Here’s our guide to improving, maintaining, and enjoying your house. With information on everything from home technology and reducing energy costs to outdoor living and working from home, these articles will help you care for your house and get the most out of living there.
Family photos are often used to adorn walls, turning memories into artwork. Follow these seven tips to help transform your treasured photos into beautiful home accents. 1. Where Do I Display Them? Depending on your home’s layout, you may have several options. A few places make natural sense, though. Stairwells, long hallways, and family rooms… Read more »
Everyone knows to tip restaurant food servers, who rely on tips to supplement their pay. But what about the various contractors who provide services to you at home? For some jobs, it’s appropriate to tip; for others, it is not. Here is some guidance on contractor tips. Who to tip? Skilled contractors, such as plumbers,… Read more »
When purchasing a new appliance or electronic gadget, you’ll likely be asked to purchase a service contract for an additional fee. Are these policies worth the money? Or should consumers simply say no? What is a service contract or extended warranty? These policies, which also can be called protection plans or guarantees, offer additional coverage… Read more »
Succulents are one of the hottest trends in home decor, a nod to their minimalistic sensibilities and extreme hardiness. These hard-to-kill plants from the desert seem to be for sale everywhere, from supermarkets, flea markets, and discount stores to high-end boutiques and nurseries. The trend is so hot, it has sprouted stand-alone succulent shops that… Read more »
Children four and under are at great risk for serious injury or death from a toppled piece of heavy furniture. Here are several things to consider to minimize the risk of furniture-related accidents when you have a curious climber in your household. What types of items pose the highest risk? Tall pieces of furniture, including… Read more »
A little organization and a fair amount of purging can turn even a modest linen closet into a functional space for a family. Here are a few tips. Purging One set of sheets for each bed plus one spare set is really all you need. The same rule of thumb goes for towels. Keep one… Read more »
Wrought iron brings classic elegance to home design. Wrought iron fences, doors, and furniture can provide a lifetime of beauty. But the material needs care to protect it. Let’s discuss how to maintain, paint and enjoy wrought iron. The iron age returns Iron has been used both decoratively and practically in home construction for centuries…. Read more »
Artwork adds color and personalization to a home, and can also help define your style. Having photos, prints, or other art on the walls transforms a sterile space into a home. Whether you’re a collector investing in high-quality artwork or a budget-minded homeowner interested in low-cost prints, here’s a brief how-to guide to buying art…. Read more »
We take our refrigerators and freezers for granted until something goes wrong. No one can avoid long-term power outages during natural disasters, which can result in ruined food. But with a few simple steps, you can prevent a lack of maintenance from causing refrigeration failure. Here’s how to keep things chill. Vacuum the condenser coils… Read more »
With Christmas over and Super Bowl on the horizon, January is a big month to score deals on purchases for the home. Everything from holiday decor and big-screen TVs to sheets, towels and digital scales is on sale this month. Deals on furniture and appliances may also be available. Clearance is king. If you’re patient… Read more »
In recent years homeowners have preferred open floor plans. Homes of yesteryear compartmentalized the kitchen, dining and living areas, but today we love houses where these three areas flow together. Sometimes, however, homeowners need or want a little separation. With room dividers, you can segment your space without sacrificing openness. Open, but with boundaries By… Read more »
Have you noticed your Internet speeds slowing recently? Maybe the movie you are streaming stops to buffer more often, or you see other signs of sluggishness. Let’s look at some solutions to get your router back up to speed. Improvements that cost nothing If you’ve acquired additional computers, tablets, and smartphones, or you have a… Read more »
Bringing home a new dog is an act of sheer love. Joy and adoration await you, but so does responsibility. Follow these steps to prepare yourself, your home and your dog for a great experience. Adopt for life The first step to bringing home a new dog is making a commitment to the animal. Dog… Read more »
Recycling has been around for decades. But have you heard of upcycling? Learn how this practice turns everyday items headed for the trash into something special. Upcycling means a new and better life Recycling breaks down items such as aluminum cans and plastic bottles into their component parts and reconstitutes them into new, sometimes lower-quality… Read more »
The ease of online purchasing is one of life’s simple joys. One of life’s most vexing aggravations is having that purchase stolen from your front porch before you can retrieve it. Here are several ways you can thwart the bad guys and package theft. The scope of the package theft problem Package thieves have come… Read more »
Home decorating trends are looking up, literally. We put so much emphasis on walls, floors, and furnishings that the ceiling’s potential for impact often gets overlooked. Here’s what you are missing. Color contrasts. The color of a ceiling can enhance or minimize its height. Painting the ceiling a brighter color than the walls can “lift”… Read more »
With the holidays upon us, consumers will be inundated with sales and discounts on a range of home-related products. While Black Friday may be over, there’s still plenty of time to score some excellent deals. Here’s a look at the biggest December discounts. Big-screen TVs, home theater accessories and gaming systems. The sales on these… Read more »
Summertime means fun activities like swimming, cookouts and vacations. It can also mean higher electric bills if you run the air-conditioning continuously. Keep your house comfortable while avoiding smoking-hot energy bills with these heat-reduction tips. Beat the heat inside and out. Admittedly, it’s easier to get by with little or no air-conditioning in Northern climates… Read more »
Outdoor Christmas lights can transform your home into an enchanting place. New choices in lighting allow you to create a memorably beautiful display while also saving money. Here’s how. The revolution in holiday lighting Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights are the latest trend in residential holiday lighting. These new lights cost more upfront than incandescents,… Read more »
In most climates, after fall’s riotous hues fade, landscapes become dreary and devoid of color. Whether you live in a snowy or moderate climate, here are some tips for transforming your barren yard with winter plants. Problems winter plants can solve for you Problem: Your grass is hibernating, and your yard looks brown and drab…. Read more »
