Changes both big and small can help you maximize the utility of your basement, and as these lifestyle bloggers show us, many of these changes can be made on your own with just a bit of creativity and some hard work. With that in mind, here are some of our favorite “before” and “after” DIY basement makeovers to get the inspiration flowing.
Nowadays, instead of just popping your cutting into a random container, you can find some really cute propagation vases. They come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. You may end up wanting to leave your cutting in the glass instead of planting it into soil! Here are 9 propagation vases that are super stylish.
If you are new to buying furniture or have discovered that the furniture you have isn’t helping you, here are some suggestions: Along with your needs, there are also constraints when it comes to furnishing. These constraints could relate to space, budget, or any other special need. Knowing both your furniture needs and constraints can help you explore furnishing possibilities better. Make this the first and most basic step of your buying process....
A basement just requires a good, serviceable flooring material that will stand up to abuse and, above all, moisture. Since basements floors are below ground and usually rest atop a concrete slab, moisture is a primary concern. With all of that in mind, inexpensive flooring choices will have to be those materials that can be installed right on a concrete slab—or the concrete itself might be the flooring. Concrete Concrete flooring can be the least expensive choice in a basement because it’s already there....
Fast Facts Scientific Name: Psaltriparus minimusCommon Name: Bushtit, Black-Eared Bushtit, American BushtitLifespan: 7-8 yearsSize: 4-4.5 inchesWeight: .1-.2 ouncesWingspan: 6-7 inchesConservation Status: Least concern Bushtit Identification These small birds are relatively plain but do have distinct features that help make their identification easier. The black bill is short and stubby, and they have a short neck and round head that can give them a more compact, chunky appearance. This is balanced by a very long tail, which can seem out of proportion with the bird’s overall tiny size....
We chatted with Anne Briggs (Anne of All Trades) via a Zoom meeting, which she took from her workshop. With one of her earliest projects proudly displayed in the background (a hanging tool cabinet), Anne told us how she got started, the project that makes her the proudest, and what’s next for Anne of All Trades. Her Inspiration “It was magical.” That’s how Anne described her inspiration. Her late grandfather, “a true child of the Great Depression,” was the ultimate DIYer, and his four-car garage-turned-workspace was her childhood dream place....
Impatiens make a good indicator plant if you want a signal that it’s time to water. They will wilt and drop their blooms and then languish for a week even after you’ve watered them, but they won’t die without a fight. In partial shade, with minimal water, your impatiens will shine. Some varieties have a sweet scent, but you really have to get down close to tell. Sweet alyssum is extremely drought tolerant and blooms longest if you give it a good shearing in mid-summer....
These long-lived, slow-growing succulents are characterized by bulbous shape, V-shaped markings, and seam-like ridges that resemble stitching. Rather than branches or leaves, the plant consists of a single wide stem body from which the flowers sprout. Young baseball plants are round in shape but become more elongated and cylindrically shaped with maturity. Baseball plants are also called sea urchin plants since they loosely resemble that creature. The plants are dioecious, with either male or female flowers that are yellow in color and rather insignificant in appearance....
Plastic shopping bags are becoming a thing of the past. We recently started using reusable bags to run our errands and are now hooked. It’s not only better for the environment, but it makes your groceries so much easier to carry. Since we live in a city and walk everywhere, we wanted to make sure we had the best and most comfortable option. We were intrigued that the BeeGreen Basic Reusable Grocery bags had straps that you could carry over your shoulders, so we took them out one Saturday to run a bunch of shopping errands and see how well they worked....
Meanwhile, peas and other legumes such as beans are good companion plants for many other vegetables because they increase the availability of nitrogen in the soil. A great many vegetables’ growth is enhanced if they have peas and other legumes as close neighbors. Best Companion Plants for Peas For peas, the best companion plants are the ones that share their care requirements, as well as help them grow better and use your gardening space more efficiently....
When looking for the best landscape design software on the market, we awarded extra points to programs that offer customers a free demo or trial period to test out the features before they commit. Though not all software fits the bill, we tried to highlight options that are compatible with more than one operating system, making them accessible to a wider audience. If you’re ready to plan out your dream yard, here are the programs we recommend....
When it comes to vacuums, we usually assume that more expensive means better engineering and better performance. If you don’t want to drop a house payment on a vacuum, though, does that mean you have to be happy with a push broom and a prayer against dirt? Bissell doesn’t think so. The company’s PowerForce Helix Bagless Upright Vacuum is very affordable and promises to be low-maintenance and functional. We just had to try it out for ourselves....
Phyllostachys nigra, commonly referred to as black bamboo, is famous for its ebony-colored stalks, or culms. It is a running bamboo, which means it spreads and grows rapidly through underground rhizomes. This can cause black bamboo to be very invasive if not controlled. However, its rapid growth is not all bad. Black bamboo is perfect for creating dense walls or natural privacy fences and noise barriers. Black bamboo culms first appear green before transitioning to their famous black coloring during the second or third year of growth....
Otherwise, this plant is pretty hardy and doesn’t have any serious issues with pests or diseases. Plan to water and feed your cactus more regularly in the spring through early fall than in the late fall and winter months. And repot container plants as needed once they’ve outgrown their containers. When planted outdoors or placed in an outdoor container garden, position your brain cactus in a spot that has some protection from strong winds, which can be damaging to the plant....
Clay brick pavers are typically shaped the same as wall brick, but they are thinner, anywhere from 1/4 inch to about an inch thick. They are best suited for installation over concrete slabs on ground floors, since the weight is too great for a wood-framed flooring system to support. Brick flooring is very durable, but it requires sealing to protect it from stains, and its rustic appearance is not a good fit for every home design....
Whether you’re stepping out of the shower or cozying up on the couch, it’s a great feeling to wrap yourself up in a luxurious bathrobe. Brooklinen, a company that’s well-known for its high-quality bedding, offers a waffle style robe that supposedly delivers on all fronts—style, softness, and absorbency. To fully gauge comfort and durability, I wore the Brooklinen Waffle Robe around the house for several weeks. Read on to hear my final verdict on whether it’s worth purchasing....
Bush honeysuckle is normally planted as a potted nursery plant in spring, but it can also be planted from seeds. It is a relatively fast-growing shrub; even when sown from commercial seeds, it often flowers by its third season. Plant northern bush honeysuckle as you would any landscape shrub—at the same depth it was growing in its nursery container, in a hole that is about twice as wide as the container....
What Is Vinyl Siding? Similar to aluminum siding, vinyl siding comes in a variety of styles, including vertical, textured, and horizontal panels, and comes in a range of prefinished colors. Some of these colors were rather unique. Since it seems some of these unusual vinyl siding colors were not found in nature it was a criticism somewhat deserved. Camo Vinyl Siding But vinyl siding now has a green look! A product by Continental Siding provides a Mossy Oak camouflage look to vinyl siding....
