Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 112)

Woman using a roller to paint a piece of white MDF a shade of green.
Furniture & Design

How to Paint IKEA Furniture

If your IKEA furniture has seen better days or no longer matches your home's decor, a new coat of paint may be all it needs to be a la mode again.

Grand foyer with curved staircase, brown wooden door, and chandelier.
Architecture

This Once-Popular Home Feature Is Falling Out of Favor

Forget the dramatic entrances—more homeowners prefer energy efficiency and extra space.

Healthy green grass next to yellow balding grass
Lawn & Garden

Top-Dressing the Lawn: Why It’s Important and How to Do It

Want a golf course-green lawn? Take a tip from Scotland’s course owners and top-dress your yard to achieve healthy, lush, green grass.

how to install a storm door
Entryways

How to Install a Storm Door

Enhance your entryway, boost home energy savings, and strengthen security with an attractive and stylish new storm door.

Birds flying above a river at sunset with the moon in the sky.
Lawn & Garden

Is Your Yard a Threat to Migrating Birds?

Big lights are big problems for birds on the move. Here's how to address your landscape lighting—plus 7 more small changes around the yard that will help migration.

Milwaukee M18 Hammer Drill on workbench with white peg board
Power Tools

This Hammer Drill Outperformed DeWalt, Makita, and More in Our Tests

This hammer drill bests the competition in nearly every measurable aspect, making it worth the high price tag.

Four Chimneys Inn, Manchester, Vermont
Fireplaces & Chimneys

10 Types of Fireplaces Every Homeowner Should Know

From classic wood-burning hearths to completely flameless electric fireplaces, there’s an option sure to be right for virtually any home.

A woman using a drill to drill a piece of wood into a brick wall.
Skills & Techniques

How to Drill Into Brick

Are you planning to hang a garden hose reel or artwork on a brick wall in your home, and don't know where to start? Choose the right tool, drill bit, and technique, and you can bore holes in brick walls—indoors and out—in mere minutes.

A brown stink bug on the side of a house
Reviews

Our Pest Expert Says to Use This Product to Keep Stink Bugs Away This Winter

Dreading stink bug season? Effective repellents help keep these seasonal home invaders away.

Split image showing a magnified drain fly on the left and a magnified fruit fly on the right.
Pests

Drain Flies vs. Fruit Flies: Tips for Identification and Prevention

At first glance these two types of flies look similar. Learning to identify the species and limiting their food sources will help you control your fly issue.

A large patch of hydrangeas, in hues that vary from blue to purple to pink.
Gardening

How to Change the Color of Your Hydrangeas

Changing the color of the flowers is as easy as testing your soil and adding these amendments.

A butternut squash growing on a vine in a lush garden.
Gardening

When to Harvest Butternut Squash for the Best Flavor

If you grew a patch of butternut squash this year, you “butter” learn the nuts and bolts of when to pick it!

Woman uses garden hose to rinse debris from air conditioner compressor.
Cooling

How to Clean Air Conditioner Coils

Want to save money and lengthen your AC unit’s life? Follow this easy-to-follow maintenance regimen for cleaning the inside of your air conditioner.

Freshly waxed hardwood flooring shines in the light of large windows in an empty living room.
Flooring

All You Need to Know About Waxing Hardwood Floors

Waxing can bring long-lasting luster to hardwood floors. Learn which type of wax is right for your wood floors, and how to apply it properly.

Staining a wooden shelf on an outdoor work station.
Furniture & Design

How to Stain Wood Furniture

Staining wood furniture brings out the natural beauty of wood grain. Follow these step-by-step instructions to achieve a beautiful, lasting finish.

Rusted screws on address numbers in a brick wall.
Skills & Techniques

How to Remove Rusted Screws

When repairing older metal furniture and appliances, it's common to encounter rusted screws. Help these fasteners yield by following one of these tried-and-true processes.

Best Potting Soil
Reviews

We Researched The Best Potting Soil for Indoor Plants, See Our Favorite

The right type of indoor potting mix can make all the difference in the health of your houseplants.

Person wearing winter clothing pushing a snow blower through a snowy driveway.
Tools

How to Maintain a Snow Blower: Top Tips for Peak Performance

How you maintain a snow blower directly correlates with how prepared you are for this season's snowfall. Repairing and replacing spark plugs, shear pins, and more will keep your machine running smoothly.

The Best Applicator for Deck Stain Options
Tools & Materials

Here Are The Best Deck Stain Applicators According to Our Tests

From brush to sprayer, and everything in between, we put them all through the paces to find the right products for your deck-staining project.

The Best Water Cooler
Appliances & Cookware

We Tested 2025’s Best Water Coolers, See Our Favorite Picks

For cool, refreshing water on demand—or hot water for instant tea and coffee—invest in a plumbed-in or freestanding water cooler.