Just note that no matter your experience with plants, you should still be confident when it comes to including them in your house or apartment. “Plants can add so much character to a room. They liven up a space and there are so many different varieties of plants. The possibilities are endless,” notes Instagrammer Andreina Fuenteabla, who owns 65 plants. “An important factor to remember when owning plants is that it’s trial and error....

Trust us, spending the day celebrating in a special way with family and friends will brighten the mood. These 30th birthday ideas don’t take themselves too seriously, which you shouldn’t either. Get your party hat on and start planning an unforgettable 30th birthday party for you or your loved one.

We talked to the experts to find out what to look out for when it might be time for a new mattress. Eyes Wide Open Still, exhausted when you wake in the morning? If you can’t link sleeplessness or anything else like your bedroom temperature being uncomfortable or excess noise or worries keeping you awake, turn your attention to the bed itself. If you roll into the middle of the bed when you lie down or leave a person-size dent when you get up, it’s time to go shopping for a new mattress....

If you’re ready to add some fragrance to your garden, here are many great options to get you started in any area of the country. Keep in mind that bloom times may vary based on the local climate as well as micro-climates on your property. Tips for Planting Fragrant Flowers If you’d like to include some fragrance in your garden, follow some basic tips for getting the most from your scented flowers:...

A well-lit room should have layered lighting from multiple sources that include ambient or general lighting; task lighting for reading, preparing meals, or desk work; and decorative accent lighting that creates ambiance. The quality of light cast by built-in fixtures can be modified by your choice of bulb or by using a dimmer switch, but it’s rare that built-in lighting will be the sole source of lighting in a room....

There is no sound science to this rumored hack. Perhaps it got its start on the internet because aspirin was patented by Bayer—a German textile dye company—in 1899. The chemical compound of aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid which will break down when exposed to moisture to become salicylic acid. Salicylic acid has no bleaching effect on fabrics. Pre-soaking clothes in hot water is actually what may make them appear whiter. The hot water helps to lift embedded grime and body soil from the fibers that makes whites appear dingy....

Our eight favorite brands include giants like GE, LG, Frigidaire, and Maytag with a few worthy runners-up like Danby and Magic Chef that specialize in compact options for your kitchen, basement, or a dorm room. Here are the best refrigerator brands to suit your food storage needs. Some of LG’s latest refrigerator models include thoughtful features like door-in-door storage—a hidden door within the refrigerator door that’s meant for accessing and storing your most-reached-for items....

Here are eight New Year’s Eve party games for adults to enjoy.

To help you streamline your shopping, we spoke with nine professional organizers and asked them to weigh in with the products they swear by when tackling clients’ homes. One theme that came up often in our experts’ responses? Clear solutions; they’re majorly in!

How to Preserve Fall Leaves from Rosyscription When creating your vignette on the mantle, consider grouping the leaf branches with two other objects of varying height to create a group of three. Also, be sure to vary the height of the actual branches within the arrangement for the best result. Simple Autumn Mantle from Dear Lillie Instead, get a similar look by upgrading a glass votive candle for fall. Here, an old sweater was repurposed and enhanced by adding a dried leaf with part of the sweater....

Furniture The furniture in a Cottage Style home is often recycled, purchased from a flea market, or collected from family rejects. Nothing needs to match–and it shouldn’t–yet the overall effect is charming and comfortable. Anything found can be painted or recovered to help it fit into your scheme. Reuse Vintage Items In Cottage decor, pieces are often adapted from one use to another. For example, a bench might serve as a coffee table, an old kitchen cupboard can hide towels in a bathroom, or a kitchen table might become a desk....

But there are other reasons to make the switch to an automatic irrigation system. Pros and Cons of Sprinklers Automatic irrigation systems are convenient, especially for those who travel. The main disadvantage is that, initially, they cost more than the alternative. But, if installed and programmed properly, a lawn irrigation system can save you money in the long term and help you conserve water. If your lawn or flower die they need to be replaced, and that can be expensive; if automation can save you this expense, it will be worth the investment....

ZZ plants are slow-growing plants that prefer bright, indirect sunlight. One of the benefits of zz plant is that it can thrive in many lighting conditions. If you plant or repot a zz, do it in the spring or summer when it’s in an active growth phase. These plants are toxic to humans and animals if ingested. Though it thrives outdoors in Africa, it’s best grown indoors elsewhere. If you want to grow it outside, plant it in a container that can be brought indoors when the temperatures cool....

But for all the hype surrounding these appliances, there are some limitations and trade-offs to consider before you can really decide if a tankless hot water heater is for you. But consider your choice carefully; improperly used, they are disappointing and expensive. Tankless water heaters come in two principle designs: point-of-use and whole-house versions. In each category, there are both electric models and natural gas or propane models. Some tankless units are sized to heat a cup of tea, while others provide enough hot water for two or more bathrooms....

In many houses, a well-planned garage conversion can create a new room or rooms that blend seamlessly with the existing house. Most commonly, the location of the attached garages makes them ideal locations for large family rooms or even expanded luxury kitchens. The process should begin with a careful assessment of the garage and the problems and promises it holds. Here are seven elements to evaluate as you consider the possibilities....

Vulnerable To Moisture Bamboo is denser and more resistant to water damage than most woods, and it does have some mild natural antimicrobial properties. However, it still has vulnerabilities to moisture. If installed in a wet environment where liquids are allowed to sit on the surface of the floor, the planks can be subject to warping, plumping, and staining. This can also lead to the growth of mold and mildew, especially in the subfloor....

The best fence companies provide a detailed cost of the project, share recommendations for a variety of fence options to fit your budget and needs, and either offer installation services or suggestions for a professional installer, if needed. Keep reading to find out the best fence companies to use for your next fencing project. Active Yards has offered fencing solutions since 2008 and is the fence division of the highly recognized Barrette Outdoor Living company....