Elena Martinez

Senior Editor, DIY & Design

With over a decade of experience in residential construction, Elena Martinez traded her tool belt for a keyboard to make home improvement less intimidating. She founded the popular blog 'Renovate with Elena' before joining Homebody Magazine, where she champions sustainable, budget-friendly design. Her work has been featured in 'Apartment Therapy' and she is a passionate advocate for upcycling and empowering readers to tackle their own projects with confidence.

Expertise

DIY Home ImprovementBudget Interior DesignUpcycling and RefinishingPower Tool Usage & SafetySustainable Building MaterialsHome Organization SolutionsSmall Space Optimization

Coverage Areas

The Sanctuary

Craft Corner

Weekend DIY Projects

Latest Articles

Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro on sale during Prime Day, alongside other home goods like bedding and a tower fan.

Experts reveal Prime Day deals they're buying

This Prime Day, even The Guardian's editors are snapping up the Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro for $129, a $50 discount they've tracked all year.

Jun 25, 2026 · 2 min read

The striking Kunshan Pyramid, an 18-story apartment building with uniquely angled walls and illuminated private terraces, stands against a twilight sky.

Kunshan Pyramid Features Unique Apartment Design With Sloped Walls

In Kunshan, an 18-story apartment building rises as a pyramid, its sloped walls housing layers of apartments at a 45-degree angle, each with a large private terrace, according to Ratopati .

Jun 23, 2026 · 2 min read

A young Indonesian person spontaneously visiting a traditional market, connecting with heritage through a friendly interaction with a vendor.

Mampir practice connects Indonesians with heritage through spontaneous visits

Last year, a survey revealed that 65% of Indonesian millennials and Gen Z felt a stronger connection to their heritage through unplanned visits to traditional markets or family elders' homes, not orga

Jun 23, 2026 · 2 min read

A chic living room showcasing oversized decor, including a large abstract painting and an oversized floor lamp, creating a sense of grandeur in a compact space.

Oversized decor: Grand illusions, practicalities, and pitfalls

Over the last six months, social media mentions of 'oversized decor' in living rooms have surged by 300%, transforming how urban dwellers approach small space design, according to the Design Trends In

Jun 19, 2026 · 4 min read

Hands using a kitchen sponge and paint to create a custom wallpaper pattern on a living room wall, demonstrating a DIY home decor hack.

3 DIY Home Decor Hacks Using Household Items You Need

With just a kitchen sponge and some paint, you can create custom wallpaper patterns, transforming a room for pennies.

Jun 18, 2026 · 4 min read

A stylishly decorated patio featuring a mix of unique outdoor furniture, showcasing a curated and inviting outdoor living space.

Avoid these outdoor furniture mistakes that make your patio look tacky

Once the hallmark of a well-appointed backyard, perfectly matching outdoor furniture sets, from tables to chairs and chests, are now actively losing their appeal among design-conscious homeowners.

Jun 15, 2026 · 3 min read

An opulent and tech-integrated primary suite designed as a personal wellness sanctuary, showcasing spa-like bathroom features and serene sleeping quarters.

Luxury Home Primary Suites: Redefining Renovation for 2026

By 2026, a 'hotel-worthy' primary suite renovation could easily exceed $250,000, transforming master bedrooms into private, tech-laden wellness resorts.

Jun 14, 2026 · 3 min read

A minimalist kitchen counter featuring a microfiber drying mat with dishes, showcasing a clever space-saving alternative to a traditional dish rack.

Genius Dish Rack Alternative Hack Takes Kitchens by Storm

A simple microfiber mat, once relegated to car detailing or pet care, is now replacing bulky dish racks in kitchens across America, freeing up precious counter space and sparking a viral home organiza

Jun 14, 2026 · 2 min read

A stunningly transformed patio area, once overgrown, now features comfortable seating, lush greenery, and ambient lighting, creating a welcoming outdoor living space.

DIY Patio Redo Transforms Overgrown Yard

A homeowner in suburban Anytown recently transformed her long-neglected 400 sq ft patio, overgrown with waist-high weeds and cluttered with old furniture, into a vibrant outdoor living space.

Jun 14, 2026 · 4 min read

A modern living room transformed with IKEA furniture and a dramatic black fireplace, showcasing affordable luxury and sophisticated design.

IKEA Living Room Design Ideas for 2026

In 2026, a family's living room underwent a dramatic transformation, proving high style doesn't require a high budget.

Jun 13, 2026 · 2 min read

A limoncello-scented candle from Trader Joe's placed on a table with a view of the Amalfi Coast during golden hour.

Trader Joe's Unveils New $10 Limoncello Candle for Summer

For just $10, Trader Joe's is now selling a Limoncello Scented Candle that promises to transport shoppers to the Amalfi Coast.

Jun 10, 2026 · 2 min read

Interior view of a stylish, compact micro-apartment in Barcelona, showcasing smart design solutions for small living spaces.

Barcelona architects adapt to small apartment trends

Units as small as 28 square meters are emerging in a new micro-apartment complex within Barcelona's historic Eixample district, priced 20% higher per square meter than the neighborhood average, accord

Jun 9, 2026 · 4 min read

A single, vibrant Le Creuset mini stoneware cocotte displayed on a rustic wooden surface, emphasizing its texture and color.

Le Creuset Mini Cocottes are not on sale

Le Creuset Mini Stoneware Cocottes are currently advertised at Williams Sonoma for $22.

Jun 9, 2026 · 2 min read

The IKEA KUDDLAVA origami-style table lamp is showcased on a wooden side table in a bright, modern living room, highlighting its affordable elegance.

IKEA's KUDDLAVA Lamp Offers Origami Style for Under $18

IKEA's new KUDDLAVA table lamp, a design-forward origami-inspired piece , is hitting shelves for as little as $14.

Jun 8, 2026 · 2 min read

A stylish, floating side table created from an IKEA hack, appearing to defy gravity and offering storage without touching the floor.

IKEA hackers create side table from thin air

For just $20, an IKEA item transforms into a side table that doesn't even touch the floor, creating storage from thin air.

Jun 7, 2026 · 2 min read

A modern, alcohol-free hand sanitizer bottle presented with soft-focus organic ingredients, highlighting its gentle and effective nature for skin.

New Hand Sanitizers Offer Safer Alternatives to Alcohol

A new alcohol-free hand sanitizer, developed with food-grade organic acids, achieved a 4-log reduction against foodborne pathogens while promising gentleness on the skin.

Jun 7, 2026 · 2 min read

The IKEA TRETTIOEN pendant lamp, highlighted in a stylish room, is on sale for 25% off, bringing its price down to $14.99.

IKEA discounts TRETTIOEN pendant lamp 25% to $14.99

IKEA is offering a $100 discount on its popular MORABO Armchair, now $349.

Jun 6, 2026 · 2 min read

A stunning DIY floral dresser makeover, created from an inexpensive thrifted cabinet, now adds a vibrant and personalized touch to a home interior.

DIY floral dresser makeover breathes new life into thrifted cabinet

A recent TikTok video showcasing a stunning floral dresser makeover from a $25 thrifted cabinet garnered 5.

Jun 5, 2026 · 3 min read

A small bathroom transformed with deep blue paint on all surfaces, creating an illusion of spaciousness, with a checkerboard tile shower accent.

Sarah Ingle's paint swap adds space to her tiny bathroom

In a tiny bathroom, Sarah Ingle painted every surface—walls, trim, and ceiling—in a deep Sherwin-Williams Waterloo blue.

Jun 5, 2026 · 2 min read

Close-up of a red wine drop about to stain a white sofa, emphasizing the need for quick cleaning solutions.

Quick Trick Removes Tough Stains From Your White Sofa

A single drop of red wine on a pristine white sofa can trigger instant dread, but a surprising number of common household items can erase the disaster without a trace.

Jun 4, 2026 · 4 min read