Home Decor Write For Us: Guidelines, Topics & How to Pitch
Have you painted a room three times before landing on the right shade? Rescued a thrift-store dresser? Figured out how to make a rental kitchen feel like your own without losing the deposit? That's exactly the kind of story we want to publish.
Southern Reside is a home decor and home improvement blog for people who actually live in the homes they're decorating. We accept topics like home decor, interior design, DIY, gardening, renovation and many more. This page covers everything you need before you pitch: what we publish, what we turn down, how we edit, how links work, and how quickly you'll hear back.
Email us at teamsouthernreside@gmail.com
Why Write For Us?
As a leading blog in the home redesigning sector, we hold strong values and ensure our audience reads authentic, trustworthy content.
Our readers are homeowners, renters and weekend DIYers who come here to make a decision - which paint finish, which rug size, whether a project is worth doing themselves. They read to the end, save posts, and come back. If your article helps them decide, they'll remember your name.
What you get as a contributor:
- A proper byline and author bio with your photo, a short intro and a link to your website or portfolio.
- Real editorial feedback. We don't just publish or reject. If a draft is close, we'll tell you what would make it better.
- Promotion on our social channels and newsletter.
- A home for your expertise next to other working designers, builders and gardeners.
Accepted Blog Topics for Write for Us
- Home Necessities: Smart storage bins, space-saving organizers, or must-have everyday essentials for a tidy, functional home.
- Home Renovation: Modern kitchen fixtures, eco-friendly building materials, or new bathroom vanities for a budget remodel.
- Furniture: Modular sofas, multi-functional small-space pieces, or sustainable wood furniture from new collections.
- Home and Garden: Solar garden lights, weatherproof outdoor rugs, or indoor-outdoor planters that bring nature inside.
- Kitchen: Smart cooking appliances, sleek countertop storage, or new cookware sets that make meal prep easier.
- Interior Design: Trending wall art, statement lighting, or seasonal color palettes to refresh any room.
- Home Improvement: Cordless power tools, smart home upgrades, or easy-install fixtures for weekend projects.
- Home Interior: Textured throw pillows, new wallpaper designs, or cozy accent pieces that add warmth and style.
- Gardening: Self-watering planters, raised garden beds, or beginner-friendly tools for growing herbs and veggies.
- Real Estate: Staging decor for listings, high-ROI upgrades before selling, or new-home essentials for buyers.
- House DIY: Peel-and-stick tiles, paintable wall panels, or beginner kits for upcycling furniture.
- Home Decor: Handwoven baskets, modern vases, or seasonal accents to style shelves, tables, and entryways.
- Roofing: Solar shingles, durable metal roofing, or new gutter guards that protect against leaks and debris.
- Flooring: Waterproof luxury vinyl, eco-friendly bamboo, or easy click-lock planks for DIY installs.
- HVAC: Smart thermostats, energy-efficient heat pumps, or quiet air purifiers that improve comfort and indoor air quality.
Topics We Don't Accept
Here are a few topics we don’t prefer to publish on our website.
- Generic listicles with no personal testing or expertise behind them.
- Articles written mainly to place a link (casino, CBD, crypto, loans, adult, essay writing and similar niches are rejected outright).
- Content that's been published anywhere else, including your own blog or Medium.
- Fully AI-generated, spun or lightly rewritten articles.
- Press releases and sales pages dressed up as articles.
Who Can Write For Us?
That said, we give priority to pitches that show you've actually done the thing you're writing about. That could be:
- Interior designers, stylists, architects and home stagers.
- Contractors, carpenters, roofers, flooring installers and landscapers.
- Home decor and DIY bloggers with their own projects to show.
- Homeowners and renters who've finished a project and learned something worth sharing.
- Real estate agents and property managers with practical insight.
If you're a first-time writer, tell us in your email. We're happy to work with new voices when the experience is real.
Guidelines For Submission
We read every submission against the checklist below. Following it is the fastest way to a yes.
- Originality: Original, unpublished work only. We check every draft for plagiarism and duplicate content.
- Experience first: Show us you've done it. Include what you did, what it cost, how long it took, what went wrong and what you'd do differently. Specifics beat adjectives every time.
- Length: 700–1,500 words. Longer in-depth guides are welcome if every section earns its place.
- Structure: Use paragraphs, bullet points, tables and headings (H2/H3). Start with the answer, then explain. Readers skim first.
- Tone: Friendly yet professional, with your personal perspective. Write the way you'd explain it to a friend standing in your living room.
- Images: Optional, but your own photos are strongly preferred and help your piece stand out. Stock images must be licensed or royalty-free with credit. Please add suggested alt text for each image.
- AI use: You can use AI tools for research or grammar, but the thinking, experience and wording must be yours. Tell us if you used AI. Fully AI-generated articles are rejected.
- Sources and citations: Link to credible, original sources (manufacturers, research, government or industry bodies) for any stats or safety claims. Proper attribution is required.
- Editing: Please proofread; minimal errors are expected. We may edit for clarity, length, accuracy and SEO, and we'll ask you before any major change.
- Author bio: Up to 50 words, a headshot, and one link to your website or social profile.
What Happens After You Submit?
- We read it. Our editorial team reviews every pitch and draft within 2-3 business days.
- We decide. You'll get a yes, a 'yes with changes' (with specific notes), or a polite no.
- We edit and fact-check. We check claims, measurements, product details and safety advice. We'll send you the edited version if changes are significant.
- We publish and share. Your post goes live with your byline and bio, and we'll send you the link.
- We keep it fresh. Popular posts are updated over time. We may contact you or add updates ourselves, and the 'last updated' date will show it.
How to Submit?
Ready to pitch? Send an email to:
Email: teamsouthernreside@gmail.com
Subject line: "Write For Us Submission: [Your Topic]"
In your email, include:
- A working title and 2–3 sentences on your angle (what makes your take different)
- Your experience with the topic (a project, a job, a portfolio link)
- Either the full draft (Google Doc or Word, with edit access) or a short outline
- Your author bio, headshot and the link you'd like in the bio
- One or two links to things you've written before, if you have them
If you haven't heard back in 3 business days, please follow up once in the same email thread.
