Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 194)

A group of inch plants with a Plant Care 101 graphic overlay.
Gardening

Inch Plant Care 101: How to Grow Spiderwort Indoors

The striking variegated foliage on this indoor plant makes it stand out. Fortunately, for gardeners of almost all skill levels, inch plant care is relatively easy with these striped survivors.

A close view of a flower bed with mulch where a woman gardener kneels nearby where she has just put down her trowel.
Gardening

This Is the Best Mulch for Flower Beds

Whether your goal is to enhance the soil, prevent weeds, or conserve water, you can achieve all three with the right kind of mulch.

Woman placing white ceramic on table.
Furniture & Design

How to Decorate a Living Room: 22 Ideas for a Stunning Space

Given how much time you spend in your living room, you should absolutely love it. New York designers and renovators Jordan Slocum and Barry Bordelon explain how to personalize your space, and make it more comfortable and inviting.

Woman eating in small kitchen.
Kitchen Design

15 Kitchenette Ideas to Suit Every Style and Budget

Whether you're fitting a kitchenette into a tiny studio apartment or an open-concept living room, it should suit the larger space—and your own tastes.

Furnace Control Board Replacement Cost
Heating

How Much Does Furnace Control Board Replacement Cost?

A control board is a furnace’s central command center. Should a board fail, the average furnace control board replacement cost is $500 for parts and labor, though a typical range is $50 to $900.

Visual 1 - HomeAdvisor - Chimney Cap Cost - Cost Range + Average - October 2023
Interior

How Much Does a Chimney Cap Cost to Install?

Chimney caps protect a home’s chimney and keep indoor temperatures stable. A chimney cap costs between $75 and $1,000 to install, with an average cost of $300.

A person using the best vacuum for laminate floors to clean the transition between a laminate floor and an area rug.
Cleaning Supplies

The Best Vacuum for Cleaning Laminate Floors Throughout Your Home

Laminate floors are economical, durable, and attractive. With the right vacuum for this particular surface, you can preserve your floor’s appearance and maintain a clean, healthy home.

Mushrooms-are-glowing-in-a-bed-of-rocks-in-front-of-greenery-in-the-dark.
Gardening

Sci-Fi in the Garden: How to Transform Your Garden to Reflect the “Hortifuturism” Trend

Turn heads and be an out-of-this-world neighbor by creating a garden with these captivating sci-fi elements.

Beautifully restored historic home from outside
Buying

Love That Local Landmark? 5 Reasons to Buy an Old House

Historic and vintage homes have a lot to offer potential buyers who know what to look for in their investment.

A skunk standing on a large, flat rock with plants in the background.
Reviews

The 7 Best Skunk Repellents, Vetted

Use these top repellents to make sure skunks don’t have an opportunity to stink up your home.

Closeup of a young woman dropping an effervescent antacid in a glass of water.
Repurposing

19 Surprising Alka-Seltzer Uses for the Home and Garden

This medicine cabinet staple is a treatment for far more than relieving digestive issues. Put Alka-Seltzer tablets to work cleaning stained coffee cups, dishwashers—even laundry stains!

A row of houses decorated with bright colored christmas lights.
Holidays & Celebrations

12 Pro Tips for Hanging Holiday Lights Outdoors

How many holiday lights do you need in order to illuminate your home’s exterior, and how can you hang them safely? Here’s how to put together a light display that’s the envy of the neighborhood.

Visual 1 - HomeAdvisor - Hardwood Flooring Cost - Cost Range + Average - July 2023
Building & Installing

How Much Does Hardwood Flooring Cost?

When shopping for hardwood flooring, knowing the different options and their effect on price can keep homeowners within their budget. Hardwood flooring cost typically runs from $2,481 to $7,026, with $4,721 as the national average.

A person holding a Husqvarna chainsaw while standing in a yard in front of a house.
Reviews

Is Husqvarna a Good Brand?

I tested 9 Husqvarna lawn and garden machines to maintain my grass, leaves, trees, and more. Here’s my take on this popular brand.

Cost of Pavers vs Concrete
Exterior

Cost of Pavers vs. Concrete: Which Material Best Fits Your Budget?

The cost of pavers vs. concrete can be a deciding factor in the choice of material for a driveway or patio. This guide will outline all the differences to help with this decision.

Best Things to Buy in November
Reviews

The 6 Best Things to Buy in November

Take advantage of sales on TVs, major appliances, outdoor gear, and more.

Beadboard wall in a beautiful home office
Skills & Techniques

How to Install Beadboard

Once relegated to the mudroom, beadboard is now featured in homes’ main living areas. Dress up your traditional or farmhouse-style space by DIY-ing your own beadboard walls.

White door opening into clean bathroom.
Bathrooms

How to Get Your Bathroom Guest-Ready in 20 Minutes or Less

Friends are on their way over for an impromptu get-together, but your bathroom is in serious need of a deep cleaning. Here’s a plan for getting it in shape before your guests arrive.

what flood zones require flood insurance
Home Insurance

Solved! Which Flood Zones Require Flood Insurance?

Depending on their property’s flood zone, homeowners may be required by their mortgage lender to purchase flood coverage.

Photo of an Old house with a word mark that says Bob Vila Old House appreciation
Design

Living Modern in an Old House

Experience the magic of old houses and discover solutions for bringing them up to today's contemporary living standards.