The 36 Best Lifestyle Blogs to Model for Success in 2021

Looking for a list of the best, most popular lifestyle blogs to inspire your best life?

Thinking about starting your own lifestyle blog?

Maybe you’re excited by the idea of sharing your unique interests and experiences but grapple with pesky start-up uncertainties, like:

• How to write a lifestyle blog (or even start a blog, for that matter)
• How to grow an audience of raving fans, or
• How to make money with a blog

The blogosphere harbors a boatload of sites in this niche, but only a fragment of lifestyle bloggers are crushing it.

Of course, successful lifestyle bloggers share common tactics that keep their audiences entertained and engaged!

Your blog’s success depends on following their lead, so we’ve assembled a mega-dose of inspirational best-of-the-best lifestyle blogs that’ll springboard your dreams and ideas into your own winning blog formula.

But first, let’s define what we mean by a lifestyle blog.

What is a Lifestyle Blog?

Lifestyle blogs are magazine-like websites that share and promote daily life experiences and perspectives from an individual or group of like-minded people.

Subject matter of the lifestyle blog niche covers a diverse range of human interests and passions including (but not limited to):

• Travel
• Fitness
• Luxury Living
• Fashion & Beauty
• Self Improvement
• Home Decor & Gardening
• Relationships & Parenting

Of course, anyone can start a lifestyle blog. But why should you?

Should You Start a Lifestyle Blog?

If you want your thoughts and ideas to be heard, an exclusive blog platform provides a terrific forum for you to explore your passions while sharing your unique personality with others.

But wait. (That’s not all!)

There’s a second element to lifestyle blogging that sweetens the deal!

Lifestyle blogs provide opportunities to draw some passive income while writing about activities and things you already love.

How Do Lifestyle Blogs Make Money?

There are several creative ways to monetize a blog.

Most commonly, lifestyle blogs make money by advertising brands that align and resonate with the lifestyle they promote.

Lifestyle influencers (bloggers with large, engaged audiences) collaborate with brands through sponsor networks (like Activate or Social Fabric) and receive compensation for writing and publishing sponsored posts that review and recommend products to their readers.

Affiliate marketing arrangements with individual eCommerce programs and networks (like ShareaSale or Rakuten) enable bloggers to receive sales commissions when readers purchase products through affiliate links embedded in their posts.

We’ll note some additional strategies that lifestyle bloggers employ to monetize their sites in our featured list.

Lifestyle Blogs to Follow in 2021

To inspire and expand upon your ideas for your own site, let’s dive into our list of top lifestyle blog examples for some insights into what makes them successful.

1. Wit & Delight

The tagline for Wit & Delight, “Designing a life well-lived,” modestly describes the wide range of tangible and cerebral topics shared on this top lifestyle blog.

Started in 2014 by blogger Kate Arends, this blog has blossomed into a one-stop women’s resource and guide for defining who they are, and how they want to live!

• Audience: Women in various stages of adulting
• Topics: Decor, Fashion, Health & Wellness, Relationships & Parenting, Travel & Leisure, Careers, Beauty, Food & Entertaining
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, product sponsorship, private label products, courses, coaching, consulting
• Top Post: 20 Journaling Prompts I Swear by to Get You out of Your Head
• Instagram: @witanddelight_

2. The Skinny Confidential

Top women’s lifestyle blog, The Skinny Confidential educates and entertains followers by pushing beyond traditional beauty and wellness topic boundaries.

Lifestyle blogger and self-proclaimed “oversharer”, Lauryn Evars Bosstick doles out the dirt on topics that more conservative bloggers may consider taboo, like manscaping, hangover tips, and talking to your kids about sex.

• Audience: Women seeking unfiltered beauty and relationship advice
• Topics: Beauty, Fitness, Realness (Baby & Relationships)
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, books, courses, product sponsorship, private label products, apps
• Top Post: Alllll about Lymphatic Drainage Massage
• Instagram: @theskinnyconfidential

3. Julia Berolzheimer (Gal Meets Glam)

Julia Berolzheimer started her fashion blog and business over ten years ago as a junior in college.

Fast-forward to last year, she transitioned from designing her Gal Meets Glam dress collection to curating fashions that celebrate femininity.

Women find refined inspiration in her “Daily Looks” collection, a beautifully photographed chronicle of Julia’s classic style.

• Audience: Women seeking classically feminine fashions
• Topics: Fashion, Beauty, Home & Garden, Travel
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, product collaboration, sponsorship
• Top Post: 5 Ways to Wear Hunter Boots
• Instagram: @juliaberolzheimer

4. A Cup of Jo

Blogger Joanna Goddard’s career as a print and blog editor for syndicated magazines naturally paved the path for sharing content for women through her hobby-turned-full-time blog.

A Cup of Jo was one of the first “mom blogs” to candidly talk about postpartum depression. Open and honest dialog is a key component of this blog’s successful relationship with its highly engaged community.

• Audience: Women
• Topics: Style, Food, Design, Travel, Relationships, Parenthood
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, product sponsorship, display ads
• Top Post: Gift Guide: Men
• Instagram: @cupofjo

5. A Beautiful Mess

 

Sisters Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman inspire their followers to “stay home and make something” with unique crafting and decorating ideas on creative lifestyle blog, A Beautiful Mess.

When they’re not crafting, the two share new recipes, talk about family life, and experiment with hair styles, beauty tips, and fashion updates. Sister stuff!

• Audience: Creative women
• Topics: Crafts, Decor, Recipes, Fashion & Beauty, Blogging & Life Advice
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, courses, books, online shop, product sponsorship, display ads, photo-editing apps
• Top Post: Make Your Own Fire Pit in 4 Easy Steps
• Instagram: @abeautifulmess

6. Amber Fillerup Clark (Barefoot Blonde)

Glamour, self-care, and hairstyling tips are the backbone of beauty blog Amber Fillerup Clark, where she also blogs about life with her hubby and three “littles”, and her love of travel.

Followers benefit from Amber’s inspirational beauty posts and wildly popular Barefoot Blonde hair styling tutorials on her Instagram account.

• Audience: Women, moms, and travel enthusiasts
• Topics: Motherhood, Beauty & Hair, Fashion, Home Decor, Healthy Lifestyle, Travel
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, branded hair products, product sponsorship
• Top Post: 13 Ways to Make Your Hair Grow
• Instagram: @amberfillerup

7. The Blonde Abroad

Travel influencer, Kiersten Rich (Kiki), showcases hundreds of destination reviews on her award-winning travel blog, The Blonde Abroad.

Her objective is to help women “find the confidence to travel the world,” but even devoted homebodies become captivated by Kiki’s worldly explorations and expert travel advice.

Her unique “Start Here” guide through the site also explains the process of planning, packing, and preparing for travel. Genius!

• Audience: Women interested in travel
• Topics: Travel, Photography
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, product sponsorship, display ads
• Top Post: Best Places to Travel in the United States Right Now
• Instagram: @theblondeabroad

8. Cupcakes and Cashmere

Cupcakes and Cashmere has morphed from Emily Schuman’s 2008 “favorite things” personal blog to a thriving women’s fashion, beauty, and women’s interests lifestyle blog and online shop.

Relatable millennial blog topics (like yoga pants, baking chocolate chip cookies, and traveling with children), create a sense of an engaged community with conversation and support among friends.

• Audience: Millennial women
• Topics: Fashion, Travel Food, Beauty, Interior Design
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, product sponsorship, online shop, display ads, consulting, books
• Top Post: 5 Tips to Becoming More Photogenic
• Instagram: @emilyschuman

9. A Girl in Progress

Emma Norris knows how to get sh*t done while acknowledging that perfection is an unrealistic goal.

Her personal growth lifestyle blog, A Girl in Progress is for the “perfectly imperfect” millennial woman.

A Girl in Progress helps followers attain their personal goals, enhance their productivity skills, and maintain accountability, through blog posts, group coaching, in-person events, and organized social media group communities.

• Audience: Millennial women and non-binary folks seeking personal growth guidance.
• Topics: Self-awareness, Career, Beauty, Relationships
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, brand sponsorship, memberships, group coaching, courses, books
• Top Post: We Tried It: Does Cryolipolysis Fat Freezing Actually Work?
• Instagram: @_agirlinprogress

10. Luxe Digital

Luxe Digital raises lifestyle blogging to a sophisticated, epicurean scale.

This digital magazine intentionally “shakes the status quo” to “champion a new definition of luxury”.

In the business section, you’re invited to become inspired and empowered through insider information from reliable sources in the luxury industry.

Insightful, candid luxury brand collaboration posts stimulate your desire to surrender to the amenities and indulgences of an extravagant lifestyle.

• Audience: Ambitious individuals and affluent consumers
• Topics: Business, Lifestyle
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, product sponsorship, display ads
• Top Post: The Best Electric Motorcycles to Power Ahead
• Instagram: @luxedigital

11. Rachel Parcell (Pink Peonies)

Complementing her e-commerce website that features her clothing line, Rachel Parcell’s blog reflects her natural passion for fashion, beauty, and purposeful living.

Her elevated sense of style informs and inspires followers with delicious recipes, elegant home decor, and entertaining inspiration to inject style into everyday life.

• Audience: Fashion- and style-conscious women
• Topics: Fashion, Beauty, Home Decor, Fitness, Food
• Monetization: Branded fashions, brand sponsorship
• Top Post: Step Inside My Kitchen
• Instagram: @rachelparcell

12. Refinery 29

Refinery 29 is a well-rounded successful lifestyle blog, covering common female-focused interests ranging from fashion to topics du jour in the arts and entertainment world.

Readers also enjoy career and financial advice and catch reviews of the latest trends and consumer products.

If you thrive on keeping up with fashion and lifestyle trends, celebrity exclusives, or other current events, check out this distinctive, award-winning site.

• Audience: Modern women & men neophiles
• Topics: Beauty, style, sex & wellness, entertainment, career, finance
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, display ads, online shop
• Top Post: How Tall is Barron Trump? A Very Serious Investigation
• Instagram: @refinery29

13. The Pioneer Woman

Over 15 years ago, Ree Drummond started The Pioneer Woman to share recipes and chronicle her lifestyle on the Drummond Ranch in Oklahoma.

Recently, Ree announced plans to expand their content offering to include home decor and shopping features.

Judging from the current popularity of Pioneer Woman branded food and home products on the market, her natural warmth and charm has influenced folks to “be like Ree”.

• Audience: People into the ranch lifestyle
• Topics: Food & Cooking, Home & Life, Beauty & Fashion
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, branded products, display ads
• Top Post: My Favorite Turkey Brine
• Instagram: @thepioneerwoman

14. The Every Girl

The Everygirl is a one-stop resource for women seeking guidance, instruction, or information on a wide array of life topics from dating and sex to finance and career advice.

One of the more comprehensive blogs for women, it literally has every girl in mind.

In addition to typical lifstyle blog topics, you’ll find exclusive content for plus-size fashion, black lives matter, sex toys, weekly news summaries, and bingeworthy tv. The free downloadable tech backgrounds are cool, too.

• Audience: Women
• Topics:  Fashion, beauty, living, wellness, sex & relationships, culture
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, product sponsorship, display ads
• Top Post: 20 Lunches You Can Meal Prep on Sunday
• Instagram: @theeverygirl

15. He Spoke Style

He Spoke Style is a leading men’s lifestyle blog that offers a blend of fashion information and inspiration for “regular guys interested in menswear.”

Brian Sacawa acts as your secret sophisticated friend, schooling men with “required reading” on need-to-know lifestyle tips like cigar lounge etiquette and how to hold a champagne glass!

• Audience: Professional men interested in men’s style
• Topics: Men’s Fashion & Grooming
• Monetization: Online shop, product sponsorship
• Top Post: What Does OOTD Mean?
• Instagram: @hespokestyle

16. The Stripe

Former social media director, Grace Atwood runs women’s lifestyle blog, The Stripe, where she inspires the modern woman with “a little bit of everything”.

Followers are blessed with succinct, motivational book reviews, reading lists, travel guides, and diy project suggestions.

Posts about beauty and fashion trends, home and healthy living round out the main topics on this site.

• Audience: Modern women
• Topics: Book and travel reviews, DIY projects, beauty and fashion trends
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, product sponsorship, online shop
• Top Post: DIY Turmeric Face Mask
• Instagram: @graceatwood

17. Advice From a Twenty Something

To counteract her feelings of intimidation after college graduation, Amanda Holstein created Advice From a Twenty Something, to encourage women to become empowered by the opportunities in their lives.

Through career, wellness, and fashion advice on her new blog and Thirty Something sister site, Amanda hosts two of the best lifestyle blogs for women into their thirties.

Followers on the twenty-something site have a unique opportunity to submit specific questions for her advice column.

• Audience: Women in their twenties and thirties
• Topics: Fashion, beauty, home, travel, wellness, career, relationships
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, product sponsorship, online shop
• Top Post: Curling Iron vs. Curling Wand
• Instagram: @advicefroma20something

18. Camille Styles

Creative founder of this popular lifestyle blog, Camille Styles  represents a consistent, authentic brand of information that women can trust.

Camille’s all-women team of authoritative editors and contributors is a Who’s Who collection of passionate experts on women’s topics.

Regardless of wellness goals, homemaking, or entertaining interests, women followers rely on comprehensive subject matter that’ll enhance and enrich their busy lives.

• Audience: Women
• Topics: Entertaining, Food, Design, Style, Travel, Wellness
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, display ads, book
• Top Post: 14 Unexpected Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day
• Instagram: @camillestyles

19. Corporette

Former litigator, Kat Griffin, recognized that professional women lacked the time or energy to assemble office-appropriate wardrobes.

Corporette was born in anonymity, providing fashion advice to professional women.

The blog quickly grew into an award-winning website for professional women and spawned CorporetteMoms for professional moms and moms-to-be.

• Audience: “Over-achieving chicks” who want to look fashionably professional
• Topics: Women’s Fashion, Career & Lifestyle Advice
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, product sponsorship, display ads
• Top Post: The Best Women’s Suits of 2020: Affordable, Designer, and Everything In Between
• Instagram: @corporette

20. Downshiftology

Certified health coach, Lisa Bryan shares her zest for wellness, meal prep, and travel on her personal blog, Downshiftology.

Effortlessly search her artfully photographed recipe collection by category, ingredient, specialty, or dietary restriction to find some simple yet delightfully delicious options to prepare at home.

Her e-book and destination posts prove that healthy travel is possible, even with dietary restrictions!

• Audience: Clean-eating foodies looking for healthy diet-specific recipes and wellness guidance.
• Topics: Food & Recipes (including Meal Prep), Health & Wellness, Travel
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, e-book
• Top Post: How to Cook Bacon in the Oven
• Instagram: @downshiftology

21. Goop

Gwyneth Paltrow’s multifaceted lifestyle website and Goop empire was born from her personal interest in wellness and clean living.

Since its 2008 inaugural newsletter featuring the actress’s two health food recipes, the Goop brand has expanded into clean beauty products, curated wellness products, and fashion.

Blog followers enjoy a range of probing women’s lifestyle topics and guest posts including sexual health, parenthood, and sustainable living.

Goop engages followers through Facebook groups, live virtual book club conversations, health summits, podcasts and the new Netflix show, “The Goop Lab”.

• Audience: Women (and now men) seeking wellness and self-discovery
• Topics: Beauty, Holistic Wellness, Fashion, Food, Decor, Travel
• Monetization: Affiliate marketing, display ads, product sponsorship, branded products, courses, online shop, books
• Top Post: The Medical Medium on the Virtues of Celery Juice
• Instagram: @goop

15 More Lifestyle Blogs Worth a Look

1. Love Taza
2. Kayla Itsines
3. Pouted
4. Akanksha Redhu
5. Primer Magazine
6. Quintessence
7. Superhit Ideas
8. The Financial Diet
9. Wellness Mama
10. Conscious Lifestyle Magazine
11. Verve Magazine
12. Alyson Haley
13. Rank & Style
14. Say Yes
15. Swift

How to Start a Lifestyle Blog

Inspired to get your blog started?

Here’s a quick and condensed how-to:

1. Choose Your Niche by Following Your Passions

• List your personal interests
• Rate each for profit potential based on the popularity of similar niches

Free Training: The 31 Most PROFITABLE Niches for Bloggers in 2021

Further information:

• How to Find Your Passion, Discover Your Strengths, and Rule the World
• Podcast: Why It’s Good to be in a Crowded Niche (Seriously)

2. Select a Common Monetization Strategy

• Affiliate marketing
• Advertising
• Sponsored products
• Online courses

Further reading:

• Amazon Associates: The Ultimate Money Making Guide
• How to Make Money Writing: 5 Ways to Get Paid to Write

3. Build Your Website With Help, If Needed

• Select a content management system
• Choose a domain name, with hosting
• Select your site’s theme

Further reading:

• How to Build a Niche Website (Step-by-Step Case Study)
• WordPress Hosting: A Brutally Honest Guide
• How to Choose a Domain Name
• 8 Best Free WordPress Themes

4. Write and Publish Often

• Search competing sites for blog post ideas
• Compose and post better articles on your site

Further reading:

• 18 Writing Tips That’ll Actually Make You a Better Writer
• 8 Ways to Make Old and Boring Topics Feel New and Exciting Again

Launching Your Lifestyle Blog

Still up for the challenge?

Many lifestyle bloggers launch into prosperity by simply offering readers the information, inspiration, and items that they need or want.

Follow their lead!

Blend your personal passions with subject matter that captivates and inspires your audience. Soon, your new lifestyle blog will soar together with other great blogs.

Show your audience the lifestyle they seek, and they’ll follow.

And buy from you.

And soon, you’ll be living the lifestyle you seek!

The post The 36 Best Lifestyle Blogs to Model for Success in 2021 appeared first on Smart Blogger.