Whether you want to share your experience of having a one-of-a-kind playhouse in the sky with your kids or are keen to build them the treehouse or raised platform in the trees you always wish you had, you’ll find plenty of inspiration among these do-it-yourself design options. What to add to your treehouse depends on the child or children. Do you make it a pirate hideout with a hidden trapdoor?...

When you travel, you open up a part of yourself underneath the surface—often, you are pushed out of your comfort zone. Sometimes you have to learn a new language and customs, dress differently, or take on an identity that best fits the place you are exploring. It’s fair to say that traveling can be a life-changing experience. Whether you identify as having wanderlust, were recently bit by the travel bug, or are casually thinking about planning a trip in the future, here are tips from design and art experts on how to bring travel to the heart of your home....

Better Grip Soapy water and slippery dishes do not mix. Anyone who has ever dropped a soapy dish and broken it knows how dangerous sharp objects and murky, sudsy water can be. Wearing gloves allows you to grip items better than you would be able to with just your fingers when hand washing dishes. This may prevent a broken dish in the first place. If you do accidentally drop something, your gloves will protect you against cuts so you can clean up the mess safely....

Botanical Bath The term sounds very scientific, but proponents say the look boils down to adding elements that reflect your favorite things from the great outdoors. Kamili Bell Hill calls herself a “design and plant enthusiast” who started her popular Instagram page two and a half years ago when she was looking for a way to use her creativity and to document her hobby. She has since left a law career to practice her passions....

For safety reasons, always opt to use string lights and bulbs specifically rated for the outdoors—this will ensure that they can withstand the elements in your area (think: snow, rain, or ice). Remember that in a rolling climate emergency, it’s important to switch to LEDs to save energy (and money). And for the sake of the planet—and the neighbors—keep them up just long enough to celebrate the season before putting them away until next year....

1. Make Your Bed It may seem obvious, but making your bed will work wonders in ensuring that your room appears nice and neat. Emily Matles, a professional organizer and founder of emagine simplicity in Brooklyn, NY, offers a tip for taking things to the next level. “Always remember to fluff pillows as well as the comforter insert in the duvet cover,” she says. If you have time to change your sheets, be mindful about the hues you use....

Postcard photo invitations featuring the birthday child in a fairytale-perfect costume Cardstock paper cut into the shape of a leaf, tree, or toadstool Coloring pages that feature enchanted forest creatures such as elves, fairies, or woodland animals Flyer invitations, printed with a Calligraphy-style font and then rolled into scrolls Of course, you don’t have to supply entire ensembles—the elf hats and fairy headbands are more than enough. Kids may come dressed “as is” and still enjoy every aspect of the party....

This project is a surprisingly easy build, requiring only simple, inexpensive materials and basic tools for construction. Even the chains are purchased in sets that are designed especially for porch swings, so no metal-cutting is involved. As long as you have a sturdy porch ceiling capable of holding the weight of the swing plus users, you’ll have your porch swing up in no time at all. Hardscaping materials tend to be fairly inexpensive, using crushed stone or paver base, paver sand, landscape fabric, and edging....

Selecting the Wrong Style Curtains are finished at the top in a variety of ways that are directly related to how they function. For example, you would not want to pick panels with tight-fitting rod pockets if you want to open and close them often. Think about how you want your curtains to operate and choose accordingly. Thinking About the Curtains Last When designing a room, many people tend to pick a paint color first, then add in soft furnishings like curtains and pillows....

Here are seven tips to help you problem solve when your washer isn’t working properly. These may save you the expense of a service call or eliminate some issues so the problem is easier for the technician to solve. If that doesn’t work, move on to the next item to check. You may be able to replace the fuse or turn the breaker back on. If this happens frequently, call an electrician immediately!...

But even if you’re confident in your own indoor gardening abilities, adding plant life to a space can be overwhelming. With this in mind, we turned to a few of our favorite experts to ask for their best plant styling tips for any and all spaces. “Look at the space and determine what is needed: height, fullness, or both,” she says. “Think also about using a grouping of three plants instead of one....

Mistake #1: Not Lighting a Candle the Right Way Believe it or not, there is, in fact, a correct way to light a candle—and it doesn’t just involve striking a match without any prep. “Too many people either don’t know that they are doing this wrong or they may just be lazy, but the first place to start is to trim your wick to a ¼ inch before every burn. This is critical,” Chikumbu explained....

“During the late summertime, there’s still an opportunity to get outdoors,” Oosterhouse says. “Take advantage of the nice, warm weather and do the outdoor projects during this time. Save the interior projects for when the weather has cooled down.” But if you’re facing a laundry list of things to do, this advice can feel overwhelming. With Oosterhouse as our guide, we took a look at the best projects to tackle during the last of these warm-weather days and beyond....

In anticipation (and to get ahead of the trends), we asked some of our favorite designers and creators to share their predictions for 2022 furniture and design trends. Keep reading for their guesses as to what silhouettes, materials, and styles we’ll be seeing next year. Curvaceous Lines Betty Brandolino, founder and creative director of Fresh Twist Studio, tells us, “A trend we’re seeing in furniture design … is the implementation of curvaceous lines in upholstered furniture silhouettes and case goods....

Add a laundry folding table to your existing laundry room to make life easier. Not only will a laundry folding table give you lots of room to fold your laundry, but it will also keep your laundry room (and wardrobe) tidy and organized—and keep piles of unfolded laundry from accumulating in your other living spaces. A practical laundry folding table has enough room for you to fold items and stack folded laundry; a truly great one will also have an attached or built-in ironing board or allow you to place one on top of the table, allowing the table to serve multiple purposes....

Throw Blanket Every bedroom should have a colorful throw blanket to add a spark of colorful contrast. Keep it folded across the foot of your bed to warm your feet on chilly nights. Wrap it around your shoulders when you sit up in bed to watch TV. Or use it to stay cozy when curled up in your reading chair with your favorite magazine. Toss Pillows Here’s another opportunity to add shots of color, pattern, and texture to your bedroom décor....

For a fun introduction to arts and crafts for young toddlers, snap up the ALEX Toys Little Hands Button Art. The Michigan-based company’s set includes 46 colorful buttons that pop into a grid with 36 holes, plus 10 laminated picture cards that can be overlaid on the grid to create cute designs. To see if this toy’s popularity is warranted, we tested it for a couple of weeks with our 18-month-old toddler, evaluating its entertainment value, design, and age appropriateness....