Editors Reveal Our Favorite Ideas From Years of Working on Giveaway Homes

We remodeled our 1960s kitchen a few years ago and pulled a ton of inspiration from HGTV Urban Oasis 2017. The navy cabinets, crisp white countertops, and layers of warm wood tones are absolute “chef’s kiss.” It’s bold yet still feels timeless, and opening the space has been a lifestyle upgrade for our family of four. – Virginia Moon, Home Promotions Content and Creative Manager

We got inspiration for our lake home patio from HGTV Smart Home 2021, which featured the retractable Phantom Screens. We wanted to be able to screen off our entire outdoor living space—living room and kitchen—and to open the main living space to the outdoors. – Paul Cox, Content Operations Manager

My all-time favorite room is from before I even worked at HGTV: the ski dorm from HGTV Dream Home 2011. It feels both exciting (evoking feelings of a long weekend with friends at a snow-covered resort) while also being cozy and a place you can relax. I’m obsessed with the individual bunks (privacy curtain included) and reading lamps for each bunk, plus the numbered coat hangers corresponding to each bunk for ski gear storage. And the colors and accents don’t make the room feel too outdated. If I ever find myself owning a cabin on the side of a mountain, I’m using this design as inspiration for my own ski dorm. – Jordan Lawson, Editor

I completely fell in love with the HGTV Dream Home 2022 in Vermont. Everything from its architecture to the rich, earthy layers of color spoke to me. I’ve always been drawn to greens, but I often wonder how to incorporate them into my home in a way that feels intentional and timeless. When we recently added a mudroom, it felt like the perfect opportunity to let green take center stage. It’s a hue that creates a natural, calming drop zone—one that helps the eye transition seamlessly from the outdoors to the indoors. – Virginia Moon, Home Promotions Content and Creative Manager

As an avid board gamer, I think the giant Scrabble board on the playroom wall at HGTV Smart Home 2019 is such a fun statement piece, and I love how it echoes the grid pattern on the area rug. If I ever have a designated game room in my house, this will be a must for me. – Shannon Phillips, Managing Editor

From an editorial standpoint, a banquette has always captured my attention. I love the generous seating it offers—creating space for multiple people without the visual clutter of too many chairs. It also invites softness and comfort; styled with pillows, it instantly feels warm, layered, and welcoming. After seeing the banquette featured in HGTV Smart Home 2022, I knew it was something we needed to incorporate into our own kitchen remodel. It’s a great spot for family time and the built-in storage drawers are great for stowing away kid crafts and art supplies. – Virginia Moon, Home Promotions Content and Creative Manager

HGTV Urban Oasis 2017 was in Knoxville, Tennessee, my hometown and the original home of HGTV. It was fun to be able to see the home’s progress in person. This home made a lasting impression on me for many reasons, but the biggest was the pink front door. We said it then, and it is still true now – it’s a statement color! I like a home with a personality, and painting the front door a fun color is the quickest and most effective way to give your home some character from the curb. (It’s also easy to change when you’re in need of a fresh start.) We didn’t paint ours pink but instead chose a bright, sunny yellow unlike anything else on our street. Not only does it make an inviting entry (especially in winter) but it’s also easy to tell visitors which house is ours. – Kelly Smith Trimble, Senior Editorial Director

If I ever get the chance to do a laundry room reno, I plan on stealing this idea from HGTV Smart Home 2020 and adding a dog washing station to the space. I love the warm beige penny tile and matching paint, especially in contrast to the glossy charcoal cabinets. I would just swap out the wall decor for pet-themed art for a touch of whimsy. – Noelle Paredes, Online Editor

HGTV Dream Home and HGTV Smart Home always have great outdoor spaces and decks—these are my favorite galleries every year. The decks from HGTV Smart Home 2025 and HGTV Dream Home 2022 are two of my favorites. I'm a fan of light-natural wood with crisp black: This combination is striking and slightly dramatic without detracting from the natural beauty of the trees surrounding the homes. I have a new fence in need of a stain and seal, and I'd love to refresh my deck and screened porch with new paint and stain shades. I'm planning to borrow from these past homes for both projects with Valspar Semi-Transparent stain in Spicy Brown (SH25) and Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black paint. I absolutely LOVE this black paint on trim, fences, and decks. – Caryn Canfield, Customer Relationships Manager

I think about this kitchen from HGTV Smart Home 2022 almost every week. The olive-green cabinetry is what initially caught my eye (I'm a green-loving girl to my core), but the massive wood island, bronze finishes and simple subway tile backsplash are a few of the things that made it unforgettable to me. The floor-to-ceiling cabinetry makes the spacious cooking space look larger than life, while the curated decorative accents and unique design details (I'm looking at you, beadboard cabinet doors) keep the space feeling grounded and oh-so-charming. Because my personal style leans towards the cozier, more curated spaces, I don't often fall in love with designs that look like a new build, but Tiffany Brooks really won me over with this space. – Ellie Sanders, Newsletter Editor

From the skylights (hello, natural light!) to the striped cafe curtains to the unique wood mirrors, the main bathroom at HGTV Dream Home 2024 has so many inspiring design features. But the one spot that sticks out to me the most is the petite vanity. The skirted table was added to hide the steam shower's unsightly mechanical equipment, but it adds a surprising touch of whimsy to this otherwise clean-cut bathroom. The wicker chair suits this beachfront bathroom perfectly, and bright pink flowers and flamingo art make this corner one of the happiest in the home. Now that I think about it, this look would be so easy to recreate. (Adding it to my home update checklist now!) – Lauren Piro, Digital Content Director

The first time I saw the exterior of HGTV Urban Oasis 2021, I remember audibly gasping. I had never seen a green-painted brick home before, and I love it. It's vibrant and fresh, but like it's been comfortably nestled into its surroundings forever. The double front door looks so inviting and was the perfect choice for the inset entryway. And don't even get me started on the front porch sitting area. If I could walk through my screen and plop down on one of the wicker rocking chairs, you'd never be able to get me to leave. – Ellie Sanders, Newsletter Editor

In recent years I’ve seen The Frame TVs (by Samsung, shown here in HGTV Dream Home 2026) in so many homes—and I’m officially obsessed. We added them to our house, too. As someone with major commitment issues when it comes to decor, I love being able to switch out the art to match our style, dress it up for the holidays, or display a special moment for birthdays or anniversaries. – Virginia Moon, Home Promotions Content and Creative Manager

The outdoor entertaining space in HGTV Dream Home 2023 in Colorado blew me away from the moment I saw the photography. The verdant scenery alone is enough to make a statement, but the tiered gathering spaces, cozy furniture and impressive stonework offer the space a resort-level design. It’s a good reminder that outdoor spaces can be cozy and comfortable (with the right outdoor fabrics and a space to pull them in from the rain!), and I’ll remember that this summer, when I plan on buying some new outdoor furniture. – Lauren Piro, Digital Content Director

When we bought our house three years ago, I was most excited about the screened-in porch. So, naturally, I came to HGTV for decorating and styling inspiration. And while the screened-in porch from HGTV Urban Oasis 2016 was 10 years ago, its appeal is timeless. I incorporated an array of ideas from this space, including the larger-than-life trees, the wooden patio furniture and the oversized rug underfoot. It’s a gorgeous space that’s worth taking inspiration from. – Morgan Faulkner, Commerce Assistant Editor

I live in a small space, so I always have my eye out for ways to make the most of underutilized corners and nooks. The best ideas are ones that feel effortless, like intentional design choices—which is why I find this lighted, under-the-stairs shelving from the dining room of HGTV Smart Home 2025 in San Antonio, Texas, so inspiring. The warm glow from LED lights elevates whatever is displayed, creating a focal point—and ensuring that nothing about this storage solution feels utilitarian. For me, this means an additional space to showcase my favorite books and collectibles, along with smaller sculptures and framed works of art. – Kristie Collado, Managing Editor

I’m a big fan of the pet-friendly features that are often included in our giveaway homes, particularly this custom dog crate from HGTV Dream Home 2020. Most dog owners need a comfortable, safe spot to put their pup from time to time, but standard dog crates are such an eyesore. I love that this one looks like a piece of furniture that belongs in the home, and it’s plenty roomy for a bed and toys. – Shannon Phillips, Managing Editor

I immediately fell in love with this painting “Venus on the Block” by Celery Jones, commissioned for the HGTV Dream Home 2017 on St. Simons Island, Georgia. The blend of Greek-and-Roman mythology meets urban fashion speaks directly to me. Luckily for me, there were prints of the original painting available, so I bought one. It was one of the larger pieces of art I bought for my apartment; it originally hung in my living room behind the couch and now it hangs in my bedroom, greeting me each morning. So now I have a little piece of HGTV Dream Home in my own home … and I also recently bought a pair of gold bamboo earrings! – Jessica Yonker, Editor

Over the years, I’ve been inspired by the art featured throughout the HGTV homes, like this marsh painting in the living room of the HGTV Dream Home 2017. Finding unique, large-scale art at a relatively affordable price is always a challenge, but taking cues from nature—whether from where you live or from your travels—is always a great place to start.

On a trip to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, I took a close-up photo of a large piece of driftwood on a beach I thought was beautiful. When I needed to fill a large empty wall in my living room, used Framebridge to print and frame the photo with a cream linen mat and tortoise shell frame, and the process couldn’t have been easier. It’s something that can’t be found in a big-box store, and best of all, I love that it reminds me of a memorable trip where I felt inspired by nature. – Laura James, Commerce Editor