Get Inspired, But Have a Plan If you love the idea of creating a mood board for your bedroom, then choosing the right bedding will be easy. A mood board can be created with your favorite color swatches literally attached to a board, or you can create one on your computer, or even use Pinterest. Once your mood board is complete, you’ll have a clear vision of the bedding color to shop for....

But what does it mean to truly get organized? Beyond the basics, there are a few essentials that you need to have in order to get the edge on your home organization. Whether you’re a seasoned organizer and this is a yearly ritual, or you’re deciding to jump on the organization trend for this first time, here are the must-haves experts recommend. Drawer Organizers One of the most often overlooked areas in your home—and more specifically, your kitchen and office—are your drawers....

Having high ceilings means having a fair amount of unused space over the 8-foot-high mark. It can make a room feel grand and luxurious, but it can also make a room feel cold and empty. In fact, a room with high ceilings can look quite terrible if not properly addressed. In order to avoid this, you need to blend the upper and lower areas by drawing the eye upwards. Here are six ways to decorate a tall room and make the most of your soaring ceilings....

Among its many beautiful features, modern design is known largely for the straight-edged, streamlined approach that gives it its clean, minimalist aesthetic. In fact, one of the things that make modern room design and mid-century furnishings such a good match is that both strive for a fairly minimalist, decidedly non-ostentatious look. One of the first things that mid-century furniture can do for a modern space, however, is to break up some of those straight lines with the more organic shapes that it favors....

But just because the internet says it’s a brilliant hack doesn’t mean it is. Though you can keep some of the surprising methods you discover in your back pocket for later, others aren’t so fantastic. Research is essential to preventing a disaster, and the safest bet? Reach out to a cleaning professional for their advice. To save you from major mishaps and cleaning fiascos, a few experts chimed in on a handful of cleaning hacks that, unfortunately, are too good to be true....

1. Simplify Simplify is the mantra for those who live in small spaces. “The kitchen is streamlined,” says Amanda Evey, who lives with her husband Garth in a 40-foot RV on the Oregon coast. “You only have what you use.” That may mean you don’t have that special bundt pan come the holidays, or even the oven space for a whole turkey. Counter space is at a premium. It’s perfectly okay to let go of the classic turkey with all the trimmings in favor of something simpler but equally delicious....

Here are eight groups of edible landscaping plants to add to your garden. Most animals won’t want to munch on the prickly leaves. And as long as the flowers are a few feet off the ground, nothing should touch them. Also, trellising pole beans is an easy way to add height to your garden. They grow faster than most annual flowering vines, and bean flowers are just as lovely. If you want more ornamental value, grow a colorful variety, such as Long Red Noodle beans or Dragon Tongue....

Pink houseplants add a wonderful pop of color to a sea of green and make your plant collection more interesting. Plus, they’re fun and unexpected. If you asked your friends to visualize a houseplant, the one that they’d imagine probably wouldn’t be pink. So if you’re looking to expand your collection and add a pop of color, check out these eight houseplants with pink leaves. These are small plants that are really great for terrariums....

What Aerial Birds Do While Flying Aerial birds do many things in flight that other birds must land or perch to do. Typical activities that these flying dynamos do easily in the air include: Feeding: Aerial birds catch prey in flight, often swallowing it whole without landing to consume their meal, though their flight path may be disrupted briefly as they feed. Drinking: While some aerial species do not drink regularly, instead, they derive moisture from their prey, others will dip their bills into a water surface while in flight to get a drink....

About Mealworms Mealworms are the larvae of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, also called the darkling beetle or tenebrio beetle. The larvae may also be called yellow mealworms or golden grubs, and they’re pure gold for the birds that eat them. With a size from 1-1.5 inches long, these insects are a rich source of protein that is necessary for muscle development in birds. At the same time, however, they are low in calcium and should not be the exclusive food offered at feeders....

Regulated For a Reason Like basement remodels, attic conversions have restrictions that make them less attractive for remodeling as they might first appear. Fire as a cause of injury and death is the main reason for these restrictions. The United States Fire Administration estimates that in just a two year period, from 2006 to 2008, close to 10,000 residential attic fires occurred, resulting in nearly half a billion dollars worth of damage....

What Purple Martins Need Like all birds, purple martins require four things for a suitable habitat: food, water, shelter, and nesting sites. By choosing options that specifically appeal to purple martins, it’s easy to create a bird-friendly habitat with these swallows in mind. Food: Purple martins eat flying insects, so no bird feeders or type of birdseed will attract them. Instead, birders should avoid spraying insecticides or pesticides on lawns, trees, or shrubs, since doing so will eliminate the most important food source these birds require....

Both flooring types are made from renewable resources, are attractive, and at the same time, durable, low-maintenance, and even cost-effective. If you are aiming for a LEED-certified home renovation, bamboo and cork may qualify for credits. Bamboo and cork floors are very flexible in terms of which rooms you can install them in: they can withstand the moisture issues in the kitchen and bath, and look warm and inviting in your living spaces....

Grow Golden Oriole in full to partial sun, in zones 5 to 8. It becomes 6 feet in height, with a spread of 4 to 6 feet. Grow Gibraltar in partial sun, in zones 5 to 8. It becomes 5 to 6 feet tall, with a spread of 4 to 6 feet, after 10 years. Stewartstonian becomes 4 to 5 feet tall, with a similar spread. Grow it in partial shade, in zones 5 to 8....

Ideal Options for Dog-Friendly Wood Floors The best flooring option for a home with dogs is not wood at all. Take your pick of any alternative: vinyl, laminate, tile, or stone. All might be better than wood in a house with a dog. But if you still want wood, take note. Softwoods such as pine or fir are poor choices for houses with dogs. No amount of site-applied surface preparation can shield against dog claws....

If you live in a small home or simply don’t like dragging a full-size vacuum around, a product like the Black+Decker 2-IN-1 Cordless Lithium Ion Stick + Hand Vacuum is definitely appealing. Stick vacuums are smaller, lighter, and more portable than their full-size counterparts. Many models are also cordless, so you won’t have to play musical outlets as you vacuum your home. However, this means most stick vacuums run on batteries, which can result in compromised suction power and run time....

Turkish towels, or “fouta” in Turkish, date back to the 18th century and have experienced a recent surge in popularity. Though thinner than standard bath towels, they’ve made a comeback because of their softness, absorbency, and fast drying time. They’re a stylist’s dream; their fringed edges and striped design make them fancy enough to be worn as cover-ups or used as decorative throws. Brooklinen, a company well-known for its luxurious textiles, offers a plusher spin on the traditional fouta....

I’ve always been a hot sleeper—and not just toasty here and there. I’m talking really warm. Thick flannel sheets are truly my worst nightmare when it comes to bedtime, but the Buffy Eucalyptus Sheets—basically the opposite of thick, hot sheets—are a dream come true. The Buffy Eucalyptus Sheets appealed to me on so many levels. For one, they’re lightweight and breathable. I actually did a double-take after touching these sheets for the first time....

Astilbes require copious moisture to thrive in the landscape; in fact, a rain garden is an ideal setting for these plants. Adding humus to the soil and using mulch generously will help keep the root system moist for healthy plants. All impatiens are easy to grow from seed, if you start them indoors about two months before last frost. Impatiens like ample amounts of water, and even do well on the banks of streams and ponds....