By Mark Schaufelberger  Are you expecting houseguests during the holidays? Make a good first impression before they even enter your home with these outdoor decorating and home maintenance tips. ’TIS THE SEASON Retrieving holiday decorations from the garage or attic may remind you that these areas could use some cleaning and organizing. Replace old musty… Continue reading.

By Brandon Juergens Everyone likes efficiency, especially in the home. Try these easy and budget-friendly DIY updates to help lower your home’s energy output — and reduce your electric bills. It’s in the air If replacing old leaky windows is outside of your budget, try a window insulating kit, or seal up small leaks with… Continue reading.

By Joe Halcomb You don’t have to settle for builders’ grade basics in your home, even on a tight budget. Whether you’re selling or just want some extra personal flair, these simple DIY projects can make a big impact on your kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.  All the trimmings Believe it or not, simple trim can… Continue reading.

By Charlie Gillman The kids are grown and out of the house. And, as hard as it may be to let go, it’s probably time for their bathroom with the SpongeBob ceiling border and yellow walls to grow up, too. Or, maybe you’re in the opposite position and want your children to delight in a… Continue reading.

With a bit of creativity and pre-planning, those holiday gifts you bought for everyone can be wrapped both beautifully AND in an environmentally conscious way. Here are 10 eco-friendly tips to try when it’s time to wrap things up! 1  Embrace one of the “buzziest” trends in gift wrapping: furoshiki, a Japanese method that uses… Continue reading.

By Brandon Juergens Autumn is a great time to prepare your home for the colder weather headed our way. Winterize your home with our easy DIY tips that will help keep your living spaces cozy and energy bills lower. Windows and Doors   These are where your home loses the most heat, so start by… Continue reading.

By Dustin Reynolds and Shannon Morrow With your yard’s spring cleanup behind you, it’s a great time to focus on your home’s front entrance. After all, it’s the first thing people notice as they approach your home.  Whether it’s an expansive area for entertaining or just a simple piece of concrete, there are lots of… Continue reading.

Many folks have rediscovered the importance of home improvement, and that’s led to a renewed focus on enhancing their outdoor spaces. Young homeowners today are taking more pride in their yards, largely bypassing paid services for a DIY approach. Whether it’s a basic cleanup, adding pizzazz to your next backyard gathering, or improving curb appeal,… Continue reading.

I read somewhere that once you have three of the same kind of item, you have a collection. That philosophy — plus my love of after-Christmas bargain-hunting (including deeply discounted artificial trees) — lead me to collect Christmas trees. Each year, my husband and I put up AT LEAST seven trees (sometimes more if I’m… Continue reading.

By Mary Sexton The current DIY boom is a result of millions of remote workers being reminded daily of the need for home improvements. After structural fixes and replacement needs are met, the focus moves to aesthetic enhancements. Accent (or feature) walls have been popular for years, but they’re not just about using an alternate… Continue reading.

 By Cynthia and Gregg Reed    A messy, disorganized pantry might be easy to ignore by simply closing the door. But the next time you need to grab something, you’ll face the half empty bags of chips and random canned foods strewn about or even falling down. Tackle those haphazard dry goods with some sensible… Continue reading.

Editor’s note: This month we introduce an occasional column featuring easy-to-make projects for your home. The projects appear courtesy of Plain & Simple, a bi-monthly Amish craft and décor magazine published in Shipshewana, Indiana. Plain & Simple features craft-making instructions, quilt patterns, gardening information and recipes. By Marlene Fry Turn an old lamp (perhaps a… Continue reading.