Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 296)

Unsightly ceiling cracks detract from any room's look, but, fortunately, repairing them is often a DIY project.

In any painting project, investing in the right paint and tools will get you the most professional results, and painting window trim is no exception. The payoff will be well worth the extra care and (usually) slight expense. After all, clean, crisp window trim can really make or break the look of a room—or of your home's whole exterior.

Keep these creepy-crawlies from wreaking havoc with plants, indoors and out, using this all-natural battle plan.

Having trouble guessing when wood glue is completely dry and things are safe to use? Here’s what you need to know.

You can get a great deal on a high-quality mattress by timing your purchase strategically.  

Watch out, modern: 20th-century style is back, and it's headed straight for your outdoor space.

Vehicles are expressions of their owners' interests and priorities. Outfit your auto with the best car accessories for convenience, style, and fun.

Improve the visibility and nocturnal appeal of your home with lighting that doesn't require complicated wiring.

Need to move a shed to a new location? Following this guide will make you look like a shed-moving pro. 

Like the one that turned into a fairy-tale coach, homegrown pumpkins can carry both children and adults on new adventures—but in cultivating, cooking, and carving rather than courtship!

When it comes to getting all of your tools to the job with one storage option, the Husky tool bag is the upgrade to have.

Looking for a new bag to get your tools from the shop to the job? Check out this modern take on a classic tote courtesy of the Klein tool bag.

Few things are more relaxing than curling up with a nice cup of steaming hot tea. In fact, next to water, tea is the world’s most popular beverage. But all those mugs of enjoyment generate one unfortunate side effect: an awful lot of waste in the form of used tea bags. Instead of pitching the leftovers, ease your eco-guilt with one of these surprising and efficient ways to recycle used tea bags around the house.

Garages are much more than just a designated parking place for your car. Homeowners these days take advantage of the space as a utility room and workshop as well as a storage solution for seasonal items, tools, lawn equipment, and gardening gear. In order to fill these many roles, a garage needs to be clean, well-organized, and up to date. Here are the 10 best things you can do for your garage to make that vital space as functional as possible.

Nowadays, more than 90 percent of homes and virtually all businesses in America use air conditioning to beat the summertime heat. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, air conditioners use about 6 percent of all the electricity produced in the country. Given the overwhelming prevalence of AC, most people think they know how to maintain their system properly, whether it’s central air, a window unit, or ductless mini-splits. But, surprisingly, many homeowners fall victim to common mistakes that waste energy, shorten the working lifespan of their air conditioner, and cost money. Here are 11 common air-conditioning mistakes, and how to properly address each one.

How many times have you seen purple stripes on a fence or tree but didn’t know what they meant? A purple fence has a specific meaning in many U.S. states, so stay informed!

You have a dishwasher full of dirty dishes and not a dishwasher pod in sight. Read on to learn the best solution for this common problem.

Here’s how to know whether a problem in the home is cosmetic, or if it signals something significant has gone wrong.

Don’t take the sledge or jackhammer to your concrete patio just yet. Learn about five common ways a patio fails, and what you can do about it.

If you’re looking to solve your storage shortage with a backyard shed but lack the know-how, check out this overview on how to build a shed.