Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 196)

If buzzing, biting pests are killing your patio vibes, give them the boot with one of these top mosquito repellents.

After a couple of weeks and three cuts, I’m sold on DeWalt’s cordless, brushless, battery-powered lawn mower.

Clear the air in your kitchen with one of these high-quality range hoods. 

Painting your house’s exterior takes hours of hard work—even just to pick out the colors you love. And with exterior house paint costing $50 per gallon or more, you don’t want to make any mistakes. Start the process of choosing exterior house paint colors by looking at what’s already there. Take the color of your roof and your windows into account. You likely won’t change these when you paint. If you have brick or stonework, either in the architecture of your house or in pathways, consider those tones as well. Let these existing color palettes influence the beginning of your selection process. The paint scheme of your house’s exterior will involve three main colors: the field, the trim, and the accent. The field color is for the major areas like the walls and roof. The trim color covers the fascia boards, window trim, and rakes. The accent color is for doors, shutters, and other architectural features. Choose your field color first, and make sure it’s a paint color you will love for years. In general, trim paint should be a lighter shade than the field color, and your gutters, downspouts, and other service-type elements should be painted the same for a cohesive look. The accent color is where you can make a splash and show your personality. A bright pop of color on your front door can distinguish your house from all the others in the neighborhood. Choosing an exterior paint color can be challenging, but the results are well worth it. For help narrowing down your options, check out our list of fail-proof house colors that never go out of style.

With a standby generator for backup power, you’ll ensure that your home can keep the lights on when the rest of the neighborhood is left in the dark.

Upgrading light fixtures can help update the look and feel of a room or an entire home. Before you buy, take time to plan and create your ideal lighting aesthetic.

A bargain isn't a bargain if it means risking our health or safety. Give these dollar-store buys a hard pass the next time you're out shopping.

Reduce toxic emissions, stale odors, and stuffy air in your kitchen by implementing these techniques.

Skip the trip to the store. These online retailers can help you upgrade your home’s carpeting.

Find the right outdoor furniture to meet your style and budget at these popular retailers.

If you are eager to hop right to growing hops, take note of the suggestions and warnings below.

Protect your family’s health by replacing the worn-out water filter in the refrigerator with one that removes heavy metals, harmful chemicals, and improves the taste of your drinking water.

Installing adequate drainage on your property can protect your home from costly damage. These effective methods for diverting water away from your foundation will also clear up a soggy yard!

Prevent freezer burn, make food last longer, and reduce waste by investing in the best vacuum sealer.

Don’t be a slave to your container garden—an automatic plant waterer will supply water as needed to keep your plants growing vigorously.

Conserve water and reduce evaporation using a soaker hose instead of a sprinkler. We tested the top soaker hoses on the market to see which ones were the best—find out the pros and cons of the most popular models.

Stay hydrated and reduce plastic waste with a convenient countertop water filter.

Adding a sustainability bent to your kitchen remodel is a smart way to boost the value of your home.

With a water timer, it’s possible to keep up with watering tasks even when you’re not home. Find out what happened when I tested Melnor’s AquaTimer.

The definition of “set it and forget it,” the Dolphin Premier Robotic Pool Cleaner targets debris automatically so you don’t even have to think about it.