 | Dramatically update your kitchen in six hours or less with six projects
With the amount of time you spend in your kitchen, why settle for out-of-date features and decor - especially since it is easy to give your kitchen a 180-degree makeover? Try these six simple projects, and in no time at all you'll have a kitchen where you will want to spend more time. |
 | Give holiday house guests the gift of a 5-star hotel experience
Like mistletoe and eggnog, overnight house guests go hand-in-hand with the holidays. Whether visitors are spending just one night or an entire week in your home, the situation can be stressful for everyone involved. Never fear. You can do a few simple things long before your company arrives to ensure their stay is a comfortable one. In fact, they might even mistake your guest bedroom for a luxury hotel room. |
 | Modern styles looking fresh and comfortable
The "modern" of the new millennium is taking a turn from the past. Extremist modern decorating - with angled edges, geometric shapes and cube-inspired items - has evolved. Today's soft-modern is welcoming and easy to live in - with delicate designs, flowing lines and understated details. Up-to-date and unfussy, this new modern look is fresh and comfortable. |
 | Lighting techniques that are right on track and on budget
If the mortgage crisis has you staying put for a few more years, there's an easy way to enhance your home's decor while adding value. Upgrading your recessed lighting or installing a track lighting system can brighten up any room and make your space appear larger. |
 | Not your grandmother's vinyl floor
One of the best kept secrets in hard-surface flooring is now out of the bag - it's almost identical to high-end hardwood, stone or those ceramic floors that look great in any home - but provides quiet, warm-performance benefits, is easy to maintain and won't break your budget. It's luxury vinyl tile (LVT). |
 | Power up your cleaning routine when seconds count
At one time or another, everyone has found herself racing around the house with an armful of cleaning supplies, scrambling to tidy up for unexpected guests. But the prospect of surprise visitors need not cause a full-scale panic. Use these practical tips for completing a vigorous, efficient cleaning routine when every minute matters. |
 | Simple secrets to spice up your shower
The average American adult spends 8 to 10 minutes in the shower every day, according to several surveys on the topic. Upgrading your shower can help elevate those minutes from soothing to sensational. Plus, bathroom improvements are a proven way to increase your home's value. |
 | Modern skylights fill your home with natural light and fresh air
When it comes to brightening and freshening your home, it's smart to use natural light and passive ventilation. Unlike earlier plastic bubble skylights that faded and leaked, modern glass skylights are dependable and offer nearly endless options for functional decorating. |
 | How to warm up your home with natural touches
Interior design continues to evolve rapidly. But it's not just going in one direction - it's branching out in new ways and giving homeowners fodder for ideas about how they can turn their existing house into their dream home. There is something for every taste, too, as different design concepts become more fully developed, catering to all people and all styles of homes. |
 | Saving energy can save holiday hassles
It's not just a holiday cliche - people really do hate untangling last year's holiday lights, according to a new survey. Nearly a quarter said they plan to decorate using energy-saving LED holiday lights and over half plan to use an artificial tree, making energy-saving decor a possible trend this holiday season. |
 | How to redesign your home to suit your personality
When guests enter your home, what they see is a reflection of who you are. What do you want that reflection to be? It's a seemingly simple question, but one that goes to the core of your personality. In order to redesign your home to reflect your real self, you have to know who that person is. |
 | Decking the halls: Holiday ambiance is more than just decorations
The holly boughs on the front porch railing and the evergreen wreath on the door may be visible signs of the holidays, but to really savor the spirit of the season, you need to engage all your senses. |
 | Mission possible: Indulging affordably
Taking care of life's necessities often means having less to spend on the things that make us feel good about ourselves. But when it comes to pampering yourself, the old "quality versus quantity" saying couldn't be more applicable. Luckily you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy little luxuries that can have a big impact on your life. |
 | Celebrate a new look for your home in the New Year
Each year about 70 percent of Americans make a New Year's resolution and most soon forget they ever made one. Time for a change? Why not resolve to give your old house a new look in the New Year? Start the new decade with a new attitude about your home's makeover. |
 | Debunking common floor care misconceptions
Whether it's the dog tracking in mud or the kids carrying in dirt and leaves, there are many ways floors can become dirty and unattractive. Unfortunately, for many people the process they use to clean their wood flooring might be doing more harm than good. |
 | Decor can help you wow your mate
When it comes to impressing your mate, forget about diamonds and designer gifts. You're more likely to snag a date based on your decorating taste than with bling. A majority of men and women - 88 and 85 percent, respectively - would prefer to receive a room makeover over a pricey pair of diamond earrings or watch, according to a recent survey. |
 | Tech shopping? Beauty meets the best tech in new crop of gadgets
Function alone isn't enough to sell us on a new piece of technology anymore. Americans increasingly want their technology to look good - stylish, even - in addition to working well. |
 | Resolve tough holiday stains with expert tips
According to a recent survey of 50 top parenting, style and entertaining bloggers, 94 percent plan to entertain this holiday season. Decorating the house with seasonal decor and linens is part of the holiday tradition for many families. However, more than 84 percent of hosts anticipate they'll have to throw away linens following the celebration. Here are some tips to help you fight holiday stains. |
 | Aging in place can be done with style and grace
From attractive lighting designed to work well for aging eyes to barrier-free shower stalls that compete in beauty and practicality with what you might find in a luxury community for those 55 and older, plenty of home modifications now make it possible to age in place gracefully and stylishly. |
 | Simple tips for elegant holiday hosting
'Tis the season to spend quality time gathered with family and friends at festive celebrations and holiday parties. However, don't let the stress of hosting a holiday party overwhelm you - it's easier than you think to plan an elegant celebration that is sure to impress friends, family and coworkers. |
 | City chic: Incorporate city style into your Main Street home
When you look out your window, what do you see: the cool gray steel of high-rise buildings ... or vast, open expanses of green land? You don't have to stick to an interior style that mimics your surroundings; especially if it doesn't suit your taste. Whether you live in a penthouse or a farmhouse, you can create rooms that make you feel as if you're a city-dweller as soon as you step inside. |
 | Redesign the bedroom and teach teens valuable DIY skills
The rainbow and kitten theme you picked for your daughter's room when she was a baby is now ruining her social life as a teen. And your son can't hold his head up among his teammates until you redo his room's pirate theme with something more appropriate for a teenage linebacker. |
 | Holiday decor trends feature rustic charm with homespun elegance
The air is crisp, colors have changed and cozy sweaters have re-emerged into your wardrobe's rotation. The holidays are on the way, and the season's natural beauty shines radiantly to warm the heart and inspire fresh crafting ideas. Here are the top trends for holiday season 2009. |
 | Stylish, sustainable fall interior design ideas
When you think of the colors associated with fall, green doesn't necessarily come to mind. Environmentally speaking, however, it should. There's no better time than now to lessen your home's impact on the environment and change the way you decorate and live. So, why not go green this fall? It's not nearly as difficult to become earth-friendly as you might think. |
 | Flat screen shopping? Why now is a great time to buy
In 2009, more than 53 percent of American households have at least one HDTV. Retailers haven't missed the fact that flat-screen televisions are among the few big-ticket items Americans are still willing to buy. They've responded by lowering prices and offering deals and incentives that make this a great time to buy. |
 | Handmade crafts are the ultimate customized holiday decor
Increased enthusiasm for handmade items may well be the latest good by-product of troubled economic times. |
 | Simple lighting tips to dazzle holiday guests
It's that time of year when driving around the neighborhood at night can seem almost magical. How do some homes manage to look so inviting inside and out during the holidays, while others seem to be suffering from the winter blahs? |
 | Bland walls? Fast fix-ups that are perfect for fall
When the weather cools and the bright sun of summer fades into autumn's grayer skies, bare bland walls can feel like an ugly mark on your home's decor. Suddenly, those undecorated walls that you were too busy to notice this past summer cry out for color and pizzazz. Here are the hot trends and some easy do-it-yourself decorating tips for fall. |
 | Dress up your home with festive live plants
If you're looking for ways to add a festive and unique touch to your home, think live plants. Rather than rummaging through basements and attics for holiday decorations or buying yet another centerpiece, decorating with plants adds long-lasting year-round style and cheer to any home. |
 | Give the gift of safety along with that fantastic flat screen
Once the wrapping paper is off and the "oohs" and "aahs" are over, be sure to talk safety with the gratified recipient of a shiny, new flat screen. Flat screen TVs, like other types of heavy furniture, need to be properly secured for safety. |
 | Bring style to your home's walls
With families holding onto their homes for longer periods of time, more and more people are looking for ways to update and bring more style to their interior design. Wallpaper has made a comeback, and there are many new ideas and trends out there that will give your house a beautiful new look. |
 | Updating home pays off whether selling or staying put
Whether you are thinking about selling your home or planning to stay put a few more years, some simple updates with an eye on detail can make a big impact both visually and financially. |
 | Keep your house fresh before, during and after the game
Having friends over for a football party can create some interesting chaos in your house. Keeping everything clean - and smelling good - might be a challenge. Follow a simple game plan to keep your house fresh before, during and after the party. |
 | 'Tech' the halls: Holiday decor goes high tech this season
This holiday season, don't just "decorate" with some evergreen and mistletoe - "techorate" using today's hottest home technology, including your flat-screen TV. |
 | Today's powder room: small space, but big design
The powder room - it's one of the smallest rooms in the house, but also the room that typically sees the most traffic, especially when you're entertaining guests. Just because it's the smallest room doesn't mean it needs to be small in style. |
 | Nature's bounty inspires fall interiors
The warm tones of the autumn harvest provide an inspiring palette for home decor by bringing seasonal beauty in from the fields. This transforms your indoor haven from one resonating light summer frivolity to something a little richer with more depth. |
 | Make your home more inviting this season
As families make their way indoors and begin closing up the windows, moms turn to smart and easy solutions for keeping our homes fresh, inviting and smelling great. |
| Artificial Christmas trees gaining popularity
Simplifying is the name of the game this holiday season. Americans are cutting back on spending, and when they choose to invest, it's in quality products that benefit their wallet, time, health and the environment. |
 | How to decorate a child's room and love the results
Parents and children rarely have the same decorating tastes when the time comes to redo a child's room. But don't worry - with a few tricks, you can create a stylish bedroom that is fun and functional for your child. |
 | Break out of your color comfort zone this winter
While it might be gray and dreary outside, infusing color into interior decor is one of the quickest ways to create a cozy, inviting living area. And winter is the ideal time to do it. |
