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Woodpeckers are good to have around to help balance the ecosystem. In fact, some people think it means good luck and prosperity when you see a woodpecker. Among other foods, woodpeckers eat a variety of insects—including those that can damage wood. Certain animals also use old woodpecker nest cavities. If a woodpecker is pecking your house, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have termites. It might be eating other bugs, such as spiders and ants....

In the home, dust mites are found in the highest concentrations in areas where we spend the most time and on surfaces that tend to trap dust, including mattresses, carpeting, and fabrics that can’t be washed regularly. Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments and multiply quickly and easily. Fortunately, there are several methods for how to get rid of dust mites in clothes, carpet, and more. They will kill dust mites naturally and instantly....

These easy-to-control crafting pens come in multiple sizes and colors and can be purchased at your local craft store. You can even buy metallic pens! (Perfect for adding a little glam to your project!) The cost? A whopping $5! That’s right, folks. With a steady hand and a little patience, you can create a stunning feature wall for less than the cost of your regular latte. It’s a DIY’ers dream come true!...

In designing a garden with children in mind, your first inclination might be to buy the biggest playset with all the bells and whistles or create the largest playground, guaranteed to transform your yard into the neighborhood theme park. The envy of your child’s peers. Make the design intriguing, with a sense of adventure and mystery, like there always might be something around the corner that’s worth investigating. Whether your space is on 2 acres or is an urban courtyard, make it a family project....

Bush been varieties described as heirlooms have been around since before 1900—although some have been recently developed from one of these old varieties. These are generally easy-to-grow plants, though they may not have the full spectrum of resistance to pests and disease found in modern hybrids. But, in exchange for slightly greater susceptibility, heirloom varieties are often much tastier than many modern hybrids. Here are 15 heirloom bush beans to consider for your vegetable garden....

With this in mind, we turned to a few cleaning pros to ask how they approach spring cleaning in their own spaces—and learn a few tips and tricks for refreshing our own spaces. Always Make a Plan Alicia Sokolowski of AspenClean says she never starts a deep clean without a plan of attack. “I’m a fan of good planning, so I start by taking a tour of the house, assessing what needs to be tackled, and making a schedule,” says Sokolowski....

Shiplap walls are characterized by their long, overlapping wooden planks, which are often distressed or painted off-white for a weathered look. We most frequently see horizontal shiplap walls, but the planks can be installed vertically, too. As exemplified by the 15 projects below, shiplap accent walls are incredibly easy to install in just a weekend, make for a budget-friendly upgrade, and can shine in any room of the house—seriously.

This annual herb from the Lamiaceae (mint) family is grown in temperate regions and is prominent in many cuisines worldwide. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) can be grown as a perennial in warm zones (USDA 9-11), and commonly grown worldwide as an annual. There are many different types of basil, and some of them are associated with specific regions or cuisines (Genovese basil, for example, is associated with Italian cooking, and there are a number of Thai basils used in Thai cookery)....

Whether you’re hoping to stick with a calming, understated backsplash or you want to do something a little more bold to offer color and interest to your kitchen, we’ve rounded up some of the best expert-approved white kitchen backsplash ideas, from classic subway tiles to more adventurous DIY pursuits.

Checking the mail is a daily activity, after all, and we’re major proponents of making everyday routines feel a bit more special. It turns out that there are actually many ways in which you can elevate your mailbox display to make both the box and post look more eye-catching and unique. We’ve rounded up 20 of our favorite ideas below. Whether you’re handy with spray paint or would prefer to take on a quick fix with duct tape, there’s a project for everyone....

“With people at home more, they are bringing natural influences into their space, but often keeping it soothing and cozy. People seek a year of rejuvenation, new beginnings in earthy tones,” says Lina Galvao of Curated Nest. Read on for what other color or design pros have to say about the top colors of 2022. Warm Neutrals As Galvao tells us, “We’re seeing a lot of warm colors in upholstery via bouclés, and people are feeling more confident using creamy whites for upholstery given the rise and accessibility of performance fabrics....

Build a simple piece of patio furniture, brighten up your space with a fire pit or rope lighting, paint everything from your floor, fence, and furniture, and entertain yourself and the kids with a hammock or swing from a tree. The sky’s the limit when it comes to DIYing your own style of furniture and accessories in the great outdoors. DIY Rope Light Sign Tutorial from A Beautiful Mess DIY Outdoor Timber Side Table Tutorial from Francoise Et Moi DIY Outdoor Concrete Fire Pit Tutorial from Man Made DIY DIY Pallet Plant Bench Tutorial from Monsters Circus DIY Outdoor Wall Makeover Tutorial from Sarah Hearts DIY Hammock Tutorial from The Merrythought DIY Outdoor Serving Station Tutorial from Live Laugh Rowe DIY Outdoor Bench Tutorial from Creative Green Living DIY Patio Umbrella Stand from Delia Creates DIY Painted Patio Tiles Tutorial from A Beautiful Mess DIY Rolling Grill Cart Tutorial from Jen Wood House DIY Leather Sling Chair Tutorial from Kristi Murphy DIY Tree Swing Tutorial from The Merrythought DIY Painted Patio Chairs Makeover Tutorial from Sarah Hearts DIY Wood Outdoor Bench Tutorial from DIY candy DIY Marble Fence Tutorial from C....

Take a look at the 25 sage green bedrooms below to get a better sense of just how versatile of a color this can be and how it can be incorporated into a wide mix of a spaces—those that lean vintage, boho style, modern, and beyond. It’s time to stop putting off that bedroom makeover project once and for all.

Here are 28 reasons to celebrate during the month of February. Diana Miller / Getty Images

Why Should You Remove the Lacquer? If you plan to display your copper item just as a decoration, it’s fine to leave the lacquer intact. However, there are times when you’ll want to remove the lacquer, such as: When the lacquer on a vintage piece is peeling or bubbling.When you plan to use the copper item for cooking, food prep, or serving.If you prefer the soft gleam of bare polished copper to super-shiny lacquer....

First things first: As you enter the design phase, you’ll want to take note that are many variations of black paints and textiles from which to choose. “Surprisingly, there are many shades of black,” shares designer Courtney Scott of V. James & Co Interiors. “So before committing to a particular shade, I advise doing a test swatch to see how that shade looks during particular parts of the day in the designated room to see how well you like it....

Laundry room cabinets shoulder the bulk of the storage demands in the laundry room. Cabinets for laundry rooms range from quick and inexpensive solutions like mobile cabinets to full-scale permanent systems with wall and base cabinets. Wall Cabinets With so much activity in laundry rooms occurring at counter-level or lower, the upper section of walls is ideal real estate for storage. Economy-grade wall cabinets use MDF as the building material for the box, while higher-grade cabinets use 1/2-inch A-grade plywood with wood veneer....

Quartz Countertops Are Not Natural Quartz Countertops made from engineered stone began to develop popularity beginning during the late 1990s, and they are generally categorized under the label “quartz,” even though they are by no means made of solid quartz slabs. More properly, this material should be termed “engineered stone,” although they are widely known simply as quartz countertops. So-called quartz countertops are actually made of a blend of pulverized natural stone (marble, granite, quartz) and sometimes industrial waste (ceramic tile, glass, mirrors, etc....