For many homeowners, the laundry room is one of the most neglected rooms of the house. Yet when home buyers are touring a home, they’ll be looking long and hard at the laundry room to see if it fits their needs. It pays to invest in laundry room updates, and you may find that you enjoy doing laundry in your updated laundry room.

Today there are a variety of furniture options eco-friendly furniture options available. Products made from FSC-certified wood are guaranteed to be produced under environmentally responsible conditions. FSC is the Forest Stewardship Council, a non-profit organization that promotes responsible forestry throughout the world. The FSC label is only given to wood products that follow FSC guidelines.

Another eco-friendly furniture choice is bamboo, which is a sustainable substitute for hardwood. Bamboo grows quickly and can be harvested each year without destroying old-growth forests. Bamboo plants mature in about five years, far less than the decades required by many tree. It has the strength of many hardwoods. Non-toxic adhesives are often used in bamboo furniture construction.

Recycled and repurposed composite materials are also used in eco-friendly furniture. These composites may be made from salvaged or scrap wood or from other recycled materials. An example of a composite is Kerei board, which is made from reclaimed sorghum straw. When shopping from composite furniture, avoid the presence of formaldehyde. Many people are sensitive to formaldehyde emissions and will suffer a variety of health problems. Read more about eco-friendly furniture at the Sierra Club Green Home website.

Mad Men, the award-winning dramatic series on the AMC network, has created a renewed interest in the decorating style of the 1960s. Set in Manhattan and a suburb of New York, the show’s home and office interiors reflect the mid-century modern style. Fashion and home décor were clean, cool and sophisticated. The characters on show have more than their share of problems, but their approach to style is decidedly modern and grownup.

The post-modern style was soon replaced by flower power, orange shag carpets and other excesses of the 1970s. Now you can take a step back in time – tune into Mad Men and get a taste of life in a time when no respectable executive would be caught dead without his fedora.

See adman Don Draper deliver one of his best pitches in this YouTube video from Mad Men.

Architectural Digest has a slideshow of some of the most famous homes from around the world. This palatial estate is Sandringham and is located about 100 miles from London. It’s the private country residence of Queen Elizabeth II. Built by Edward VII in 1870 when he was Prince of Wales, Sandringham has been home to four generations of Britains royals. Visit the Architectural Digest website and a see a dozen more beautiful homes.

One of the top remodeling projects is increasing the size of small kitchen. What if you would rather not spend the money on an expensive kitchen remodel? There are several ways you can maximize your kitchen workspace and decorate it to appear larger.

Here are 5 tricks for making a small kitchen feel larger, courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens:

The Light Bulb Effect is not a standalone battery operated bulb – it’s actually a cleverly designed wax candle and holder. The blub-shaped candle burns down the center, preserving its round shape. The candle is design by Helbert Ferreira and Remi Melander of System Design Studio. These are the most eco-friendly light bulbs ever.

In areas where winter freezes are uncommon, now is the time to add some color to your winter garden. Pansies and snapdragons can be planted now and will blossom right through springtime. Start with plants in 6 packs and 4-inch pots, and you’ll see them gain in size throughout the weeks of cool weather.

Other suggested flowers for cool weather include perennials such as candytuft (Iberis), cyclamen and English daisy.

For more suggestions, see Sunset.com

Many home decorators, crafters and do-it-yourselfers have longed for the ability to design a piece of fabric that exactly matches their vision. Thanks to digital technology, it’s now possible to order a custom-printed fabric in an amount small enough for a single pillow at a reasonable price. Two websites, Spoonflower and Karma Kraft, have streamlined the process of uploading a digital design, previewing the fabric and ordering the correct amount. Spoonflower offers a variety of cotton fabrics for printing, while Karma Kraft offers silk and linen in addition to cotton. Karma Kraft also provides a sewing service which will turn a custom-printed fabric into a pillow, bag or purse. Basic printing at both websites starts at around $20 per yard.

Let your creativity take over and imagine the possibilities when decorating with custom prints in your home!  This YouTube video from Spoonflower explains the entire process.

The New Year is a great time to get organized. Chances are that your kitchen cabinets are cluttered and there may even be some outdated foods. The best way to start with kitchen cabinet reorganization is to empty everything out and give the shelves a good cleaning. When replacing the dishes, think about how they’re organization. When plates and bowls are stacked, it can be hard to get the dish you need. Think about using portable shelf organizers to create different levels for storage. Move the items that you don’t use on a daily basis to higher shelves.

Before replacing food items in your cabinets or pantry, check for expiration dates and discard expired items. If you can’t remember how long you’ve had an open package, it’s a good idea to toss it. Next, go through and group similar food items together. If you have lots of cans and small bottles, use organizers to store more in less space. Group like items together in the cabinets. For example, put coffee, tea and cocoa together. You’ll save time and money with well organized cabinets that put the food item you need at your fingertips.

For more tips, see this article on the HGTV website.

Avoid letting the gloom of the winter months into your home.  By following a few simple lighting tips, you can keep your home bright, warm and inviting.