Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: DIY

  • Easy DIY Entryway Ideas

    One of the most overlooked spaces in homes and apartments is the entryway. People often find themselves stumped for low-cost, high-impact ideas to make this area sing. Whether your entry is long and narrow, open and undefined, or just plain small, there are terrific design options that will allow you to make a real change and can (often) be done over a long weekend. So, what are some of our favorite DIY entryway ideas?

    towel hangingDazzle with Entryway Color Blocks

    There are few spaces that won’t benefit from a fresh coat of paint. This is especially true of your entryway, which sees a lot of traffic. Whether your door opens into your main room or a long hall, it might benefit from a dash (or more) of color. Adding a brilliant yellow, soothing blue, or moody green color to your door will transform your entryway instantly. It’s an easy DIY project that has big results for renters or owners. Yes, renters will have to return the door to its original state before moving out, but that is an easy fix, and the joy you feel whenever you look at your new door will be worth it.

    Geometric design is taking over interiors, and painted shapes are being used to create visually appealing zones even in homes with open-concept living. Picture a colorful oval that extends above your doorway and onto the walls around it or a gentle arch that incorporates the door. Both techniques will draw the eye upward, making your ceilings look higher. 

    Is your entryway particularly small or short? Dramatic colors can transform the space into an experience. Dark, moody colors can feel like an embrace when coming from outside. Is your entry a tricky shape? Consider adding a freehand (or stenciled) mural as one of your renovation ideas. Depending on your design inspiration, this DIY project could require very little paint, keeping the cost of your renovation low. 

    Introduce a Drop Zone

    Are you frustrated that you don’t have an easy place to drop your purse, keys, wallet, masks, mail, or other paraphernalia when you walk in the door? One of the most popular DIY entryway ideas in the last two years has been the introduction of a front door drop zone. Do you have an older console table, bench, or bar cart that isn’t getting as much use as it once did? A coat of paint, a new stain, or a good polish can make your older furniture like new again. The upcycled piece placed near the door can help keep your stuff organized and easily located when you add bins, baskets, or trays to collect small, easily misplaced items and mail. 

    If you are particularly handy, consider bringing some extra style to some unfinished wood cabinets and turning something uninspiring into the perfect entryway console table. The experts at Martha Stewart Living took two unfinished IKEA “Ivar” Cabinets and made them into a functional and fabulous console unit. You can make this idea your own by painting the units your favorite shade using low VOC or vegan paint, adding wood legs to raise the units to a more comfortable drop zone height, and installing hooks inside the doors to add even more storage. If you are short on space in your entryway, you could choose to stack the cabinets or even mount them to the wall. 

    Install Wall Hooks

    Wall hooks or pegs are a terrific option for improving organization in an open-concept or small space. They offer a place to hang your coats, umbrellas, masks, and keys that is easily accessible and neatly contained. Real Simple loves small-space organizers like the Parker Mirror and Hook Rack because “it has a mirror, comes with hooks for holding keys and scarves, and includes a shelf for that hand sanitizer you need to slather on when you get home.” You can also install design-forward hooks directly into the drywall or get crafty by screwing hooks into a rustic piece of wood that you can stain or paint to complement your décor. 

    Upcycle Seating

    According to Real Simple, “one element every functional entryway should have: a spot to sit down and take off your shoes (and coat, and scarf).” We agree! Is your entryway tiny? Look for a small bench or footstool at your local flea market that can be restored. If you are handy with a staple gun, you can grab some of your favorite leftover fabric and foam to create a cushion that will make your entry seating look beautifully customized without spending a lot of money.

    Of course, if you have a long entryway, your renovations could include a refurbished Deacon’s Bench or a narrow settee. Like Martha Stewart Living’s editor Lorna Aragon, your next great DIY idea might start with a vintage church pew you find at auction. Aragon thought “the curved arms reminded her of Swedish antiques” and painted it Scandi blue. But rather than stopping there, she added a “ticking-striped cushion made with two-inch-thick foam.” The piece’s final look included a slightly weathered-looking finish that also protected it from snowy hats and spring rain-dampened coats. 

    entryway with mirrorIncorporate Useful Storage

    Once you’ve added your upcycled seating and space-saving wall hooks, ponder the best places to incorporate helpful storage. For small entryways already boasting wall hooks, Real Simple loves the idea of placing “a sturdy … hamper, or cubby shelf to corral shoes.” 

    Is there space below your door-side bench? You can add organic cloth or sustainable bamboo baskets under the bench to house hats, gloves, shoes, and more. Even if your entryway is tiny, you could incorporate something like the Container Store’s eco-friendly Lotus Bamboo Storage Bench. It’s only 20 inches wide, but it opens at the front to reveal hidden shoe storage that will instantly organize and tidy the shoes you use each day. While the cushion it comes with is lovely, you can easily detach the top and recover it in your favorite leftover fabric (or latest find) for a DIY renovation project that will take only a couple of hours. 

    Welcome the Weather

    Do you live in a region that sees abundant rainfall? While you can always hang umbrellas from the pegs or hooks, you will need to place a tray or mat below that space to capture falling water droplets or mud. Martha Stewart Living is a big fan of the shiny copper boot tray from Williams Sonoma. The Magazine explains: “It’s long enough to hold the entire family’s footwear, and so great-looking, you’ll want to keep it out ….”  

    As for your umbrellas, a simple DIY idea also comes from Martha Stewart Living. They detail a DIY project that transforms “an inexpensive flower bucket into a nice-looking umbrella stand by painting the bottom of the bucket with glossy oil-based enamel paint.” It does take 24 hours to dry, but the basics can be accomplished with only a few supplies (including sample size paint) and at a minimum of expense. 

    Create a Welcoming Landing

    Whether you have a split-level home with a landing, an extended foyer, or a tiny apartment, a quality, high-traffic rug can bring warmth and welcome to your entryway. Southern Living recommends decorating the space with a sustainable, flat-woven rug or cowhide. Why? The Magazine reveals: “Both rugs are incredibly easy to maintain and are available in a variety of sizes and colors.” If you are searching for eco-friendly ideas, consider organic jute options. You can also search for reversible rugs, like the Hebe cotton area rug that Southern Living favors. Not only is this black/off-white geometric gem beautiful, washable, and made from recycled cotton, but it can be flipped for more use between cleanings. 

    entryway at homeDress the Space

    You will be amazed at how quickly the addition of a mirror or engaging artwork can dress your space. Much like the idea of an entire wall mural, a dramatic, soothing, or whimsical art piece will set the tone for guests as they enter your home. Whether you place a large, vertical photograph on a wall opposite the door or at the end of a long foyer, or a horizontal masterpiece that seems visually to flow towards the inner rooms of your home, you can make an impressive statement. You can even upgrade the frame with a little bit of paint, gold leaf, or polish. 

    Mirrors are also a terrific option near the door. Not only are they great for “last looks” as you leave the house, but they bounce light in ways that can make even tiny entryways feel inviting. Real Simple agrees. The Magazine reveals that “designer Robin Henry brought plenty of character into the home’s primary point of access with two large pieces of art—a gorgeous four-foot-wide mirror.”  

    Martha Stewart Living is also a fan of brightening your entryway by “[creating] a ‘window’ using basic bevel-edged mirrors” over a floating shelf. In fact, it’s one of their favorite DIY entryway ideas. Once the floating shelf is installed and painted to match your walls (visually hiding the piece), they recommend: “[Adding] a grid of mirrors above, leaving about an inch around each to mimic windowpanes. For a flush, bracket-free look, attach the mirrors to the wall with construction adhesive made for mirrors.” And voila! You’ve created a focal point that will wow in just hours.

  • Decorating for the Holidays Using Supplies You Already Have – Home, Hearth and Holidays with BHGRE®

    If you are searching for holiday decorating ideas, you may be surprised at how many fun and creative options are just waiting to be discovered. From dazzling centerpieces to eye-catching wall art, a festive home can be just a few DIY projects away from being a reality. And you don’t have to wait for a shipment to arrive or brave crowded shopping malls to create that warm, comforting feeling of the season that you remember from being a kid. Read on as we explore some of our favorite holiday decorating ideas that can use supplies you may already have in your cabinets, craft bins, refrigerators, or garages. 

    Creative Leaf Art Ideas

    One way to decorate your home for the holidays with supplies on hand is to gather the stunning autumn leaves that are already falling outside. If you have young children, they’ll love helping transform your home by creating leaf rubbings using crayons, leaves, and parchment or tracing paper. You can then cut out the leaf rubbings and string them together to hang across a fireplace mantel or on a child’s bedroom wall as festive Thanksgiving décor. Real Simple also loves taking deeply hued fallen leaves and then “affixing them to pretty pin boards as wall … art” for a gorgeous nod to the upcoming holidays in kids’ rooms or offices. 

    Eye-Catching Centerpieces

    Traditional Thanksgiving holiday décor often includes a cornucopia basket filled with goodies. If you like the idea of this but don’t want to run out to buy a basket that you’ll only use once a year, Southern Living has a solution: “Skip the basket and opt for a wooden dough bowl for this centerpiece.” You can fill the bowl with the vegetables, fruits, and flowers that thrive during the season (and might be sitting in mesh bags in your kitchen right now). You can even showcase any small pumpkins or other gourds that are still in good condition following Halloween. And if you do go the gourd route, consider spray painting them in silver, gold, or even white to make them extra festive.

    Martha Stewart Living loves taking a bread bowl (or wicker basket) and dressing it as a dazzling centerpiece. What is their favorite bowl or basket centerpiece suggestion? The Magazine adores the idea of crafting a “lush centerpiece [by inserting] a plastic liner, [that is filled] with a mix of neutral, silvery-leafed plants along with flowers in deep purples and soft magentas.” 

    Pretty Place Cards

    Are you hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year? Martha Stewart Living suggests you take the colorful leaf art in a new direction when decorating for the holidays. The Magazine explains that you can “turn leaf rubbings, made with thin colored paper and standard wax crayons, into gift tags or place cards by trimming around the edges of the paper leaf” and then “[writing] the names of your dinner guests or gift recipients in a contrasting color.”  

    Is your home’s craft bin full of pretty silver paper (or stickers), craft paper, and ribbon? The editors at Martha Stewart Living adore “[giving] simple table settings a touch of finery with craft-punched place cards backed with silver paper.” The pros at the Magazine go on to explain: “We used menorah, Star of David, and dreidel craft punches to make Hanukkah place cards….” For step-by-step details, read more here. 

    If you have a supply cabinet full of 5×7 and smaller picture frames, they could be the perfect placeholders for your fall and winter holiday meals. How? Southern Living explains that instead of a written placecard, you can “show off your family’s personality with individually framed” photos of each one. The frames can hold pictures of childhood visits with Santa, holiday card photos repurposed, or solo shots from any time of year that highlight your loved ones in light-hearted moments. 

    Inviting Mantels

    Are you wondering how to welcome your family and friends to your home for the holidays in a unique way? The answer may be a pear (or seven) away. Martha Stewart Living reveals: “Simply arrange seven pears on a mantel” and then write your “welcome” across the pears. From there, you can add a scented surprise by “[pressing] whole cloves into the flesh along the lines.” They are a gorgeous, autumnal addition for Thanksgiving celebrations! And if you want to use them to decorate for the winter holidays, a dip into your supplies for metallic spray paint or a frozen white glaze will transform them into wintry decorative delights. 

    Holiday Wall Art

    Do you already have holiday wrapping paper in your home? In only minutes, you can “wrap” hanging wall art, complete with a bow, to bring a festive air to living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. 

    Captivating Vases

    Do you know those tall, clear glass vases that you have hiding in your cupboards? Instead of an annoyance, those vases can become a treasured holiday decorating idea. For something subtle yet seasonal, take Midwest Living’s suggestion and “[nestle] a candle [or battery-powered votive] in popcorn kernels or other seasonal materials, such as candy corn or colored clear round stones.”  

    Do you have extra colored ball ornaments? Picture them filling a series of tall glass vases. Whether you choose to add blue, silver, and white ornaments for a wintry feel or add deep red and green tree ball ornaments for a Christmas-y vibe, you’ll love how quickly and easily the mood of your mantel, hall table, or dining room table is transformed. 

    Are you searching for unique decorating ideas for Hanukkah? Martha Stewart Living suggests creating a modern “glass vase” take on the menorah using extra flower bud vases. They explain that to make this simply beautiful menorah, you just need to “arrange eight bud vases in a row, with a taller one in the middle, and place tapers inside,” with “a bit of candle glue in the bottom of each vase” if added stability is required.  

    Winter Wreaths

    If your home supplies include washi tape, embroidery hoops (even large hoop earrings or thin metal bracelets), and clothespins, you are only a couple of steps away from creating fun and festive holiday wreaths. Parents loves these colorful mini-wreaths because “these graphic rings are terrific for kids and parents to do together.” 

    And the Christmas decorating project is done as quickly as you can apply the washi tape and clip the clothespins to the hoop. You can hang them up with string, spare ribbon, or nylon thread.

    Fall foliage wreaths are simple to make, and they will bring a smile to the faces of your friends and family as they arrive for Thanksgiving. You can decorate a ring made out of florist foam, glued cardboard rings, or wire. Once shaped, the fun begins. What are Southern Living’s favorite additions? The Magazine “[adds] in foliage and pinecones” and then “[fills] it out with oregano, preserved plume reed grass, and phalaris grass.” However, you can use mini gourds, wooden beads, straw, wheat stocks – whatever supplies you already have. 

    When the winter holidays come closer, you can swap out the elements for more seasonal foliage. Wreaths made from an assortment of acorns and other hard-shelled nuts can be sprayed with winter white or silver. If you have a pre-made wreath that can use some love, add gold-sprayed pinecones and an eye-catching ribbon. 

    Festive Yards

    When choosing holiday decorating ideas, don’t forget the yard! You may already go all out with lights and Christmas displays, but even small additions to your home can make it feel festive. Do you have large boulders as part of your landscaping? A little craft paint and a steady hand can turn them into showpieces filled with drawn snowmen, snowflakes, or turkeys. Mason jars can light a path to your door – you just need to add some white sand or Epsom salts to create a sense of snow at the bottom of them and some battery-powered votive candles. 

    Finally, a light display can be yours when you repurpose your yard’s mini lights. According to Martha Stewart Living, all you need to do to “[create] a striking outdoor lighting display [is wrap] wire wreath forms with white mini lights and [string] the “shooting stars” between several trees” for a dramatic vision that is sure to usher in the holiday spirit.

    © Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

  • Decorating with Lights for Halloween

    You are not alone if you are getting excited about decorating your home with lights and spirited displays for Halloween. From simple DIY projects to more elaborate creations, there are countless options for bringing a sense of magic, eeriness, and fun to your home on October 31st. If you are still searching for unique ideas, read on for our favorite tips for decorating with lights this Halloween.

    Decorating Eerie Paths with Lights

    If you are welcoming family, friends, and trick-or-treaters to your home for Halloween, you’ll want to highlight your walkway in some fun and eerie ways. Consider carving small pumpkins and illuminating them with battery-operated votive candles before placing them along your front walkway or on your porch steps. If you have easy access to tree branches or a porch ceiling, Martha Stewart Living loves the idea of hanging “giant gothic lanterns … vellum printed with [their] clip-art designs” for a spooky, eye-catching touch that sheds just the right amount of light on your walkway and front door. 

    Staging Ghoulish Graveyard Scenes

    Do you love setting up ghoulish Halloween yard displays when decorating with lights? Among other macabre touches, glowing tombstones are sure to get attention. Start by staging a plot of your front yard as a makeshift graveyard and set the scene with spine-chilling tombstones that beckon in the night. Martha Stewart Living offers a set of templates that will make your Halloween light display the talk of the neighborhood. How? The Magazine explains that “the ‘stones’ are gray luminarias (paper bags) stenciled with epitaphs and trimmed into shape. Lights are placed inside them so the glow appears to emanate from the underworld.”  

    Creating Silly and Scary Window Scenes

    If you are looking for something that leans toward zany rather than scary for Halloween, you’ll agree with the editors of Southern Living that Wiggly Monster window decals are perfect. They are ideal for homes that have young children or are welcoming them to the house for trick-or-treating. Southern Living raves: “They’re easy to apply to glass windows—just peel and stick—without causing any damage.” Once the decals are applied, you just need to point green, yellow, or purple light bulbs at the windows to get that supernatural glow.

    Want something scarier when decorating with green lights? Martha Stewart Living suggests using their “monstrous birds” template “drawn and cut from black plastic weed barrier” with a green backlight to create a perfectly ominous scene.  

    Jack-o’-Lantern Light Displays

    The jack-o’-lantern is part of time-honored tradition for a reason. Each creation is unique, and young kids (and not-so-young-kids) enjoy being part of the creative process. Plus, once the tea light or battery-operated votive is added, the carved display gives off a decidedly creepy and mysterious vibe. Real Simple adores the traditional carve-and-scoop method with a classic design. Of course, the jack-o’-lantern design transcends illuminated pumpkins on the porch or walkways. Real Simple also encourages using the iconic design on cupcake candles, chandelier shades, and lit bean bag tosses.

    Spooky Porches

    In addition to the spider webs, creepy music, and haunting character displays, Better Homes & Gardens recommends raising the spooky factor with a DIY black candle urn. The project is surprisingly simple, using black “foam pipe tubes and battery-operated tea light candles.” It’s a big hit not only for its design but also because battery-operated candles offer a safer display option than open flame when decorating with lights – a critical thing to keep in mind when welcoming guests to your door for Halloween. 

    Ghostly Centerpieces

    If you want something simple when decorating with lights that still makes a statement, the Blue Neon Ghost Light from FUNPENY is bound to be a conversation starter. You can keep it in your window, set it on a nightstand, or use it as a party-table centerpiece. It has a sleek design and a pronounced glow that continues long after Halloween has faded into memory. Its style and the fact that it can be charged by battery or USB port are among the many reasons Southern Living includes it among their favorite ways to decorate this Halloween.  

    Haunted Mirrors

    For a thoroughly creepy mirror image in your entertaining space, Martha Stewart Living’s “ghost hands” mirror is a must. At the center of the startling image is a print-and-adhere template of hands seemingly pressing against the mirror’s glass in an attempt to escape. Light it from below with a simple lantern, votive, or flashlight, and watch with glee as guests jump when the light flickers and the ghostly hands come into view. 

    Spirited Wall Décor

    The editors at Southern Living know that you might want your interior décor to be in the holiday spirit, but not necessarily filled with horror and gore. The Magazine suggests that when you begin decorating with lights for Halloween, consider adding Spiderweb Lights to indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces. Affordable and engaging, “[their favorite] cheeky spiderweb has three different light modes that the kids will love to change each night.”  

    For a more ghostly effect in your entertaining space, a fake window might just do the trick. Southern Living recommends trying the Lighted Ghostly Tattered Curtain Halloween Decoration from Wayfair.com. Why does it make their “go-to” list? The Magazine explains: “This fake window with tattered curtain has an unnerving ghost shadow, and comes complete with ghostly lights and haunted house sound effects—perfect for ramping up the scare factor.”

  • DIY Home Improvements and Repair Strategies

    Sometimes as a homeowner, you may realize you’re not going to get your money’s worth on a renovation before you have to sell. Still, if you just can’t live with that mid-20th century pink bathtub or those hideous countertops, a DIY renovation may be in order. Here are some DIY home improvements that won’t break the bank, won’t take forever, and will make you like the house you’re living in (for now) a whole lot more.

    Bathroom Improvements

    Retiling and replacing inset tubs is an expensive and time-consuming process. That said, if your bathroom tile colors make you cringe every time you go into the room, you have to do something about them. 

    Luckily, both tubs and ceramic tiles can be painted. You’ll still have to be prepared to have your bathroom out of commission for at least a weekend, and if you’re painting a shower area, you may have to do touch-ups in a few years, but the cost and skill required to paint is infinitely less than replacing.

    Just make sure to follow all the manufacturer’s directions for surface preparation, priming, drying time, and sealing. Also, be certain you seal your paint can properly so that you have leftover paint for touch-ups.

    Replacing a vanity and a sink can be another expensive project requiring more DIY skills than you might have. Unless your sink is chipped, consider living with it as is and upgrade your taps instead. 

    If you have a mock-oak vanity, painting it a rich, glossy espresso will make the vanity pop and say 2020 rather than 1990. Replacing hardware is almost effortless, and doing so will complete the update. If you enjoy doing weekend home DIY improvements, consider adding a backsplash or framing a flat mirror.

    If you have an integral basin and countertop, some time and patience, you can update the look of your bathroom by about 30 years for very little money. Try using new products to concretize both countertop and sink. Note that you’ll have to allow at least a week for drying time since you’ll need to apply several thin layers of concrete product and sealer.

    To conquer bathroom clutter, consider installing rollouts in your vanity. You can have one for beauty products and another for cleaning supplies.

    Kitchen Improvements

    If you can’t afford the time or money for a complete kitchen renovation right now, there are lots of things you can do to make the heart of your home both more functional and more attractive.

    You can use the same concrete products on your kitchen countertops that you did in your bathroom to get the modern industrial look that’s been in vogue for the last couple of years. If you have linoleum floors that haven’t worn well, paint them in vibrant stripes rather than ripping them up and replacing them.

    Painting your cupboards (especially if they’re particularly dated) and investing in new hardware will make a huge difference. Alternatively, you can replace just the cupboard fronts. 

    Adding kitchen rollouts to your bottom cupboards has two huge benefits: first, it will make items at the back accessible without having to unpack the entire cupboard. Second, it should let you get rarely used appliances off your countertop. Does the toaster you use for 15 minutes every morning really need to live on your countertop all day?

    If you have any wooden valances above the sink, get rid of them and consider reframing the window to update its look. 

    The money you save on cosmetic changes rather than structural renovations can be spent on upgrading your appliances to the most energy-efficient ones you can find. Then you can apply your energy savings to your future renovation fund.

    Bedroom Improvements

    If your home didn’t come with wire shelving systems in the closets, this is one of the cheapest, simplest, and best investments you can make.  These systems are available at home centers and are infinitely customizable. Unless you own a heritage home with tiny closets, the organizational possibilities they provide are endless.

    Take a look around your bedrooms and think about the things that could be stored in your closets rather than on display. That can include both low and tall dressers if you have a double closet and plan your shelving around it. Losing a dresser frees up a lot of floor space and might let you create a seating area in your bedroom. If you discover you don’t actually need a dresser after you’ve completed your bedroom closet renovation, you can always repurpose it as a portable kitchen island.

    Other DIY Home Improvements

    Even though kitchen and bathroom renovations have the biggest resale return on investment, dated living rooms can be depressing. If there’s already a contrasting color, designated feature wall in your living room, consider modernizing it by creating a pallet wall, wallpapering just that wall, or painting to match the room color and then creating a wall-encompassing stencil.

    If you’re lucky enough to own a heritage home with high ceilings, consider investing in a specular central light fixture and paint the ceiling a vibrant color while leaving the room’s walls neutral.

    Whatever DIY home improvements you choose to do, customizing and updating your home will help you love it — until it’s time to leave it.

  • Liven Up Your Labor Day

    Here are some fun and unique ways you can celebrate Labor Day and enjoy what is left of the summer sun. 

    Let Your Creativity Flow  

    Whether you’re celebrating with family, a small group of friends, or staying home, it’s always fun to decorate. Here are some ideas for decorations or crafts to let your festive flag fly this Labor Day. 

    • Make decorative vases using old bottles. Paint the outside of bottles or mason jars red and blue and glue white stars onto the outside. Use the mason jars as centerpieces and put flowers or utensils in them.
    • Pamper your pillows. If you have any plain white pillows, it’s time to give them a facelift. Cut a star shape out of cardboard, use it as a stencil and hold it against the pillow. Spray with red or blue fabric paint to create pillows that will leave you starry-eyed.
    • Since traditionally, you shouldn’t wear white after Labor Day take your old white t-shirts and have a tie-dye party. Click for tips on how to tie dye.

    Tasty Times Lie Ahead 

    Looking for some Labor Day treats? Here are some delicious red, white, and blueberry pies as well as some scrumptious snack and appetizer options.  

    • Look no further for a berry delicious and refreshing blueberry ice cream pie.
    • If you’re in the baking mood try making a three-layered funfetti cake with a Labor Day twist. Add red food coloring into one layer, blue into another, and leave the third layer as is. Once the layers have cooled stack them together using your favorite icing in between and when you cut into the cake you will have a red, white, and blue surprise. If you want to go the extra mile add red, white, and blue sprinkles on top! 
    • Holy guacamole, these avocado tropical guacamole bites are delicious.  
    • If you’re planning a virtual video party, try making these yummy and simple appetizers. 
    • Feeling festive? Try this red, white, and blue berry tart with lemon cookie crust. 

    All Sorts of Activities  

    • Let the games begin! Here are 10 crazy fun yard games your family will love. 
    • Before the cool fall air arrives take advantage of warm weather with these fun outdoor games. 
    • If it’s raining or you are practicing social distancing, don’t worry we have you covered. Check out the endless fun by BHGRE Summer at Home. You can virtually travel the world, take a cooking class, or watch live cams from zoos and aquariums all over the country.  
    • Spend Labor Day doing zero labor and plan an at-home relaxation day. Sleep in, order breakfast, and have a mimosa. Then pamper yourself with a facemask, bath, and curl up on the couch with a good book. 

  • Ask A Pro Q&A – How to Properly Mount a Deck

    Looking for the best way to mount your deck? Carson Arthur answers this question about the best way to tackle this DIY.

    Question: Can I bolt two sides of a deck to the house and have the other two sides just sitting on concrete blocks?

    In theory, yes you can. We often mount decks to the house using proper lag bolts and screws. As for the other corners in the yard, you will want to use something more solid than concrete blocks as the weight of the deck will cause them to sink into the soil over time causing your deck to start to lean. Take a look at some proper footings available at any box or construction stores. They work the same way as concrete blocks, but they disperse the weight better so you avoid that sinking feeling.

    -Carson Arthur.

  • DIY with What You Have

    Refreshing your home doesn’t have to mean getting bogged down in major projects. These easy DIY ideas offer serious design inspiration without the big commitment.

    Paint a pattern.

    A fresh coat of colorful paint will revive a piece of furniture, but you can take it a step further by adding a pattern, too. Use paint pens to draw designs on drawer fronts, tabletops and more.

     

     

     

     

    © Meredith Operations Corporation. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Embellish with watercolor.

    To give a plain lampshade an artistic makeover, moisten a large paintbrush with water and sweep a wavelike pattern around the bottom of the shade. Then, tap wet paint into the pattern with a soft, round watercolor brush. (Use watercolor paint for paper lampshades and fabric paint for fabric shades.) The paint will bleed to the edges of the moistened area. After the paint dries, dot the wave with more paint in alternating colors. For dots that blend, paint them with edges touching.

     

     

     

  • Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal with Breathtaking Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

    Ready to give your front yard a makeover, yet don’t know where to start? It’s easy to get a little intimidated when it comes to yard design. Many of us are convinced that landscaping is something only professionals can do because it will be too time consuming to maintain. However, anyone can have a swoon worthy front yard without a ton of effort.

    Whether you’re looking to sell your house or simply want to try something different, there are countless ways to enhance your curb appeal. Read on for some front yard landscaping ideas and planning suggestions.

    Charming pots and beautiful boxes

    Flower pots provide an instant front yard upgrade that can be updated easily and often. Southern Living recommends choosing pots that complement the colors of your home and keeping it simple with regard to the planters.

    Similarly, carefully tended window boxes can elevate your front yard design from basic to beautiful, especially when they include varied sizes and colors.

     

    Stylish stones

    Does the thought of plant-heavy landscaping make you nervous? There are other ways to make your front yard stand out that don’t involve plants or flowers. Pros call the use of pebbles and stones hardscaping, which can vary your yard with texture and color.

    Whether you’re using them as an accent or making them more of a focus, stones add a sophisticated textural element to your yard, with minimal maintenance.

  • How to Create a Perfect Reading Nook in 5 Easy Steps

    If you are a book lover, you know that there are very few pleasures in life that compare to curling up with a book and a glass of wine or hot chocolate (whatever your preference is) and spending some quality time with your true love – a good book. There are two types of book lovers: those who have switched to reading books on a Kindle and the “traditionalists” – these people love the smell of books, love the feeling of turning actual pages, can’t walk past a bookstore without walking in and spend countless hours online searching and ordering books by favorite authors. If you belong to the second category, you can probably skip a couple of steps outlined below. In either case, read up! Our today’s priority is to create the perfect space for you and your books.

    Step 1: Allocate the space
    There is nothing better than reading a book by the window on a rainy day or a sunny lazy Sunday morning. Therefore, we recommend selecting a spot closer to the window. Plus, it gives you the advantage of natural light. If you have space to take over the entire area, even better. If not, a corner will do.

    Step 2: Create a home for your books
    A book nook will not feel right if you are not surrounded by books when you’re in it! Luckily, there are plenty of ways to go. Here are a few fun options if you can afford to or prefer to buy bookshelves or can build a more elaborate set of shelves yourself:

    However, if you can’t invest (or don’t want to) in a major transformation or want to create something yourself but don’t happen to be too handy, don’t worry because there are numerous options for incredibly easy DIY bookshelves. Here are a few tutorials:

    Here’s one made entirely out of IKEA boxes and binder clips (instructions here)

  • 10 Easy Low-Cost Upgrades for Your Home

    You don’t need to remodel your entire house to make it look fresh. A few upgrades here and there, completed on your own schedule and budget, can do wonders for your space. Check out some of the easiest and cost-efficient upgrades.

    Whether you don’t have the budget or the time to go through a complete home renovation process, there are still plenty of smaller things you can that are budget-friendly and are not as time-consuming. Some of them will further increase the value of your home. All of them give a fresh new look to your space.

    Repaint the walls

    Repainting is one of the easiest ways to completely reinvent your space. It is an opportunity to shine a new light on old furniture and items of decor. You can re-program the mood of a room by understanding the psychology of colors and picking accordingly. Even if you decide to stick to the same color, a fresh coat of paint will make your home look more polished. Before getting started, check out the 6 things you should know before repainting.

    Upgrade kitchen cabinets

    Start by repainting your old kitchen cabinets. A fresh coat of paint has the potential of making your kitchen unrecognizable! The next step is to replace old handles with something more elegant and trendy. Et voilà! A small kitchen upgrade like this one can also significantly improve the value of your home by making it look more expensive.

    Add crown molding

    Crown moldings visually unify a room, add more elegance and a smoother transition between dimensions. From classic to colonial, you have a range of choices in terms of style and budget. You also don’t need “the guy” to install crown moldings. Check out this guide and you can do it yourself.

    Swap out the faucets

    Replace the old faucets in your kitchen and bathroom with new ones. This is something that will uplift the style of the space surrounding the sinks. An easy home upgrade like this one may seem insignificant, but you will be surprised by how much small things can transform the overall feel of a room.

    Replace the backsplash

    Your options of tile materials are diverse and can accommodate any budget. Ceramic is the cheapest. Other options include glass, stainless steel and stone. Select something that’s easy to clean and adds personality to your kitchen.