Tool School: Level Up with a Digital Box Level

by Bruno Bornsztein Jul 13, 2018

True Blue digital box level — This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

The Earth might not be flat, but your DIY projects should be. That's why a good level is one of the most important tools in every homeowner's toolbox.

Levels come in many shapes and configurations, depending on what task you want to accomplish. Need a picture to hang? Use a torpedo level. Hanging wallpaper? You'll reach for a plumb bob. Heck - even the deceptively simply (but super accurate) DIY water level (basically just a long clear hose filled with water) can come in handy. Today, I'm checking out a super nice version of a very common, versatile tool: the box level.

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A Quick, Colorful Patio Makeover Just in Time for Summer

by Alicia Lacy Jun 28, 2018

Wagner Paint Sprayer patio chair makeover — This post is sponsored by Wagner

We are in the season of outdoor lounging. Here in the upper Midwest, summer is at a premium and we live outside as much as possible. There's no better way to indulge in this time of year than to sit on the patio and soak it all in.

My parents have a stunning backyard with gorgeous gardens, fruit trees, and fountains. They live outside in the summertime and spend hours on their patio. Though their...

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10 Beautiful & Creative DIY Planter Projects

by Faith Provencher Jun 28, 2018

10 Gorgeous DIY Planters — Photo: paulsvera

Now that summer is in full swing, I can't stop thinking about plants... and my indoor garden needs a bit of sprucing up. So I did a little Pinterest searching, and came up with tons of great DIY ideas to add some character to my succulents, cacti and other greenery. And today I'm sharing them with you. Find out how to dress up your plant babies with these ten gorgeous DIY planter ideas.

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Tool School: Why Aviation Snips are a Must-Have for DIYers

by Chris Gardner Jun 22, 2018

Wiss Aviation Snips — This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

Aviation snips. Tin snips. Metal shears. Compound snips. Whatever you call them, a quality set of aviation snips are the single best way to cut thin and flexible materials like sheet metal, plastic, thick textiles, heavy-duty paper, and wire products like poultry netting (chicken wire), and the like. They're affordable, last for decades, and are an essential component in any DIYer's toolbox. ...

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DIY Wooden Starburst Mirror

by Faith Provencher Jun 15, 2018

After getting married last summer, I had all kinds of leftover materials... one of which being these wooden fan waves that looked like wavy tongue depressors. I knew there must be something fun I could make with them, but I couldn't figure out what. And then it hit me - a retro style starburst mirror! And the rest is history. Keep reading to check out the full tutorial.

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IKEA Hack: Transform a Basic Cabinet into a Gorgeous Nightstand with a Geometric Design

Norse Interiors Jun 15, 2018

Norse Interiors IKEA custom fittings — This post was contributed by Norse Interiors

Everybody loves IKEA, right? The simplicity of the designs, plus the sense of accomplishment from putting furniture together yourself... this combo makes IKEA a standard go-to when shopping for the home. There are lots of ways to hack IKEA furniture - however, would you like to customize these basic designs to set you apart from the thousands of other people that have the same piece? Turns out, it's a pretty easy transformation to make. Today we're taking a look at how easy it is to upgrade your IKEA furniture, thanks to Norse Interiors' system. You can style up a wide variety of IKEA furniture using prefab cabinet designs and knobs. Everybody will be asking, “Where did you get that?"

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Taco Tuesday: Easy DIY Wooden Taco Holder

by Faith Provencher Jun 12, 2018

I don't know about you, but once summer hits I'm constantly craving tacos. Taco Tuesday, sure... but also taco Wednesday, taco Thursday and taco every-day-of-the-week. The only thing that bugs me is how difficult it is to handle them. How can you serve them without them flopping all over the place? So I decided to craft a simple taco holder out of wood to solve the problem. Keep reading to check out my full photo tutorial!

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Tool School: This Thing Will Change the Way You Clean Your House

by M.E. Gray Jun 08, 2018

Some might say I'm a bit of a neat-freak, but if you ask me, I'm just an average gal who prefers a clean home. While I cherish my tidy place, I don't enjoy the act of cleaning nearly as much. I'm always on the hunt for products and tools that will make housekeeping an easier and faster job. Let me tell you what, guys: this is it. At the risk of sounding overly dramatic about cleaning, I have to say: I'm in love with this Dremel Versa.

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Tool School: Essential Hand Saws for Every Tool Box

by Chris Gardner Jun 01, 2018

Hand Saws 101 — This post is sponsored by the Home Depot

When we think "D.I.Y.," we often imagine tool belts, safety glasses, work gloves, and big, loud, noisy power tools. This isn't inaccurate, but in order to do plenty of the around-the-house projects, you don't need to dress like, or own the tools of, construction workers.

Power tools are great, and make quick work of cutting raw materials when you use them regularly. But they're also expensive, messy, and have an inherent risk to them. Often, the same task can be accomplished with a simple hand saw. It will require a little more labor, but cost only 10-20% of the powered equivalent, take up much less space to store, and be safer to use. Here are a few of the most useful hand saws:

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Tool School: Why an Impact Driver is So Freakin' Awesome

by Bruno Bornsztein May 30, 2018

RIDGID 18-v impact driver — This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

Today we're checking out the RIDGID 18-Volt Impact Driver, which you can buy alongside a cordless drill in a combo kit for $179 at The Home Depot. I've built up a lot of trust for the Ridgid brand over the years. In fact, my very first (ever) impact driver was a Ridgid (the great-grandaddy of this model). But beyond that, I've owned several of their products, including a circular saw (indestructible) and a wet/dry vacuum (unbelievably versatile).

So I was excited to get this combo kit in the mail last week, because I feel a guy can't ever have too many impact drivers. Sure, having the drill is nice too, but to be honest, I only reach for a normal drill in rare occasions. The impact driver is just so much more versatile and useful, not to mention light and maneuverable.

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Crazy Easy DIY Roll-Up Dish Drying Rack

by Faith Provencher May 14, 2018

Dish drying racks that sit on your counter can be bulky and unattractive and if you have a dishwasher, you probably don't use it on a daily basis. So I got to thinking... why not create something that can be pulled out of the cabinet when you need it, but rolled up and stashed away when you don't? Enter the over-the-sink dish draining rack.

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Make This: Easy Wall-Mounted Air Plant Holder

by M.E. Gray May 08, 2018

Make This!: Wall-mounted air plant holder

One of the things I love about air plants - also known as tillandsia - is that they can be displayed in virtually unlimited ways. With soil out of the picture, an air plant can live in any container, on any ledge, in any opening, on any surface; they are one of the most versatile plants in terms of home decor. Which, for someone like me who loves crafting things, is the gift that keeps on giving. Looking to fill a bit of wall space, this wall-mounted air plant holder does the trick. Keep reading to see how easy it was to make!

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How to Build a Cozy Radiator Cat Bed

by M.E. Gray May 04, 2018

From the new book, "DIY Projects for Cats & Dogs." A tutorial on how to make a radiator cat bed.

If you're a cat owner, you know two things about kitties: #1, They like heights, and #2, they like warmth. I can always count on finding my own cat in a handful of different places around my apartment, including either right up against the radiator, or high up on my bedroom dresser. If your feline is anything like mine, she'd flip over a DIY radiator cat bed like this one.

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11 Eco-Friendly DIYs to Help You Create a Zero-Waste Home

by Faith Provencher May 01, 2018

If you're like me, you want to be more eco-friendly but you're not quite sure what the next step would be after recycling and turning off the lights when you leave the room. Here are 11 DIY projects from around the web that will help you live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle.

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IKEA Hack: The Tarva Nightstand Gets Naked

by M.E. Gray Apr 30, 2018

IKEA Hack Nightstand Edition - A Tarva nightstand with cutout handles

One of the easiest ways to change up a piece of furniture is to switch out the hardware - but what happens when the hardware is abandoned completely? When my wife found this nightstand during a recent trip to IKEA, she immediately drew inspiration from a different piece of furniture in our house - our hardware-less credenza. Could we replicate the cutout drawer handle on her new nightstand? Turns out, we could! Trading a little extra work for the extra cost of new hardware, here's how this IKEA nightstand hack worked out.