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Living Rooms and Feng Shui In feng shui, each room has a different meaning and association that is based on its mundane uses, location, and its energetic connections to certain aspects of our lives. If you think about your living room and even the name “living room,” what images or ideas come up for you? The living room, of course, is a room where we live. In our modern homes, our living rooms tends to serve as a place to connect with the members of our household and family, as well as areas where we greet and welcome guests into our homes....

While most kitchen mistakes are avoidable, there are a few actions you may be making with your stovetop that aren’t even on your radar. And perhaps one of the most dangerous is putting a hot lid face-down on your glass stovetop. From changing your behavior to having more awareness in general, here is what you need to know about why and how you can be safer in your kitchen (especially if you have a glass stovetop)....

Large, luxury homes have always tended to have larger kitchen (attached or separate from the home). There are also regional and demographic variations. For example, suburban homes always tend to have larger kitchens than do urban homes, and homes in the Southwest tend to have larger kitchens than those in the Northeast. Generally speaking, though, residential kitchens in the U.S. have gradually evolved into expanded spaces that serve social functions as well as food preparation....

Understandably, designers and homeowners can’t get enough of these small slabs, and in 2022, there is no shortage of fresh tile ideas. Vibrant colors are popping up along with original configurations and new areas to spread out the mortar and speckle with ceramic. Tile Trends to Look Out For Tile is headed in two (nearly polar opposite) directions this year. One interpretation is a matchy-matchy finish where the color, shape, and texture reflects the room around it, and the other features tile as an accent to be mixed and matched....

We’re always looking for places to shop for cute and unique decor, and this one might surprise you. Turns out, Lights.com has a range of spooky yet chic decor that you can use to decorate your mantel, tabletop, windowsill, or even your front steps. And the best part? They all come in at an affordable price point. From blood-red flameless candles with black holders, to skull and pumpkin accents, this is one place you need to shop for Halloween decor....

As a chronic hot sleeper, the sheets’ cooling qualities were what initially stood out to me. Hopping into bed, the material is immediately cool-to-the-touch. And rather than waking up in the middle of the night to peel off my duvet, covered in beads of sweat, I sleep through the night with ease more often. This is because Tencel is naturally moisture-wicking. So, it’s like sleeping with a constant, cool breeze....

The only problem is that generally, cane furniture pieces are on the pricier end. So I was 100 percent pleasantly surprised when I was browsing Marshalls recently and came across an adorable and affordable cane stool that I knew would look amazing in my apartment. It actually reminds me a lot of a much pricier, similar stool that I had been lusting over for years but couldn’t ever quite justify price-wise....

On top of the fact the house is old and has mainly plaster walls (groan), the previous work that was done in the house like painting, flooring, and trim wasn’t very high quality. The bathroom in particular was a huge eyesore and has some quirks, but we’ve been putting off doing a massive renovation. The room is large enough, but for some reason, there are two showers—a tub and shower combo and a standing shower—which wastes a lot of space....

These performance problems have caused tileboard to fade in popularity, replaced by other materials, such as FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) panels or self-adhesive mosaic tiles. Tileboard is still used by landlords and low-quality builders as a cheap way to give the appearance of tile without the high costs associated with actual tile work. Homeowners rarely use tileboard in primary bathrooms or kitchens, preferring to use it in less visible and drier places, like half-baths, powder rooms, kitchenettes, and laundry rooms....

Why Birds Attack Windows Some bird species are naturally aggressive and territorial. When they notice their reflection in a window, mirror, chrome bumper, reflective grill, gazing ball, or similar shiny surface, they assume it is a rival bird and will attack the reflection to try and drive the intruder away. They may fly against the reflection, peck at it, rake it with their talons, or beat it with their wings. They may also strike up aggressive poses and threat postures in front of the reflection between actual attacks....

The air quality and makeup in your home are a couple of the most important elements to consider for overall comfort. Just try to get a good night’s sleep in a hot, humid room, and you will be newly committed to creating the right environment. I tested the TOSOT 20 Pint Dehumidifier to see if it could keep my home’s air comfortable. I kept the TOSOT 20 Pint Dehumidifier in my bedroom on continuous use....

When your front loader will not turn on, check the lid strike switch on the door frame, as it needs to move freely. With top loading machines, turn the machine on, then, with the top lid open, push into the receiving hole (on the machine) with the blunt end of a pen. This will loosen any debris clogging this strike area, plus it should trigger the water to begin filling the tub....

Which is why many homeowners who want the look of stone but not the expense and hassle, turn to ceramic/porcelain tile that cleverly mimics stone’s appearance. Ceramic tile installs easily and costs far less than stone. Would the porcelain pass muster if you got down on your hands and knees? No. If you really got down to it, you could tell the difference. But that’s not the point. Flooring does not need to pass the test on a microscopic level; it’s something you see (and hopefully admire) from a standing view or upon entering the room....

Labels on Non-Metallic Cable (Romex) The most common type of wiring used in homes is non-metallic (NM) cable, commonly called “Romex,” after the popular brand name. New NM cable contains two or more insulated conducting wires and usually a bare ground wire. The wires may be wrapped in paper, and all of the wires are encased in a flexible plastic jacket or sheathing. The labels on the outer sheathing of NM cable indicate the size, or gauge, of the individual conducting wires, the wire material, the number of wires contained inside the cable, the maximum voltage rating, and whether there is a ground wire present....

At the base is a bowl that the user sits on. The toilet tank, a separate piece that’s attached to the bowl upon installation, collects water from the home’s water source. Upon demand, the tank sends all of that water rushing into the bowl to carry waste materials into the sewer. Understanding the parts of a toilet is vital to diagnosing and fixing common toilet issues such as clogs, a constantly running toilet, or leaks around the tank or bowl....

Retain the Bathroom’s Size and Layout Enlarging or rearranging a bathroom often means moving plumbing pipes, which can be expensive. The toilet discharge and sewer pipe are particularly expensive to move. Resize or alter the bathroom only if it is necessary to accommodate your needs. Moving objects that aren’t easily movable is the single most expensive aspect of bathroom remodeling. You can alter the size or layout of your bathroom during a remodel....

Gift for Another Couple Purchasing a gift for someone else’s anniversary is a choice and never an obligation since it’s a special day between them. However, you may want to do something special for people you are close to. Whether you select a gift or jot your thoughts in a card, it’s always good form to acknowledge this special day. Gift for Your Spouse If you and your spouse are celebrating your anniversary, choosing something with symbolism adds depth to the occasion....

To prevent this kind of damage, the best technique is to stop just short of driving the nail completely, then use a nail set to finish the job. This small, inexpensive accessory extends your reach with the hammer, letting you strike just the nail—not the wood trim. Nail Set vs. Power Brad Nailer A collection of nail sets was once standard equipment in any carpentry toolbox, but owning a power brad nailer now eliminates the need for a nail set in many instances....

Bamboo is considered a woody perennial evergreen grass, though the plant can grow as tall as trees. Though some species originated in Southern Asian and Southeastern Asian countries, many other species can be found in other parts of the world, including Africa, South America, and even the United States. The American Bamboo Society (ABS) writes, “There are more than 70 genera divided into about 1,450 species. Bamboo are found in diverse climates, from cold mountains to hot tropical regions....