Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 179)

7 Houseplants with Secret Health Benefits
Lawn & Garden

7 Houseplants with Secret Health Benefits

Nature is restorative: A walk in the woods or on the beach can do wonders for your mental and physical well-being. Even the tiniest dose of greenery—in the form of a houseplant, for example—can bestow special benefits on the beholder. Read on to learn which houseplants contain hidden healing power.

The Best Gardening and Plant Identification Apps for Your Smartphone
Reviews

The Best Gardening and Plant Identification Apps for Your Smartphone

Whether you simply want to identify the flowers growing in your backyard or you have big plans to become a pro mushroom forager, downloading a few key apps will put a bounty of information at your fingertips.

13 Top Tips to Make Any Paint Job Go Faster
DIY

13 Top Tips to Make Any Paint Job Go Faster

Painting your walls will go so much easier with these pro tips and handy product helpers.

10 Bathroom Improvements That Only Took Paint
DIY

10 Bathroom Improvements That Only Took Paint

Behold the power of paint, which can make a huge impact on every room in the house—including the bathroom. Here are some inspirational bathroom improvements that required nothing more than paint and a little creativity.

How to Make Your Christmas Tree Last All Season
Design

How to Make Your Christmas Tree Last All Season

You found the perfect Christmas tree, now you just need to make sure it survives until December 25. Luckily, with these helpful tips keeping your fir fresh isn't too hard to manage.

9 Ways to Use Cork Around the House
DIY

9 Ways to Use Cork Around the House

When you think of cork, your first thought might be of a bulletin board pinned with reminders, but cork's handiness knows no bounds. This renewable resource is actually one of the most versatile materials you can use around the house! Cork—which is bark from cork oak trees—is naturally so lightweight, pliable, resilient, and beautifully textured, it's no wonder it's being used in all sorts of domestic applications. From an entire accent wall to a simple vase, these 9 great ideas should provide you with ample inspiration for bringing cork into your home.

Potted plants in containers
Lawn & Garden

20 Shade-Loving Plants for Containers

Though it may feel like every plant at the garden center has a “requires full sun” tag, there are plenty of gorgeous greens and blooms that thrive in shade. Here’s what to grow in patio planters and indoor pots that don’t get full sun.

Large, rectangular above-ground pool surrounded by beautiful natural home landscaping
Lawn & Garden

14 Above-Ground Pool Landscaping Ideas You’ll Want to Copy

Your pool landscape design is sure to make a splash with these ideas.

The Best Pool Accessories Options
Reviews

The Best Pool Accessories

Enjoy your best summer yet with these fun and practical accessories.

tall picket fence surrounded by blooming shrubs
Exterior

13 Charming Ways to Incorporate Picket Fencing on Your Property

Add character to your home and show off your style with these unique picket fence ideas.

Hello, Homeowners: The 8 Most Useful Apps for Your Phone
Real Estate

Hello, Homeowners: The 8 Most Useful Apps for Your Phone

Browse the app store and you'll find dozens of useful apps for homeowners—but most of us don't have the phone storage for them all. So which ones are worth the download? Keep reading to learn our eight favorite phone apps for the home.

7 Things Every Great Garage Needs
Exterior

7 Things Every Great Garage Needs

Garages: indispensable for keeping your car out of the elements, doing messy projects without cleaning up after them, and for storing items out of sight and mind. But if you’re dissatisfied with the dark, oil-stained outbuilding on your property, read on for simple additions that can help you get the most out of this utilitarian outpost.

11 Clever Other Uses for Plastic Wrap
DIY

11 Clever Other Uses for Plastic Wrap

Certain household items are so commonplace that we scarcely notice them anymore. But it may be time to take another look at some everyday household staples—like plastic wrap. That kitchen mainstay can be pressed into service in many different ways, doing double-duty in everything from paint preservation to wine rescue. Here are just a few innovative uses.

13 Hallway Lighting Ideas That Work Even in Windowless Spaces
Interior

13 Hallway Lighting Ideas That Work Even in Windowless Spaces

Whether you want glamour for a large hallway or function for a narrow one, there’s something for all different styles and needs in this roundup.

8 Botanical-Themed Reddit Threads All Plant Parents Should Know About
Lawn & Garden

8 Botanical-Themed Reddit Threads All Plant Parents Should Know About

These online communities dedicated to plants will have any garden enthusiast digging for more.

The Most Expensive Houseplants People Actually Buy
Lawn & Garden

The Most Expensive Houseplants People Actually Buy

Are collectors who pay thousands of dollars for a single houseplant innovative investors or just potty in more ways than one?

Ginger Maine Coon cat and lint roller with his fur lying on couch indoors.
Interior

How to Remove Pet Hair From Clothes, Couches, Carpets and More

Is Fido and Fluffy's fur all over your home? Get the tips and tools you need to conquer pet hair on your linens, floors, window treatments—everywhere!

Man bailing water out of a flooded area
Interior

My Basement Flooded…What I Wish We’d Have Known to Better Prepare, and What We Learned

A flash flood is something no one expects, but when torrential rains dumped nearly a foot of water in our large window well within a 30-minute period, we had to act fast to prevent major damage in our basement.

Man sleeping near plant
Lawn & Garden

The 18 Best Plants for Your Bedroom

The mere presence of certain plants in your sleeping area can actually help you sleep better by purifying the air around you. These fronds and flowers are some of the best bets for lulling you off to dreamland.

The DynaTrap insect trap hanging from a shepherd's hook off the side of a house
Reviews

Bug Battle? My Experience Testing the DynaTrap Insect Trap

I tried out the DynaTrap ¾-acre insect trap in my own yard. Find out what I liked and didn’t like about it, plus some important field-tested insect insights.