Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 357)

17 Free Resources More Homeowners Should Take Advantage Of
Repurposing

17 Free Resources More Homeowners Should Take Advantage Of

Being a homeowner often demands more money and energy than you can spare. But a trove of local and online resources are standing by to give savvy homeowners access to free products and services that can make home—and life—maintenance easier and cheaper. Click through for the lowdown on 19 freebies that no homeowner can afford to ignore.

16 Simple Tricks to Stay Seriously Warm This Winter
Easy DIY Projects

16 Simple Tricks to Stay Seriously Warm This Winter

Everything seems more difficult when Old Man Winter comes calling. Even everyday activities become major hassles when you have to scrape an iced-over windshield or brave the swirling snow merely to get to work or run a simple errand. Well, you don't have to put up with chattering teeth, bare feet on chilly floors, and sky-high heating bills, no matter how frigid it is outside. Just try a few of our home heat hacks to stay toasty warm and conquer those cold-weather woes.

Made from Scratch: 25 DIY Dining Tables
Furniture & Design

Made from Scratch: 25 DIY Dining Tables

It’s the spot where family gathers for holiday meals, birthday cake, and after-dinner chats. The dining table is the center of so many happy memories, why not tailor yours to suit your tastes and style? Even a newbie to the DIY scene can succeed with these 25 DIY dining table projects.

A “Charged” Debate: Portable vs. Standby Generators
Generators

A “Charged” Debate: Portable vs. Standby Generators

If the region where you live is subject to more than the occasional power outage, consider investing in either a portable or standby generator. These guidelines can help you choose between the two.

9 Iconic American Brands That No Longer Exist
Reviews

9 Iconic American Brands That No Longer Exist

Thanks to changing economies, changing technologies, changing tastes, and a host of other factors, it can be a struggle for any company—even the most iconic ones—to stay afloat. Sadly, these once-thriving American businesses just couldn't keep up with the times and had to call it quits.

How Often Should You Vacuum? Solved!
Cleaning

Solved! How Often You Should Actually Be Vacuuming

Know how often to vacuum your hard floors and carpeting to keep them clean and preserve their good looks.

Wing It: 14 Approaches to a DIY Birdbath
Lawn Care & Gardening

Wing It: 14 Approaches to a DIY Birdbath

Welcome feathered friends to your backyard with a DIY birdbath modeled after any of the following inspiring designs.

Here's Where to Buy a Tiny House
Buying

Solved! Where to Buy a Tiny House

Learn the best places to purchase a downsized domicile and get the 411 on how to how to go about it.

Kitchen Design

30 Coffee Bars to Put Pep in Your Home Design

The explosion in popularity of single-serve coffeemakers like the Keurig has given rise to a new home design trend: the coffee bar. Making a cup of coffee now requires minimal effort, and many of us feel free to indulge in our favorite hot beverage throughout the day, as opposed to just in the morning. There's no need to venture out to the coffee shop on the corner when it’s easier than ever to enjoy a fresh, hot cup of coffee at home—a convenience especially appreciated by telecommuters. Coffee is such a fixture in our lives, it seems natural to set aside a special place for the satisfying ritual of making it. Here are some of our favorite examples of home coffee bars from around the Web.

40 Fresh Ideas for a Beautiful Dining Room
Interior Design

40 Fresh Ideas for a Beautiful Dining Room

If it's time to remodel, redecorate, or simply refresh a tired old dining room, here are a wealth of ideas for taking what can be a stodgy, inflexible space and infusing it with beauty, flair, and comfort.

Combat Dry Winter Air with 15 Tips and Tricks
Laundry

Combat Dry Winter Air with 15 Tips and Tricks

With temperatures low across the country, heating systems on full blast, and houses buttoned up against the cold, the air in your home can pretty dry this time of year. To improve indoor air quality, promoting health and comfort in the bargain, follow with these simple and easy tips and tricks.

12 Things You Never Thought to Do With Packing Peanuts
Easy DIY Projects

12 Things You Never Thought to Do With Packing Peanuts

Loose-fill packaging materials like polystyrene packing peanuts do a great job of protecting fragile items during transport. But what to do with them once you’ve opened that shipping box? Whatever you do, don’t throw them away! There are a lot of ways you can reuse and repurpose packing peanuts. Check out our favorites.

23 Brilliant Hacks to Help You Weather Winter
Lawn & Garden

23 Brilliant Hacks to Help You Weather Winter

Preparing for winter doesn’t have to be a chore! Read on for 23 fun and fast DIY ways to keep your home warm and weatherproof, no matter what the season brings.

15 Imaginative Garlands to Add Charm and Whimsy to Your Holiday Home
Easy DIY Projects

15 Imaginative Garlands to Add Charm and Whimsy to Your Holiday Home

Why settle for just beads when you can dress your tree with stringed-decorations made from felt, corks, bells and more. Check out these imaginative Christmas garlands that you can make yourself.

10 Things No One Tells You About Homeowner Associations
Real Estate

10 Things No One Tells You About Homeowner Associations

Homeowners associations (HOAs) exist to ensure visual uniformity and to protect the property rights of residents of a specific neighborhood. Most of the time they do a decent job, but because their rules and regulations are decided and enforced by a group of neighbors, HOAs can overreach and make life miserable for certain homeowners. If you’re thinking of buying a home in a neighborhood governed by an HOA, keep reading to discover 10 things about these organizations that you may not know (but should).

DIY Humane Mouse Trap
Pests

Be Nice to Mice: How to Build a Humane Mousetrap

If you want to get mice out of your house, but you don't necessarily want them dead, this easy-to-assemble (and kinder) mousetrap may be just what you need. Here's how to make it.

DIY Cardboard Projects - Shelving
Easy DIY Projects

5 Things to Do with… Cardboard Boxes

Got cardboard? We're sure you do! Grab a few of those old boxes and get to work on one of these ingenious, MacGyver-worthy projects.

Milk Paint Recipe - Furniture
Painting & Finishing

How To: Make Your Own Milk Paint

If you love the beauty of antique painted furniture, you can re-create that same pigment-rich, matte-finish look with milk paint—that you can make yourself.

DIY Cutting Board
Easy DIY Projects

DIY Lite: Craft a Homemade Cutting Board

This season, wow your guests with your cutting skills—no, we're not just talking the slicing and dicing in the kitchen. Craft a handmade, house-shaped cutting board that even a beginner woodworker can master.

The 9 Best Houseplants for the Kitchen
Kitchen & Dining

The 9 Best Houseplants for the Kitchen

The kitchen may not be the first place that comes to mind when you're thinking about bringing a little greenery into your home. Countertop space is precious, direct sunlight may be limited, and high temperatures and grease can keep houseplants from looking their best. But the kitchen is one of the most popular spots in the house, so it deserves to be brightened with a bit of nature. Try finding a place for one of these easy-care houseplants that thrive in the kitchen.