Fast-Growing Shrubs for Your Garden

01of 13 Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria) Annual growth: 1 to 2 feet Final size: 10 to 15 feet tall and wide Bloom time: Spring and summer Sun: Full sun Hardiness zones: 4 to 9 Want something that looks like it comes from a Doctor Seuss book? Give the smoke bush a try....

How To Clean Stainless Steel Appliances

What to Use to Clean Stainless Steel (and What to Avoid) For cleaning stainless steel as part of your routine kitchen cleaning, a simple microfiber cloth dampened with water is sufficient. When it’s time to do a more in-depth cleaning, keep rubbing...

How to Clean and Care for Your Mattress

1. Read Your Warranty Before you do anything to your mattress, be sure you read the warranty and understand what the limits are. Some manufacturers stipulate specific cleaning instructions. Understanding how your actions may affect your warranty will save headaches...

Amenities and Decor Details That Are On The Rise

1. Soft and glowy lights No. More. Overhead. Lights. This mantra is actually wise counsel when it comes to home illumination. And Yelp’s research backs it up. Searches for “ambient lights” shot up 106%, while searches for dimmer switches soared an astonishing 508% in...

7 Things To Declutter Before Summer Vacation

Beach Chairs Whether you have a summer home or you drive to a local beach, you probably have a supply of beach essentials you use every year, such as chairs. So, take a moment to evaluate them. Are they still in good condition from the previous summer? Do they easily...

7 Mistakes That Are Attracting Spiders to Your Home

Leaving Outdoor Lights On Outdoor lights are essential for safety, but they can also create problems, says Matt Rogers, CEO and co-founder of pest control company Pestie. “If you’ve ever made the mistake of leaving your outside lights on during the summer and...

Tips for buying outdoor seating you won’t regret

Know your space and your lifestyle. The right furniture for you depends on your space and your lifestyle. If you’re lucky enough to have a rooftop terrace, be sure to consider the wind’s ability to blow things away. Got kids? Maybe don’t get white cushions or pieces...

6 Outdoor Decorating Trends

01of 06Low-Maintenance Gardens According to Cate Singleton, director of design for Tilly’s, people are opting for lower-maintenance gardens and backyards these days, making it easier to simply enjoy the space. “Picking local native flowers that will flourish in...