE MORE FROM ELLE DECOR

Tour Reese Witherspoon's Oaji Home

13 Inspiring Celebrity Living Rooms

Ultimate Guide to Black and White Decorating

Sexy Celebrity Bedrooms

The musician and actor collaborated with stylist and designer Estee Stanley on their new collection, HomeMint. See photos of our favorite pieces and read ELLEDECOR.com's exclusive Q&A. Justin Timberlake and Estee Stanley working on their new collection, HomeMint. Photograph by Peggy Sirota

Written by Amy Preiser

For years, Justin Timberlake has moved seamlessly between the movie, music, and fashion industries. But today's announcement of HomeMint, a collection of home goods and art designed and curated by Timberlake and his longtime interior designer, Estee Stanley, brings him into the design world as well. The collection will be available exclusively online at HomeMint.com, to members-who pay a monthly fee of $10 to enjoy discounts and early access to new products-and nonmembers alike.

See more: Courteney Cox's Malibu Retreat

The line won't be available to buy until early May, but you can preview the collection and sign up for updates today. To celebrate the new site, Timberlake and Stanley shared images of the pieces from the line and spoke to ELLE DECOR about the

Written by Claiborne Smith

Pity the poor employees at the San Antonio tourism office. All anyone can remember about the city is the Alamo, the site of a bloody battle between Texan settlers and the Mexican army that took place in the long-ago year of 1836. But don't let its key role in American history eclipse the fact that San Antonio has recently reinvented itself as a sophisticated, beguiling, and funky city, all the while paying tribute to a rich, complex past.

San Antonio feels like Mexico, visitors say, and they're right. Mexicans settled Texas a full century before the arrival of Anglo-American colonists, and signs of Mexican culture are everywhere, from the vibrant murals on the walls of downtown buildings to restaurants serving updated versions of traditional Mexican cuisine. But San

The colors and patterns our editors loved this year

top-trends-2011-art.jpg

1. Gold
Gleaming, glittering, and totally glamorous. This precious color adds sparkle to any setting.

2. Menswear
Classic haberdashery takes on a handsome new guise. Try a plaid trunk or herringbone pattern tiles to bring the trend home. http://www.elledecor.com/home-shopping/articles/trend-alert-menswear

3. Snakeskin
This untamed pattern, evocative of jet-set glamour, is now turning up in vivid hues and surprising places. Equally chic as a soap dispenser or x-bench, snakeskin can easily add an edge to a room.

4. Persimmon
A spicy color that has become the design world's latest obsession. It glows as a pendant light, sparkles as a necklace, and brightens up any space.

5. Marbleizing
This classic decorative technique is sending ripples through the design world, surfacing in colorful new guises. Go bold with marbleized wallpaper or try out the trend with stationery.

6. Yellow

Everything you need to know for smart shopping

Written by Brooke Lea Foster

Roger Davies

Lighting a room can be one of the more challenging aspects of decorating and design-choosing a fixture you love is easier than knowing the difference between a halogen and an LED. The good news: Things are about to get easier. In January, many lighting companies will begin putting "lighting facts" on lightbulb labels. But still, it's important to know what all of that lingo means. Here, a guide to help you figure it all out.

To Start: What Fixture Are You Filling?
Are you looking for a bulb for a bathroom sconce or a table lamp in the bedroom? Bathrooms do best with diffused light-a mixture of compact fluorescents and halogen bulbs that give off a low contrast and soft lighting. LED bulbs are good for areas where bright, focused light is necessary-like prep areas of the kitchen. Ask yourself: What kind of light do I want in the room? Then, how can I achieve that mood while using the least amount of