Assemble This Furniture by Beating the Crap Out of It

Okay, we admit that we love IKEA. Like, a lot. When we’re looking for a way to spruce up our bedroom or kitchen, we know we can rely on the big box retailer to bring us stylish, simple furniture that works for our lifestyle and our budget. But sometimes those silly little allen wrenches send us into total meltdown mode, amiright? Whackpack, whose Kickstarter campaign was just fulfilled, has pieces that aim to take the frustration out of flat-pack furniture, and, well, aim to have you take your frustration out on the furniture too.

Whackpack uses a combination of Japanese woodworking and the old Irish method of construction called bodging, where you literally just bang the thing together. It takes only one minute to assemble (aka whack) and is super sturdy due to what the Japanese refer to as a “hell joint.” While this process makes the assembly permanent, it also makes it super fun.

Available for sale starting next month, the “creepie” stool (weird name, we know) will retail for $49. This might seem like a lot for a stool, but for a perfectly assembled piece of furniture and some catharsis, that seems like a pretty good deal to us!

What’s your worst Ikea fail? Tell us in the comments!

Sweater season is nearly here and we're (almost) ready for it, especially the decorating and hosting part (festive fall cocktails by the fire, anyone?). IKEA just dropped its new fall and Halloween collections filled with entertaining essentials and fun ghost-and-goblin decor, which means now's the time to get your fall decor haul with a Scandi twist. IKEA's also releasing its MITTZON office collection, which we previewed last spring. Check out more home decor news coming from IKEA this month before you make the trek this season.

Shop New IKEA Fall Decor Here!

IKEA

HÖSTAGILLE

The HÖSTAGILLE collection, available August 1, features home textiles in warm autumnal colors, affordable seasonal home decor like scented candles, and elevated kitchen essentials perfect for your next fall gathering. This pie plate is just $13. Score two of the orange dish towels for $4!

IKEA

This pumpkin bowl in brown glass is perfect for holding small things like your favorite Halloween candy.

IKEA

A $5 cushion cover and a cotton throw turns your summer home into a warm and cozy fall retreat instantly.

IKEA

IKEA tealights get a Halloween makeover for a spooky table setting.

IKEA

What's a scary Halloween without a dramatic candlebra?

IKEA

Serve up your best recipes in style in a large baking dish, ideal for gratins and roasts.

IKEA

My daughter is obsessed with bats and will love this bat cushion cover!

IKEA

KUSTFRYR Collection

Celebrate the spookiest time of the year with a Scandi vibe. Find festive lighting and decor, affordable trick-or-treat bags, and modern serving pieces in the new KUSTFRYR collection.

IKEA

Get in the Halloween mood with these B&W festive pillows.

IKEA

Light up your home during shorter days with LED string lights and forest-scene tealight holder.

IKEA

MITTZON Collection

MITTZON, an 85-piece office collection, is perfect for the small business or WFHer. It's designed to keep the office quiet with products that absorb and block sound, keep distractions at bay, and offer much-needed privacy. Find foldable desks, adjustable standing desks, acoustic screens, and more.

IKEA

HATTÅSEN Bedside Table

Find colorful pieces too for the home this fall, like this decorative side table in playful pink. It's compact, lightweight and you can move around the house for different uses.

IKEA

IKEA PS 1995 clock

Also, check out the IKEA PS 1995 clock, which can hang on the wall or sit on a shelf. Open the front and store small trinket. Kids will love it!

IKEA

IKEA PS 2014 Pendant lamp

The IKEA PS 2014 pendant lamp won the international design competition's Red Dot Award. You can change its shape and intensity of light by simply pulling its strings.

BADRING Smart Sensors Collection

Finally, the BADRING smart sensors collection is available now so you can have a smart home on a budget. This include the Badring Water Leak Sensor, which will let you know if you have, well, a water leak before it's too late.

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Lead image via IKEA

If neutrals aren’t your thing — or you’re ready to refresh your space — earthy accents are the perfect way to bring warmth and character into your home. Colors like chocolate and caramel, earthy greens, Bordeaux, and burgundy are making our neutral rooms a little richer and less monotone. Here’s how to create a modern earthy-neutral aesthetic that feels fresh, grounded, and cozy for a new season.

How To Create An Earthy-Neutral Aesthetic

Design: Allprace | Photography by Michael P.H. Clifford

  1. Layer textures: Mix natural materials like woven jute, natural fiber linens, and rustic ceramics to create a cozy, layered look. The more textures, the richer the effect!
  2. Choose warm neutrals: Instead of stark whites or cool grays, go for warm tones like sandy beige, terracotta, and clay that give you an organic, lived-in feel.
  3. Add greenery: Everything is better with plants. Bring in indoor trees, succulents, and hanging plants to accentuate that earthy vibe.
  4. Mix in wood and stone: These materials instantly ground a space. Think raw wood furniture or stone accents to capture an earthy, timeless vibe.
  5. Use earth-toned accents: From throw pillows to wall art, shop for decor in muted browns, greens, and rusty reds that echo the colors of nature.

Schoolhouse

Schoolhouse x Clare V. Felix Shag Wool Rug

This collab between two of our favorite brands created a cozy graphic rug for the living room or dining room in the season's earthy palette. Love!

Quince

Quince European Linen Duvet Cover Set

Available in a mix of colors, this European flax linen duvet cover is pre-washed so it's super soft for a more lived-in vibe.

Etsy

Etsy Terra Cotta Flatwoven Kilim Rug

Clay colors are having a moment this season, and this 100% cotton kilim rug is the perfect accent to your fall decor.

Anthroplogie

Anthropologie Cozy Cocoon Fringed Throw Blanket

Prepare to drape yourself in plaid this fall and winter with this wooly throw.

Etsy

Etsy Ceramic Table Lamp With Plaid Shade

I am swooning over this handmade brown ceramic lamp with darling plaid shade, such a unique piece for your fall decor.

CB2

CB2 Mongolian Sheepskin Fur Throw Pillow with Insert

Sink into these 100% Mongolian natural sheepskin pillows in the season's loveliest colors.

Joss & Main

Eleanne Coffee Table

Bring in woody accents like this modern and elegant round coffee table.

Wayfair

Howlan Natural Stoneware Vase

A stone vase elevates your room's decor, whether it sits on a mantel, bookshelf, or your dining table.

Anthropologie

Anthropologie Scallop Edge Pinch Bowls, Set of 3

These scalloped edge bowls are perfect for meal prep and serving dips and spreads.

Wayfair

Solace Upholstered Barrel Chair

This barrel chair is versatile and timeless in a faux lambs wool and sleek shape.

Ruggable

Ruggable Cyrus Rose Gold Tufted Rug

This European-inspired rug has a distressed feel with a hint of rose gold and rich brown. It's water- and stain-resistant, machine-washable, and will instantly warm up your neutral decor.

Urban Outfitters

UO Palma Fringe Light Blocking Window Curtain

The mini tassels on this fringe-trimmed window curtain add a bit of whimsy and texture to your room.

Wayfair

Kelly Clarkson Home Side Chair, Set of 2

With an S shape inspired by 20th-century Danish design, this wicker duo gives both modern and cottage-core vibes.

Target

Studio McGee x Threshold Oval Table Lamp with Pleated Shade

This subtly textured table lamp comes with dimmable settings so you can set the mood just right. It makes the perfect statement piece to your neutral decor!

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As an admirer of clean Scandi design, I love to mix IKEA items with more treasured pieces to make my home look more authentically me. My aesthetic is minimal, but also warm and colorful and happy and inviting. I'm a firm believer a home can be all of these things, and they are hallmarks of modern Scandinavian design, seen especially as you stroll the floors of IKEA.

From hooks to storage to furniture to food – the designers at IKEA think of everything. Literally, everything. And their price points are pretty remarkable too. On my last trip, I started to feel like I may be evolving out of the IKEA furniture phase that lasted through my 20s and 30s, but there are still some tried-and-true products that I will always shop for, and that still exist in my home. Here are my IKEA favorites, plus a few items I avoid for reasons I'll share below. Happy decorating!

IKEA

RIBBA Frame

IKEA is a steal for frames compared to other frame or custom frame shops. I have been using the Ribba frame for years for large-scale prints, gallery walls, and photo-sized frames. Mix them with vintage frames and trinkets like above to add character and a little soul to your space.

IKEA

FLÅDIS Basket

I use these seagrass baskets everywhere to store and hide unsightly things like laundry supplies, my daughter's toys, and even to cover planters. They're collapsible and under $10!

IKEA

TORNVIKEN Kitchen Island

I was searching for a kitchen island forever until I came upon this oak one and I love it! I get compliments on it all the time from guests who are surprised it's from IKEA. There's roomy storage on the shelves on one side and legroom on the other side for bar stools. I chose Serena & Lily barstools to give the look an upgrade.

IKEA

BLANDA MATT Bamboo Serving Bowl

This bamboo bowl and serving set is perfect for serving big salads while entertaining.

IKEA

HILDEGUN Dish towel

I grab a few of these every time I visit IKEA. They have a French country vibe and work as dish towels or dinner napkins. The 79 cents is kind of an insane price too.

IKEA

ULLERSLEV Sheepskin

This real sheepskin is the soft texture every cozy home needs. I have one draped over my daughter's desk chair, but they also look great on a dining bench or in a reading nook.

IKEA

BERGPALM Duvet Cover and Pillowcases

These striped duvet cover sets are a great cotton canvas for guest, kid, and master beds. I love that they come with two shams, and I'll top them with a printed quilt from Coyuchi or patterned pillows from Coterie Brooklyn to elevate the look.

IKEA

FJÄLLARNIKA Duvet Insert

IKEA is also great for duvet inserts. I say go with a mid- to higher-range here for one that has some weight and comfort.

IKEA

IVRIG Glass

Stemless wine glasses, which is what I use these for, are also ideal for water and juice!

IKEA

STOCKHOLM Mirror

Mirrors can be so expensive! Why?! I use this walnut veneer mirror in my bedroom, just above a walnut dresser. Love the 24-inch size.

IKEA

JÄMLIK Scented Tealight

I bring a few of these out for dinner parties. The sweet vanilla scent isn't overpowering and the candles give just enough light to make it feel like a cozy and intimate occasion.

IKEA

LAGKAPTEN Tabletop

I've been using this tabletop for more than 10 years! It started as a sewing table with MITTBACK trestle legs and now works as my WFH desk, holding my printer on one of the trestle legs. My daughter has an IKEA desk too that we swapped with HILVER bamboo cone-shaped legs for a modern look.

IKEA

LACK Wall Shelf

I've used these floating shelves for forever too. For kitchen shelves in my junior one bedroom in San Francisco a decade ago and now in my daughter's playroom to hold all of her Legos.;)

IKEA

MÅLERÅS Picture Ledge

I use these picture ledges in the kitchen to hold my IKEA wine glasses, a beautiful paddle cutting board from Crate & Barrel, and a small plant.

IKEA

ÄNDLIG 3-piece knife set

These IKEA knives, also a long-term purchase, stay sharp, are comfortable to use, and are great for everyday use!

IKEA

BUMERANG Hanger

Finally, these IKEA hangers are affordable and look great to streamline your closet decor. No wire hangers here!

IKEA Items I Avoid

IKEA

I tend to avoid the more popular items from IKEA, such as the best-selling POÄNG Armchair. If you have one, no judgement! It's a great chair. I have a kid's one in my daughter's playroom that we inherited. But I've slowly invested in more quality pieces that feel unique and bring my joy when I walk into my main spaces.

Here are a few items I avoid:

IKEA has a lot of great mattresses, but a $100 mattress doesn't quite feel like a hundred bucks. I purchased the ÅSVANG Foam Mattress for my daughter's IKEA bunk bed, and maybe because of the slats below, it is SO uncomfortable. We use it to hold her stuffies for now and plan to add an extra foam cushion above.

I've never liked IKEA's fleece-like throw blankets made of recycled polyester. They just don't have a lot of substance and the material doesn't feel as good quality as I'd like it too.

Finally, a $10 floor lamp is going to look like a $10 floor lamp (home snob, here, sorry!). The BARLAST Floor lamp or similar is a no-go in my decor book.

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Lead image via IKEA

Our favorite murder mystery is returning for another season! Only Murders in the Building, which stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, is Hulu's most-watched original comedy — and season three was the platform's most-streamed original project this year. It looks like Arconiacs really DO want more because Only Murders in the Building season 4 is here — and that finale is CRAZY. Here's everything we know about the upcoming installment of the show, and don't forget to read our interview with costumer Dana Covarrubias! After you've rewatched seasons 1-3 (again), check out The Best New TV Shows Coming In 2024for more!

What happened at the end of Only Murders in the Building season 4?

Patrick Harbron/Disney

After learning Marshall is Sazz's killer, Mabel, Charles, and Oliver are almost his next victims before Jan shoots him in the back from the empty apartment across the courtyard. But the season 4 finale isn't all drama! Oliver and Loretta finally tie the knot, and Oliver decides to stay in NYC while Loretta has to film in New Zealand. But in the final moments of the episode, we see that Lester is our next murder victim. HOW COULD YOU HULU?!

Tune into Only Murders season 5 to unmask the killer!

Does Selena Gomez like Steve Martin and Martin Short?

Selena Gomez/Instagram

Yes, Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short are all close! While presenting the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, Selena Gomez and Martin Short had a moment onstage that totally reminded me of Oliver and Mabel. While making their way to the mic, Selena had to jog to keep up with Martin and Steve (she was wearing a stunning Ralph Lauren dress, after all). And when she expresses some nerves about tripping, Martin grabs her arm and says, "I got you baby." The sweetest!!

And Selena shows just as much love to her iconic costars. "I want to thank @stevemartinreally and Marty (who hates social media) for truly being the most kind, gentle, warm and powerful influences in my life," Selena Gomez says on Instagram. "You have shown me a level of class, intellect and humor that doesn’t seem to be easy to find anymore. You guys are truly best friends to me forever." I love this trio so much!

When is the next season of Only Murders in the Building coming out?

Image via Selena Gomez/Instagram

Only Murders in the Building season 4 is coming to Hulu Tuesday August 27, 2024. That means we're getting the Olympics, Bridgerton, The Bear, Emily in Paris, and House of the Dragon all in one summer. WOW.

Selena Gomez posted a screenshot on March 1 announcing that filming had begun! In honor of Day 1, Martin Short and Steve Martin sent her a bouquet of flowers with a note that reads, "We're so happy to be back with you, love, Steve and Marty." Okay cute!!

What is the Only Murders In The Building Season 4 filming like?

Image via Only Murders/Instagram

The official Only Murders in the Building Instagram account shared the first shot from set, and we couldn't be happier to see our favorite trio! "The besties are back," the post reads. "Season 4 🎥." And it looks like the costume color palette is still shades of green, blue, and red like in previous seasons, with Steve Martin's Charles wearing blue slacks and green shoes, and Martin Short's Oliver wearing rust-colored pants. Selena Gomez' Mabel is sticking to neutrals for now, but I'm sure we'll see plenty of color in her wardrobe in the weeks to come!

Selena Gomez also revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that shooting season 4 was a blast. "This is our most exciting season yet. That’s what I would definitely say with confidence, because it was far too fun," she says. "It’s going to be, to date, probably my favorite season."

But Only Murders in the Building season 4 also came with its own challenges. "We used to shoot everything in order, and that would help me a lot," she continues, "but because we had so many different things that were happening, and we wanted to make sure everybody was comfortable and we could adjust to people’s schedules, it jumped all over the place [this season]."

Who's going to be in the Only Murders in the Building season 4 cast?

Image via Patrick Harbron/Hulu

Unfortunately, Mabel and Tobert won't reunite for Only Murders season 4 because actor Jesse Williams just confirmed with People he's not returning for the series with a very straightforward, "I'm not on that show anymore."

Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin will return to lead Only Murders in the Building season 4. We'll also see Meryl Streep return alongside newcomers Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, Kumail Nanjiani, Desmin Borges, Siena Werber, Lilian Rebelo, and White Lotus star Molly Shannon. While we don't have any info on Eugene and Eva's role, we'll see Molly as a "high-powered Los Angeles business woman who finds herself drawn into the world of the investigation in New York,” via Variety.

As someone who was head over heels obsessed with Cheaper By The Dozen 2 as a kid, I can't wait to see Eugene Levy and Steve Martin onscreen again!

What is Only Murders in the Building season 4 about?

Image via Patrick Harbron/Hulu

"I think the idea of what you create is a thing you put out to the world, and sometimes you can’t be prepared for the repercussions of what potentially the world does with your thing," showrunner John Hoffman tells The Hollywood Reporter. "So, the podcast and everything else that’s happened, and what it all means, and what it could have been meaning all along."

We've seen the way Mabel, Oliver, and Charles' podcast has catapulted them into danger and adventure in the last three seasons, and it sounds like Only Murders in the Building season 4 will focus even more on the repercussions of their podcast — and it's going to happen in Los Angeles.

"Well, I’m very excited to see Steve, Martin and Selena take a little break from the apartment building and come to Los Angeles," ABC boss Craig Erwich tells Deadline. "So in the same way that John Hoffman used the canvas of Broadway to tell [Only Murders season 3], the same unique Only Murders take will be applied to Los Angeles, which I’m really excited about."

How many episodes of Only Murders In The Building on Hulu are there?

Image via Patrick Harbron/Hulu

All three seasons of Only Murders in the Building have 10 episodes each. We're definitely going to binge watch all 30 multiple times before season 4 comes out!

Who dies at the end of season 3 of Only Murders in the Building?

Image via Patrick Harbron/Hulu

At the very end of Only Murders season 3, we see Sazz (played by Jane Lynch) get shot while walking around Charles' apartment — and then try to write him a message with her own blood. Crazy! But even crazier is the fact she was dressed up like him, meaning the murderer was actually after Charles. But the great thing about Only Murders in the Building is that the victim becomes an even larger part of the story than they were before.

"The more personal you can make the victim to one of our trio, or the murderer to one of our trio, the better," showrunner John Hoffman tells THR. "It felt like a perfect opportunity to let Charles have this connection and explore more of that connection. It’s one of the great characters. We’ve loved writing Sazz so much, and that’s the beauty of the show is, you get a lot more time with the victims. They’re not gone when some ill fate happens to them."

Where is the Arconia in New York?

Image via Patrick Harbron/Hulu

In real life, the Arconia is the The Belnord Apartments. The building takes up an entire city block, and the Italian Renaissance Revival style it was made in is absolutely beautiful. You can see the outside of the building in New York City's west 86th street, but since it's a real apartment building, you won't be able to go inside!

How did they get Sting to be in Only Murders in the Building?

Image via Craig Blakenhorn/Hulu

Sting was a guest star in the first season of Only Murders in the Building thanks to his friendship with Steve Martin and casting director Bernard Telsey! That's also how Meryl Streep (who's also friends with Steve Martin and Martin Short) got to be a part of season 3.

Where can I watch Only Murders in the Building?

Image via Patrick Harbron/Hulu

You can watch the Emmy-nominatedOnly Murders in the Building on Hulu now!

Where did the inspiration for the costumes come from?

Image via Patrick Harbron/Hulu

In our interview with costume designer Dana Covarrubias, she mentioned how much her and Selena Gomez' Mexican heritage influenced her outfits in season one, while the aesthetics of The Hardy Boys and Alfred Hitchcock's films influenced her looks in season two.

"I was trying to figure out something within that [murder mystery] world again, but our whole season is about Broadway and about theatre, and I think that just trumped everything else," she says. "It was very exciting to re-explore some of my favorite musicals...Almost all of Mabel's costumes this season are directly inspired by one or two musicals."

We're talking Guys and Dolls, Chicago, and Little Shop of Horrors. Check back here for the season four costume inspo!

Will there be a season 4 of Only Murders in the Building?

Image via Patrick Harbron/Hulu

Yes, Only Murders in the Building season 4 is confirmed! The official Instagram announcement post features our favorite trio against a vivid green backdrop. Selena Gomez stuns in a bright red sweater dress with a cold shoulder silhouette, while Martin Short wears a blue suit and Steve Martin wears purple. This definitely feels like a nod to the Only Murders in the Building costumes — Selena's Mabel wears a lot of marigold and red, while Steve's Charles started off the show in blue and Martin's Oliver chose shades of purple.

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Lead image via Patrick Harbron/Hulu

This post has been updated.

After only two episodes of Only Murders in the Building season 4, Hulu renewed the series for season 5! I'm so excited that the show breaks a recent pattern of cancelling shows after the third or fourth season, giving us more time with our favorite characters, and I'm not the only one.

"Here we go again… my favorite set family. I’m coming home!" Selena Gomez says in an Instagram post, while the official Only Murders account made their own post, saying, "We had our lawyers call business affairs. Turned the 4 into a 5. #OnlyMurdersInTheBuilding is coming back for Season 5!!" Here's everything you need to know about the new season, coming to Hulu soon.

What is Only Murders in the Building season 5 about?

Patrick Harbron/Disney

Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Plot

We finally got our first details about Only Murders season 5 — and we're going in a direction I totally didn't expect. When Sofia visits Mabel and Charles in the season 4 ending, and asks them to find her missing husband, she's disappointed when they turn her down. And since Téa Leoni just joined the season 5 cast, it looks like she's not taking no for an answer.

“I think she’s the great tease at the end of the finale and a little bit of an intriguing bump forward,” co-creator John Hoffman says in an interview with Deadline. “She’s an extension of the little news report in Episode 9 that Mabel makes note of at the hospital. [Sofia] is the wife of the Dry Cleaning King of Brooklyn, and maybe a couple of dry cleaning outlets in Manhattan, as well, we may come to know...It’s a world opened up potentially that we haven’t talked about too much yet in New York, so she holds a lot of intrigue.”

New York's underground is definitely something we haven't really seen on Only Murders yet so I know we're in for one very interesting season.

When is Only Murders in the Building season 5 coming out?

Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Release Date

Considering we've had a new season over the last four years (with season 1 in 2021, season 2 in 2022, season 3 in 2023, and season 4 in 2024), we're expecting to see season 5 in 2025. Stay tuned for the official Only Murders in the Building season 5 release date.

Who's in Only Murders in the Building season 5?

Eric McCandless/Disney

Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Cast

The cast of Only Murders in the Building includes Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin. Téa Leoni will also return as Sofia Caccimelio, whose husband Nicky has gone missing.

Season 3 featured Ashley Park, Paul Rudd, Meryl Streep, and Jesse Williams, while season 4 stars Streep, Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, Kumail Nanjiani, Desmin Borges, Siena Werber, Lilian Rebelo, and Molly Shannon.

"I am so grateful that I have been surrounded by human beings that make me better, challenge me, remind me day after day that every moment is a gift," Selena Gomez says about working with Martin and Short. "That’s my pure joy. I thank god for the era I’m in. It’s been the best yet."

Will there be an Only Murders in the Building season 5?

Yes, Only Murders in the Building has been renewed for season 5! On September 4, Variety confirmed the next installment will have 10 episodes, just like the seasons before it. The latest season premiered on Hulu August 27, and will last until October 29 (just in time to try out an Only Murders Halloween costume!)

Just like the season 3 ending set up season 4, we'll have to wait for the October finale to figure out what kind of mayhem Mabel, Oliver, and Charles will get into next season. "We hope you like it!" Selena Gomez says in the Only Murders in the Building account's announcement, while Martin Short adds, "How exciting is that?"

"We're so exciting to be coming back," Steve Martin says. We're excited too!!

Check back here for the latest Only Murders in the Building season 5 news and watch new episodes on Hulu every Tuesday.

Lead image via Patrick Harbron/Hulu