Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 338)

Storing clothes for the off-season? Protect your wardrobe from moths using these simple, effective tips.

Defrost older freezers from time to time, not only to keep the appliance working efficiently, but also to prevent ice from hogging the storage space within. It's a simple task—you'll just need a few towels, a little time, and some heat.

Sturdily mounted shelves can let us display a few of our favorite things or simply help us keep our junk off the floor. Whatever their intended use, shelves are a practical addition to any room, and installing them is a simple do-it-yourself project. Just see for yourself!

With some common tools, scrap supplies, and a little know-how, you can transform just about anything into a decorative accent for your holiday tree. Here's proof!

Say so long to this stinky beast with these smart moves.

Whether you are looking to create a walkway, patio or pool surround, today's pavers offer unlimited design options for any hardscape plan.

Are you struggling to find a space-saving interior or exterior door for your home? Whether you're building a tiny house or just trying to renovate a small or tricky room, don’t limit yourself to traditional doors and the standard sizes offered by your local building supply store. Think outside the box—or in this case, the door frame. Look at the area surrounding the door opening. Is there room for pocket doors that could slide into the wall? What about overhead? If there's space there, a horizontal retractable door could work. Or, if sound and insulation aren’t issues, accordion doors that fold back toward the frame may be the answer. Pivot doors that rotate around a central point are yet another option. Take a look at our list for more ideas!

It’s not surprising that the couch is the focal point of most living rooms. It’s often one of the largest pieces of furniture, and family and friends alike make a beeline to its ample seating. Over the years, however, a sofa can become stained, outdated, or saggy, tempting us to bite the bullet and spring for a new one. But you can upgrade your sofa without buying new. So, before you buy, check out these clever ways to revitalize an old sofa.

Natural fences constructed of shrubbery, trees, or flowering bushes are attractive and environmentally friendly havens for songbirds, butterflies, and other desirable fauna. These living fences also provide an eye-catching way to define your property’s boundaries, and they serve as effective and visually pleasing privacy screens—as the adage says, “good fences make good neighbors.” Here are 11 ideas for integrating a natural fence into your own property.

The road to a beautiful lawn doesn’t have to be paved with a schedule of chemical treatments. There are several homegrown tips and techniques you can use to help your grass to grow lush and green this summer.

No matter where you live, be it city, suburb, or country, noise is just about everywhere. Even the quietest of neighborhoods regularly experience some level of noise disturbance. So, what’s the best way to tackle the issue? Follow this three-part approach: Reduce noise transmission from the outside, reduce the noise that your household generates, and use sound-absorbing materials to lessen the effects of noise that you do generate. Try these easy soundproofing strategies to maximize peace and quiet in your home.

Working from home saves on commute time and offers some nifty fringe benefits, such as being able to work in your sweats if you choose to do so. However, working at home can come with challenges, such as being bombarded by unwanted sounds. Distractions, such as the sound of kids playing in the room outside your office, or motorists speeding by on the street beyond your window can keep you from getting your work done. If you need a little peace and quiet while you work from home, check out the following 10 tips for soundproofing your home office.

Aah—that’s your sigh of contentment when you retreat from the hot summer sun and enter the sweet relief of your air-conditioned home. But if you want your AC to cool the air reliably and efficiently, it needs regular care and maintenance—and not just when Mother Nature turns up the heat. So, as the heat soars this summer, take a moment to give thanks to Willis Carrier, who invented modern air conditioning back in 1902, and then be sure to follow these 12 tips that will help keep all that cool comfort coming.

Remove stuck-on grime and protect your dishwasher with these top-rated dish detergents.

Call them necessary evils: the utility boxes, septic tanks, and random receptacles that houses require for functional reasons. That doesn’t mean we like looking at them, though. To downplay the visual impact of those homely household helpers, check out the following brilliant disguises.

Follow these rules for the proper disposal of paint thinner to keep your family and the planet safe from harm.

Not everyone is lucky enough to have high ceilings in their home. If your rooms are vertically challenged, don’t worry - there are ways to make them feel higher. The key is to use space to your advantage to create the illusion of higher ceilings. Here are nine ways to add visual height to your space.

Whether you're trying to sell a home or just make one look uniquely yours, an attractive exterior can seriously boost curb appeal. While the overall color of a house may need to be neutral to fit in with the neighborhood, the front door is a focal point that’s prime for self-expression. Here are 10 great front door paint colors, from classic to courageous, sure to give a house more street cred.

The centerpiece of any bathroom is the vanity. It not only holds the sink, but it also provides valuable storage. Its finish and style often help set the palette for the entire room. When you're choosing this all-important component of your bathroom scheme, you don’t have to settle for what you can find in the stores. There are unique DIY bathroom vanity projects that can replicate the many different vanity styles common in today's bathrooms, from large wall-to-wall units to small statement pieces. DIY bathroom vanity possibilities range from simple upgrades using paint or fun drawer pulls to inventively upcycled dressers or vintage pieces. Need some ideas? Here are a few fine examples of DIY vanities to get your creative juices flowing.