Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 368)

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 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.

The next time you need to screw or nail two pieces of wood together, first invest a few extra minutes in prepping the project with pilot holes. These surefire tips will help simplify the project and save your wood from damage.

As the days grow shorter and your thoughts turn to tailgating and football games, it’s easy to forget that your home needs a little TLC before Old Man Winter comes calling. By taking care of essential upkeep and repairs now, you’ll be investing in your house—and your comfort—during the coming winter months. Click through to discover common fall maintenance mistakes and how you can avoid them this season.

When it comes to decorating and organizing, the foyer is often the last place homeowners think to touch. In far too many homes, it’s just a bleak portal for passing in and out of the house without a second glance. And that’s a shame, because the entryway is a prime piece of real estate and, when considered properly, can help make your day a little easier. The key is in keeping certain essentials by the front door where you won’t overlook them on your way out, or establishing an assigned place for everyday items. Here are 11 items that deserve a spot near your front door.

Cross-sections of a tree branch are all that keep you away from a house full of one-of-a-kind rustic, woodsy decor.

A backyard bar with a sleek concrete countertop that requires no special masonry skills? It's possible! So, take the party outside—we’ll show you how.

Memorize these recycling symbols—or save this cheat sheet—to waste less, conserve more, and recycle smarter!

Are you searching for a way to add some personality to your cabinet doors and drawers? Check out these fun, functional, and frugal knob options!

If you don’t have room for it, stick it in the basement, right? Well, maybe not. Basements are prone to dampness, mold, and temperature swings, which can adversely affect many of the items commonly kept down there. Always think before you stash, and never store these 10 things in your basement.

Not every home has—or needs—a full mudroom, but everyone needs a place to handle the comings and goings of today’s busy families and all their gear. If you’re wondering how to create the convenience of a mudroom without having a dedicated room for the purpose, you’re in luck. These 14 photos offer great ideas for mudroom alternatives that suit a range of budgets and space limitations.

If an older boiler drives your heating system, there's a good chance you can achieve greater efficiency by augmenting the appliance with an outdoor reset control. Affordable and easily installed, the technology ensures that you spend no more than necessary to keep your home comfortable throughout the winter months.

Wondering why your water smells funny, tastes bad, or stains your plumbing fixtures, cookware, dishes and laundry? Read on!

Terrifying storms that can level houses and rip large trees from the ground, hurricanes are among the most powerful forces of nature. The National Hurricane Center defines a hurricane as a rotating, organized system of thunderstorms and clouds that originates over tropical or subtropical water. These destructive storms are a type of tropical cyclone with winds that reach 74 miles per hour or greater. Perhaps because of their devastating power, hurricanes have given rise to a lot of myths and misconceptions about the storms themselves and the best ways to prepare for them. Here, we debunk 10 of the most common hurricane myths.

A step stool is the perfect tool for helping the short and tall alike to access those hard-to-reach places like the highest shelf of the kitchen cabinet, the top of the refrigerator, or the pull cord for the attic door. Step stools can also help kiddos reach the sink in the bathroom to brush their teeth at night or help out with the dishes after dinner (well, we can dream about that can’t we?). But before you head out to the big box store to pick up any old humdrum step stool, why not make your own? Check out these 12 DIY step stool designs from around the web that can give you a much-needed boost in and around the house.

Pull the clothespin off your nose and instead try these 10 common household items to deodorize every nook and cranny of your abode.

Even when the weather outside gets frightful, wind-blocking draft dodgers are delightful... and wonderfully simple to make. Just as we lose body heat through our heads, our houses lose warmth through pesky drafts that sneak in through doors and windows. While it lacks the romance of a toasty fire in the hearth, stopping up those drafts can go a long way in preserving the heat generated by your radiator or heater. We've compiled a collection of our favorite DIY draft blockers in the hopes that you'll get all fired up for a weekend project that will keep you warm all winter long.

Do you have a dresser in good condition but with a dingy, worse-for-wear finish? With only a little elbow grease, you can transform it into a stunning signature piece.

It’s no secret why IKEA has become one of the most successful furniture companies in the world. Its flat-pack furniture is affordable and can be delivered to your home within days. You can assemble and disassemble it as you please—jn theory, at least—though some people are intimidated by IKEA’s pictogram directions and minimalist tools. But even if you've been IKEA-phobic in the past, with a few of these tips and tricks, you'll have that BILLY bookcase or LACK table put together in no time.

Recreate the look of commercial ceiling paints for less by picking a regular paint with ceiling-friendly properties.