Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 358)

The FBI statistics are sobering: a burglary occurs roughly every 13 seconds in America. There were an estimated 1.4 million burglaries in 2017, and burglary victims suffered an estimated $3.4 billion in property losses. Protecting your home and property against these odds can seem like a daunting and expensive prospect, but it doesn’t have to cost a lot to deter thieves. Here are a few commonsense—and free—ways to prevent burglars from making off with your valuables.

You can bring color, charm, and personality to your yard without planting a single flower. Check out these 25 gardening-free ways to make your property more beautiful.

If it has been a while since you last shopped for an air conditioner, let an HVAC expert get you up to speed on four popular types of ACs available today.

Factor in these criteria when considering high ceilings for a new home or remodel.

Putting into action a few simple home staging tips will help your house stand out from the pack in today's real estate market.

In the past few decades, solar panels have gone from an expensive novelty to an increasingly popular source of power generation. Today, more and more homeowners are using solar to fill some—or even all—of their energy needs. If you’re thinking about installing a solar system, click through to find out how this collection of homeowners feel about the solar array on their roof.

Buildings are more than just piles of bricks and mortar. Buildings tell stories and embody historical periods. Some even incite scandal and arouse controversy because they're too bold or too boring, or maybe they just got caught up in a tangle of lawsuits. For whatever reason, these 12 buildings stirred up controversy, and one or two of them may surprise you!

Furnishing your outdoor area? Get to know five worthy wood species before you build or buy beautiful, durable pieces for your patio, deck, and lawn.

As one of the largest retailers in the United States, there’s not much that Walmart doesn’t offer. From the fun to the functional, the budget-friendly store has you covered. While the price tags are nice for the pocketbook, it is easy to lose track of what you’re adding to the shopping cart. We gathered a mix of practical and playful household products—and a few in between—to grab the next time you’re at Walmart. Every item is $10 or less, so even if you do stray from you shopping list, you won’t be met with any surprises at check out.

Get sparkling clear windows, mirrors, and more with this savvy penny-pinching recipe.

For pennywise shoppers, perhaps nothing comes closer to paradise on earth than a flea market stocked with the secondhand wares you always wanted or never knew you needed. But where are the best of these bargain-priced bazaars? Scroll through to discover some of the finest flea markets in America, then drive to the one nearest to you to get your hands on some truly special keepsakes.

Many prospective homeowners dream of buying a brand-new house, or having one built to their specifications. But a number of disadvantages come along with the excitement of owning a home in which no one else has ever lived. In fact, a brand-new house isn’t always better than one with a few more miles on it. Before you start interviewing contractors and looking at lots in new subdivisions, consider these downsides to buying new construction.

Choosing the right wood for a home improvement project can be tricky for experienced woodworkers and novice DIYers alike. Luckily, knowing a few key lumber facts can make it easier to select the right woods for a whole range of projects—from framing to decking to furniture making. What is the real difference between hardwood and softwood? What does a wood's grade say about it? Which is more durable, pressure-treated lumber or composite decking? Should you opt for plywood or oriented strand board? Before you choose a wood for your next home project, understand the wood's benefits and drawbacks. Here are 11 facts you should know before you buy lumber for your next DIY.

Brush up on the history behind this centuries-old clothing custom.

From azalea to English ivy, many common garden plants traveled here from overseas, from countries like Japan or Britain. Yet a handful of landscaping standouts originate right here, in the good old U.S.A. You probably already have a few of these 34 amazing plants that are native to North America in your garden right now. And if not, maybe you should!

Now more than ever, homeowners are embracing wallpaper as a renovation-free method of transforming a room. Not least among its virtues is that, unlike some other home improvements, wallpapering requires very few tools, and none are cost-prohibitive to own. Get to know the tools of the trade.

For optimum functionality and good looks, don’t go too low or too high on this furniture essential.

The advent of modern pesticides has meant that even home gardeners can achieve pristine landscaping and gorgeous, green lawns with chemical management. But using pesticides also has its drawbacks. Before you decide to use pesticides in your yard, be aware of the downsides.

Though popular in the Victorian age, the sleeping porch had been virtually forgotten by the postwar period. Today, homeowners are rediscovering this practical and utterly charming architectural tradition.

Learn about the Deep South tradition behind beautiful blue porch ceilings.