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

A luxurious bed in a box mattress sale display, showcasing comfort and significant savings during Memorial Day 2026.

The Sanctuary

Internet Famous Bed in a Box Goes on Sale This Memorial Day

This Memorial Day 2026, prepare for exceptional savings.

May 22, 2026 · 3 min read

A family enjoying assembling IKEA furniture in a cozy living room, highlighting the IKEA member promotion.

The Sanctuary

IKEA offers $10 off every $100 on furniture for members

While major home retailers like Wayfair and Burrow are slashing prices by up to 70% and 50% respectively for Memorial Day, IKEA's primary promotion offers members $10 off every $100 spent, up to $100.

May 21, 2026 · 3 min read

Close-up of a mattress vacuum cleaning a bed, revealing dust and allergens being removed for improved sleep health.

The Sanctuary

Mattress Vacuums Uncover Hidden Health Benefits

After just one pass, a Hoover HMC5 mattress vacuum filled its canister to about 1/4 capacity with dust from a single mattress, Good Housekeeping reports.

May 20, 2026 · 2 min read

A transformed IKEA IVAR cabinet with custom wood paneling and brass accents, styled in a bright, modern living room.

Craft Corner

IKEA IVAR cabinet DIY makeover ideas transform furniture

Online searches for 'IKEA IVAR hack' surged by 300% last year, transforming a humble, untreated pine cabinet into everything from bespoke bar carts to chic built-in libraries across 150,000 Instagram

May 20, 2026 · 3 min read

A beautiful front yard with lush landscaping, but a subtle crack is visible in the foundation near the house, symbolizing hidden problems.

The Sanctuary

Outdoor trends that kill curb appeal: How landscaping mistakes hurt home value

Foundation problems—cracks, water damage, uneven floors—can cost homeowners $2,000 to $8,000 to fix, according to BobVila .

May 18, 2026 · 2 min read

A professional organizer transforming a chaotic kitchen drawer filled with disparate items into a perfectly organized space.

The Sanctuary

Professional organizer conquers nightmare kitchen drawer chaos

A single kitchen drawer, packed with 47 disparate items from a pet leash to expired coupons, caused one homeowner two years of daily, unacknowledged stress.

May 18, 2026 · 2 min read

Adults of diverse ages finding joy and stress relief through various creative craft and DIY activities in a well-lit, peaceful studio.

Craft Corner

Crafts and DIY boost mental health for over a third of adults.

Even a single 45-minute art-making session can reduce stress hormone (cortisol) levels in 75% of participants, according to MHA National .

May 15, 2026 · 4 min read

A modern bathroom vanity showing signs of wear and tear, revealing its low-quality construction beneath a stylish facade.

The Sanctuary

Modern Home Design: Hidden Costs of Popular Trends

Many homeowners discover their 'inexpensive' prefab vanity reveals its true cost through rapid wear and tear within months of installation.

May 12, 2026 · 4 min read