Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 385)

Up your backyard's game with an outdoor classic: the DIY tire swing. Follow these easy instructions to create seasons' worth of family fun, all in less than an hour.

Learn the pros and cons of medium-density fiberboard, or MDF, and decide whether it's the right choice for your next carpentry project.

An affordable option for the average homeowner, installing window film enables you to dress up your windows with a new look or dramatically increase their level of energy efficiency.

Long saddled with a bad reputation, today's vinyl siding is weather- and insect-proof, fade-resistant, and virtually indestructible under normal circumstances. And it looks good, too.

While many of us think of the freezer as the home of our favorite cool treats and last-minute meals, we don't often realize the range of possibilities this underappreciated appliance has to offer. Here are a few surprising freezer feats, from prolonging the life of your batteries to cleaning your favorite pair of jeans, that prove that this workhorse's frigid temps are good for a lot more than storing ice cream.

While a few lights around the windows or doors are a classic way to display holiday cheer, you might be feeling like it's time to amp things up a bit. If you're stuck in an outdoor decorating rut, try one of these incredibly simple yet charming lighting ideas to add a bright and festive touch to your home.

The right houseplant brings beauty and calm into a space and improves your home's air quality, but that's only the start of it. There are plenty of other good reasons to keep some greenery in every room. Houseplants offer a whole host of benefits, from promoting productivity to flavoring your next meal. Read on to find the perfect houseplant for every room in your house.

The holidays are a time for visiting family and friends near and far, but it can also be a prime time for break-ins since it’s easy for burglars to recognize the all-too-familiar signs you’re out of town. Good news: A handful of easy tactics can keep your house safe by fooling any passers-by into believing you’re home. They range in cost from a little to a lot, but any expense is a small price to pay for peace of mind when you’re tens to hundreds to thousands of miles away.

Irons aren’t just for the laundry room anymore. There are plenty of unusual ways to put this wrinkle remover to good use, whether it's for candles, crafts, or cleaning. Discover 9 alternative ways an iron can make your everyday tasks easier.

Half baths may be smaller than their full-fledged counterparts, but that doesn't mean you need to sacrifice on storage or style. Learn how to make the most of every inch of space in your small bathroom with these smart and attainable tips.

Once upon a time, you had to live with that “old book smell.” Now, you can banish it to a faraway land with one pantry staple.

Sure, they come in bright colors and are handy for jotting down reminders, but there's more to the Post-it than meets the eye. Learn how you can use this standard office staple to make organizing, cleaning, and crafting even easier.

You know that disheveled shack in the corner of the yard? It might just be one of your home’s major assets. These backyard buildings prove that an underutilized backyard shed is a work or play space simply waiting to be discovered. Get ready to shed your preconceived notions—because outbuildings are in.

Wire clothes hangers are inescapable. They seem to multiply overnight, and they pile up every time you go to the cleaners. Instead of throwing them out, try one of these clever ideas for repurposing this common closet necessity.

With the help of only a few recyclables, you'll never again have to ask your neighbor to water your houseplants when you head out of town.

If you want a lawn as rich and beautiful as a major league ball field, check out these strategies for seeding, feeding, mowing, and more from the man responsible for the turf at one of the most gorgeous parks in the game!

Conduct a thorough inspection before the season’s first cold snap as part of your winter preparation.

Elmer’s glue is much more than a back-to-school staple. It has applications that range far beyond the classroom. Whether you’re crafting, gardening, or crossing off some to-dos from your home improvement checklist, there are a plethora of creative and functional ways to put glue to good use.

Television sets are considered one of history’s greatest inventions and one of the biggest boons to in-home entertainment. Indeed, beginning shortly after World War II, these ubiquitous black boxes became the focal point of most American living rooms…where they remain, to this day, a decorator’s nightmare. But with the advent of modern, flat-screen technologies, today's stunningly slim televisions no longer have to dominate your living space. With just a little bit of creativity—and in most cases, less than $300 in mounting hardware—you can conceal “the boob tube” in any number of unexpected places. Click through for 9 inspiring, out-of-the-box placements.

According to the Beer Institute, a group that represents 2,800 U.S. brewers and suppliers, the making and selling of Americans’ favorite alcoholic drink is a $264.5 billion industry—so it’s probably safe to say that most of us usually have a bottle or six on hand. Yes, you can drink it, but the value of this golden elixir goes far beyond basic imbibing. Read on for 7 other, ingenious ways to put beer to good use.