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Now that the season of sitting outside has arrived, it is natural to refresh your front porch ideas and ensure your exteriors are a therapeutic space where you can rest the day away. However, nothing interrupts the tranquility like bugs, and nothing attracts bugs like light. Thankfully, there are natural remedies that are effective in your fight against bugs on your porch – and they’re entirely expert-approved. How to keep bugs away from porch light – 4 organic ways to keep the insect away From citronella candles to mouthwash, these are the most impactful home remedies you need to know about this season....

Lapses in getting rid of squirrels during the warmer months can usually be attributed to the summer foliage. In the winter and early spring, when the trees were devoid of leaves, it was much easier to spot the bushy-tailed rodents up in their treetop haunts. These unexpected squirrel sightings serve as reminders that squirrels are present and up to their usual mischief, and that is as much of a push as most of us need to find new ways to keep squirrels out of potted plants so as not to disturb recently planted bulbs, young roots or, simply from making a mess in yards....

Of course, many of us already know how to get rid of ants in the home - but remember, there are thousands of different ant species, and it is important to handle the notorious carpenter with extra urgency and caution. Aptly named ‘carpenter’, these ants (which are commonly black in color) build their nests in wood. If they are left to roam, they have the capability to threaten the structure of your home as their nests can fracture and ruin wood....

Associated with springtime, the season of birth and renewal, the essential ingredients of an Easter wreath – spring flowers and buds, eggs and even found elements such as feathers – will bring seasonal style to your home decor, and pretty color and detail to the exterior of your home. Made using dried flowers, this design is one of the Easter wreath ideas you can use each year to decorate, and it can be created in just a few simple steps....

A chimney requires upkeep throughout the year, and planning in advance for your chimney to be swept and cleaned will make sure you are not caught out and unprepared for the cold – because as we know, the weather can be most unpredictable. From booking a chimney sweep to remembering how to clean your fireplace, we have made a step by step guide on how to prep your chimney to ensure this warming hub of the home remains inviting, well-kept and safe....

If you needed a reason to grow one in your front or backyard, crepe myrtle are sacred in Greek mythology and said to bring peace and love to families. Filling summers with weeks, sometimes months, of vibrant flowers spanning a spectrum of colors from white to pink to purple and red, these plants are a stunning ornamental addition to any garden and a particularly good choice as trees for for front yards....

Rhododendron is, on the whole, a low maintenance woodland shrub and due to its reliable nature often used in ornamental landscaping. Preferring a pH between 4.5-5.5 rhododendrons favor acidic soil, they make are excellent choices for flower bed ideas in shadier spots, and with the right care grow well in pots. This fascinating diverse genus of plants has over 1,000 colorful species of evergreen shrubs and deciduous rhododendron and azalea, with palettes ranging across the spectrum from white, yellow, orange and red through to pinks and purples....

Your fireplace tile ideas won’t just make your space smarter, they can also create a striking style statement that can inspire the color scheme, patterns and textures in the rest of the room. So read on for our guide on how to tile a fireplace with advice, hints and tips from the experts on how to tackle this DIY task with ease. How to tile a fireplace As well as choosing a style, print, pattern or color for the tiles, it’s important to think about safety at every step when tiling a fireplace, especially with the materials, when you are grouting tiles, for example....

Tile countertops were a hot trend in the ‘70s and ‘80s and now they’re making a major comeback, bringing high impact color, pattern and flair to kitchens and bathrooms worldwide. The best news is that tiling a countertop is absolutely a remodel project you can complete with just a little expert know-how. And if you know how to tile a wall or how to tile a floor, and how to grout tiles, you’ll find the job a breeze....

Items made from fleece may only re-emerge from closets in the colder months, but it’s important that they’re kept fresh and clean during use, and when they’re stored away, too. Make sure laundry room ideas include storage for the products required to keep fleece pristine as well as tactile. As for how to wash fleece, these are the answers. How to wash fleece There are two types of fleece material: natural fleece and synthetic fleece....

I had heard that organizing an entryway is one of the most impactful things you can do to make mornings feel more seamless, but as I am working with such a compact space, I was keen to discover small entryway ideas that would make an immediate impact without a significant time (or financial) investment. That was when I decided to create a ‘drop zone.’ How I use a ‘drop zone’ to bring order to my entryway While some entryway storage ideas are made for larger, family-friendly spaces, I was looking for something that could work in virtually any sized space – and that was when I remembered where I had seen a drop zone used before....

Unlike some ‘more pressing’ jobs, such as cleaning your kitchen or washing your bedsheets, knowing how to clean a window feels slightly less urgent. After all, most of the dirt is found outside the home, so what’s the rush? This familiar argument was one I often relied on when it came to a deep clean, and so, my windows were often sacrificed. I will admit that, alongside my poor excuses, the thought of cleaning my windows always seemed like a huge task – involving harsh chemicals and scrubbing techniques that I was keen to avoid....

Everyday spaces, a kitchen should be an uplifting, positive space in which we enjoy spending time. Therefore, adding kitchen wallpaper ideas are a great way to introduce mood-boosting color and pattern to the space. Kitchens are also practical, high traffic areas, so it’s important to bear this in mind when choosing what type of wallpaper to use and where to position them. Whether you’re designing a brand new kitchen, or simply looking to update an existing scheme with new kitchen ideas, then you’re in luck as there are so many wallpaper ideas perfect for kitchens to get you inspired – we’ve rounded up an selection of our favorites alongside some expert tips to help you choose the right paper for your space....

While getting stuck in with a gourd and a carving knife can be great fun, it’s not always the best way to go about Halloween decorating ideas with young children around. Pumpkin carving ideas also have their limitations – if you’re looking to inject some color, texture or more sophisticated pattern into your pumpkin, then considering alternative techniques can open up a whole world – or underworld – of possibilities....

‘Sometimes getting the groceries away is a chore in itself, without worrying about making sure everything fits and is easy to access,’ says Cesar Fernandez, home economist at Miele. ‘But there’s more to re-stocking your refrigerator than you may think. Having a well-organized refrigerator will not only make everything easier to find but it also keeps it fresher, reduces waste and saves money.’ Gaining and maintaining order inside your refrigerator will also result in speedier meal preparation....

When it comes to choosing the perfect planter to realize your container gardening ideas, there are plenty of materials, shapes and sizes to choose from. And brave and bold planting choices will immediately draw the eye and make an impact. Whether you are after a window box bursting with seasonal blooms or a majestic large-scale container with small tree, your choice will contribute hugely to your property’s appeal. Planter box ideas Planters are ideal when you’re looking for small garden ideas or if you have a larger backyard....

This is because a generous kitchen is now the epicenter for modern home life and a hub for cooking, entertaining, working, and more. From side and rear extensions to conservatories and basement designs, there are a number of options available when it comes to planning a kitchen layout for your remodel. To help you decide on the most suitable extension for your needs, start by asking your kitchen designer for advice....

The Cleveland-based color authority has announced Redend Point SW 9081 – a ‘calming blush-beige’ as their 2023 Color of the Year – and this tone will change how you use pink shades in your home. While the label of a ‘color trend’ can often feel fleeting, we predict Redend Point (opens in new tab) is versatile and durable enough to endure throughout 2023 and beyond. The brand created the hue to embody ’the idea of a destination worth moving towards’ whilst promoting the ‘spirit of discovery’ with others throughout the world – and this is something we all crave going into the year ahead....

A trick often missed when revamping a guest room is to make it feel as comfortable as other rooms in the house. Whether you want the space to feel bright, soothing, spacious or cozy, always put comfort first with all your guest bedroom ideas. Small guest room ideas In your zeal to be creative in every other area of your home, don’t forget the small guest room or spare room, says Irene Gunter, founder of Gunter & Co....

Thatch has been used as a roof covering for millennia, and was the dominant material across much of the UK and Europe up to the late 19th century. A large number of charming thatched properties remain today, and for fans of chocolate box cottages, they make up some of the world’s best homes. The material was also used by early settlers in the United States, although the practice largely diminished over the following centuries....