Sectioning the house into separate rooms does have its advantages. It allows you to heat and cool rooms individually, plus it cuts down on the transmission of sound throughout the house. But removing walls and significantly widening doorways makes the house feel more open and airy and updates it. Plus, it’s usually good for resale. Removing a load-bearing wall and replacing it with a beam is significantly different from removing interior non-load-bearing walls....

With many of these fireplace makeovers, the homeowners aim to correct the mistakes of previous owners. Reducing the amount of visible brick is another common theme. In the end, this moderately easy, creative project is one that you will love to do. After: More Storage, Less Brick When Bridget at the DIY Playbook design blog revamped this stunning fireplace, she covered the red bricks with white marble and continued the color up to the ceiling....

Bird Eating Behavior Observing when and how birds eat is the first step to learning more about their eating habits and digestion. Birds are most active foraging in the morning and evening as they refuel after a long night and stock up for the next night, but they will eat at any time of day. To understand bird digestion, watch birds eating different foods and observe their behavior before, during, and after a meal....

Steam mops are marketed as a modern alternative to good ol’ mops and buckets, but you might balk a little when you see the price of the Bissell PowerFresh Pet Lift-Off Steam Mop. At more than $100, does this appliance really add that much value to your home? Granted it comes to us from Bissell—the number one (highly trusted) manufacturer of floor care products in the U.S. We wanted to find out for ourselves, so we used it around the house, testing out all its attachments to determine whether it’s worth the price....

Painting furniture generally requires a lot of prep work, but that isn’t the case with chalky-finish paint. The entire process is quick and beginner-friendly. Pick up a quart of your favorite color, and try out one of these chalk paint furniture ideas. Modern Ikea Hack Shelf from Damask Love 5 Tips to Revamp Old Furniture from Love Create Celebrate How to Paint a Dresser to Make it Look New Again from The Spruce Painting Cabinets with Chalk Paint Pros and Cons from A Beautiful Mess How to Chippy Paint a Table from A Piece of Rainbow Yard Sale Rocking Chair Makeover from Addicted 2 DIY Using Painters Tape to Paint a Dated Table from At Charlotte’s House How to Paint an End Table with Chalk Paint from The Spruce Ikea Tarva Nightstand Hack from Cherished Bliss Kitchen Table Makeover from Deuce Cities Henhouse How to Paint Fabric from The Spruce Crafts The Great Armchair Chalk Over from Home Made By Carmona DIY Scalloped Dresser from Persia Lou How to Antique Wood from The Spruce Chalk Paint Wooden Stool Makeover from Crafts Unleashed

Companion planting flowers and herbs with vegetables offers several beneficial features that can protect your vegetables from insect pests and may even make them more productive. They Act as Trap Crops If you can’t repel a pest, plant a sacrificial plant to attract them. This is often accomplished with another vegetable crop, such as surrounding cabbage with a trap crop (or catch crop) of collards to attract the diamondback moth....

Corona got its start in the 1920s with the Orange Clipper, a harvesting shear that revolutionized the citrus industry by allowing oranges to be picked without damaging the fruit’s skin or the tree branch. Given that the California-based company has been in the business of serving industry professionals and home gardeners since then, it’s no wonder that Corona is a trusted name when it comes to outdoor tools. I recently tested out the Corona FlexDIAL ComfortGEL Bypass Pruner in my home garden on a variety of plants to assess the quality of the blade and comfortability after repeated use....

The Color Is Unflattering The paint color on the walls can affect the appearance of anyone who walks into the room. This is a pitfall that’s hard to avoid because you can’t predict the real effect of the color until the room is painted. The most common offenders are green and gray in the bathroom or any room where you view yourself in a mirror. If you’re choosing a green for the bathroom, opt for warmer undertones, and keep the colors on the neutral side....

Here are the similarities and differences between curtains, drapes, shades, and blinds to help you make the right selection for your needs. Curtains hang from a rod, which can be plain or decorative. Some curtains have a fabric pocket sewn at the top that will slip over the rod, hiding it when they’re closed. Others have metal grommets or fabric tabs sewn at the top to slide over the rod....

Quackgrass It is a cold-hardy perennial weed, which means it will come back year after year. In fact, it stays green year-round in some climates. It’s one of the first grasses to come out of dormancy each spring. It is not a native plant. It reproduces from both seed and long underground stems (rhizomes) that dive as much as six feet below the surface. Yes, various weed killers will set it back—as will repeat mowing to a very low height in spring....

Enter low-dust, or dust control, drywall compound. This joint compound is not exactly dust-free but it does considerably reduce the amount of airborne dust. With this product, the dust will clump into heavier particles so that they seek the floor rather than the air. Pros Considerably reduces dustDust can be cleaned with a broom and dustpanApplies easily Cons Several times more expensive than conventional joint compoundRougher sanded surface than conventional compoundStill does create some dustBarriers must be erected...

On the word, “go!” the first player from each team must race to the basket, choose an egg and perform the command. The judges must determine if the command is completed, and when it is, will signal the player to run back and tag the next player in line. If a player can’t complete a command after two tries, they must place it back in the basket and return to the back of the line....

Dig and Drop Composting Dig and drop composting couldn’t be simpler: Dig and Drop composting is a good solution for the busy gardener because you don’t have to worry about harvesting the compost. The organic matter breaks down right in the garden, and the resulting compost enriches the soil and provides nutrients to nearby plants. You might find that the easiest way to do this is to collect the food scraps from your kitchen into a bowl or bucket, then go out at the end of the day (or every few days) and bury them in your garden....

If you’re looking to improve your home’s air quality, an air purifier works to eliminate harmful irritants indoors, including pet dander, pollen, and smoke. The Elechomes EPI236 Pro Series Air Purifier’s makers say it can trap up to 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns (for reference, bacteria particles are .2 to 3 microns in size) and is ideal for rooms up to 280 square feet. The Elechomes EPI236 has a three-filter system: a pre-filter, a carbon filter, and a HEPA filter....

Each element is associated with specific colors, shapes, and materials that can be employed in home design to invoke the qualities of that element. A great way to get started with the five elements is to include one thing in your home that represents each of the five elements. Learn how to decorate your home with the crisp and clear feng shui metal element by using simple and popular decor items....

The beautiful thing about feng shui is that when you work with wealth, you attract all sorts of abundance. And in return, you can offer gratitude for all of the prosperity that you receive. Check out the best feng shui tips to attract abundance. Add these elements to activate the wealth corner of your home: Purple: Incorporate purple accessories, paint, or furniture. Plants: Living green houseplants enhance your prosperity. Money Frog: This three-legged toad attracts wealth....

Your personal feng shui kua number can tell you the best magnetic directions for you to face while sleeping, when working at your desk, and even who you’re most compatible with. It can also advise you on the best directions to invite in more money and success, to improve your sense of wellness, to attract love, and for your personal growth. Your Feng Shui Kua Number Best Directions Chart After you find your personal feng shui kua number, you can use our chart to locate your best bed directions....