When it comes to decorating, the area rug you choose for your living room may seem like an afterthought, but in reality, the right-sized or wrong-sized rug can seriously make or break your space. A too-small area rug can make a room feel unfinished, one that’s too large can look like wall-to-wall carpeting—or might not fit in your room space-wise. What’s more, area rugs can be a major financial investment, and returning rugs purchased online can be a headache, not to mention pricey if you’re stuck with return shipping costs....

Fungal diseases move around via spores, and spores spread in a variety of ways. Sometimes, there’s nothing you can do about the spread. Insects can bring spores with them, or spores can be spread by the elements. Spores traveling on the wind arrive no matter what you do. During a downpour, spores can be splashed up onto trees from the soil, although mulching provides a partial remedy, as it offers a barrier....

Any home built after the late 1980s probably has a considerable amount of MDF in its painted woodwork, its cabinetry, its furniture, and sometimes in its structural walls and floors. For many construction and furniture applications, MDF and plywood are equally acceptable, though plywood usually gets the nod where strength is critical, while MDF is more affordable and a better choice where the surfaces need to be painted. Unlike particleboard, with which it is sometimes confused, MDF has a smooth, dense surface that is ideal for painting....

Why Ducks Can Be Confusing There are many different types of ducks, and the geese and swans in the same family are closely related, hence the confusion and variation when classifying waterfowl. Even more confusion sets in with these birds’ common names, many of which are called “geese” while genetically they are actually ducks. Furthermore, in different parts of their range, the same duck species may be referred to by several different common names....

Natural Cork If you need a bit of warmth and softness underfoot, look to cork. Cork is a flooring material with a number of distinctive qualities. It’s a subtly spongy material with a unique feel that brings delight to your feet. (We’re not talking about installing recycled corks from wine bottles.) It’s ideal flooring for anyone with allergies because it resists mold and mildew. Cork also has a subdued, natural look, similar to hardwood....

Blown-In Insulation Basics Cellulose is preferred for a few reasons. It is an environmentally responsible material made from recycled newspapers. It is less expensive than fiberglass and has a higher R-value and is less irritating to the skin and lungs. Also referred to as “natural fiber insulation,” cellulose is sold compressed in large plastic bags at home improvement stores. The bags need to be emptied into a blower, which in turn sends the fluffed-up insulation through a long hose....

Table or Shelf Every foyer should have some sort of surface where you can toss your keys, the mail, loose change, or whatever else you pick up or drop off as you enter and exit your home. A table or chest with storage is always a great idea if you have space, but if you do not, try installing a shelf or wall bracket. You can still get a surface area without sacrificing space....

Contemporary style furniture is easily recognizable for its simple and sleek lines. It is very distinguishable from more traditional style furniture in that there is hardly any intricate detail or carving. The lines of contemporary style furniture are either hard-edged or gently curved. Finishes can be in all tones, from very light to dark. Traditional and non-traditional materials are used ​and often combined, and new concepts and materials are explored....

General Tips for Making DIY Cleaners Mix cleaning solutions in small batches. Since there are no preservatives added, mixing too much at once can cause the cleaner to lose potency.Add your favorite essential oil to give a fresh scent.Label every bottle including the ingredients. This is particularly important if you reuse spray bottles or something that could be mistaken as a food container. Make Your Own Dishwashing Liquid What You’ll Need 2 cups warm water3 tablespoons liquid castile soap2 teaspoons glycerine2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar10 drops essential oil of your choice...

Being below grade, basements may have water coming in from all directions. Groundwater may seep up through the floor or through the foundation walls. It may drip or gush from plumbing pipes. Services in the basement such as the water heater or the washer may begin to leak. Before installing your basement floor covering―the top floor that you see and walk on―you should install a subfloor. This subfloor elevates the floor cover and acts as a barrier to moisture seeping upward....

Light Echeveria peacockii are sun-loving succulents that require lots of light to encourage healthy growth. When grown indoors, give them much light as possible, either in a south- or west-facing window, or beneath a grow light. When grown outdoors (especially in hot climates) Echeveria peacockii should be planted in locations that receive some protection from the harshest rays of the day because it can burn the delicate leaves. Soil These succulents require well-draining potting mediums to prevent water from sitting around the roots....

Concrete Concrete is the natural flooring surface found in basements because houses are built on top of giant concrete slabs. In its natural, untreated state, this can be unique, if dull and industrial looking basement flooring option. However, there are numerous staining and color treatments available, as well as polishing and design options that can make concrete look great in below-grade spaces. The best thing about using concrete as the floor surface is that no additional materials will be required....

Note: These rules are current as of the 2020 edition of the NEC—a coding standard that is updated every three years. While changes to the Code are gradual, it is always a good idea to check on the requirements of the latest edition of the NEC. Your local building inspector can let you know what the most current guidelines are for electrical safety around pools and spas. These are covered in article 680 of the NEC code....

At first, the tree smells heavenly, like vanilla, and the tree blooms with thousands of flowers in the form of foxgloves every late April and early May. But this seeming benefit of the tree is actually its greatest drawback: the fruit on each of those flowers hold 2,000 seeds, with a single tree capable of casting 2,000,000 seeds a year. Additionally, the empress tree can grow 20 feet in a single year....

Here are four ideas for furniture layouts for small living rooms that may inspire you and show you that less can be more. This furniture arrangement is ideal for a single adult or a couple. With the exchange of the bar for a slightly larger table, this arrangement could also work for a small family. During entertaining, the stools or chairs could be moved somewhere else in the room for temporary, additional seating, and the bar can be used as a serving area....

Pronunciation GAH-zleeeng or GAH-sleeeng (rhymes with “mah-sling” and half-rhymes with jostling or Roslyn) What Makes a Baby Goose a Gosling Both male and female goose chicks are goslings. The term is often only applied to the youngest chicks, however, and when juvenile geese begin to show flight feathers and adult plumage they are not typically called goslings. Some birders, however, do continue to call young geese goslings until they reach their full adult size, plumage, and sexual maturity....

The Appearance of HardiePlank Siding HardiePlank is partly wood, in the form of cellulose, and partly mineral. Break a piece of HardiePlank, and inside you will see a brittle core interlaced with wood fibers. HardiePlank’s wood content does not influence its distinctive wood grain appearance. That is the result of embossed texturing. HardiePlank’s embossing serves two purposes. First, it does create a reasonable simulation of wood grain. Second and most importantly, the embossing visually breaks up the flat surfaces and gives each board a richer look....