In this episode of the Uploft Interior Design Podcast, I share how I’m fully in hibernation mode thanks to freezing temperatures and Olympic binge-watching, while also being completely glued to social media for updates on the shocking Nancy Guthrie case. Between juggling sick family members and recording late at night, I dive into listener Kassidi’s design questions, starting with updates to her living room—where I praise her larger rug and new additions but caution against using formal art lights over casual canvas prints, urging her instead to add more functional lighting and better surface space. I then walk her through smart rug placement in her small entryway and long hallway, recommending a properly sized runner and a practical, patterned entry rug. Finally, I advise her on updating her in-laws’ bathroom, suggesting they paint the existing trim and doors and upgrade hardware rather than partially replacing doors or trim, focusing on improvements that deliver the most impact for resale and overall cohesion.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Winter hibernation updates, Olympics & pop culture buzz
08:45 – Living room progress & larger rug win from listener Kassidi
14:30 – Why art lights don’t fit casual canvas prints
Submit your design questions to be featured on the show
Become a Premium Member and access the bonus episodes
Click here to become an interior designer with Uploft’s Interior Design Academy.
Get Betsy's book: betsyhelmuth.com/book
For more about our residential interior design services, visit ModernInteriorDesign.com
For our commercial interior design services, visit OfficeInteriorDesign.com
Betsy Helmuth shares her summer adventures and the design inspiration she discovered along the way. She answers a listener's question about designing an entryway, offering practical tips and creative ideas. After a brief sponsor message promoting her online classes, Betsy continues with more entryway design advice. She then addresses another listener's question about design software recommendations. Closing remarks and thanks round out the episode.
Timestamps:
0:00 Betsy's summer adventures and design inspiration
- Investing in functional furniture, like a shoe bench with storage, can significantly enhance the practicality of narrow entryways. - Exploring historical sites and architecture can provide unexpected design inspiration and a deeper appreciation for different styles and eras. - When choosing design software, consider user-friendly options like Icovia for floor planning, especially if you're primarily focusing on furniture layout rather than detailed architectural work.
Submit your design questions to be featured on the show
Become a Premium Member and access the bonus episodes
Click here to become an interior designer with Uploft’s Interior Design Academy.
Get Betsy's book: betsyhelmuth.com/book
For more about our residential interior design services, visit ModernInteriorDesign.com
For our commercial interior design services, visit OfficeInteriorDesign.com
If you enjoy the show, please spread the word and leave a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
TBT: Ceiling Paint and Tween Rooms | Uploft Interior Design
2026/2/05 | 27 mins.
Betsy shares her summer plans and answers listener questions about painting ceilings and bedroom layouts. She discusses closet doors and vertical furnishings, announces a new YouTube channel, and invites listeners to submit questions before her maternity leave.
Timestamps:
00:00 Premium membership announcement
01:31 Betsy discusses her summer plans
06:40 Alana's question about painting ceilings
08:37 Betsy's advice on ceiling painting
14:33 Jennifer's question about her daughter's bedroom layout
18:57 Betsy's advice on closet doors and vertical furnishings
24:31 Announcement of new YouTube channel and social media links
- You don't need a high-end designer or a lot of money to achieve a luxurious look in your home. - In small rooms, don't hesitate to block windows with furniture if it maximizes space and functionality. - Using vertical furnishings and strategic placement like diagonal arrangements can help a room feel less cluttered and more visually dynamic.
Submit your design questions to be featured on the show
Become a Premium Member and access the bonus episodes
Click here to become an interior designer with Uploft’s Interior Design Academy.
Get Betsy's book: betsyhelmuth.com/book
For more about our residential interior design services, visit ModernInteriorDesign.com
For our commercial interior design services, visit OfficeInteriorDesign.com
If you enjoy the show, please spread the word and leave a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Are These Chairs Trendy? & Netflix's "Secret Mall Apartment" | Uploft Interior Design
2026/2/03 | 22 mins.
In this episode of the Uploft Interior Design Podcast, I share how unexpectedly energized I’ve been by diving into TikTok for the first time, using it as a creative outlet for design inspiration, trend commentary, and playful content creation, before answering a listener’s question about whether French bistro–style X-back dining chairs are a fad (they’re not—I love them and consider them a timeless, practical choice, especially for families). I then pivot to pop culture and unpack my long-anticipated but ultimately disappointing experience watching Netflix’s Secret Mall Apartment, a documentary about artists secretly building a hidden space inside a Rhode Island mall; while I was fascinated by the premise and the broader ideas around reclaiming unused space, I felt misled by the title, underwhelmed by the focus on artistic philosophy over logistics, and unconvinced by staged reenactments—making it a watch I don’t regret, but definitely won’t revisit.
Timestamps:
00:00 – TikTok is unexpectedly fueling my design creativity
04:30 – Submit your design questions and room dilemmas
07:30 – Are French bistro X-back dining chairs classic or trendy?
14:30 – Comfort, kids, and when bistro chairs do (and don’t) work
17:00 – My take on Netflix’s Secret Mall Apartment
36:30 – Final thoughts, verdict, and what I wish the documentary had done differently
Submit your design questions to be featured on the show
Become a Premium Member and access the bonus episodes
Click here to become an interior designer with Uploft’s Interior Design Academy.
Get Betsy's book: betsyhelmuth.com/book
For more about our residential interior design services, visit ModernInteriorDesign.com
For our commercial interior design services, visit OfficeInteriorDesign.com
If you enjoy the show, please spread the word and leave a review on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
TBT: Creating a Color Scheme and Choosing Window Treatments
2026/1/29 | 33 mins.
Betsy Helmuth discusses premium membership perks, her holiday trip to Connecticut, and a Vegas adventure. She shares design inspiration from travel and the importance of curiosity in interior design. Listener questions from Queens and Brooklyn are answered, and new YouTube channel and contest details are revealed.
Timestamps:
0:00 Premium membership benefits
1:31 Holiday season and Connecticut landscape
3:18 Betsy's Vegas trip
8:40 Inspiration from traveling
11:34 Following curiosity in interior design
18:43 Mailbag: Emily from Queens
19:12 Mailbag: Maria from Brooklyn
28:44 iTunes review contest
29:50 Announcing the YouTube channel
- Adding color to a neutral room can significantly enhance its personality and prevent it from looking drab. - Consider practical and easy-to-clean options like roller blinds or wood slatted blinds for kitchen windows instead of Roman shades. - Painting wood trim in kitchens white can help lighten and modernize the space, especially when paired with updated countertops and backsplashes.
Submit your design questions to be featured on the show
Become a Premium Member and access the bonus episodes
Click here to become an interior designer with Uploft’s Interior Design Academy.
Get Betsy's book: betsyhelmuth.com/book
For more about our residential interior design services, visit ModernInteriorDesign.com
For our commercial interior design services, visit OfficeInteriorDesign.com
Get fresh tips from budget decorating guru, Betsy Helmuth. Each episode is packed with interior design secrets the other pros don't want you to know and with answers to your burning questions. Betsy owns Uploft Interior Design and has been featured on HGTV, NBC's "Today Show", CBS News, Lifetime, and more. She penned the best-selling books, "Big Design, Small Budget" and "Affordable Interior Design". Helmuth has shared her affordable interior design advice and DIY approaches with millions through live workshops, her design books, guest columns, television appearances, and interviews. She brings her knowledge to podcasting, discussing color palettes, pattern mixing, budget creation, floor plan maximization, and more.
Hosted by interior designer and Uploft Interior Design founder Betsy Helmuth, this podcast is your go-to source for creating a stylish home—without breaking the bank. Each week, Betsy shares expert tips, design strategies, and real-life listener makeovers that prove you can live beautifully no matter the budget. In the second half of each episode, Betsy dives into the latest in pop culture—from design shows to juicy reality TV to buzzy streaming hits.
It’s the perfect mix of practical design advice and fun, unfiltered commentary. Whether you’re looking to refresh your space or your watchlist, this podcast has you covered.
Ask Betsy Helmuth a design question here: uploft.com/podcast Upgrade to a premium member and access the bonus episodes here: uploft.com/podcast Become an interior designer with Uploft’s Academy here: uploftinteriordesignacademy.com For more design tips, visit affordableInteriordesign.com For our residential interior design services, visit modernInteriordesign.com For our commercial interior design services, visit officeInteriordesign.com