Mitering is generally the easier and faster technique for beginners since all cuts can be made on the electric miter saw. Yet many carpenters prefer to cope the joint because the result is cleaner and there is less of a chance of gapping. No single answer applies to all projects—or all people. Learn about mitered joints vs. coped joints for inside corners and which one is best for you....

Stone tile is cut from solid natural stone and can have almost any size, shape, texture, and level of finish, from rough to highly polished. The types of stone available are equally wide-ranging. While stone and brick flooring have some minor differences, they are similar enough in important ways that you may want to take a good look at both before making a decision. Natural Stone vs Brick Paver: Major Differences The key difference between stone and brick flooring lies in the range of available options....

Plant a Seed Naomi Alon Coe of Little Crown Interiors, an interior designer specializing in nursery and child design, says that many clients come to her with a single item that inspires the overall design. “Sometimes it’s a wallpaper pattern they fell in love with, other times it’s just a crib or another piece of furniture,” Coe writes in her comprehensive how-to book Your Perfect Nursery: A Step-By-Step Approach to Creating the Nursery of Your Dreams....

Steam mops are far more sophisticated than your traditional mop and buckets. With a wide selection on the market, prices and features vary. The O-Cedar Microfiber Steam Mop is a versatile tool with a unique advantage: It can clean carpets and hard surfaces. Using only water and no chemicals, it kills 99.9% of bacteria on floors. I tested the O-Cedar Steam Mop to see if it could effectively clean and sanitize various floor types throughout my home....

Oyster plants like consistency of temperature, so avoid placing them near drafty windows and doors, as well as near heating and air-conditioning. They don’t need much watering, but they should not be allowed to fully dry out. Light The oyster plant does best with bright, indirect light. It can grow in full sun, but it will need some protection from the harsh afternoon sun. It also can survive in shade, but the foliage won’t be as vibrant and the plant will likely become leggy....

Choose a Color Choosing a color is the hardest part. What’s most important is to find one that will create the desired mood and make you happy. If you really don’t have any idea about what color to paint, try pulling a color out of a piece of art or area rug that’s in the room. It’s a guaranteed way to find a complementary color. Take home several paint chips and see how they look in the room....

The right bath towel can turn your shower routine into a spa-like experience. Heavier towels tend to be more absorbent than those with a thinner build, but the Parachute Soft Rib Towels are an exception to that rule of thumb. According to the manufacturer, these towels are lightweight, absorbent, and luxuriously soft. I tested a set to see if they deliver on all of these promises. The Parachute Soft Rib Towels felt sumptuous right out of the packaging....

Growing perennial vegetables means less work in the long term, but you can’t skimp on the soil preparation thinking you can make up for it later. And if garden real estate is scarce, you have to decide how much you are willing to devote to a crop that is going to be there for the next 20 years. Don’t let that stop you. Many of these vegetables can be incorporated into your landscape to do double duty....

Sleep has never come naturally to me. I don’t stay up late bingeing Netflix, and I rarely drink caffeine after 2 in the afternoon. My body never seems to realize it’s time to unwind. Instead of snoozing, I lie awake thinking, stressing, and, yes, even counting sheep, barely falling asleep by 2 a.m. Unsurprisingly, I wake up groggy the next day. The Philips Smart Sleep Wake Up Light captured my interest....

There are three main types of flat roof systems: Membrane or single-plyBuilt-up roofing (BUR)Modified bitumen (MBR) Membrane (Single-Ply) Roofing There are several types of membrane roofing materials, including rubber and plastic formulations. The most common type used for residential flat roofing is EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), a synthetic rubber sheet material that is also commonly used as a pond liner. Membrane roofing consists of a layer of insulation board topped by sheets (the membrane) of EPDM rubber or other material....

The best thing about color is that you can easily change up the energy of a space dramatically with a new coat of paint. Even some new art or accessories (like pillows) can shift the energy of a space without a huge commitment. Here’s a quick room-by-room guide to feng shui decorating colors for all the rooms in your home. Remember, these are guidelines. Almost any color could work with any room....

1. Play Favorites Your kitchen counter can only hold so many gadgets before it starts to look chaotic, so you’ll want to offer a permanent seat to only your favorite appliances. “If you love toast every morning, leave the toaster out,” clutter coach and breakthrough specialist Kim Sneath advises. “If you’re a dedicated coffee drinker, keep the coffee maker out and place it on the counter closest to the cupboard with the cups....

Why Woodpeckers Peck If you understand why woodpeckers cause damage, you can take more effective steps to discourage this unwanted behavior. In general, woodpeckers peck for one of three reasons: Drumming: Simple drumming behavior is designed to make noise, either to attract a mate or advertise that nearby territory is claimed. Damage caused by this type of pecking is usually minimal, but it can lead to future problems. Additionally, the constant noise can be frustrating....

If you’re hoping to reduce home cooling costs in the warmer months, now is a great time to upgrade to a smart thermostat. We found the best deals on smart thermostats and compatible smart sensors from top brands such as Google Nest, Ecobee, and Honeywell. Make your home more energy efficient by shopping these top deals on smart thermostats and sensors. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat is futuristic and sleek with a touchscreen design....

Standard vinyl flooring still plays a major role in residential flooring. The two forms of standard vinyl flooring—sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles—share many of the same advantages. But there are also key differences between the two types, making each particularly well suited for certain applications. Sheet Vinyl vs. Vinyl Tile Flooring: Major Differences The two types of standard vinyl flooring, sheet vinyl and vinyl tile, are quite similar in composition and performance....

Most people do not even know that painting a rug is even an option. But, if you look online, there are many beautiful DIY rug-painting projects. And, sometimes, you want the perfect little accent, but nothing in the stores will do. Grab some fabric paint, think up a pattern, and breathe new life into an old indoor rug. It’s also a great way to hide an annoying area rug stain that you can’t get out....

Thinning out the thatch in the lawn clears out old, dead grass and other organic matter that has built up but not broken down over the fall and winter months. Dethatching opens up the lawn surface, allowing for improved nutrient and water intake. It also cuts through stolons and rhizomes, or lateral stems, which encourages new growth. The Best Time to Dethatch The period of active growth and warming temperatures of spring are ideal for dethatching, but exactly when in spring depends on the type of turf you have....

However, the string of rubies has a unique characteristic that sets it apart from other trailing succulents. True to its name, its bean-shaped leaves turn a bright ruby red when the plant is under stress. Light A bright, sunny, south-facing window that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight is the ideal environment for a string of rubies. When grown outdoors, a string of rubies does best in full sun to partial shade conditions....

A stylish and effective duvet cover doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Quince, a direct-to-consumer brand, offers high-quality bedding at affordable prices. Their Organic Luxe Waffle Duvet Cover is handcrafted in India from 100-percent organic waffle weave cotton and features 400-thread-count solid cotton percale on the reverse side. The all-white design is simple and attractive, while the textured weave adds a bit of dimension. This duvet cover is equipped with interior ties and button closures for added convenience....