What is the One Room Challenge®?
The One Room Challenge® (ORC) is an eight-week event held twice a year (spring and fall), where participants transform a space and share their progress. It’s not a competition—it’s a supportive community of designers, DIYers, and home enthusiasts celebrating creativity and inspiration. Through the weekly update posts, participants are able to connect with and encourage each other, and spectators and participants alike can find endless inspiration, motivation, and creativity.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
Who Can Join? Anyone with a blog, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube account.
What Do You Need? A real room or space to transform (virtual designs are not permitted).
When Does It Happen? Registration opens about a month before each ORC event and closes at the end of Week 2. Pro tip—we recommend registering as soon as you’ve decided on a room, as we’ll be looking for projects matching with ORC sponsor requests.
Photo via Studio PlumbFALL 2025 SCHEDULE
Week 1: October 1
Week 2: October 8
Week 3: October 15
Week 4: October 22
Week 5: October 29
Week 6: November 5
Week 7: November 12
Week 8: November 19 - 24 (Reveal Week!)
HOW TO SHARE YOUR PROGRESS
Each Wednesday of the event, a new weekly update page goes live here on the site. Participants can add direct links to progress updates they’ve posted on Instagram, blogs, TikTok, or YouTube. The page closes to new submissions each Sunday night (but stays available to browse indefinitely).
Links do not auto-populate and must be added manually by the participant.
Posting Requirements:
Include the ORC logo in your posts (available for download on this page).
Tag @oneroomchallenge in both the caption and the post on Instagram and TikTok.
Link back to the ORC weekly update page in your blog posts or Instagram stories/profile.
Each participant may post one link per section (blog, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube).
Need help with adding your links to the weekly updates page? Click here for a tutorial and a post where you can practice adding a link.
ORC X APARTMENT THERAPY
The ORC is thrilled to have Apartment Therapy as the event’s official media partner.
Apartment Therapy frequently showcases ORC rooms. They have a dedicated submission form for ORC projects, and their editors use the event to scout for features. You can check out their coverage of ORC projects here, on their One Room Challenge page, as well as on our press page.
Photo via Old Brand NewFAQs
-
Not necessarily! The time frame provides structure and motivation. If you don’t finish by Reveal Week, email us your final update, and we’ll add it for you.
-
Yes, but only before the event starts. Once the challenge begins, your project should remain the same.
-
You can still join in Week 2! The final deadline remains the same.
-
Brands look for projects that align with their needs. Having a large following is not required—great photography, creativity, and engaging content also matter.
-
Check that you’ve added your link to the correct section (blog, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube). Posts in the wrong category or missing required tags/logos may be deleted.
-
No, weekly updates are encouraged but not mandatory. You can skip weeks if needed.
-
Yes! Instagram participants must add a link to oneroomchallenge.com in their story or profile for 48 hours.