A Decade of Great Style: HGTV Magazine's Best Decorating Ideas Ever

We're celebrating 10 whole years of HGTV Magazine (and counting). Ahead are the best, brightest, most fun home decorating hacks from issues past.

Roy G. Biv may not be an official HGTV Magazine staffer, but from the very first issue, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet have been team players for giving a space spark. Any room can look more personal, more interesting, and waaaaay more exciting with a rainbow of colors — or a single stunner. There’s always a pop opp.

Why narrow down your colors when every one of them can look this glorious together? The trick is to incorporate muted hues, like the light blue Industry West chairs and the off-white rug in this Los Angeles cottage. (Fireplace surround color: Mulberry by Benjamin Moore)

A group of vintage candy-color pendants in a 1923 Colonial form a knockout light fixture. Above a bright white table and chairs, it’s extra electrifying.

Flashback to our March 2016 issue. That headboard bowls us over to this day. In the dreamy world of a bedroom, an amethyst headboard is unexpectedly awesome, like a piece of art. Chartreuse is a clever companion — it’s punchy yet not distracting, since it’s lighter.

A significant stretch of color revs up a functional space like a kitchen. Red may be a daring choice, but cherry has classic cred. (Island color: Real Red by Sherwin-Williams)

One neutral wall grounds this space, while the rest of the room bursts with color. The tub was customized to match the painterly Pierre Frey wallpaper. Homeowner Tamar Volosov says, “You can’t be unhappy when you’re soaking in a purple tub.” We'd have to agree.

Front doors are the best way to say “Color-loving people live here!” A fresh coat of paint on this brick cottage’s door took just a few hours and brings sunny feels every day. (Paint color: Gecko by Sherwin-Williams)

Long before thrifting took off, we were into it. Marrying contemporary and vintage items builds character into a room, not to mention “Wow, where’s that from?” conversation-starters. And much love to treasured hand-me-downs. Next to brand-new finds, pieces with history create a unique, lived-in look that never gets old.

Reinventing timeworn treasures — oars as leaning art, a ladder as a light fixture, suitcases as extra storage — packed personality into this farmhouse. (This room was featured in the May 2013 issue, and the gray sofa with clean lines is still in style today.)

Weathered paint on the wood hutch and the metal chairs and barstools lend charming touches to a contemporary dining area.

A prized old piece paired with playful art and accessories gives this Southwest space lots of spirit. The deer head (from cardboardsafari.com) picks up on the brown wood, while that li’l orange elephant nods to it.

The owner of this pretty-in-pink bedroom has a thing for quirky art, so the thrifted paintings were a must. The custom curved bed covered in quilted fabric gives the room a luxe feel.

Mahogany can make a room seem dark or serious, except when it’s coupled with cheery finds like these tall blue lamps by Robert Abbey. A glitzy mirror and “xo” letters help lighten the mood, while gold spray paint revitalizes a secondhand faux-bamboo mirror.

Grandmillennial-chic bedding by Allem Studio in a 1930s bungalow bridges the gap between the old-school furniture and the new-school Target geometric throw pillow and striped rug from HomeGoods.

We were into white kitchens in June 2015, and we’re into them now! The pastel hues of retro appliances look really fun alongside stainless steel. They cute up an all white kitchen, too.

What does “fab” decor mean, anyway? We know it when we see it, and so do you. Think: something that’s exceptionally glam or out of the ordinary, in a good way. Maybe it’s the sheer size, or the fantastic shape. No matter what, it makes a place unforgettable.

Canopy-style rattan ones by Noir are practically thrones. With back pillows, for his and her majesty. A starburst pendant sparkles but doesn’t compete with the spectacular host chairs.

Graphic 8 x 8-inch cement tiles by Mosaic House are beyond dazzling next to simple cabinetry. A patterned dish towel adds a pinch of fab in our April 2017 issue.

Larger-than-life flowery scenes: still trendy, still breathtaking. This mural in an 1860s Southern home is hand-painted; wallpaper has the same effect.

Total showstopper! And its gold tone enhances warm colors in a space. Dance parties practically required. Plus, bright built-ins never go out of style — this family room was in a December 2012 house tour.

To make magic on the staircase, the owner of this Texas home cut and adhered Matisse-like wallpaper from Spoonflower. The result: stairs that look like a work of art!

Whether you stencil it, paint it, glue it, sew it or stick a colossal decal on it, the J-O-Y of D-I-Y is real. Crafts are just as enjoyable to do as they are to look at, glitter on the floor and all. That’s why we’ve shared hundreds over the years, big and small, for every skill level. These are some of our forever faves.

Here's how:

1. 1. Remove the globe from its stand. Using a crafts knife, cut around the equator to separate the two halves of the globe, then pry them apart.
2. 2. Using the socket of a cord kit (try colorcord.com) as a guide, trace a circle the same size as the bottom of the socket at the top of one half of the globe. Cut out with the crafts knife.
3. 3. Use a foam brush to paint the inside of the globe half with off-white crafts paint. Let dry.
4. 4. Place the socket through the hole and attach following the package instructions.

Here's how:

1. 1. Measure the interior bottom of a tray and draw a rectangle that size on the back of the wallpaper.
2. 2. Cut it out and affix it to the tray with wallpaper paste. Run a plastic wallpaper smoother over it to remove any bubbles or ripples, then wipe off excess paste with a damp sponge.

Supplies: Hibiscus, Daisy, Regale Blue, Deep Forest Brown, Leapfrog, Invigorate, High Reflective White, Radish, Amalfi, all by Sherwin-Williams.

1. 1. Remove the doors and unscrew and discard the old knobs. Patch the holes with wood filler.
2. 2. Sand and prime the door fronts.
3. 3. Place the door fronts together, faceup, and use a pencil and a straightedge to draw stripes across both doors, as shown. We did nine stripes, each about 2 inches wide.
4. 4. Tape off every other stripe with delicate-surface painter’s tape. Paint stripes that replicate the colors shown. Remove the tape while the paint is still wet. Let dry.
5. 5. Tape off the painted stripes. Paint the remaining stripes to match the colors shown. Let dry.
6. 6. Screw in the new knobs, then rehang the doors.

Supplies: Artificial potted polyresin cacti for a similar look (Richards Expo, $28); Gloss Candy Pink, Gloss Black and Gold Specialty Metallic (Rust-Oleum)

Here's How:

1. 1. Spray-paint each potted plastic cactus a different color.
2. 2. Bend back the leaves (or remove them, if possible) to help cover all surfaces, including the pot and faux soil.
3. 3. Let dry.

Here's how:

1. 1. Cut a 20-inch-by-4-inch rectangle out of a piece of faux leather. Fringe the first 15 inches; each piece should be about 3 inches long and 1/8 inch wide. Cut the remaining material to make a 3/4-inch-wide tail. See Figure A here.
2. 2. Spray-mount together two small pieces of faux leather, good sides facing out. Trim into a 3-inch-by-1/4-inch strip.
3. 3. Place a key ring at the middle of the strip, then fold the strip in half. Hot-glue the ends together to form a loop. Flip the fringed piece of material wrong side up. Hot-glue the loop to the top right corner of the fringed piece. See Figure B here.
4. 4. Starting on the right, tightly roll the material, dabbing with hot glue to secure it as you go. Once you get to the tail, wrap it around the top of the fringe, securing it with hot glue.

Supplies: Fine-point markers in turquoise, orange, mint, yellow, purple and pink.

Here's How:

1. 1. Sketch out your design with a pencil and ruler. We drew rows of triangles that measure 3/4 inch across the bottom and 1 inch on the other two sides.
2. 2. Fill in every other triangle with three different colors of permanent markers. If needed, erase pencil marks with a high-quality eraser.

Here's how:

1. 1. Download letter templates here (we put the entire alphabet online so you can spell out any word you want). Reduce or enlarge the letters to fit the size of your existing art. Print them onto 8 -1/2-inch-by-11-inch sheets of label paper and cut them out.
2. 2. Remove the frame and wipe dust and dirt off the painting with a cloth. Decide where you’d like to put the letters, then stick a strip of painter’s tape below the mark as a guide to keep them straight. Stick on the letters and remove the tape.
3. 3. Using a roller, cover the entire painting — including the sides — with a single coat of white crafts paint.
4. 4. Carefully peel off the stickers while the paint is still slightly wet, using tweezers if necessary. Let dry completely, then hang.

Here's how:

1. 1. Spray-paint the plastic fruit
   white and let dry.
2. 2. Wire with a lamp kit, following the package instructions, and hot-glue to an acrylic base.
3. 3. Top with a shade.

Supplies: Americana Neons acrylic paint in Sizzling Pink, and Craft Smart acrylic paint in Neon Yellow and Neon Orange.

Here's how:

1. 1. Flip a plastic bowl upside down and place strips of double-sided tape on its base. Starting at the center of the base, begin coiling polyester rope (the tape will help hold it in place). Continue around the bowl, hot-gluing the rope to itself as you go. Once you reach the rim, cut the rope, then remove the bowl and tape. Melt the rope’s end with a match or a lighter so it doesn’t unravel, and secure with hot glue.
2. 2. Paint the bottom third of the rope bowl with crafts paint. Let dry.

Supplies: Glitter Blast Golden Glow spray paint by Krylon.

Here's how:

1. 1. Download the ampersand template here and print it onto an 8 -1/2-inch-by-11-inch sheet of paper.
2. 2. Cut a piece of freezer paper about the same size as your pillow. Lay the paper on top of the ampersand printout with the shiny side down. Trace the ampersand onto the freezer paper with a pencil.
3. 3. Cut out the ampersand with a crafts knife and discard. Next, cut out the top and bottom empty spaces in the ampersand shape.
4. 4. Stick a piece of cardboard inside a pillow cover to keep it flat. On medium heat, iron your DIY stencil — including the ampersand’s center sections — onto the pillow cover.
5. 5. Using glitter spray paint, fill in the stencil. Remove the stencil while the paint is still wet, using tweezers for the ampersand’s center sections. Let dry.

Like a secret ingredient, texture takes a room to the next level. Fuzzy, silky, plush, rough-hewn, woven: A medley of materials is engaging to look at. And they feel pretty darn good, too.

All hail reclaimed wood! A 6-inch-thick slab on the concrete fireplace infuses this neutral-ish Craftsman space with charisma. It fits right in with the mix of wood in the console, the coffee table cubes and the sofa base. From our March 2016 issue: A leather and metal chair is always a texture champ.

Exposed brick is eternally hip. Whether it’s original or added by you (peel-and-stick faux brick exists), the result has that industrial loft appeal.

White 3-D paper wall panels from inhabitliving.com in the corner and spiky metallic wall art give off grooviness.

Chipped paint has its upsides. We mean it! Rust-speckled metal gleams when sunlight hits it. And the style is versatile: Filled with faux coral, blue glassware and a model ship, a vintage medical cabinet beaches up a New England home. This may be from November 2013, but wood grain is perpetually fresh.

Wall hangings — like this yarn tapestry by Lauren Williams — add such softness, and their rise in popularity (we see you, macramé) has been a highlight of the decade. A small dyed ombré rug is fluffy heaven.

Grass cloth wallpaper can revamp a would-be-forgotten area like a hallway into its own remarkable spot — and glam up the underside of a staircase.

Splurging on a few pieces to revive a tired part of your home: worth it! Scoring pricey looks for less: supremely satisfying! Same goes for picking up a paintbrush instead of hiring someone, or simply rearranging your accessories for an instant refresh. As the designer of your own domain, you get all the credit for the “after.” Who transformed that room? You.

Has there ever been a cuter game setup than this one from our July/August 2017 issue? Nope. White paint, a timeless Apt2B sectional, and punchy prints (the fabric on the wingback chair is from Zinc Textile) erased every trace of fuddy-duddy. Great update: Paint the wall above a fireplace a contrasting color.

A feature wall can set a swanky tone; in this ranch, the gorgeous wallpaper is by Rebecca Atwood. For the sumptuous look of velvet without the opulent price tag, there’s a microfiber bed frame. Always a luxe addition: a blanket or duvet at the end of your bed.

See ya, frumpy curtains and prissy furniture. A dapper Roman shade mounted outside the window trim, bright Eiffel chairs (excellent bang for your buck), and a showpiece pendant took years off a dining room in a 1960s house in the Chicago suburbs. (Paint color: Argos by Sherwin-Williams)

Wallpapering just the ceiling is one of our go-to spiffer-uppers (this one in a 1930s dining room is by Flat Vernacular). Similarly delightful: Its colors are echoed in the mod chandelier from West Elm, and the neat lines in the rug by Justina Blakeney x Loloi are the opposite of its scattered splotches. (Paint color: Blue Heron by Benjamin Moore)

Cabinets painted a rich shade (totally DIY-able) next to a vibrant backsplash (cement tiles come in terrific patterns) can morph the most standard kitchen into a stunner. White oak floors (these were in a October 2018 issue) beat meh gray tiles every time. (Paint color: Forest Green by Benjamin Moore)

Stripes and florals! Checks and spots! Harlequin and chevron! Getting past those must-match impulses and combining different patterns can infuse a room with energy and impact, and look like you hired a pro — even if all you did was put down a new table runner. We’re thrilled to give you a nudge … and the know-how.

A palette of ’em pulls together polka-dotted chairs, the herringbone rug and trellised drapes. A recurring hue — in this case, yellow — is equally helpful for a cohesive mix.

In this Midwestern home, jumbo meets jumbo. Chairs that have a big buffalo check print on them (try The Inside) for a similar look) complement the large scale of the Sheila Bridges Harlem Toile wallpaper.

Pink dyed-look wallpaper by Élitis coexists with a zigzag bench (try Society6 for a similar look) because the blurred-out diamonds and the zigzags have a flowy effect. A solid fuchsia bed from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is a brave-but-not-overboard statement that links the two.

Pink dyed-look wallpaper by Élitis coexists with a zigzag bench (try Society6 for a similar look) because the blurred-out diamonds and the zigzags have a flowy effect. A solid fuchsia bed from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is a brave-but-not-overboard statement that links the two.

There’s no such thing as too much pattern, seen here in bigger-is-better Texas. Since the prints on the Wisteria settee, the mosaiclike rug (try Rugs USA for a similar look) and the chevron pouf are in the geometric family, they get along just fine.

Partnering patterns in the same color family is a cinch. Here, green and teal dominate with a circular design on the shade fabric (by Studio Bon) and the palm leaf bath mat (from Urban Outfitters). Towels also get in on the fun. Loved this bathroom so much we put it on our April 2019 cover.

Besides phenomenal style, the homes we feature have one other thing in common: We’d want to hang out in them. After all, the most photogenic area is nothing IRL without creature comforts like a fluffy ottoman to rest your feet on or a large sectional piled with pillows. We give these rooms five stars for their stay-a-while vibes.

The deeper the sectional, the better for chilling. We’ll take the floofy labradoodle, too! Wingback chairs (this one is from Dovetail) literally wrap their arms around you.

This entry greets guests with easygoing vibes thanks to a pair of hats perpetually hanging on the wall. The message: Relax and stay awile!

Faux sheepskin and bolster pillows: perpetual lounging temptation. And don't forget about the show throw. Definition: 1. An atttractive throw folded and draped oh-so-perfectly that’s not meant to be used. 2. Woe to the person who touches it. Sample usage: “Guests are always impressed by the fringed show throw on a bench at the foot of her bed.”

A high banquette — this one in a Washington, D.C., rowhouse is nearly 3 feet tall — softens up a space and offers a headrest for every height. With just one center pedestal, a tulip table leaves plenty of legroom.

Two rugs and a seriously plush pile of pillows beckon you to hunker down in this spot. The rattan daybed fits a twin mattress, so you could stay here all night, too.

“If these walls could talk…,” the saying goes. But actually, they do. The possessions and mementos you display speak volumes about who you are and sprinkle in quirk that puts your stamp on a space. Take a peek at what homeowners’ animated objects reveal.

A driftwood coat rack from Roost, a print of a moth by Joseph Scheer, and a seagrass-front console from Noir bring the outdoors in — organic fits for a couple of nature buffs.

Wall mounts show off a guitar collection and beckon the family that lives here to have jam sessions. A photographer’s cameras, sports keepsakes: the possibilities are as endless as people’s interests.

Treasures from an artist’s travels to Ghana, Panama, Senegal and St. Lucia, alongside her own creations, are beautifully set off in different-size niches in a Brooklyn, New York, townhouse.

As shown in our September 2014 issue: We’re dedicated suckers for a thoughtfully styled bookcase. In a designer’s own 1920s home, small-scale furniture, decorating books as accessory perches, and art supplies are what she’s about. And the letter A — the initial of her first name.

A California couple into surfing went for a waves decal on their bedroom’s bathroom door, CB2 nautical rope lights and a DIY reclaimed wood headboard. Painting part of it and the wall gray looks like the surf coming in.

Wedding photos and cherished pieces of art create a you-seum in an entry. Mixing in objects such as antique Chinese paintbrushes and a woven fan adds 3-D flair.

Rules, schmules! If it makes you smile, you’re doing it right.

Bought secondhand, these were glued to plywood on the wall. The sunglasses mirror reflecting them makes this corner really rock.

Then decorate with all the things, as one family did in their NYC condo. A sleek red chair and a blue sofa and carpet, tranquil cloud art and a geometric blanket, plus one wild, faux-bois console work together if you say so! Truth is, bold goes with bold — no need to hold back.

With ginormous bees, of course, on your wallpaper and drapes (the pattern is by Katie Kime). Oversize designs in a compact space like a bathroom have a way of feeling way whimsical.

Behold a room that combines two of our crushes: stripes and rainbows. Bands of white separate each shade and soften the look — cheerful magnificence in a bedroom. (If we’ve learned one thing about painting stripes on walls, it’s that painter’s tape is your BFF.)

Between the black and white stripes and punches of hot pink (outdoor bean bags!), this Louisiana backyard has all the right vibes. And that floatie! One like this can transport you right to the tropics.

Swing into relaxation in this rattan hanging chair — it's the best seat in the house!