Idea Wheel

When every option is a good one

The hardest choices are often the small ones where nothing is wrong. A dozen manicures you would all happily wear, eight snacks that would all do: comparing them takes longer than enjoying any of them.

A wheel ends the comparison. Pick a list, spin once, and you have an answer in five seconds. Every idea on these lists is worth doing, so whatever comes up is a good result.

There is a second use. If the wheel lands on something and you feel a small "oh no", that reaction is useful: it tells you which option you were hoping for. Go with that one instead. The wheel did its job either way.

The lists on this wheel

Fall nails

Twelve fall manicures, from a burgundy French tip to a single ghost on one nail.

• Burgundy tips
• Caramel chrome
• Deep teal
• Milky nude
• Espresso gloss
• Zebra accent
• Olive matte
• Neon pink
• Gold leaf tips
• Silver glitter
• Tortoiseshell
• Ghost accent

Plaid sweater outfits

Twelve ways to wear a plaid, argyle or checkered sweater, each written as a simple formula.

• Argyle + pants
• Mini + tights
• Pink checkered
• Cardi + jeans
• Over red dress
• B&W checkered
• With loafers
• White dress
• Neon yellow
• With leather
• White boots
• Tall boots

No-carve pumpkins

Twelve ways to decorate a pumpkin without a knife, most of them with things you already have.

• Gold leaf
• Lace stencil
• Polka dots
• Pearl studs
• Matte black
• Cow print
• Velvet bow
• Book pages
• Berry crate
• Sleepy faces
• Candle cluster
• Whitewash

Afternoon snacks

Eight snacks for the 3 p.m. slump, sweet and savory.

• Apple slices
• Chai latte
• Kombucha
• Cheese plate
• Yogurt bowl
• Hummus dip
• Dark chocolate
• Avocado toast

Couples costumes

Ten costumes for two, all made from clothes and a few cheap extras.

• Witch & cat
• Mad scientists
• Salt & pepper
• Cat & mouse
• Masquerade
• Crochet bees
• Ghost & hunter
• Roach & spray
• PB & J
• Vampire pair

3D Halloween nails

Ten raised nail designs for Halloween, from tiny pumpkins to a witch against the moon.

• 3D pumpkins
• Ghost charms
• Spider web
• Eyeball nails
• Blood drip
• Black cat
• Gold 3D swirl
• Rhinestones
• 3D leaves
• Witch & moon

Granny square tops

Six crochet tops made of granny squares and open stitches, the looks people are saving this season.

• Blue daisy
• White lace
• Sunburst
• Green stripe
• Earth tones
• Cream halter

Southwestern bathroom

Ten ideas for a warm, earthy bathroom, from one woven basket to a full tile floor.

• Terracotta tile
• Talavera tile
• Copper sink
• Woven basket
• Agave plant
• Carved mirror
• Southwest rug
• Rustic vanity
• Stone wall
• Adobe walls

Subtle hair color

Eight soft hair colors that show mostly in the light: pinks, purples, a hint of blue and deep reds.

• Pink highlights
• Subtle purple
• Subtle red
• Subtle blue
• Cherry cola
• Lilac ends
• Pastel blonde
• Mocha brown

White dresses

Eight white dress styles, each with its own fabric: lace, satin, knit, chiffon and more.

• Lace mini
• Long sleeve
• Black trim
• Halter
• Strapless
• Midi
• Maxi
• Button front

Thanksgiving dishes

Ten classic Thanksgiving dishes: each guest spins once and brings what the wheel picks.

• Mashed potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Stuffing
• Green beans
• Mac and cheese
• Cranberry sauce
• Cornbread
• Dinner rolls
• Pumpkin pie
• Apple pie

Fall nails: twelve looks for the season

• Burgundy tips: a classic French tip, with deep burgundy in place of white. Works on short and long nails.
• Caramel chrome: a warm caramel base with a chrome powder finish, for a soft metallic glow.
• Deep teal: a dark blue-green with a glossy finish. It looks just as good on toes as on fingers.
• Milky nude: a sheer, milky pink-beige. The quiet option that goes with everything.
• Espresso gloss: a near-black brown with a high-shine top coat.
• Zebra accent: crisp white polish on every nail, and zebra stripes on one accent nail.
• Olive matte: an olive green with a matte top coat. Calm, and very fall.
• Neon pink: a bright hot pink, for a pop of color between all the fall neutrals.
• Gold leaf tips: a nude base with small flakes of gold foil on the tips.
• Silver glitter: one glitter nail per hand, or a full set, in silver sparkle.
• Tortoiseshell: layered amber and brown in a tortoiseshell pattern, easier than it looks with a jelly polish.
• Ghost accent: a milky pink base with a tiny white ghost on a few nails. A wink to Halloween you can keep into November.

Booking a salon visit? Spin first, then show the result to your nail tech. Doing them at home? Spin on Sunday and the week's manicure is decided.

One plaid sweater, twelve outfits

Each entry is your plaid, argyle or checkered sweater plus one or two pieces that change the whole look.

• Argyle + pants: an argyle cardigan or pullover with wide-leg pants and loafers.
• Mini + tights: the sweater over a mini skirt, with opaque tights and boots or loafers.
• Pink checkered: an oversized pink checkered cardigan, buttoned up and worn as a top.
• Cardi + jeans: an oversized plaid cardigan, a plain tee and straight jeans.
• Over red dress: the knit layered over a red slip or knit dress.
• B&W checkered: a long black-and-white checkered cardigan over a black top and dark jeans.
• With loafers: the sweater with pants or a skirt and polished loafers, for the office.
• White dress: an argyle cardigan over a simple white dress, for a softer look.
• Neon yellow: a neon yellow top under a checkered cardigan, with loose gray pants.
• With leather: the sweater with a leather skirt or leather pants.
• White boots: a short sweater dress with white knee-high boots and a cardigan on top.
• Tall boots: a long cardigan over a fitted dress or leggings, with knee-high boots.

Planning the week? Spin each morning and wear what comes up. If a formula lands twice, spin again.

No-carve pumpkins: twelve ideas

An uncut pumpkin keeps far longer than a carved one, and none of these needs a knife.

• Gold leaf: brush on gilding adhesive in patches, press on gold leaf, brush off the loose flakes.
• Lace stencil: hold a piece of lace against the pumpkin and dab paint through it.
• Polka dots: paint the pumpkin one solid color, navy for example, then add white dots with the round end of a paintbrush handle.
• Pearl studs: glue rows of craft pearls down the ribs.
• Matte black: spray or brush on matte black paint, then add a gold or cream detail.
• Cow print: paint the pumpkin white, add irregular black patches, and finish with a pink muzzle and two nostrils.
• Velvet bow: tie a wide velvet ribbon around the stem in a big bow.
• Book pages: tear pages from an old book and decoupage them on with craft glue.
• Berry crate: fill a wooden crate with orange, white and sage-green pumpkins, tuck in red berry branches and eucalyptus, and set a lantern on each side.
• Sleepy faces: paint closed eyes with long lashes on mini white pumpkins, and add a sprig of eucalyptus at the stem.
• Candle cluster: group small pumpkins of different sizes with candles on a tray. Battery candles are the safe choice near dry stems and leaves.
• Whitewash: thinned white paint, brushed on and wiped back, for a soft farmhouse look.

Spin once for a single statement pumpkin, or three times for a small group on the porch or the table.

Afternoon snacks, decided

The afternoon slump is real, and so is standing in front of the fridge for five minutes. The list mixes sweet and savory:

• Apple slices: sliced apple with a spoonful of almond butter.
• Chai latte: a cup of chai with one or two biscotti.
• Kombucha: a small bottle of kombucha and a handful of mixed nuts.
• Cheese plate: a few slices of cheese with a small bunch of grapes.
• Yogurt bowl: plain yogurt with granola and fruit on top.
• Hummus dip: hummus with carrot, cucumber and pepper sticks.
• Dark chocolate: two or three squares, slowly.
• Avocado toast: one slice, with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon.

If the wheel picks something that does not suit your diet or allergies, simply spin again.

Couples costumes for two

Every idea works with clothes you probably own and a few cheap extras.

• Witch & cat: a pointed hat and a long black dress; black clothes, cat ears and a drawn-on nose.
• Mad scientists: two lab coats, goggles, wild hair and a bubbling homemade gadget.
• Salt & pepper: matching white and black tops, each with a big S or P.
• Cat & mouse: ears, whiskers and a tail for each, in black and grey.
• Masquerade: your most formal clothes and matching masks, black and gold, with a feather or two.
• Crochet bees: striped yellow and black, with crochet or felt antennae and wings.
• Ghost & hunter: a white sheet or a white outfit; a jumpsuit and a homemade ghost detector.
• Roach & spray: one of you is a can of bug spray, made from poster board rolled into a tube; the other wears brown, with long antennae, as the cockroach.
• PB & J: one in tan, one in purple or red, each with a big printed label.
• Vampire pair: dark formal clothes, a cape or a high collar, pale makeup and a red lip.

Can't agree? Spin once and that's the costume. Or send this wheel to the group chat and let your friends choose for you.

3D Halloween nails: ten raised designs

3D nail art builds the design up off the nail with gel, acrylic or small charms, so it catches the light from every side. Ask your nail tech which ones they can do: most take longer than a flat design.

• 3D pumpkins: little orange pumpkins sculpted in gel or acrylic, each with a green stem.
• Ghost charms: small white ghosts raised on a milky base, sometimes with a "boo".
• Spider web: a fine black web in raised gel, with a tiny 3D spider.
• Eyeball nails: glossy eyeballs with a colored iris, set on a matte black nail.
• Blood drip: red gel drips running down from the tip, glossy against black.
• Black cat: a black cat in relief on an orange or nude nail.
• Gold 3D swirl: raised gold swirls on a nude base, the quietest look of the ten.
• Rhinestones: crystals and gems set over a clear or glitter base.
• 3D leaves: autumn leaves in orange, red and gold that stand out from the nail.
• Witch & moon: a witch on a broom against a raised yellow moon.

Spin once for a full set, or spin twice and wear one design on each hand.

Granny square tops: six crochet looks

A granny square is a small crochet motif worked in rounds; join a few and you have a top. Each entry is a look to crochet yourself or to look for ready-made.

• Blue daisy: blue and white squares with a white daisy at the center of each, worn as a halter.
• White lace: an open, lacy stitch in white, light enough to layer.
• Sunburst: one big square in rounds of red, orange, cream and green, worn on the diagonal as a halter.
• Green stripe: bands of green and white in an open mesh stitch.
• Earth tones: brown, rust, cream and sage in stripes, for a seventies feel.
• Cream halter: cream crochet with a row of eyelets, tied at the neck.

New to crochet? A single granny square is a classic first project: spin, then start with that look's colors.

Southwestern bathroom ideas

Warm earth tones, handmade tiles and natural textures. Each entry is one change, from a weekend find to a full remodel.

• Terracotta tile: unglazed clay floor tiles in warm orange, sealed against water.
• Talavera tile: hand-painted blue and white glazed tiles, as a backsplash or a border.
• Copper sink: a hammered copper vessel sink on a wood or stone counter.
• Woven basket: seagrass or rattan baskets for towels and spare rolls.
• Agave plant: an agave in a terracotta pot; it wants bright light and little water.
• Carved mirror: a round mirror in a carved wood frame.
• Southwest rug: a flat-woven rug with stepped geometric patterns in rust, black and cream.
• Rustic vanity: a vanity in dark reclaimed wood with iron hardware.
• Stone wall: a wall of stacked natural stone behind the sink.
• Adobe walls: clay or lime plaster in a warm sand color, troweled by hand.

Renting? Start with the basket, the rug, the mirror and the plant: none of them needs a contractor.

Subtle hair color: eight soft shades

Subtle color stays close to your natural shade and shows mostly in the light. Bring the result to your colorist, or follow the dye's instructions and do a strand test first.

• Pink highlights: thin pink pieces through light brown or blonde hair.
• Subtle purple: a purple tint on dark brown hair that shows in the sun.
• Subtle red: a warm red glow over brown.
• Subtle blue: a blue sheen on black or very dark hair.
• Cherry cola: deep red-brown with a cherry shine.
• Lilac ends: brown at the roots, melting into lilac at the ends.
• Pastel blonde: blonde with a few pastel pink and lilac strands.
• Mocha brown: a soft chocolate brown with lighter caramel pieces.

Pastel shades fade faster than browns and reds, so plan for touch-ups.

White dresses: eight styles

Eight white dress styles, from a lace mini to a floor-length maxi. Each slice of the wheel shows that dress's fabric.

• Lace mini: a short slip dress in white lace with a scalloped hem.
• Long sleeve: long sleeves with pleated bands at the cuff.
• Black trim: a fitted white dress with black stripes at the waist and cuffs.
• Halter: a halter-neck dress in a ribbed knit.
• Strapless: a strapless dress in satin.
• Midi: a fitted bodice and a full skirt to mid-calf.
• Maxi: a floor-length dress in a light, flowing fabric.
• Button front: buttoned from the neckline to the waist.

In fall and winter, add a long coat and knee-high boots. Going to a wedding? White is the bride's color: spin a different list.

Thanksgiving: who brings which dish?

Ten classic Thanksgiving dishes. Each guest spins once and brings the dish the wheel lands on; if it lands on one already taken, spin again.

• Mashed potatoes: with butter and warm milk.
• Sweet potatoes: baked as a casserole, often topped with toasted marshmallows.
• Stuffing: bread cubes baked with celery, onion, herbs and broth.
• Green beans: as a casserole, with crispy fried onions on top.
• Mac and cheese: baked until the top turns golden.
• Cranberry sauce: fresh cranberries cooked with sugar and a little orange.
• Cornbread: baked in a skillet or a pan and cut into squares.
• Dinner rolls: soft rolls brushed with butter.
• Pumpkin pie: with whipped cream on the side.
• Apple pie: with a lattice or a full top crust.

Hosting a bigger crowd? The Thanksgiving wheel has the full potluck list, with drinks, plates and to-go boxes, plus jobs and games.

Why these lists can't be edited

Every list here has its own artwork: each slice looks like the polish, fabric, tile, hair color, decoration, food or costume it names, the same as on our Pinterest pins. To keep that look, the lists are fixed. Switch between them with the buttons above the list.

Want your own ideas on a wheel? Open the decision wheel, type one idea per line and spin.

To get a second opinion, tap Send this wheel: your friends get the same wheel on their phones and spin it themselves, with nothing to install.