But aren’t all nozzles pretty much the same? No, says Veronica Lorson Fowler, a Master Gardener based in Ames, Iowa, who’s written and edited a number of gardening books. “Look for a nozzle that feels heavy in the hand, has brass and metal fittings, and is at least mid-priced,” says Fowler, also the former editor of Better Homes and Gardens’ “Flower Gardening” magazine. “If you go for the cheapest nozzle available, you will get what you pay for....

“While you want strong boxes, you don’t want the boxes themselves to weigh a lot, especially since movers will be charging you by the pound,” notes Scott Borgert, Merchant, Storage at Home Depot. “Corrugated moving boxes are impact-resistant but light enough to keep costs low when packed well.” Our top pick, UBoxes Pack of 15 Medium Boxes, is affordable, high-quality, and will work for almost every use. While you need to buy tape separately, the boxes come in a pack of 15 and can be used many times....

Our favorite reading chair is the Joss & Main Highland Armchair because it offers complete customization, durable and comfortable materials, and comes fully assembled. Here are the best reading chairs for curling up with a good book. This 39-inch wide chair’s boxy frame and wide armrests provide plenty of room to snuggle up and sit comfortably. While the chair doesn’t recline or come with an ottoman, the synthetic fiber-filled cushions are plush but still supportive....

Earth-sheltered homes, including underground homes, are becoming a viable passive design strategy. At one time, earth-sheltered homes were either found in traditional cultures or high-end building designs. Now, earth-sheltered homes are entering the mainstream for their natural insulating ability. What Is an Earth-Sheltered Home? When you build into the ground, the earth functions as a thermal mass, helping to maintain a comfortable interior temperature year-round. However, you must carefully plan the structure itself to carry the load of the earth....

When shopping for a vacuum, always consider your household’s lifestyle and what type of flooring you have. If you have children, pets, or heavy foot traffic, for example, you may want a product that comes with specialty attachments or that’s lightweight for easy, everyday cleaning. In addition, while shopping for a vacuum this Labor Day weekend (and later on), keep in mind that there are different styles of vacs to choose from—such as cordless stick, upright, and canister—that all offer unique functions and are designed to perform best on specific types of flooring....

Our number one choice is the Zuma Therapeutic Wedge Pillow from Brentwood Home, a perfectly angled CertiPUR-US certified foam slab with a washable bamboo cover. Scroll down for the best wedge pillows currently on the market. Measuring 24 x 24 inches, the Zuma is comfortably large without taking up too much space on your bed. To accommodate all types of sleepers and uses, it comes in three heights: 7, 10, and 12 inches....

While traditional box springs and foundations are both good bed base options that raise your mattress and make getting in and out of bed easier, they have a few key differences. Read guide to bed springs vs. foundations before purchasing your next bed base. Box Springs Support Box springs provide sturdy support for mattresses, but add some give because of the somewhat flexible coils inside. The give ensures even weight distribution on the surface to prevent your mattress from sagging....

Of course, trends are ever-changing, but there are a few select colors, such as orange and purple, that haven’t been as popular as the neutral beiges and forest greens currently gracing the living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms of designers and design enthusiasts. But that being said, even neutrals have turned slightly stale and are in need of a little creativity to make rooms shine rather than fall into the mainstream....

Whether you’re looking to add a current, European style touch to your apartment or just want to switch up your candle holders in honor of cozy season, I really couldn’t recommend these more. Stay tuned as I continue to try them out in new areas of my home… I’m thinking my white set would look pretty fabulous atop my black bedroom nightstand!

My cabinet was littered with plastic containers that avalanched each time I opened the door. There were mismatched lids skewed everywhere and warped containers abound—I guess I should’ve used caution before putting them in the dishwasher. I’ve been on the market for new food storage for a while now, containers that were equally utilitarian as they are beautiful. Everyone, I’m happy to report that I found them—Caraway’s newest addition to their product line, the perfect food storage container set....

Group Like Objects Together Whether you’ve amassed a striking collection of Roseville pottery, an eclectic mix of antique teddy bears, or a bevy of antique mirrors, grouping like objects together on a shelf, table, mantle, or wall can often make more of an impact than scattering them about a room. Vary the size and shape of objects in your collectible groupings to make them more interesting. This decorating technique works well with holiday collectibles, too....

Here’s a list of the top 25 birds that are must-see species to watch for when you visit the Pine Tree State. Get big birding thrills in the Lone Star State with these top birds in Texas! Find tropical birds when you look for the best birds of Florida! Try Pacific coastal birding in Oregon to look for these amazing birds!

Shopping for a diffuser can be overwhelming, to say the least. There are countless options—each with myriad features, design aesthetics, and price points. At the end of the day, however, there are a few key features to consider before investing in one. What’s the runtime? What’s the water tank capacity? Is it hard to clean? We purchased a URPOWER 300ml Essential Oil Diffuser to figure out how it stacks up against other diffusers we’ve tested....

What Are Concrete Pavers? Concrete pavers are units made from molds. The molds allow for precision in shape and size. This uniformity makes them relatively easy to install. It is easier to install such units that are all the same thickness than to install units that vary in thickness, like granite cobblestones. Because the molds that are used to form the units can be manipulated, manufacturers can produce them in a large variety of sizes, shapes, textures, and colors....

You know them for their mason jars, but Ball is also a player in the pantry organization game. They boast several pantry product lines, from their new stack and store jars to containers with secure latching lids, and they’re sharing the blueprints for your perfect pantry, created in collaboration with DIY, home design, and organization expert Kim Bui. “Pantry organization can be time-consuming and exhausting, and people often don’t know where to start,” Kate Carpenter, brand director for Newell brands, shares with The Spruce....

If all goes well, a TPR valve never gets used intentionally except during testing. But in the event of an emergency or malfunction, this valve is of critical importance. It can potentially prevent your water heater from exploding. Understanding how a T&P valve works will help you keep your water heater in tip-top shape and prevent possible damage to your home. How a T&P Relief Valve Works Mandated by all plumbing codes, the T&P valve relieves excess temperature and pressure in a water heater if either reaches a critical point....

All tomato plants are vines that would sprawl along the ground if gardeners did not stake them to grow upward. If left to their natural tendencies, tomato vines would become a damp, tangled mess on the soil, where they would attract diseases and pests. And the indeterminate varieties tend to grow much longer than the determinate varieties. Determinate Tomatoes Determinate tomatoes are varieties that grow to a fixed mature size and ripen all their fruit in a short period (usually about two weeks)....

Standard-size windows are windows of set dimensions that fit into commonly found openings in newly built homes. Since window openings usually fall into these dimensional categories, standard-size windows work for most recently built homes. Double-Hung or Single-Hung Windows Double-hung windows have two sashes—an upper and a lower—that each move up and down. Usually, the top sash remains in place, with the lower sash being opened more frequently to permit air into the home....