Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 393)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Backyard sheds may be a storage boon, but nobody ever said they were loaded with style. They can be, though. Check out these amazing shed makeovers that will inspire you to give your shed the star treatment.

Where do mattresses go to die? The landfill, most often. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s still life under what looks like old junk, if you’re willing to uncover it. Old bedsprings offer an industrial aesthetic that can lay the foundation for a host of projects and decorative pieces. Even individual spring coils can be brilliantly utilized—the rustier the better. Sharpen your wire cutters, and get ready to repurpose, reuse, and recycle.

A new year is a great time to get rid all the junk that is cluttering your home. But some things are easier to dispose of than others. Many charitable organizations eagerly accept old clothes and shoes, for instance, but may balk at cumbersome mattresses. And while common clutter can easily be thrown out with the trash, certain things should never be disposed of in the garbage. This guide will help you learn how to properly discard many household items, so you can face the new year with a “squeaky clean” domicile while protecting the environment and keeping your family safe.

Whether it's a narrow cupboard for linen or a full-blown walk-in, a well-placed closet is one of the most coveted features of any house. But if storage isn't an issue, these handy enclosures can be easily transformed into a variety of tiny, useful spaces for work and play. These nooks allow folks to carve out something they might not otherwise have room for, such as a wine bar, playroom, or small office. Closet doors can keep these fun spaces a secret, or they can be removed entirely to integrate an alcove into the larger room. Click through our online gallery to browse for ideas to inspire your own closet transformation.

When holiday guests gather in your home to enjoy festive food and drink, there are bound to be a few accidental slops and splatters that could make your carpets a casualty of the celebration. Any number of foodstuffs and beverages can stain, distracting you from the party and straining your composure as host. Don't lose your cool! Let us teach you how to treat all manner of stains so you can save your furnishings (and your friendships) from ruin.

Nothing kills the mood of a refreshing bath after a long day (or for that matter, an energizing shower to start one) faster than the sight of mold. Or a delay in warm water. Or a damp towel. The fact is this: So many factors can cramp what should be a relaxing retreat. Fortunately, these 10 quick fixes can help you go back to enjoying your next shower—and maybe even make it a long one.

Is there any better holiday than Halloween to indulge your wildest imagination? Your home decor gets free license to be outrageously creepy and campy all at the same time. To deliver the most haunted and hair-raising experience at your house this Halloween, take a gander at these divinely fun DIY decorating ideas—they're sure to spook.

You won’t always find the perfect antique side table or the china collection of your dreams on your flea market adventure. Even if you do, nearly every thrifted gem requires a little TLC. The best thrifters have a third eye that sees any piece for what it is, but also what it could be. Here, we’ll help you zero in on the most practical finds with the highest potential for storage and decoration. Watch for these 10 underrated staples on your next hunt.

Storage space ranks near the top of every homeowner's wish list. If you're lucky enough to have his-and-her closets, you're living the dream. But what are you to do if you have a room entirely without a closet? Before you go out and buy a zippered-up freestanding closet or a pricey wooden armoire, consider the case for leaving your clothes right out in the open. Living without a closet forces you to prune your wardrobe, preventing outdated or ill-fitting clothes from piling up as they tend to do when hidden behind closed doors. Plus, open storage can turn clothing into artwork. From easy-to-assemble pipe fixtures to more avant-garde designs that flex the imagination, these 8 storage solutions are so creative you'll wonder why you ever wanted a traditional closet.

Whether you've bought a new pendant light or sacrificed your weekend to DIY one of your own, deciding how to hang the light is just as important as the light itself. For instance, if you lack wiring for a ceiling fixture or want to take your pendant light bedside, there are plenty of ways to work around this electrical predicament with found objects or pieces you might already have at home. And if you're just looking to up the aesthetic appeal of a simple light, you can get really creative. So, if you're a renter who isn't permitted to drill into the wall but still wants to mask an unsightly cord, or a homeowner who's looking to make a big design statement, read on for a few options that will have your pendant light illuminating the room in style.