But never fear—you’re in luck. If there is some space available underneath your stairs, it doesn’t have to just sit there untouched. There are plenty of things you can do with that space, such as alleviate your storage woes or create additional seating. Or, if you’re feeling bold, you can even install a wine cellar. Don’t let that space under your stairs sit neglected anymore. You can either set something up yourself or hire a designer to create custom built-ins....

Stop Pipes From Rattling Water pipes that rattle when the water is turned on or off eventually become part of the soundtrack of our daily lives. But why should they when you can fix the problem with a little expanding foam? Spray low-expansion foam between the pipe and the structural element it rattles against. Usually, this is a penetration through a joist or stud. Protect Fragile Items For a delicate electronic device or any valuable item you need to ship or store, you might need something more than wadded paper or bubble wrap to prevent movement and damage....

To help you get your chores done faster and more easily, we have the best speed cleaning shortcuts, so you can spend less time sweeping and scrubbing and more time resting and relaxing. Most involve a few minutes of cleaning as you go while doing tasks each day. This will save you hours of heavy cleaning when you do decide it simply has to be done. Tackle Oven Spills Quickly If you have a pie or casserole boil over in the oven, it will be much easier to clean up the mess if you place an oven-proof bowl of water in the still hot oven....

You also don’t want your guests to be thirsty, so make sure you have plenty for them to drink. If you serve alcoholic beverages, also provide plenty of nonalcoholic beverages to keep people hydrated. Remember that your neighbors deserve respect. One of the things that can prevent problems is to invite your neighbors to your event. However, if you’re unable to do that, at least inform them that you’re having some people over and ask them to let you know if they’re being bothered....

This design allows LED bulbs to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb without using as much energy, making them a great option for reducing the utility bills. Another attractive factor that LED lights have in their favor is their long life. On average, an LED light will last about 10 years before you need to worry about replacing it. To make the best choice about LED lighting for your home, use this guide to learn about these 10 common types of LED lights and how to choose....

Here are 11 deciduous trees that produce pink flowers. USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8 Color Varieties: Pink Sun Exposure: Full sun Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Color Varieties: Pink, whiteSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7Color Varieties: PinkSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Fertile, medium moisture, well-draining USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: Pink, whiteSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining...

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: Pink, whiteSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: WhiteSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11Color Varieties: Red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, whiteSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, medium moisture, well-draining USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9Color Varieties: PurpleSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-draining...

Options for the fill material of gravel gardens ranges from small, pea-sized pebbles to larger rocks, including river stone or other landscaping rocks. Usually, a gravel garden replaces the top 4 to 8 inches of soil. Many plants can be grown in a gravel garden, though the most popular choices are hardy varieties with minimal watering needs. In addition to reducing your watering burden, gravel gardens are also a good choice if you want to reduce weed growth....

The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) most of us grow is a true annual plant that sprouts, matures, flowers, and dies in a single growing season. Like many annuals, it self-seeds very easily, and, in some regions, especially the Midwest, it can become invasive. Named cultivars, however, are often hybrid plants that are either sterile or produce seeds that don’t “come true” when planted. Here are 15 stunning sunflower cultivars that make great garden plants....

Is your outdoor space more a place you want to get away from than an enticing getaway? A yard cluttered with too much patio furniture, outdoor structures (like gazebos), and children’s play equipment is going to appear chaotic. In fact, you might find yourself trying to avoid the backyard if there’s too much stuff, you find it difficult to move around, or there is always a project calling out your name....

Don’t let the term “native” scare you into thinking your garden won’t be beautiful. These plants are as lovely as they are hardy.

To revel in the ghouls and gourds a little longer, it’s worth scoping out decor that’ll last you long after October 31st. While skeleton garlands and hanging bats may look a bit funny strung up in April, there are plenty of Halloween and fall decorations that are perfectly adaptable for all times of year.

The right gray can make a dining space feel soulful and soothing, or fresh and contemporary—sometimes all four at once. When it comes to dining rooms, gray is a tone that can either take the spotlight or act as an accent color to more powerful hues, depending on the shade. Here are 20 of our favorite gray dining rooms to help inspire your next makeover project.

Plants with pungent scents are among the most effective insect deterrents, and many of these are herbs, so the plants have two purposes. In addition, some deterrent plants also attract beneficial insects you want in the garden. This is another type of companion planting that is proving to have great use for gardeners. USDA Growing Zones: Annual. hardy zones 10-11Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Moist, rich, well-drained soil USDA Growing Zones: Annual plantSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil...

If you’re looking for jaw-dropping inspiration to build your own adult-sized treehouse, we’ve rounded up 18 of our favorites that we’d love to build in our own backyards.

This IKEA picture ledge hack by the Dos Family makes hanging clothing a snap using IKEA GRUNDTAL S-hooks. To make you’ll need to attach a stainless steel rail from IKEA’s GRUNDTAL collection to the bottom of an IKEA MARIETORP picture ledge. For instance, this dreamy, platform storage bed by Noraelli from Oh Yes Blog was built using nine IKEA kitchen base cabinets. The blogger’s swoon-worthy yet practical creation not only freed up valuable closet space, but it also carved out a bedroom in the single room apartment....