Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 357)

Secret Rooms: 10 Special Spaces Hidden from Sight in the Home
Design

Secret Rooms: 10 Special Spaces Hidden from Sight in the Home

Whether it's a concealed room, hidden storage space, or cozy reading nook, having a secret place in our homes appeals to the kid in all of us. Here we reveal 10 furtive ways to cover your (design) tracks.

11 Clever Alternatives to Kitchen Cabinets
Interior

11 Clever Alternatives to Kitchen Cabinets

If you're looking to give your kitchen a facelift, look no further than the cabinets. Whether they store food, plates, appliances, or all three, cabinets often take up the majority of the real estate in the kitchen, both physically and visually. This means that your cabinets may be the most important decision you'll make in decorating your kitchen—along with a few other vital, big-ticket items like the refrigerator and oven. So why not look for cabinet options that will help set your kitchen apart from the rest? We found 11 alternatives that will keep feeling fresh and new, whether you’re sitting down to breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Banish the Bland: 8 Inspiring Ideas for a Handsome Hallway
Interior

Banish the Bland: 8 Inspiring Ideas for a Handsome Hallway

When you redecorate your home, don't neglect the hallway! Draw on these inspired examples to dress up those drab, narrow spaces and turn them into points of interest.

The 10 Best Woods for Woodworking (According to a Pro)
DIY

The 10 Best Woods for Woodworking (According to a Pro)

Woodworking pro, Spike Carlsen, shares his pick for the top ten best woodworking woods, along with the characteristics, best uses and cost for each.

The 10 Types of Hinges Every DIYer Needs to Know
Interior

The 10 Types of Hinges Every DIYer Needs to Know

When it comes time to upgrade a front door, build new kitchen cabinets, or even fix a toy box, homeowners have a wide range of hinge styles to choose from.

15 Inspirational Ideas for a Better Foyer
Design

15 Inspirational Ideas for a Better Foyer

The foyer is your first opportunity to make an impression on visitors and the first thing you see when you walk into your home each day. Take inspiration from these foyer ideas to add impact, style, and function to your entryway.

10 House-Hunting Lessons You Can Learn from the TV Shows
Real Estate

10 House-Hunting Lessons You Can Learn from the TV Shows

Reality TV shows that open a window onto the world of real estate have been entertaining us for years. But if you look beyond the spectacle, you can actually learn a thing or two about the home buying process as well. Here are 10 practical house-hunting lessons that come straight from reality TV.

10 Things Homeowners Need to Know About Their Property Rights
Real Estate

10 Things Homeowners Need to Know About Their Property Rights

Property rights are the foundation of homeownership, but this collection of privileges and protections varies from state to state and from neighborhood to neighborhood. Read on to learn more about basic property rights and to find out how these rights can be affected by laws, ordinances, codes, and covenants.

17 Free Resources More Homeowners Should Take Advantage Of
DIY

17 Free Resources More Homeowners Should Take Advantage Of

Being a homeowner often demands more money and energy than you can spare. But a trove of local and online resources are standing by to give savvy homeowners access to free products and services that can make home—and life—maintenance easier and cheaper. Click through for the lowdown on 19 freebies that no homeowner can afford to ignore.

16 Simple Tricks to Stay Seriously Warm This Winter
DIY

16 Simple Tricks to Stay Seriously Warm This Winter

Everything seems more difficult when Old Man Winter comes calling. Even everyday activities become major hassles when you have to scrape an iced-over windshield or brave the swirling snow merely to get to work or run a simple errand. Well, you don't have to put up with chattering teeth, bare feet on chilly floors, and sky-high heating bills, no matter how frigid it is outside. Just try a few of our home heat hacks to stay toasty warm and conquer those cold-weather woes.

Made from Scratch: 25 DIY Dining Tables
DIY

Made from Scratch: 25 DIY Dining Tables

It’s the spot where family gathers for holiday meals, birthday cake, and after-dinner chats. The dining table is the center of so many happy memories, why not tailor yours to suit your tastes and style? Even a newbie to the DIY scene can succeed with these 25 DIY dining table projects.

A “Charged” Debate: Portable vs. Standby Generators
Exterior

A “Charged” Debate: Portable vs. Standby Generators

If the region where you live is subject to more than the occasional power outage, consider investing in either a portable or standby generator. These guidelines can help you choose between the two.

9 Iconic American Brands That No Longer Exist
Reviews

9 Iconic American Brands That No Longer Exist

Thanks to changing economies, changing technologies, changing tastes, and a host of other factors, it can be a struggle for any company—even the most iconic ones—to stay afloat. Sadly, these once-thriving American businesses just couldn't keep up with the times and had to call it quits.

How Often Should You Vacuum? Solved!
Interior

Solved! How Often You Should Actually Be Vacuuming

Know how often to vacuum your hard floors and carpeting to keep them clean and preserve their good looks.

Wing It: 14 Approaches to a DIY Birdbath
DIY

Wing It: 14 Approaches to a DIY Birdbath

Welcome feathered friends to your backyard with a DIY birdbath modeled after any of the following inspiring designs.

Here's Where to Buy a Tiny House
Real Estate

Solved! Where to Buy a Tiny House

Learn the best places to purchase a downsized domicile and get the 411 on how to how to go about it.

Interior

30 Coffee Bars to Put Pep in Your Home Design

The explosion in popularity of single-serve coffeemakers like the Keurig has given rise to a new home design trend: the coffee bar. Making a cup of coffee now requires minimal effort, and many of us feel free to indulge in our favorite hot beverage throughout the day, as opposed to just in the morning. There's no need to venture out to the coffee shop on the corner when it’s easier than ever to enjoy a fresh, hot cup of coffee at home—a convenience especially appreciated by telecommuters. Coffee is such a fixture in our lives, it seems natural to set aside a special place for the satisfying ritual of making it. Here are some of our favorite examples of home coffee bars from around the Web.

40 Fresh Ideas for a Beautiful Dining Room
Design

40 Fresh Ideas for a Beautiful Dining Room

If it's time to remodel, redecorate, or simply refresh a tired old dining room, here are a wealth of ideas for taking what can be a stodgy, inflexible space and infusing it with beauty, flair, and comfort.

Combat Dry Winter Air with 15 Tips and Tricks
Interior

Combat Dry Winter Air with 15 Tips and Tricks

With temperatures low across the country, heating systems on full blast, and houses buttoned up against the cold, the air in your home can pretty dry this time of year. To improve indoor air quality, promoting health and comfort in the bargain, follow with these simple and easy tips and tricks.

12 Things You Never Thought to Do With Packing Peanuts
DIY

12 Things You Never Thought to Do With Packing Peanuts

Loose-fill packaging materials like polystyrene packing peanuts do a great job of protecting fragile items during transport. But what to do with them once you’ve opened that shipping box? Whatever you do, don’t throw them away! There are a lot of ways you can reuse and repurpose packing peanuts. Check out our favorites.