This is probably the last time I’ll bother to log into apartment therapy or make a comment; this is too unwieldy and distant a system, sorry.
Hi @lisah1433 — Thanks so much for starting this thread and sharing your feedback. I hear you on this feeling clunky, and we’re already working on ways to make things feel smoother and easier. I hope you’ll stick around and see how things evolve. In the meantime, please let me know if I can help you navigate the forum 💛
I have to agree with @lisah1433 that this system is a real disappointment. It's ironic that this is called a Community Forum as I feel it's killed the community that I felt a part of. My favourite posters felt like friends and now that's lost, along with any sense of engagement with the articles. I genuinely feel quite sad about it.
Came here to say exactly this. I rarely comment but always read them on the house tours. This design decision creates unnecessary friction and question how this will encourage and foster community discussion.
Chiming in here - It is a big risk, but it's one that we're willing to take and see if we can make things OVERALL better. The challenge with out comment system is that we couldn't keep up with moderating it, and there were a lot of nasty comments, which made it very hard to keep a safe space - particuarly around House Tours and B&As. This is our current solution, but who knows? We like taking risks and if this doesn't work, we may turn comments back on. Let's see how it goes.
I feel like you, I went to YouTube but its not the same. I torn on if I should discontinue my subscription to Apartment Therapy and just go to YouTube. Ive been with them now 10 to 12 years now.
I was flagged for a "Comment" but I couldn't figure out what I said which was wrong. I contacted support, they restored my account. One time I said "Helllo Kitty" because a young adult had the theme in her unit
Awe, how sweet! I enjoyed the community for 10-12 years., I've decided to leave Apartment Therapy and find another site
I'm not feeling this new format. Reading the comments was my favorite thing about AT, but now that it's changed, is making me sad.
Yes I'm feeling sad too and find the shift to community forum is SO disheartening. I understand the desire to reduce the likelihood of rude comments, or at least how publicly/widely they are available, but the change feels like the OPPOSITE of building community, as others have said. I will add that I have responded to some strongly negative comments with my own criticism of the comment's negativity, and I believe that most reasonable people see clearly when a comment is so rude that it's irrelevant. It must be difficult for whoever is sharing their home to read negative comments, for sure, but I can't think of a home that received solely negative comments; usually there is a mix, and taste is such a subjective thing. I have been reading negative comments for years on this site and wonder why the comments' format is being changed now. Has there really been such a vast uptick in rude comments?
Also, the deletion of previous comments is appalling. No reputable site that I visit (Domino, NYTimes, etc.) has ever done something like that. A small part of me is surprised that it's legal to do erase thousands of little conversations, but I guess AT owns our 'user-generated content' and can do what it wants with it. :(
Agreed. I wanted to comment on a cleaning article with another tip, which makes NO SENSE to have a whole new forum post for. Worst idea ever.
This Community page is fine as its own thing; as a substitute for the comment section, not really.
And the old comments are gone! The comments always were where the finest writing happened, as well as the real community. It was also fun for me to revisit my old comments and see how my opinions had evolved over time.
Not to mention the moderation here is out of control. I was banned once and my comments deleted for literally no reason, and the fact that it may happen again at any time for the exact same nonreason is just depressing.
Mind you, Apartment Therapy has a long and well-honed tradition of ignoring its own readers —something a publication does at its own peril. So I don't think any opinions we post here are going to make any difference.
I don't think I will stick around for long. I have said it before, but this time I mean it.
Maybe the best thing for them to do is have no comment option at all. Delete this forum completely, turn off comments on the site and Youtube and wherever else they are (but you can still comment on their articles posted on Yahoo, I don't think AT can control that), problem solved. I posted a similar comment to yours yesterday about ignoring their readers, but a lot more scathing. They didn't publish it, not surprised, I guess. Like you, I think I'm done here, this new format reminds me of when the internet just started and everyone was trying to still figure out how to set up web pages!
Me too. I realize that this was done to keep the clicks coming, but mute any noise from actual “customers” like us, but, well, cut off your nose to spite your face, so … I learned SO MUCH about design from the commentators, not from anything else. It’s a shame. I hope I can find another site soon.
Can there be a direct link to this convo on the original page? Right now I have to remember the exact title, a true 1st world problem, but still.
I unsubscribed because this is the worst idea ever.
I read an article and wanted to write how nice the renovation was. I spent over 20 minutes trying to find where to write - forget it - my time is just as valuable and don't need to go on a hunt.
It is a shame because I liked Apartment Therapy.
What a bunch of cowards the operators of this site are! They can't handle critique, so they stifle it…sound familiar in 2025?
Let's be real, this site is not for us, the readers. It's for AT to serve themselves. Best thing we can all do is never visit this site, or their partner sites again.
I also unsubscribed due to the comments being moved.
I unsubscribed and it is a shame because I really liked Apartment Therapy and the other sites you have. I just am not going all over a site to tell someone I thought that the reno they did was gorgeous.
I think I have only seen one nasty comment that I felt should have been flagged.
No more comments after the posts? So sad! This has been my favorite home design site since it began, although for the first bit I just lurked. I really enjoyed the writing of several of the commenters. Also, it was a fun way to keep up with the views of younger generations. Oh, well, I wish everybody reading this all the best in these mad times. You guys have been great!
Hi @RuthG, thanks for chiming in! We're exploring automations that would do exactly this. Trying to lower the friction at all costs. Hang tight 🙏
Hi @pam9426 — I completely understand your frustration, but I hope you'll stick around, especially if you've been enjoying our content. We just made this switch and are currently exploring ways to improve the process (it will only get better from here!)
Hi @mikaMTL — Thank you so much for taking the time to share this. I completely understand how the change could feel disheartening. That was never our intention. The truth is, there has been an increase in negativity in the comments, and it became clear that the old format wasn’t the best space for the kind of thoughtful, respectful conversations we want to encourage
Our priority is creating a safe and engaging environment for everyone: readers, writers, homeowners, renters, and anyone who shares their space with us. The forum isn’t new. It’s been running for over a year and has already hosted so many fruitful conversations. What we’re doing now is simply highlighting it more, because we believe it’s a better place for these discussions to really thrive
I know it’s a big shift, but we truly believe this move is a step in the direction to make the quality of our conversations stronger and more welcoming for all. I hope you’ll give it a chance as we continue to improve the process
Hi @MirandaPriestly — I know I've acknowledged your feedback here before, but I wanted to thank you again for being so open about how you’re feeling. I completely get how this shift can feel like a loss, especially if the old comments were where you connected, revisited your own takes, and enjoyed the community’s creativity. We moved conversations into the forum because it gives us a space we can moderate more thoughtfully. Not to shut down discussion, but to make sure readers, writers, and homeowners feel safe jumping in. The comment archives weren’t deleted to erase anyone’s contributions — the migration just didn’t allow us to bring them over in their old format. I know that’s frustrating, especially for longtime readers who put so much into those threads. Just wanted to reply directly since your feedback really does matter. We are actively reading and taking notes from what people are sharing here, even if it doesn’t always show up immediately in the product
Hi @smart2194 — I want to reassure you that we are reading the feedback being shared here, even when it’s critical. What we’re focusing on now is making sure discussions stay constructive and respectful so that everyone, from readers to the homeowners opening up their spaces, feels comfortable being part of the conversation. I know it’s a big adjustment, and it won’t feel perfect right away. But your perspective (and that of other longtime readers) is valuable to us, and we’re taking all of it into account as we continue to shape this space
Hi @AngieC1960 — I’m really sorry this shift feels like such a loss. The comments sections definitely held a lot of great conversations and learnings over the years, and I know it’s hard to see that change. The move to the forum was about creating a space where conversations can be more constructive and supportive. Our goal is to build on the same spirit of exchange you valued in the old comments, but in a way that feels more engaging for everyone. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and I hope you stick around as we work on improvements to make the process even better
Hi @pam9426 — I’m sorry it felt like such a hassle to leave a comment. We moved conversations into the forum to make them more engaging, but I know it’s been confusing in practice. We’re working on making the path from articles to threads much clearer, and I hope you’ll give it another try once those updates roll out!
Hi @ScreamingViking — I hear your frustration, and I know this change has stirred up a lot of strong feelings. The shift to the forum wasn’t about shutting down critique — it was actually the opposite. We wanted to create a space where conversations could open up more fully, with room for questions, feedback, and dialogue that doesn’t get buried. Part of that shift involves more active moderation, so conversations feel safe and worthwhile to join. I understand if this format isn’t for you, but if you do decide to stay, your voice is welcome here
My favorite part of AT many times, was the comments! True, they aren't always positive, but to be blunt, often the comments saved articles that were either poorly written, poorly researched (and you have had some bad writing on here, AT) or just blah. Of course, this comment probably won't be allowed. But seriously AT, if you're going to put out some of the poor quality articles you do, then you have to provide something entertaining to make up for it. I've tried this new format, just not fun anymore. Bye.
The fear of negative comments should not be a stifling mechanism.
This feels parallel to our current overall societal dilemma.
Perhaps to do a better job of moderation would be a better tact.
It really is a shame that AT has so little respect for its readers. I came here most days for years, but the standard of articles has dropped so considerably that the comments were the most engaging thing on the site. Yes, there was the occasional negative opinion, but design is a subjective topic. If we all agreed on everything it would be boring beyond belief. There is no valid reason for turning the comments off. I'm sorry to say that I will be leaving, too.
Just a shame that in pursuit of some imaginary safe space the possibility of immediate feedback was lost. In a world of social media surely most people understand if they share their lives online there will be commentary and we can't control it beyond muting and moving on. Someone commenting they don't like a wall colour isn't exactly hurtful.
With all the truly horrible things happening in the world a few bracing comments in an interior design website is really nothing life altering. At the end of the day it was a fun way to exchange ideas and our takes on particular aesthetic choices. This forum is too removed from the articles to really foster fun exchanges. Such a shame this really will become just a dull site selling the latest drops of a handful of stores and little else. Really see little reason to keep coming back.
I tried to start a thread saying just that and couldn't make it work, so thank you, Lisa, for doing it for me!
I completely agree; the new format will not work. I'm going to miss my online friends, but the time I will have to invest to find and figure out how to post is just not worth it. I could use that time for writing something that will PAY ME instead! ;)
AT has been my positive guilty pleasure and I look forward to it every day, but sadly, this may be my time to take my bow and leave.
So long, farewell, Auf widersehen, good-bye…
This will most likely be my first and last comment here. I'm not a fan of this change and I will probably unsubscribe all together at some point now that you've made this switch. And I can't believe you deleted all the old comments.
I can't even find the story I wanted to comment on! Why would you do this to your readers? This is the website version of New Coke. I might look at photos from time to time, but I don't have time to search all over your site to engage.
FWIW, I really enjoyed your comments!
I can see the need for this — I've been appalled at the nastiness from some commenters. It's not constructive or helpful, and in a couple of cases bordered on savage. Can't imagine volunteering to be the target . . . .
I’ll miss the community.
This commenting change is a major overreaction.
While I'm not wild about the shift to a forum instead of reading a conversation directly linked to the article, I must say that I have been appalled by some of the really ugly, hurtful, dismissive comments I've read recently. The tone has really changed a lot since I joined the forum some years ago. There's no way on earth I would ever submit any home project I did to this forum because some commenters just seem to revel in their cruelty. I rarely make critical comments on anything because it just doesn't seem necessary. If I don't like something, I don't comment. If there are things I don't like and others I do, I mostly comment on what I like. If I make a rare critique, I strive to make it gently. The world is already an ugly, hurtful place where shaming and toxicity are rampant, and my heart hurts for the targets of this kind of discourse. There are people on this board who know how to critique gently, and as an educator I know that there is an art to that, and it's one I think we should all develop. Do we want people to share their homes so we don't have so many reruns of tours from like five years ago? If so, then maybe we need to think more carefully about how the comments we post on one project affect a potential poster of a new project. Everyone in this world does the best they can with the resources they have and within the bounds of their taste, their time, and the constraints of the buildings in which they live. Do we celebrate them or shame them? I don't think people should have to develop a thick skin when sharing something they're not getting paid for and that just genuinely makes them happy. I realize I'm in the minority on this and have spent somewhat less time on this forum recently just because it's become another place where I can't escape the ugliness of real life. There are people in this world who deserve harsh criticism, but they're not the people just want to share their new bathroom or kitchen makeover. Is there no place anymore where we can just be nice and treat strangers like friends? I take your point about how on most posts the comments are a mix, but if I were sharing my home, it's the negative comments that would stay with me because that's human nature. I hadn't realized that previous comments were deleted, though in truth, when I am looking at a post from years ago, I rarely read the old comments. Still, though, as a record of the history of a site, they should probably be retained. Maybe someone would like to do a master's thesis in communications or social history on the evolution of online commentary and how it does or doesn't reflect the communication style of the nation and who does or doesn't have power. To do that, they'd need access to the records over time.
Unwieldy is exactly that - sign me up as another person who took over 20 minutes to realise what happened to all the comments. Plus the friction of not having the comment/forum thread linked from the article means that I simply won't bother. Which is a major loss of my AT enjoyment, especially the comment threads on tours where the owner/renter would chime in with additional information. I also enjoyed discussions on tip posts, because people shared valuable experiences with the methods in the article.
Honestly, this very much degrades my AT experience.
I'm doing the same and unsubscribing myself from the newsletter. I'm a longtime follower of Apartment Therapy and I regret to say that the latest change in how the comments section is now handled is the the last straw. It no longer feels like a community, which has kept me returning to the site. There are other places on the web I can go to. They aren't exactly like AT but AT is no longer better than the others.
A further thought: given the likely drop in comments, I can't imagine that most people posting their homes on AT will be happy to go live and then…just crickets.
Granted, people who are indirectly (or sometimes directly) pitching their business via posting a home on AT might be relieved that critical comments have been severely curbed in the new format. Perhaps one consequence will be a future uptick in people posting their homes for business reasons so we can look them up on IG, their business website, etc. Which is not why I was drawn to this site to begin with.
The comment sections on all house tours, even past ones, have unfortunately disappeared. Now we have to come here to the "Community Discussions" pages, which is frustrating. My guess is that ApartmentTherapy.com stopped using OpenWeb on the site. OpenWeb is similar to Disqus and made it possible to leave comments on the tours. It seems that if they no longer use the service, the comments previously left on the tour pages could not stay, which is unfortunate for those of us who participated in conversations there. Checking the day's newest house tour was one of my favorite thing to do each weekday.
I guess we'll just have to get used to these discussion pages instead. Although having the immediacy of a comments section on every tour was convenient, I admit I am an avid user of moderated forums on other sites, which I like much better than other types of social media. I do remember all the fun conversations we had when AT was just a simple blog. And I also remember that many of us were very upset when it was no longer a blog and changed over to the present format and other iterations in between. Time marches on and change is inevitable, but it would have helped to test things out before changing over. The home tours here definitely need an obvious direct link to their respective discussion pages (without having to scroll all the way down to find it) and the discussion pages need to be organized better so they are easier to find. I mean, seriously, there isn't even a link to the Community Discussions from AT's home page!
Agreed. I'm not feeling this new page, either!
@MainelyDee, I agree with you that change is inevitable and the only actual constant in the universe (according to Heraclitus, the Buddha, and so forth). Still, a little transparency about the software migration would have gone a long way.
But also, as you say, an easy-to-access link to the Community Discussions page is necessary if it is meant to not only survive, but thrive. Right now, you have to jump through too many hoops to land here, not to mention you have to know exactly where those hoops are.
As for moderation, it is surely necessary, but this place seems to rely on some weird, unpredictable algorithm. I was banned from here and my comments deleted for literally no reason at all, and my account was restored days later in the same random manner.
If there is to be moderation, then clear, reasonable, non-stifling rules need to be set and spelled out for everyone to see. Rules that enforce respect but that leave room for personal opinion and healthy disagreement. And we also need human moderators to do that job. A thankless job, granted, but here we are.
I forgot to mention that I feel strongly that if these discussions here are going to be the only way we can comment on tours and Before & Afters, we readers shouldn't have to start the respective discussion threads here for each house tour. The discussion thread should be started by AT and a link provided at the top of the main page for the house tour when it is posted.
Hard agree. Some tours have an imperceptible link somewhere in there, but even that has not been consistent.
I'm with you on this, @foracle8194 . My heart sank when I found out that the old comment function was taken away. I, too, felt like part of a commnity and looked forward to what others I have come to know here would notice about a feature. This is so disjointed and, well, impersonal. I don't want to look at an article and then have to go on a protracted mission in this section to even locate the same post I was just looking at. AT, you are going to lose your most loyal community members with this boneheaded move.
@chaunceyd, it won't.
I always enjoyed your observations, Angie.
Seems like you guys would have figured all of that out BEFORE rolling out this new goofy system. Makes it look like not much planning went into this "migration."
@alan2631979 Once again, saying it far better than I could. This is indeed so much like what we are seeing out here in the world. Readers should be able to comment, period. I'm sorry that negative comments caused this to happen, but my gosh, some of the submissions were pretty bad, and the writing at AT has been going downhill for years. Seems like an investment in a few editors would have been the wiser move. As well as, like you say, a better job of moderation. I will miss you, my observant friend ♥️
Same here, Sex Symbol. I tried to start a discussion on this topic and was not allowed/able to do it. I don't have time to go around the Mulberry Bush to find where to comment on whatever the article was that I just read. I also don't like that the decorating questions from John Q. Public are all mashed in here together with the articles. I spent a LOT of time making editorial suggestions, ideas for new articles, and so forth in the old format, and no one at AT gave a damn. It's apparently more important that no grown-ups get their feelings hurt in the comments section.
Speaking as a person who is currently living in a "war zone" (that line for sour dough bread at the Saturday Market last weekend was atrocious!), yes, this does remind me of current events. I'm not always the nicest person, but I try (note to self: don't read the news before reading AT). I do my best to reword my comments if a post/after is dreadful and try to find SOMETHING positive about it, but some are just so poorly written/poorly executed, it's all but impossible.
That said, when I/we like something on AT, we shower it with praise! We really do appreciate talented writers and amateur decorators.
We don't like stagers and houses being bought just to airbnb. I think we've made that pretty clear. ;)
PS- In case y'all are wondering, I won't be participating in the N*ked Bike Ride Protest coming up soon in Portland. Too cold for this midlifecrisissexsymbol. But someday, I just might.
(Auto corrupt keeps trying to change "amateur" to "meaty". So if AC gets its way, please know I did not mean to write about "meaty decorators". Unless we're talking about a butcher shop, of course.)
AND, all of the posts we bookmarked are GONE!!! We were not even given a chance to save those. I had kept so many inspiring articles, and they have been flushed away with all of our comments. Thanks a lot, AT.
I'll miss you most of all, Scarecrow! I mean, Judith! 😸
AT sent me the post with your goodbye, and even when I hit the link directly, it didn't take me to your post! Ugh!!!
And I agree, we ARE mature/strong enough to take care of nasty people and/or trolls on our own. Both of which we really don't have much of. I think that's because no one wants to mess with us midlife crisis sex symbols, which means you, me, and the rest of us!
I am so going to be a rebellious senior citizen when I grow up. Glad to have so many friends on here to join me. :) 😎
AT- I do like the new emoji power. Thank you for that! 😽
I'm going to post my "before" picture. I am moving out of my office so we can rip out the ugly carpet that came with the house and install wood floors (Cats + Ivory Carpet = Never a Good Idea). Like so many others, I am now camped out on the dining room table. Current problem? Two cats who don't get along who both want to be on the table with mom. Solution? "Staging" them in matching baskets! 😹😹 (Please excuse the messy house. I have a LOT of stuff in my office and it's now, well, everywhere but in my office!)
I tried to send a response to the email I got notifying me of the change. I used the email for Maxwell that was included. It came back undeliverable.
Do we dare mention the article on using a garden hose hanger in your living room?
This! Now apparently we can only comment on the house tours? (if we can figure out where and how…) No way to comment on the actual articles — of which the only useful feature these days have been the comments.
I agree that the tone of some of the comments have gotten nastier in recent years, as they have on all social media. However, I think AT needs to accept some responsibility for that. I have been following this site for decades, literally since day one, and it has helped me immensely in crafting my own spaces. In recent years, however, the titles and nature of the articles has gone from seriously helpful to clickbait, replete with words like "never," "always," "shame," "ugly," "stinky," "infested," "disturbing," etc. (not to mention the unimaginative over-use of "hack" and "game changer.") The tone of the entire site has gotten darker and sloppier, not just the comments. It used to be a welcoming place with a serious mission. Now it seems it's just another ad-crowded site to get clicks and sell stuff, and we can't even comment on it. That's your choice, AT. Now my choice is to find more useful site to enjoy first thing with my coffee in the morning, as has been my habit these many years.
You stated exactly how I feel about AT changing the comment section. I really enjoyed viewing the places, then easily reading the comments. Not an improvement imho.
