Last week, on the very first day after the time change, I could already feel myself getting sluggish and blah as the sun started setting at 5:30pm. This year, I'm deciding to be proactive and set myself up for success, and I've learned some genuinely interesting stuff that I'm sharing here.

We're officially halfway through the fall '25 ORC, and wow, what a season it's shaping up to be! We've been absolutely loving watching everyone's progress unfold. In case you missed the first few weeks, here are just a few of the MANY highlights from this season so far.

Welcome back, now comes the fun part! It's time to use design to finish creating a dining space you'll enjoy. The aesthetic choices you make should support and enhance the functional plan you created in Part 1.

When it comes to creating a dining space, the most crucial (and the oft skipped) step of the process is figuring out how you actually live and how the space where you eat can fit or enhance your existing routines.

It is SO tempting to jump straight into decor, but unfortunately even the most beautiful dining room in the world won't serve you well if it doesn't match how your family actually eats, entertains, and uses the space.

Although I'm staunchly anti-popcorn ceiling, I am willing to admit that they have exactly one thing going for them: their sound dampening ability.

The past few decades of interior design trends have indeed been steering us towards an acoustic nightmare, trading the sound-absorbing qualities of our homes for sleeker, shinier hard surfaces.

We were so excited to see so many community members interested in tackling mini projects. With help from ORC folks on Instagram, we’ve put together this mini project guide that should answer any questions and give you lots of ideas.

Think you don’t have space for a garden? Think again. Container gardening makes it possible to grow flowers, herbs, and even vegetables just about anywhere—balconies, patios, windowsills, or tucked into a corner of your yard.

Looking to go green? Green continues to be one of the most versatile and beloved colors in interior design. There are so many gorgeous shades, though, that it can be difficult to know where to begin choosing the best green for your space.

Angela and Tyler transformed an 800-square-foot plot into a custom raised-bed garden. The whole project was quite an ambitious DIY undertaking that had us truly running to take notes.

A crash course on knowing whether or not that FB Marketplace gem is salvageable, if it's worth the time, and where to begin.

Tracey turned an uninspired laundry room into a gorgeous green space where working on laundry would put anyone in a fantastic mood.

Pattern is absolutely everywhere. Materials like wood and marble technically have a pattern, so even the most devout minimalist still has to balance and mix patterns in their home.

Galley kitchens get a bad rap for being cramped and impractical, but this one is proof that a carefully planned and well designed galley kitchen can be just as gorgeous and functional as other layouts.

Have you ever wondered what other DIYers are listening to while they tackle their latest projects? Team ORC recently launched an extensive research study (a few polls on our Instagram story).

Although Tracy’s (@4009decorates) 11-year-old son’s bedroom was already fantastic, it had a kid-like, playful vibe that he had outgrown. Micah expressed his desire for a more grown-up room that reflected his current interests and personality, or, more specifically, hunting lodge themed decoration and "cool old stuff" (aka vintage finds).

While we may not rely on these cutouts to keep our butter fresh, they still add heaps of charm and whimsy to cabinet fronts.

First time ORCer Mary (@whiskandkeyhome) tackled a very familiar problem during the spring ‘24 event—an uninspiring home office gathering clutter due to lack of storage space.

Husband & wife DIY duo Norman and Iesha set out to clean the dryer vent and ended up with what are quite possibly the world’s most beautiful stock cabinets.

Have you ever happened upon a DIY video while scrolling through your social media feed, and felt a sudden urge to start tackling a new project in your home? Research has shown that watching our peers DIY on social media is like a lightbulb moment.

The recent spring ‘24 ORC was Brielle of Brielle Interiors’ first crack at blogging, DIYing, and ORCing, and she completely knocked it out of the park with this space.