Whether you want one rope basket or enough to fill a bookshelf, you can create custom storage options in an instant in 6 easy steps.
Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 378)





These days, everyone tries hard to subscribe to the 3R’s— Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Home design is all over that trend, and has its own 3R’s— Recycle, Repurpose, Reclaim. More and more, people are finding ways to use reclaimed elements— especially wood, when decorating their homes. Salvaged wood is not only hot in structural elements, like flooring, beams, doors and wall treatments. It’s just as fashionable when it’s used in furniture applications— like for a desk, dining table, headboard, mirror, coffee table, or even a set of shelves. Reclaimed wood lends a warmth to any room, but also infuses a space with a sense of history and charm that new materials lack. You may be surprised at all the places you can incorporate reclaimed wood into your home. Here are some of our favorites from around the web.

Most of us take electricity for granted, fully expecting that the outlets, wiring, extension cords, and power strips in our homes will operate safely and reliably. But electricity can be dangerous when improperly handled, so it's important to understand how it works before starting a new DIY project. Accidental exposure to electricity can have serious consequences. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the most common injuries caused by contact with electrical energy are electric shock, burns, and falls. Stay safe at home and on the job by taking necessary precautions whenever you're engaging in any of these potentially risky activities.

Your home is a refuge from the dangers and anxieties of the outside world—or is it? Statistics indicate that Americans are more likely to be injured at home than just about anywhere else. According to the National Safety Council, 23.8 million preventable injuries occurred in homes in 2016, and most of these were caused by the injured party's own mistakes. Minimize your risk of injury around the house by avoiding these common—and in some cases, fatal—missteps.

A yard is more than grass that you have to mow, it's an extension of your living space. Homeowners who commit time and money toward landscaping their yard not only get a great return on their investment, but on average they’re happier with the results of their outdoor renovation than they are with indoor remodeling projects like redoing the kitchen or bathroom. Get a head start on revitalizing your yard by checking out the biggest landscaping trends of 2018, according to landscaping expert Missy Henriksen, spokesperson for the National Association of Landscape Professionals.



Reality TV has kicked our collective enthusiasm for real estate and home renovation into high gear and made DIY an attainable lifestyle. Who doesn’t crib ideas from "Queer Eye," adore the remodel-and-decor duo of "Fixer Upper," and ply tricks picked up from the "Property Brothers—to mention just a few favorites. That said, we could probably all benefit from the savviest tips from the makeover show pros who give new meaning to the term “household names.” So, here you have it—the 19 best pieces of advice from popular home makeover shows that you can use for your next design or renovation project.




There's something rotten in America—and it's the trash! The average American creates 4 pounds of trash every day, and while that may not sound like a lot, it adds up to more than 200 million tons of waste every year (enough to fill the entire Busch Stadium two times a day, according to the EPA). All that trash poses an obvious problem: where to put it. And as the United States' trash is shipped to its southern states, and around the world, it's clear that the problem has yet to be solved. The best solution in the long term is to make less trash. Not only will making less trash keep our environment cleaner, but it can save the average American household thousands of dollars every year. Read on to learn some of the easiest things you can do to reduce your waste and simplify your life.