Lately, a new kitchen decor trend has been taking the internet by storm—the backlit kitchen counter. Cleverly using light and the natural translucence of certain countertop materials, backlit kitchen counters are a great way to make the heart of your home both eye-catching and more useful. Especially if, like me, you enjoy nighttime snacks. Keep reading to learn about this cool trend.

What Are Backlit Kitchen Countertops?

Backlit kitchen countertops are mildly translucent countertop surfaces with flat LED light panels installed underneath. The right combination of light panels and translucent material (usually stone) creates the illusion of a countertop that glows.

Several companies make LED panels designed for installation beneath countertops, and they all work similarly. All backlit kitchen counters need some sort of substrate installed underneath to support both the counter and lights. Plywood 3/4 inch thick is an excellent choice since it’s thick enough to accommodate shallow grooves for wires to be tucked out of the way. Vertical backsplashes can also be backlit using the same method, as seen below.

@thewoodenpalate Reply to @thebigburg0r onyx backlit 💡#kitcheninspo #greenonyx ♬ Sunshine (The Light) – Fat Joe & DJ Khaled & Amorphous

What Kind of Countertop Stone Can Be Backlit?

Regardless of your decor preferences, it’s important to choose the right material for the job— one that’s translucent enough to allow lots of light through. Luckily, quite a few types of stone fit the bill: quartz, onyx, agate, marble, certain varieties of granite and others. Some man-made materials like glass and resin also make great backlit kitchen counters.

Can I Do This Project Myself?

It depends on the size of your countertop, your experience level and available tools. At the very least, you’ll need the following tools and materials:

• Counter backlighting panels
• Plywood
• Table saw
• Jigsaw
• Caulking gun
• Silicone
• Drill and drill index
• Basic wiring tools and skills
• Countertop fastening hardware

You’ll need to be comfortable cutting the plywood to size on a table saw, and probably custom-cutting certain areas with a jigsaw.

Place your plywood substrate on top of the cabinets, then arrange your light panels on top. Use a table saw to cut 3/8 inch deep channels in the plywood as needed to route wires from the LED panels, then join the custom-sized plywood substrate to your cabinet using countertop fastening hardware.

Fasten the LED panels down with a little silicone, then route and connect the wires to the nearest handy circuit (if doing your own electrical work is permitted in your area).

For a seasoned DIYer, building your own backlit kitchen counter isn’t difficult. But if it’s your first DIY project, you’d be wise to get some experienced help.

An accent wall is any wall in a room that’s colored or patterned differently from the rest to create visual impact. Accent walls break up what might otherwise be a visually monotonous space. They also draw attention to a certain area or feature of the room. Some accent walls are simple, featuring nothing more than a color change. Others, like dynamic accent walls, are intricate and complex, with tile, stone, woodwork or other materials situated to create texture and draw the eyes and attention of visitors. These sorts of accent walls are often stunning, but require lots of time, money and skill to install. That’s where much simpler approaches to accent walls, like the one we’re about to show you, can help.

How to Create an Accent Wall with Paper Plates

@nittas_homeandstyle 3D accent wall with paper plates 🤩🤩 #fyp #walldesign #walldecor #3dwallart #3dwall #dollartreefinds #viral ♬ CAP – Burrell

We discovered this hack on TikTok that shows what may be the simplest, most cost-effective method of creating a 3-dimensional accent wall around—the paper plate accent wall. All you need is a tape measure, pencil, level, a pair of scissors, a package or two of white paper plates and a hot glue gun with some glue sticks at the ready. Do it right, and the texture and pattern created by the repurposed paper plates are quite elegant and striking. Here’s how to do it.

• Decide how much of your wall you want to accent, and how close to the floor you’d like the paper plate pattern to begin. Use your level, tape measure and pencil to mark a very light level line at this height (you can also begin the plates right at floor level).
• Squeeze a little hot melt glue onto the rim of each plate, then stick them to your wall one at a time, using your level line (or floor) as a guide.
• Fasten another plate right next to the first. Continue working your way across the wall, then add more rows, each directly above the previous one.
• Once you’ve covered your accent wall with a single layer of plates, add a second layer on top. Arrange each row of the second layer to evenly cover the seams between plates in the first layer, giving the wall an elegant, patterned appearance.
• Cut plates with scissors as needed to work around windows, doors, hanging pictures and other obstacles.

@nittas_homeandstyle Amazing 3D wall design with dollar tree paper plates 🤩🤩 items used: foam board and party plates from dollar tree #fyp #walldesign #walldecor #3dwall #3dwalldesign #viral ♬ dance(256762) – TimTaj

If you’d prefer not to mount plates directly to your wall with hot melt glue, try this version of the hack instead. It involves creating a mounting surface for the plates with sheets of white Bristol board taped together. Use as many sheets as you like to create the ideal-sized accent wall for your space, then mount the plate-clad backing to your wall with double-sided tape or sticky tack. You’ll still be using something sticky on your wall, but not nearly as much as with the direct plate-to-wall method.

How to Elevate Your Paper Plate Accent Wall

White paper plates are all well and good, but what if you want an accent wall with a splash of just the right color or colors? That’s where this color sensor comes in. Paired with an app on your phone, it gives an exact readout of any color, along with the specific paints you need to buy and mix to create that color. Not only that, but it also calculates mathematically complimentary colors to any color you scan. Want to match your paper plates to an existing wall color, but don’t know what paint was originally used? This device can help. Want the plates on your accent wall to be a different but complimentary color to the rest of the room? The device removes all guesswork. I have one myself and use it regularly for interior painting work. It’ll take your paper plate accent wall to the next level.

That said, everything fails eventually. Usually, broken vehicle parts mean a simple trip to your mechanic shop to fix whatever went wrong and the hope that your car insurance will help cover costs. But occasionally one of these small parts proves to be faulty by design.

Sometimes these design failures are dangerous. That’s when responsible vehicle manufacturers issue a recall of vehicles affected by the faulty part and take steps to redesign or repair it. That’s exactly what Hyundai has done recently with their recall of thousands of sedans and SUVs.

Which Hyundai Models Are Recalled?

Hyundai recently recalled 65,517 Genesis line sedans and SUVs manufactured between 2020 and 2023. Specifically, they’re recalling:

• 32,940 Genesis GV80s
• 21,917 Genesis GV70s
• 9,720 Genesis G80s
• 940 Genesis GV60s

Why Are These Hyundai Models Recalled

These vehicles are being recalled because of a possibly dangerous problem with their seatbelt pre-tensioners. Seatbelt pre-tensioners use a small explosive charge to tighten and lock seatbelts around the driver and passengers during a crash. Hyundai has determined that the seatbelt pre-tensioners in the models above could explode during a crash, potentially harming the vehicle’s occupants. Hyundai has recalled other vehicles over the last several years because of faulty pre-tensioners and is likely trying to correct this issue in more vehicles before anyone is injured.

How Do I Check for Recalls on My Vehicle?

Think your vehicle may be included in this recall? Visit the recalls section of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). If your vehicle has been recalled, the NHTSA website will let you know.

Alternatively, you can enter your VIN in the recalls section on Hyundai’s website. Hyundai has also stated that it’ll be notifying all owners of affected vehicles on or before April 17, 2023.

What Should I Do If I Have a Recalled Hyundai?

Phone the nearest certified Hyundai dealer and explain that your vehicle has been recalled because of a faulty seatbelt pre-tensioner. Ask how soon you can make an appointment to receive the free repair offered by Hyundai. Make the appointment and get the repair done as quickly as possible.

The repair involves the installation of a protective cap on the pre-tensioner that prevents pieces of the device from flying out at dangerous speeds if it’s activated during a crash.

Instead of using those shades, you can select bedroom paint colors that will help you establish the energy you seek. Nevertheless, with so many different colors, we understand how confusing it can be to select the right one. That’s why we’re here to help you learn more about the bedroom paint colors to avoid and which to pick. Whether completing a whole bedroom remodel or just repainting your walls, knowing the colors to avoid will set you on the right track.

These Are the Bedroom Paint Colors You Should Avoid

According to popular TikTok designer and interior architect Phoenix Grey (@mrphoenixgrey), certain hues aren’t the best choice for your bedroom because they won’t help you establish the vibe you want. Let’s dive right into the bedroom paint colors you should avoid.

@mrphoenixgrey Colour has so my energy, so keep that in mind as it reflects in your space #colour #bedroomcolor #interiordesign #homehacks #designertips #toronto #designhack #homeimprovement ♬ ShowTime – Hip Hop Instrumental

• Red: Because red is so high-contrast, it adds a lot of energy to your room that isn’t conducive to creating a calming bedroom. But don’t toss out your red paint yet—if you love this color, you can still add pops in other spaces in your home, such as your bathroom or dining room. Or, if you’re committed to painting your bedroom red, Grey suggests you select a moodier, darker hue.

• Yellow: There are many places in your home where yellow paint would shine, but it isn’t ideal for painting your bedroom. Much like red, it’s high energy and doesn’t add a mellow vibe to your room. Grey mentions that this energizing color is ideal for starting your day, but you may struggle to fall asleep in a yellow bedroom.

• Green: While we love how green brings the outdoors inside, too much in a bedroom is, well, too much. This is especially the case, Grey warns, for light greens. If you must have green in your bedroom, go for a gem-toned shade, so you don’t sacrifice coziness—or skip it altogether.

These Are the Bedroom Colors You Should Go For

Now that you know which bedroom paint colors to avoid, let’s discuss which colors Grey believes are a better alternative. And if you really want to give your space a facelift, you can implement some of these bedroom design upgrades in addition to a fresh coat of paint.

@mrphoenixgrey Replying to @DittaStone these are my go to’s for creating a really cozy environment in the bedroom #bedroomdesign #painthack #interiordesign #homehacks #designertips #toronto #designhack #homeimprovement ♬ Luxury fashion (no vocals) – TimTaj

• Pink: No, not bubblegum pink! Muted shades are your best friend when picking this color. One reason Grey loves pink in a bedroom is that it pairs beautifully with many different colors, plus you can easily add a visually appealing contrast.

• Terracotta: If you want to evoke feelings of warmth and coziness with your bedroom paint colors, terracotta is the way to go. It’s basically neutral, so you have a lot of flexibility when working with this paint. Plus, it adds a sunny vibe to your room without being too overwhelming.

• Black: If dark and moody is your vibe, look no further than black paint for your bedroom walls. While Grey warns that black bedroom paint is difficult to do right, if you succeed, you’ll have a unique sanctuary that allows you to rest and recharge. To do so, be sure to bring in other warm tones that create an intimate vibe. And don’t forget to select black paint with warm undertones for the best result.

Now that you’ve selected your bedroom paint colors, you can start getting innovative with your bedroom furniture to create a truly one-of-a-kind space that reflects you.

What Is Peecycling?

The term peecycling comes from a combination of peeing and recycling. Peecycling is actually a real thing that’s happening, spearheaded by the Rich Earth Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont. As part of the institute’s Urine Nutrient Reclamation Program, people can donate their pee. The Rich Earth Institute distributes 2.5- and five-gallon plastic jugs with odor-blocking funnel attachments. According to the institute, the setup “can be used as a urinal or an easy-to-pour-into container,” by using the nun’s cap or yogurt container and then pouring the contents into the funnel. They even distribute a “decorative cloth cozy” that fits over the jug for privacy. They also rent urine-collecting portable toilets for public events.

How Does Urine Work As Fertilizer?

Human urine is a rich source of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. According to the Rich Earth Institute, one adult produces about 125 gallons of urine per year. That’s enough fertilizer to grow 320 pounds of wheat.

The world faces a fertilizer shortage due to the war in Ukraine, and a critical need to find alternative sources of fertilizer. According to Rabobank, 20% of the world’s nitrogen fertilizer is exported by Russia—and along with Belarus, 40% of the world’s potassium.

Does Peecycling Help the Environment?

Beyond helping farmers to grow more food, peecycling is good for the environment. When flushed into wastewater systems, contaminants in fertilizers create environmentally damaging algal blooms. According to the Rich Earth Institute, a household can save about 4,000 gallons of potable water annually by not flushing.

Now, another popular manufacturer recently issued a recall that could cause significant problems on the road and an increase in avoidable car crashes. According to a Feb. 16 recall report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Nissan has issued a recall for over 700,000 cars. Here’s everything to know about the recent Nissan recall and if it affects you.

Why Has the Nissan Recall Been Issued?

In Nissan’s recall report, the manufacturer cites a problem with a jackknife-style ignition key. The jackknife ignition key carries the risk of collapsing into a folded position while someone is driving. Per the Nissan recall report, “The jackknife key may not hold the key blade in the extended ‘open’ position. Over time the internal pivot of the jackknife key may weaken, and the key fob could unlock and rotate downwards.” This rotation of the key fob downwards is the “collapsed” position, which leaves the driver in danger of accidentally turning the car off while it’s being operated. Any contact with the key fob in its folded position may shut the car off, which leaves the driver at risk of a crash.

What Nissan Models Are Affected?

The jackknife-style ignition key is only in specific car models (rather than the breadth of Nissan’s automobile portfolio). However, the recall affects approximately 712,458 cars in the United States, a significant portion of the over 809,000 cars affected internationally.

Here are the models affected by the Nissan recall:

• 2014-2020 Nissan Rogue SUVs (517,472)
• 2017-22 Rogue Sports SUVs (194,986)

What Should I Do if I Have One of These Nissan Models?

Nissan is still working on finding a solution to repair the issue, but if you own an affected SUV, you should receive a notification from Nissan around March 17. The manufacturer advises owners of the vehicles not to attach any accessories to their keys that could add extra weight, and to use the key in the open (unfolded) position only. Nissan will notify you by mail a second time when the company has a repair solution.

If you do have one of the potentially affected Nissan Rogue SUVs, here’s what to do:

1. Call your local Nissan dealer and ask for an inspection.
2. Make sure you let the dealership know your SUV may be affected by the recall.
3. If the dealership determines that your car requires a repair, the dealer may have a limited number “of parts or alternative transportation” for you.
4. Your dealer may insert a “fastener into the key slot that will prevent the key from folding” in the interim of a full repair.

You can also check the NHTSA website and type in your VIN number to search for any recalls on your vehicle model.

Let’s walk through the steps you will follow to level up your flower planters this spring. From your must-have equipment to instructions on putting it all together, we’ve got you covered.

How Do You Turn a Filing Cabinet Into a Planter?

To make a flower planter from an old filing cabinet, we’ll follow a viral TikTok tutorial by @dawson.diy. Check it out yourself here:

@dawson.diy Bought the cabinet for $10 but honestly you could probably find one for free! #diytutorial #furnitureflip #patiomakeover #patiofurniture #planter #planterdiy ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show

Once you’re ready to attempt making your DIY filing cabinet flower planter, it’s time to round up your must-have equipment. For starters, you’ll need a filing cabinet. If you don’t already have an old one you can use at home, they’re easy to find at thrift stores or flea markets.

What You’ll Need

• An old filing cabinet
• Hammer
• Paint and primer
• Rust-preventative enamel
• Drill
• Spray foam flex seal
• Piece of wood if your cabinet has no bottom
• Heavy-duty glue

Directions

First, remove the drawers of the filing cabinet using a hammer. Be careful, as this portion of the process requires some serious precision!

Once the drawers are out of the filing cabinet, prime and paint it. For the best results, we suggest you use spray paint. If your filing cabinet has no bottom, take the wood and adhere it there using heavy-duty glue.

After you’ve successfully adhered the bottom and the entire cabinet is painted, grab your rust-preventative enamel and spray everything. We suggest a matte clear coat. This will protect your cabinet from rusting induced by the elements.

If your filing cabinet planter will be on a patio, you’ll also have to add a drainage hole with a drill. Then, take your spray foam flex spray to fill in any other holes or cracks. This ensures you don’t make a planter faux pas and accidentally flood your patio.

Last but certainly not least, lay it down, so the open portion faces upwards. Then, you can add plants. Yes, it is that simple! And if you need some suggestions for the best plants for container gardening, you can check out our comprehensive list, too.

If this DIY inspired you to create more planter boxes, here are 12 you can easily make in a day. Or, you can take your garden to the next level with a DIY trellis.

If you follow water bottle and tumbler trends, you’ll know the Stanley 40 oz. Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler went viral on TikTok a few months back. However, it certainly isn’t the only high-end option on the market. From Nalgene to Yeti to Hydro Flask, the most popular water bottles tend to be durable and are worth the money. But what about the infamous Stanley?

We were interested to know how Stanley Tumblers hold up, especially since the brand has specialized in camping gear and outdoor accessories for over a century (longer than other competitor brands).

@selenerrs

If y’all find the white with confetti lmk 🥹 #stanleyattarget #stanleytumbler #stanley40oz #target #targetfinds #fyp

♬ original sound – selena

What Is the Stanley Quencher FlowState Tumbler?

The Stanley Quencher FlowState Tumbler is made of 90% recycled stainless steel. The FlowState lid rotates to fully cover the top and reveal two openings: One for sipping and an additional tight-fit opening for the reusable, hard-plastic straw.

The tumbler has a comfortable grip handle for easy carrying, so you don’t have to worry about dropping your water or iced coffee on yourself when moving around. Plus, the base of the tumbler below the handle is narrower than the rest of the body, so it easily fits into most cupholders.

Pros

• Keeps drinks cold for extended periods
• Screw-on 3-position lid
• Reusable straw
• Comfortable handle makes it easy to carry
• Holds a lot of liquid
• Stylish color range
• Double-wall vacuum insulation
• Car cup holder compatible
• Dishwasher safe
• 90% recycled
• BPA-free

Cons

• Expensive
• Paint may chip after rough use

Shop Now

Why Are Stanley Tumblers Trending?

Unless you’re completely removed from all social media platforms, you’ve likely noticed that Stanley Tumblers are the latest trend in drinkware, and they’re super popular for a few main reasons. Firstly, Stanley Tumblers keep drinks cold for 11 hours and hot for seven hours. Even more impressive, the tumblers keep ice solid for two days. Stanley Tumblers truly deliver when it comes to all-day beverage needs.

Stanley Tumblers are also super popular because of their design. The powder-coat finish of the tumblers comes in a range of trendy colors, from rose quartz to eucalyptus. And the 40-ounce handled tumbler comes in 10 hues (with occasional limited-edition colors) and five soft matte colors like bay leaf (one of our favorites) and stormy sea.

Where to Buy Stanley Tumblers

Stanley Tumblers can be challenging to find in stock, but the most reliable way to get your hands on one is going directly to the source: Stanley. You can find some varieties of Stanley Tumblers at outdoor and sporting stores like REI, Dicks and Golf Galaxy. If you manage to finally snag a Stanley Tumbler for yourself, we’re pretty certain it’s going to become one of your favorite cups.

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It’s also why tool manufacturers have been focusing for many years on design innovations to improve safety. These innovations make it much easier to use woodworking power tools with confidence, trusting that the manufacturer has done their homework when it comes to parts like blades and blade guards. Trouble is, sometimes safety innovations prove unreliable. When this happens, responsible tool manufacturers recall their defective products, redesign parts as needed, then supply their customers with the new version for free. That’s what Harbor Freight Tools has done recently with a certain part on some of its 12-inch Chicago Electric Miter Saws.

What Harbor Freight Tools Product Has Been Recalled, and Why?

On Feb. 23, 2023, Harbor Freight Tools officially recalled 7,175 lower blade guards from its Chicago Electric line of 12-inch miter saws. Made of clear and grey plastic, the blade guards have no model or serial numbers marked on them but are stamped with the words “Chicago Electric” in the grey area.

According to the manufacturer, they received one report of this blade guard breaking during use. The guards also don’t cover the saw blades fully, putting the user at risk of serious injury. No one has been injured to date, but the blade guard has proven unreliable.

How Do I Know If I Have a Recalled Blade Guard?

According to Harbor Freight Tools, blade guards bought for Chicago Electric miter saws with item number 61970 and a serial number lower than 370331931 are included in the recall.

Check the bottom of your saw’s warning label for these numbers. If you have a Chicago Electric blade guard you think may be included, check the date of purchase. Only blade guards bought between August 2019 and September 2022 have been recalled.

What Should I Do If Have a Recalled Blade Guard?

If you determine that you own a saw with a blade guard included in this recall, the first and most important step is to stop using your saw immediately. Even if you’re in the middle of a project and just need to make a few more cuts, the risk outweighs any benefits.

According to Harbor Freight Tools, all customers who bought a recalled blade guard will be contacted directly, and sent a new, safe blade guard for free. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Harbor Freight Tools directly at (800)-444-3353, or email recall@harborfreight.com.

However, while the idea of hanging abstract wall art in your home may seem like a great idea, it isn’t always the most economical. While it is great to support artists’ work, it’s not always in the budget—especially for new homeowners who are focusing their finances on other important projects at the moment. That’s where this clever DIY textured wall art comes into play.

How to Make Your Own DIY Textured Wall Art

After watching this clever art project by TikTok user @kaelimaee, we realized this DIY wall art is actually quite doable at home.

@kaelimaee trust the process LOL i love how they turned out 🥹🤍☁️ #fyp #foryoupage #aesthetic #home #decor #diy #wallart #diywallart #texturedwallart #satisfying #minimalist #inspo ♬ Black Out Days – Sped Up – Phantogram & Speed Radio & Esteve

Here’s a step-by-step of this process, based on her video.

What You’ll Need

To make your own DIY textured wall art, you’ll need to stock up on the following:

• 2 blank large canvas boards, approximately 24×36″ or similar size. You could also paint over an old canvas you no longer use.
• Twin-size white flat sheet
• Plaster of Paris dry nix
• 5-gallon bucket
• Paint sticks for stirring and coating the sheet in plaster
• Disposable gloves
• An extra metal bowl, like this one
• Scissors for cutting the sides of the sheet when you’re finished
• A hairdryer for sealing the art on the canvas
• Picture hangers for hanging canvases

You’ll also want to create a space where this DIY project can take place, potentially in the garage or basement.

Directions

1. Lay down a tarp or an old sheet in the designated area where you’ll be working on your DIY textured wall art.
2. Mix together some plaster of Paris (dry mix) with water in your bucket.
3. Once the mix is ready, push down your flat sheet with a paint stick into the plaster mixture, coating it completely. You may also have to put your gloves on and mix them together with your hands to ensure the sheet is entirely covered.
4. Lay down your canvas on the tarp or sheet. With gloved hands, lay down the plastered sheet across the canvas. At this point, you’ll want to shift around the sheet to get it to the design look that you’re hoping for with your artwork.
5. If you need extra plaster mixture while you work, transfer some of it to a bowl to easily add to your design.
6. Once you’re happy with your DIY textured wall art, cut the edges of the sheet using scissors, leaving enough of the sheet to tuck around the canvas.
7. Use a blow-dryer to set the design of your DIY textured wall art.
8. Once the artwork is sufficiently dry, choose where to hang your artwork. Hang them on the wall using the picture hangers. Here’s how to hang your artwork straight and level.

Safety Tips

While plaster of Paris is easy to work with, it is made of chemicals and can be hazardous to your body if you’re not careful. Be sure to avoid touching your skin and eyes with it to avoid irritation, and to wash immediately if you do. Plaster of Paris should also be used with the safety of a mask to avoid inhaling all of those chemicals, so be sure to cover your mouth and nose before starting to mix.

How to Make It Your Own

Looking to give your DIY textured wall art a little more pizzazz? While you can easily change it up by choosing different-sized canvases (and the number of canvases), you can also play around with colors by choosing a hue for your textured art that matches the aesthetic of your home. You can also frame your artwork if you aren’t keen on just having the canvas hung up on the wall.

Earthy Taupe Pink

Earth-tone-inspired hues are all the rage this year, and spring paint colors are no exception. Taupe pink is an excellent option because it adds warmth to your space but isn’t too overwhelming. Therefore, it’s a perfect bedroom paint color, but you can add splashes to other interior areas, such as the living room.

Much more scratch and moisture-resistant than other flooring materials, porcelain tiles are a great choice for your entryway. Even if you prefer wood or composite in other parts of the house, a tiled entry around your doorway looks great and offers protection from nearly every unwanted substance that may end up on your floor. Here’s how to install one.

How to Create a Tiled Entryway

Installing your own tiled entry might seem daunting, but as someone who’s done it, I can confidently say it’s probably easier than you think. Follow the instructions below to start on this stylish remodel of your entryway.

What You’ll Need

• Enough porcelain tiles to cover the area you plan to tile
• Tape measure
• Long level or other straight edge
• Pencil
• Multi-tool with cutting blade
• Modified and unmodified thinset mortar
• Grout
• Caulking (color matched to grout)
• Large bucket
• Handheld mortar mixer (optional)
• Pointing trowel
• 1/2-inch square notched trowel
• Ditra uncoupling membrane
• Scissors
• Tile leveling spacers
• Tile cutting saw
• Towel or cloth

Directions

1. Decide on the rough size of your entry. How large you make your tiled entry is a matter of utility and personal preference. Do you have lots of people around or plan on buying some entryway furniture, such as an entry table? A larger tiled entry will save you grief (and lots of cleaning). Do you anticipate minimal traffic? You can probably get by with a smaller area of tile. I made my own tiled entry quite large (6 by 8 feet) since we planned to store a shoe rack on it.
2. Choose tiles. For my entry, I went with simple, square 6×6-inch tiles. This made marking and cutting out the flooring very simple. If you want a more interesting tile shape (like hexagonal tiles), keep in mind that the marking and cutting will be trickier.
3. Mark the area for your entry. Lay out all the tiles you’ll use for your entry on top of your existing floor. Use tile spacers to ensure they’re spaced properly. This might seem like a waste of time, but it’s vital to lay out the tiles exactly as they will be in the finished entryway to avoid problems later. When you’re happy with the layout, use a pencil to trace a line 1/4 inch beyond the outer perimeter of the tiles.
4. Cut out the existing floor. Use an oscillating multitool with a saw blade attachment to carefully cut through the existing flooring along your pencil line. Be sure to cut through the flooring only, not the subfloor underneath. Remove the old flooring when you’re done cutting.
5. Mix some modified thinset mortar in a bucket with either a handheld electric mixer or by hand with a trowel. Apply it to the entryway area evenly using a square-notched trowel.
6. Apply thinset and Ditra. Cut and install a layer of Ditra uncoupling membrane over the modified thinset. Make sure the Ditra covers the entire entryway area. Do the cutting with scissors. Allow the thinset to dry.
7. Install the tiles. Mix and apply more thinset mortar on top of the Ditra, this time of the unmodified variety. Carefully press your tiles one at a time into the thinset while it’s still wet. Use tile leveling spacers to ensure the tiles are positioned correctly. Cut tiles with a tile-cutting saw around the edges as needed. I avoided the need to cut any tiles on my entry by making its dimensions a precise multiple of the width of my tiles.
8. Apply grout. Once the thinset has fully cured, mix up some grout of your color choice. Work the grout into the tile cracks by pushing it back and forth over the tiles with a trowel. Don’t let any grout get into the gap around your entry’s perimeter. Allow the grout to get half hard, then clean the excess off the tiles with a wet cloth or towel.
9. Fill the outer perimeter gap with silicone caulking color matched to your grout.

Sheets and Pillowcases

Let’s start with the basics. You need to wash your sheets and pillowcases at least once a week, according to the Sleep Foundation. However, if you have pets—and especially if they sleep with you—you should wash your sheets every few days. This will help minimize allergens, which could cause sneezing or skin irritation. We also love performing a full disinfection of our sheets.

Whether you have a self-driving car yourself or are simply fascinated by the technology, we have an update to keep you in the know. Recently, Tesla recalled thousands of cars that have self-driving software. These vehicles are being removed from the roads for the moment due to a gap in traffic safety.

Here’s what you need to know about this major recall.

Why Did Tesla’s Self-Driving Cars Get Recalled?

The main question surrounding the Tesla self-driving car recall is this: Why exactly did these vehicles get recalled? In mid-February 2023, news broke of the Tesla self-driving car recall due to concerns by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or the NHTSA. This recall aims to ensure the company updates the cars’ Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta Software.

This happened because the NHTSA has concerns that this system doesn’t follow traffic safety rules and therefore, could lead to accidents. Because drivers aren’t actively driving the vehicle, the NHTSA wants to make sure the cars are updated so they no longer exceed the speed limit or operate in an unpredictable manner through intersections.

Vehicles are constantly evolving to become more safe, so this is a step in the right direction for Tesla to reduce the likelihood that its self-driving cars will cause a crash.

What Cars Are Included in the Recall?

A massive 362,000 cars were included in the Tesla recall, including some of the auto manufacturer’s most popular vehicles. Here are the cars included in this recall:

• Model S vehicles 2016-2023

• Model X vehicles 2016-2023

• Model 3 vehicles 2017-2023

• Model Y vehicles 2020-2023 that have FSD Beta software or that are pending installation

What To Know If Your Car Was Recalled

If you own a vehicle that was impacted by the Tesla recall, here are the next steps you should take to ensure your car is road safe.

Here’s the good news: Usually, Teslas are only covered by a four-year warranty. However, in the case of a recall, your Tesla vehicle will receive service to fix the problem at no cost regardless of how old the car is or how many miles are on it. If you need more information about the Tesla self-driving car recall and what your next steps should be, you can check out Tesla’s site.

Or, if this recall has made you cautious about self-driving vehicles altogether, we’ve put together this list of cars that hold up great that you can consider buying instead.

What Are Fluted Wall Panels?

Basically, fluted wall panels are a wall covering made up of a series of pieces of wood, hung either vertically or horizontally. The wood can be natural, composite, or synthetic, but its key feature is its “fluting,” or the concave carving of the wood. It can make up an entire wall, or just a segment, making it a space-conscious, tasteful alternative to traditional wood paneling.

What Are the Benefits of Fluted Wall Panels?

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, flute wood paneling has many benefits:

• Eco-friendliness: Because fluted wood paneling rarely covers an entire space and can be made of composite, it is typically a greener option for your house than traditional paneling.
• Low maintenance: Fluted wood paneling can be easily wiped down with a cloth and installation is a snap. (Yes, you should be cleaning your walls, too!)
• Immune to pests: If made of synthetic or composite, fluted wood panels can’t be harmed by termites like traditional wood.
• Water- and mold-resistant: Much like with pests, water does not pose a threat to synthetic materials. And with no water, there’s no mold, meaning that this design choice can easily be incorporated into humid spaces like kitchens or bathrooms.
• Ages gracefully: Fluted wood panels are durable, meaning that they’ll last for years to come without needing to be replaced.

How Can I Add Fluted Wall Panels to my House?

There are numerous different ways to incorporate the gorgeous fluted wood paneling trend into your home. Find three of our favorites below.

Frame Your Television

One of the most intuitive ways to add fluted wood paneling is as an alternative media center. Where one might opt for a classic cabinet to support a standing television, hanging TVs look dramatic against a fluted backdrop.

Emphasize Your Favorite Furniture

Whether you adore your upscale bed or want to bring out the color of your couch, fluted wood paneling can help draw the eye to a special space. A textured wall can act as a pseudo-headboard in the master bedroom. In the living room, horizontal fluted wood panels lend an air of luxury, like an upscale hotel!

Add an Accent Wall

Finally, keep it simple with a classic accent wall. Instead of testing out new paint, lean into natural materials and organic textures. We particularly love how they add warmth to a bathroom, especially when paired with soft, amber lighting.

Where Can I Buy Fluted Wall Panels?

Check out Chroma Living for a wide selection of colors and materials. Whether you opt for rich mahogany or airy beech, your space will shine with its new elegant makeover.

With the help of this potato stamp wall art tutorial, you can easily use this veggie sitting in your pantry to transform your space. It’s quick, simple and efficient. Here’s what you need to know to get started with this potato stamp wall art hack.

How to Create Potato Stamp Wall Art

Not even the most skilled interior designers expected potato stamp wall art to take off when predicting paint trends over the next decade. Still, we’re here for it! Ready to tackle potato stamp wall art? Here’s how to make this process as seamless as possible.

Even when you paint with a potato, it’s crucial to properly prep for interior painting. By doing this, you can rest assured you’ll have the perfect paint job when you’re all done. Make sure you prep the wall beforehand, too—check out these tips for indoor painting.

For starters, be sure you protect your furniture by covering it. Remove any light or outlet covers, and cover the floor. Then, you can start with patching to fix any trouble spots on your wall. Then, gently clean the surface of your wall to remove any unwanted substances. To wrap up your prep, make sure you’re protecting your trim.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you can begin making your potato stamp wall art. This video from TikTok creator @indie.boho.nest demonstrates the process beautifully:

@indie.boho.nest What produce should i try next? #fyp #fixerupperhouse #decorhacks #paintedwall #diywallart #diywallpaper #viralditiktok #homegoals #accentwall #diyersofinstagram ♬ Oh my God. – Quinny👍

To do it yourself:

• Grab a potato from your pantry.
• Cut it in half.
• Cut an ‘X’ shape into the exposed part of the potato.
• Use a knife to remove the excess pieces.
• Grab some paint.
• Dip your potato stencil into the paint to create a potato wall art stamp.
• Apply it to your wall to create the desired pattern.

And that’s it! We love how this adds visual interest and texture to the wall. And if you’re open to trying something new aside from traditional sponge painting, this is a fun twist.

Can You Use Other Vegetables for Wall Art?

While we haven’t seen other creators getting crafty with other vegetables, you can add your spin on this trend by using different foods to create a wall stamp. For instance, if you want to create an accent wall in your kitchen and want a food-inspired print, you can halve an apple, remove the seeds and dip it into the paint to use as a stamp.

You already know that there are plenty of painting techniques you can use to reimagine your belongings, but we’re willing to bet hydro dipping will quickly become one of your favorites.

What Is Hydro Dipping?

Hydro dipping is an easy, affordable way to infuse personality and color into your thrift finds. You can try it on a vase, a decorative trinket dish or a piece of wall art. Just be mindful that it isn’t necessarily food safe, so stick with items you’re not planning to use for eating or drinking.

This technique is a popular way to level up your secondhand home items because you can add a unique flair to your objects. Say, for instance, you love a heart-shaped trinket dish you find at a thrift shop but don’t love its dated color that doesn’t match your other decor. Well, hydro dipping can take that old vase from boring to beautiful in a matter of minutes.

Another perk of hydro dipping is that you’ll never get the same results twice. Each hydro-dipped item is one-of-a-kind, so it’s a perfect keepsake for your home or to give to a loved one. If you do keep it in your home, prepare to get plenty of compliments!

With this method, you have the opportunity to customize the colors you use, which also makes it appealing. Plus, you only need a few products, many of which you may already have at home. This is the perfect DIY to attempt when you have a few spare hours on a Saturday.

How to Hydro Dip

To start hydro dipping, first, gather all of your supplies. You’ll need water, a vessel to dip the item in, gloves and spray paint. We suggest working with a large plastic bucket or storage tote, depending on the size of the item you’re hydro dipping. And as far as the spray paints go, pick three colors that work well together.

This video by TikTok creator @lisa_burningham does an excellent job walking us through the process, so check it out for an overview of the steps you’ll take:

@lisa_burningham Have you ever hydro dipped? 🤯 #homedecor #thritflip ##thriftflipdecor #hydrodipping #hydrodip #hydrodipper #diy #diydecor #diyinteriordecor #viral #fyp #viraltiktok #lisaburningham ♬ Hey It’s Me – Official Sound Studio

1. Give the item a light, even coat of white spray paint. This provides you with a neutral canvas, which is a big plus. Here’s everything you need to know before spray painting, and some tips for perfect spray painting.
2. Once the coat is dry, it’s time to begin the fun part! Grab your vessel and place a contractor’s bag inside as a lining so none of the paint soaks through and dyes it. Then, you’ll fill the bag all the way up with water.
3. Take your spray paints and spray them directly into the water. Be sure to alternate so you make a bullseye effect—this is crucial to ensure your hydro dipping comes out as visually appealing as possible.
4. Put your gloves on and gently dip your item into the water with spray paint. Once it’s in the water, don’t be afraid to move it around. The paint should adhere to the item and create a gorgeous, marble-esque effect.
5. Once you’re happy with the finished product, remove it from the water.

Hydro dipping is as simple as that, so enjoy getting crafty with your thrifted pieces!

Glass Mosaic Backsplashes

This is the “top of the list” no-no for interior designer and TikTok user Phoenix Grey (@phoenixgrey). In one particular video, he rails glass mosaic backsplashes for being “too busy” aesthetically and explains that “the extra amount of grout means that they’re grimier and much harder to clean.” Yikes!

So how do you make the most of it? You can (and should!) try some DIY home storage solutions, but until you see other laundry spaces, it may be hard to visualize the hidden potential of your own. For some, all a transformation takes is some out-of-the-box thinking, paint and a few materials to bring a laundry area from drab to modern glam.

How Did This Woman Hide Her Laundry Room?

In this TikTok video, shared by DIY and interior stylist Julie Sousa (@the_avantgarde), you can see a laundry room space metamorphose from boring and inconvenient to stylish and functional.

In the clip, Sousa introduces the laundry space, which isn’t a separate room, by saying the high-traffic area “cannot look like a dedicated laundry space because it’s out in the open.” The space is in a small alcove area of the house, bracketed by two doors—one of which contains a stacked washer and dryer hidden behind it. Before the makeover, the space didn’t resemble a laundry area and was nonfunctional because there were no shelves to fold or stack laundry on.

@the_avantgarde #laundry #diyproject #homedecor #smallspace #homediy ♬ Valerie (Version Revisited) – Mark Ronson

To solve the design dilemma, Sousa created a “camouflaged laundry nook.” The TikTok creator first transforms the space by painting a third of the back wall a dark gray and adding a sheet of slat wood paneling painted the same shade for texture. Next, Sousa painted the remaining two-thirds of the wall a khaki green. Then, to make the space serviceable, Sousa attached two gray shelves to the wall and added two laundry hampers that could pass for decorative cabinets underneath the shelves.

The finished look also includes a modern black-and-white painting with an overhead light fixture, moody under-shelf lighting and some vases with a splash of greenery. When the space is used for laundry, the shelves come in handy, but when laundry isn’t in progress, the alcove looks like a beautiful, decorative passageway.

For some similar smart storage options, try these laundry room organization tips.

Tips for Creating Your Own Hidden Laundry Room

To hide your own laundry room, consider your space and design aesthetic first, then decide on your budget. If your budget is small, you may benefit from looking at these cheap laundry room updates you can DIY.

Here are some more tips for creating your own hidden laundry room:

• Hide extra shelves behind a door or use a decorative armoire or cabinet to hide your laundry items away.
• For front-loading washers and dryers on the floor, create a faux counter on top of the appliances and hang some half curtains in front of the appliances. That way, you can move the drapes to hide them when they’re not in use.
• If your appliances are in a room that isn’t a designated laundry area and are stacked on each other, try installing faux cabinet doors. Your appliances will stay hidden behind the cabinet facade whenever they aren’t in use.
• Install a collapsible ironing board in the wall, hidden behind a cabinet door.
• Opt for a decorative, sliding barn door system to conceal your small laundry space.
• Look for hampers that aren’t conspicuous in their purpose.
• Install decorative pocket doors to conceal a laundry space the size of a small closet.

Luckily, there are a few tricks you can use to elevate their appearance. Here’s how to make fake plants look real without spending too much effort or time.

How to Make Fake Plants Look Real

Some ideas that’ll help you transform the look of your fake houseplants come from TikTok creator @amyepeters. In the TikTok video, Peters shares how to make your houseplants look real with a few materials. If you’re new to the world of faux greenery, you may want to know how to pick fake plants before you try these hacks. If you already have a few fake plants at home, you can use these tricks together (or separately).

@amyepeters Sharing a few tips to elevate your faux plants #homedecor #plantsoftiktok #fyp @Décors Véronneau ♬ Fake ID X Walking On A Dream Carter Walsh Remix – CarterWalsh

Buy a Larger Pot

Find a larger pot for your plants. It can be slightly or significantly larger, but the point is to make it possible to elevate your fake houseplant to a higher level. You can find a variety of pots at any home improvement store, like Lowe’s or The Home Depot, and chain or local garden centers.

You may also want to consider a wall planter for specific plants, like fake begonias or ferns. If so, try one of these wall planters for your home.

Elevate Your Plant to Make It Look Taller

To elevate your plant inside the large pot, put a plastic bucket or something similar inside the pot. Try to center it for the best results. Next, fill in the gaps of the pot with bubble wrap or a towel and place your fake plant on top of the bucket, so it sits higher. If you don’t have a bucket at home, you can buy a plastic paint bucket at a home improvement store.

Use Fake or Preserved Moss

One of the best touches you can add to a fake plant is moss. In the video, the TikTok creator uses a ring of cardboard to place around the base of the plant to keep the soil, rocks and moss elements isolated. You can buy fake or preserved moss online from retailers like SuperMoss or Amazon. You can also find fake or preserved moss at craft stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.

Add Soil and Rocks

Adding fresh soil and rocks can take a fake houseplant from drab to the next level. When you put in these earthy touches, your faux plants will look more realistic—and prettier! The human eye is used to seeing real soil in potted plants, so when you place some soil in your faux greenery, it’ll look much more natural.

If you want to add some fresh greenery to your home but don’t know where to start, try placing an indoor herb garden planter in your kitchen. Herbs are low maintenance as long as you make sure you’ve bought the best indoor herb garden plants and have them in the ideal conditions.

When it comes to buying the perfect curtains for your home, you’ll have plenty of options in color, style, material and price. As great as curtains are, they pose a challenge for perfectionists. Perfectly spacing panel curtains can feel like an impossible task, made especially challenging since the curtain bar is not exactly at eye level. Sure, you could use the broom handle or find the yardstick to help, but we have some easier ways to solve the issue of how to space curtains.

How to Space Your Curtains with Toilet Paper Rolls

@littlepettittpad ✌️ Curtain Spacing Hack have you tried this 🙌 #homehacks #homestylinghacks #curtainshack #homedecorideasuk #homedecortrends #homedecortrends2023 ♬ Cool Kids (our sped up version) – Echosmith

TikTok user @littlepettittpad shared an easy and nearly free hack about how to space curtains with toilet paper rolls. Here’s how to replicate the hack at home.

• Remove the curtain rod and curtains
• Alternate sliding one curtain grommet onto the curtain rod followed by one toilet paper roll. Be sure the toilet paper roll is placed on the back side of the curtain that’ll face the window.
• Repeat on the other side
• Rehang the curtain rod

It’s as simple as that. Best of all, toilet paper rolls are something every household has around.

Other Ways to Space Your Curtains

If you’re not in the mood to wait for enough toilet paper rolls to accumulate before attempting this method, here are some alternatives for how to space curtains.

Use Plastic Pipe

Instead of using toilet paper rolls, you can achieve the same effect by using plastic or PVC piping. Your local hardware store can likely cut it into your desired size—just be sure to choose piping wide enough that it’ll slide onto the curtain rod. Using plastic pipes could even last longer than toilet paper rolls since they’re more durable. Although, you’ll have to invest in some piping rather than reusing something already at home unless you happen to have some lying around.

Use Other Household Cardboard Rolls

In addition to toilet paper, a few other household items come with cardboard rolls in the core. Saving all of them can be a quicker method instead of using just toilet paper rolls. Wrapping paper rolls, lint rollers and paper towel rolls could easily be used instead of or in addition to toilet paper rolls. Just be sure to cut each of them to equal lengths to get evenly spaced curtains.

Use a Foam Pool Noodle or Foam Pipe Covers

A pool noodle or foam pipe cover could also do the trick of getting evenly spaced grommets. For this method, you’ll want to use a pool noodle with a hollow center or head to your local hardware store for some foam pipe covers. Cut the foam to your desired width and slide it between the curtain grommets just like you would if you were using toilet paper rolls.

Some of us immediately cringe when we think of bathroom carpet, but at one point, it was the hot bathroom trend. If we ignore the mold and other hygiene issues, stepping onto carpet instead of freezing bathroom tile on a cold winter morning sounds pretty appealing. Like many bathroom decor trends, we’ve seen carpeted bathrooms come and go, replaced by modern tiles that are easier to clean. But the lifecycle of almost every trend sees an eventual rebirth. Are we in the midst of a carpeted bathroom becoming popular again?

The History of Bathroom Carpet

Carpeting American homes took off post-World War II when suburban neighborhoods cropped up across the country. While homes became larger, real estate listings started including the sought-after “wall-to-wall-carpeting.” Americans were hooked on the comfortable flooring of shag carpet. Some homes even literally carpeted the walls. For a time, having a home with carpet was seen as an affluent, in-vogue choice. In 1968 Jane Fonda traveled to space in a shag-carpeted spaceship in “Barbarella.” Up through the 1980s, it seems like carpeting your home was an integral part of the deal. A New York Times article that ran in 1979 mentioned that carpet sales were increasing year-on-year, and with the price of new homes surging, they expected more families to renovate their current homes by adding in carpet. The trend of covering a home’s floor with carpet didn’t exclude carpeting the bathroom.

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A post shared by The Bathing Culture (@thebathingculture)

Plenty of homes still have carpeted rooms today, but many have moved on to favoring tiles, hardwood floors or vinyl flooring. Keeping carpet clean is often a harder task than sweeping and mopping non-fabric flooring options. It’s harder to spot a carpeted bathroom in a modern home, but recently we’ve seen some a-list celebrities stir some controversy while displaying their carpeted bathrooms. Demi Moore has carpet in her bathroom at her home in Sun Valley, Idaho. David Harbor and Lily Allen have a carpeted bathroom in their Brooklyn townhouse that doubles as a seating area.

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A post shared by Demi Moore (@demimoore)

So, Is Bathroom Carpet Making a Comeback?

You’re not alone if you think carpeting a bathroom isn’t the best choice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentions using carpet in rooms that are prone to get wet like bathrooms and basements can spell trouble with mold.

Carpeting a bathroom has some appealing aspects like providing a non-slip surface when getting out of the shower. Aesthetically, some prefer the look of carpet in the bathroom, and some interior designers are reincorporating it into modern homes, but they’re doing so cautiously. Some are carpeting a portion of the bathroom and avoiding areas that are likely to get damp like near the sink.

We’re convinced carpet in the bathroom falls into the bucket of bathroom trends on the way out more so than making a comeback. But if you do decide it’s right for your bathroom, choose a carpet that’s made of synthetic fibers that are easy to clean like nylon.

The basic concept of this upcycling hack is simple—buy a bread box (or two), turn it on its side so the sliding cover becomes a door, add paint and legs as desired, and voila, your bread-side table or bread box cabinet is born. Several variations exist, including fastening two boxes together side-by-side to make a 2-door cabinet, and stacking several boxes to create a multi-tiered storage unit.

The hack continues to gain steam, thanks to people’s ongoing appreciation of fast, easy, DIY projects like this work bench kitchen island and the IKEA Kallax shelf storage hack. IKEA’s bread boxes are sturdy, attractive and roomy, making them a natural candidate for up-cycling into something to store items besides bread.

Ready to head to the store? This is the best time to visit IKEA.

How to Build an IKEA Bread Box Table

Here’s how to turn two IKEA bread boxes into an elegant “bread-side” table with built-in storage.

@saniashome Bread-side table hack! So pleased with how these came out. #ikeahack #ikea #breadbin #breadsidetable #hacks #diy #home #newhome #house #newhouse #fyp #foryou #foryoupage ♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) – 山口夕依

What You’ll Need

• Two IKEA “MAGASIN” bread boxes. Or if you like, you can go with this similar model from Amazon.
• Four hairpin-style cabinet legs
• Bottle of waterproof wood glue
• Masking tape
• 180-grit sandpaper
• Latex primer
• 100% acrylic latex paint of your preferred color
• Paintbrush
• Flat, heavy object
• Screwdriver or impact driver
• Wet cloth

Directions

• Flip one of your two breadboxes upside down and lay a bead of wood glue along the perimeter of the bottom.
• Place the second breadbox carefully on top of the first, lining up the bottom edges of the two boxes so the glue bonds them together symmetrically.
• Ensure the two boxes are perfectly aligned with each other, then lay a flat, heavy object (i.e., a stack of books) on top of the top box to weigh it down and ensure a strong glue joint.
• Wipe away any excess glue that squeezes out along the joint using a wet cloth.
• Allow the glue to dry overnight.
• Decide where you’d like to paint your table and choose a color. Painting the top and bottom surfaces and door handles while leaving the rest unpainted gives a nice contrast.
• Lightly sand the areas you want to paint using 180-grit paper. This boosts paint adhesion.
• Vacuum away any dust.
• Mask any areas you don’t want to paint, then apply primer and paint. Allow enough time for the paint to dry.
• Use a screwdriver or impact driver to fasten four hairpin legs symmetrically to the bottom of your table.

There are some great ways to keep your home less dusty, but over time the dust will always return. This is because dust is composed of elements found in every living situation. We shed dead skin cells and hair that add to the dust pile, and fabric particles from our clothes and linens also contribute to dust accumulation.

Seasonal impacts on dust accumulation also play a role. Consider how winter causes dry skin and the need for fluffy blankets while spring and summer call for doors and windows to open, letting in pollen and dirt particles—all of which contribute to dust. Sometimes the dust is unavoidable, like if new homes are being built nearby or you live in an area prone to dust storms.

How to Reduce Dust Around the House

When it comes to breathing in clean air, dust is a detrimental factor. The American Lung Association notes that dust and dust mites are some of the major indoor triggers for people with asthma and that dusting regularly is important to improve indoor air quality.

You’re not alone if you’re researching dusting hacks to make the chore less tedious. TikTok creator @mama_mila_, AKA Chantel Mila recently offered three of her favorite dusting hacks—and we have a few more to add!

@mama_mila_ 3 easy ways to manage dust around your home ☁️🏡 #dustremoval #homehacks #cleaninghacks ♬ Lavender Haze – Taylor Swift

Always Dust from Top to Bottom

Since gravity pulls everything down, a time-saving dusting hack is to always dust from the top to the bottom. Walls, high light fixtures, chandeliers and ceiling fans should all be at the top of your dusting list before moving to lower areas. Dust the ceiling fan last and you’ll be re-dusting the floor below. When it comes to dusting the right way, saving time is a priority.

Use Newspaper to Line High Shelving to Prevent Buildup

Another one of Mila’s top dusting tricks is to use newspaper to cover high shelving. When the time comes to dust, you can simply remove and replace the newspaper, knowing all the dust has settled into the newspaper. Best of all, this hack uses all recyclable materials.

Use a Lint Roller for Hard-to-Reach Spots

Lint rollers are one of the best cleaning hacks around, but the tool can also be useful when dusting. Use the lint roller on areas with odd shapes that are hard to reach like lamp shades or items that aren’t machine-washable like decorative throw pillows.

Use a Hairdryer on House Plants

Wiping each leaf of a houseplant can be a tedious dusting task. Instead, try blowing it off with a hair dryer set to a cold-air setting.

Repurpose Tongs for Dusting Blinds

Blinds are one of the most unwieldy household items to dust. One of the easiest ways to get into every nook of the blinds is to use a pair of kitchen tongs to grab and then dust the surface. You can use a microfiber cloth over the tongs or even a pair of old socks.

Use a DIY spray

Making your own dusting spray is both economical and helpful for reducing dust. With just four ingredients, using a DIY dusting spray can help prevent dust from building up. As a bonus, it leaves your home smelling clean and fresh.

Keep Pets Brushed and Clean

Similar to how our skin sheds, pets also produce dander than can contribute to a dusty home. Keeping pets brushed and well-groomed can keep dust to a minimum, especially if the pets have a liking for rolling around outside.

Thankfully, there’s a method you can use to solve both of those problems. It’s called laundry bluing, and today, we’re going to share how you can get started.

What Is Laundry Bluing?

If you’re scratching your head wondering, “What is laundry bluing?” you’ll be happy to learn it isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Basically, you can use a product to add a small amount of blue dye to effectively help you brighten white clothing or darken jeans that have faded. The key with laundry bluing is to be mindful of your dye concentration, as a higher concentration will darken jeans but could tarnish your white clothing.

Yep, while it might sound counterintuitive, a little bit of blue dye can make your white clothes, well—whiter. The pigment in the blue dye counteracts the yellow that happens as you wash your white clothes, which is why it’s a perfect quick fix. And if you didn’t know already, you should avoid using bleach for white laundry.

The product used, liquid bluing, is simply a colloidal suspension of very fine blue iron powder and water. And no, you don’t need to make it yourself—just buy a laundry bluing product like Mrs. Stewart’s.

How to Use Laundry Bluing

It seems simple enough, right? However, depending on which type of washing machine you have, you’ll need to follow a particular process to make laundry bluing as successful as possible. Regardless of how you add the bluing mix, be sure you skip any other laundry products (like fabric softener) aside from detergent. This is a common laundry mistake, but it will lead to staining.

In a Top Load Washer

Dilute 1/4 teaspoon of bluing with 1 quart of cold water of the bluing substance, or follow the instructions on the package. Then, begin the wash cycle and monitor the barrel until it’s halfway full of water. At that point, add the solution.

In a Front Load Washer

Dilute 1/4 teaspoon of bluing with 1-2 quarts of cold water, or as it instructs you on the bottle you’re using. Once your machine fills with water, add the mixture to the dispenser drawer.

However, if your washer’s drawers lock when your washing cycle begins, you can dilute the substance according to the bottle’s instructions and pour it into your washer’s available drawer.

These are the instructions you’d follow if you want to whiten your clothing. However, if you want to make jeans darker, you’ll use more bluing substance—up to one teaspoon for every quart of water you use. Of course, the more you use, the darker the jeans will be.

How to Remove Laundry Bluing Stains

Usually, we’d say too much of a good thing is impossible, but this isn’t the case with laundry bluing. If you got a bit too enthusiastic using this method and now need to remove laundry bluing stains, we’ve been there. Here’s the good news: removing these marks isn’t as tricky as it seems, and Mrs. Stewart’s provides an excellent tutorial that should help remove any stains. Here’s how to do it.

To start, gather your clothing into a container that you can cover. For instance, try a plastic bag with a twist tie that you then place in another bag or a bucket with a tight-fitting lid. It’s essential there are no leaks and that it’s airtight.

Then, create a solution of 1/2 cup ammonia to one quart of water. Ammonia is the only way to remove your bluing stains. For the best results, the water needs to be cold, and there needs to be enough solution to submerge your clothing entirely. In addition, your items will need to float in it.

Soak your clothes for 24 hours, and check on your clothing. If it’s gone, you’re all set, and you can now wash your clothing as normal, but use a non-bleach detergent. If it’s still visible yet fading, soak it for another 24 hours.

But we have some great news: with the help of this handy hack, you can quickly elevate your living space by adding an extra dose of coziness. Yes, we’re talking about placing candles in the fireplace. Here’s how—and why— you should give it a go in your home.

You can also elevate your room by investing in some fireplace decor ideas.

How to Prep Your Fireplace for Candles

@mydiyhappyhome_ Fireplace GLOW UP 🕯 We’ve never used our gas log fireplace- for safety reasons with our kiddos, but have always wanted it to feel cozy. It took me about an hour of time and I love it!!! I removed the gas logs (saving for later), left the grate in place to protect the gas line, cut a of thick piece of cardboard to fit in the grate, sprayed it black and added battery operated candles. Now we can have a warm, cozy glow- year round. No hot flames to worry with… and we can always swap it back later on down the road if we want to! 😉 You can create spaces in your home that love! I will link up the candles I used on my LTK page- link in my profile. https://liketk.it/3TB5k #fireplace #fireplacemakeover #diyhomedecor #diymom #momlife #cozyhome #candlelight ♬ Made to Shine – Shelly Fairchild & Silverberg

Before putting candles in the fireplace, you need to prep the area. As seen in this video by TikToker @mydiyhappyhome, start your fireplace facelift by removing anything already in it, such as gas logs. (Another foolproof way to give your fireplace a facelift? By adding fireplace tiles.) Of course, be cautious and make sure nothing is hot before you touch it. Because this creator has a gas line in the fireplace, she left the grates. That brings us to our next must-know before placing candles in the fireplace: if you also have a gas line, only use faux candles.

Next, use a vacuum to clean up any excess debris, which tidies up the area and makes it more visually pleasing. You can also a piece of black-painted cardboard and put it on top of the grate so the candles can sit. Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re ready for assembly.

How to Set Up Your Candles in the Fireplace

Now that you’ve prepped your space, it’s time to start arranging your candles in the fireplace. Before you begin, ask yourself a few questions. Do you prefer taper candles or the look of pillar ones? Would you like candles of varied heights or all the same? Do colored candles appeal to you, or do you want to keep them classic with a neutral hue? Do you have a gas line? If so, you’ll have to stick with faux candles. And if you go with fake candles, will you get a remote-control set to illuminate your space easily?

Once you’ve answered these questions and made your purchase, you’re officially ready to begin putting your candles in the fireplace.

With Candlesticks

If you love the elegant, whimsical look of taper candles, you can use candlesticks to arrange your candles in the fireplace. Check out how TikTok user @danniellajoy sets hers to create an intimate, cozy vibe in her home. Of course, you can opt for plain taper candles, but we love how this creator added a fun twist with the ones she selected. To get the look, our editors recommend these flameless wax candles that mimic the real deal.

@danniellajoy Candlesticks in your fireplace is such a vibe 🕯🤍✨ #fireplacediy #fireplacedecor #bohohomedecor #bohohome #candledecor #sanfancisco ♬ freaking out the neighborhood by mac demarcoシ – offline

With Candles of Varied Sizes and Heights

As seen in the first video, using candles of varied heights creates visual interest and makes the entire arrangement more appealing. Plus, it adds a feeling of coziness and warmth like no other, as you can use candles of different sizes to fill in the gaps. Try these flickering LED candles that come in an assortment of sizes.

With Colorful Candles

You can select colorful candles if you want to add color to your space. Whether you prefer taper or pillar candles, you can certainly find them in many lively colors, so don’t be afraid to get creative to make an arrangement that feels like a reflection of your home’s unique style. Check out how TikToker @hollyauna did it for some inspiration.

@hollyauna This seriously brings me so much joy 🕯#fireplace #candles #dollartree #halloween #harrypotter ♬ Double Trouble – John Towner Williams

Not interested in setting up candles? Check out these other ideas for a non-functional fireplace.

What’s John Deere’s New All-Electric Lawn Mower?

The John Deere Z370R is a zero-turn electric riding lawn mower. That means it’s fully battery-powered and doesn’t need any gas or oil. Like all electric machines, the lack of combustible fuel also eliminates the need to winterize—apart from parking the mower in a sheltered space and bringing the batteries indoors. Plus, one of the benefits of an electric vs. gas lawnmower it that it’s quieter than its gas-fueled counterparts, so you’re less likely to disturb the neighbors during your morning lawncare routine.

It’s zero-turn functionality means it turns as sharply around corners and tight spaces, thanks to front wheels that rotate 360 degrees.

The Z370R charges with a regular extension cord plugged into a 110-volt outlet, so there’s no need to remove batteries or store a charger. The 3.56 kWH battery capacity, 42-inch mower deck and 2-acre maximum mow per charge are fairly average among other reputable electric mower brands. What isn’t average is the battery’s 5-year warranty, or the waterproof casing built over it to allow stress-free hose washes.

Like other John Deere mowers, this machine comes with MulchControl technology, which allows you to switch between normal mowing and mulching easily on the fly.

When Will It Be Available?

According to John Deere’s website, if you pre-order the Z370R today you can expect it to arrive at your local dealer for pickup within 7 to 10 months.

Where Can I Get It?

The Z370R is currently available for pre-order on the John Deere website. At $6,400, this mower is at the more expensive end of the electric mower spectrum. Time will tell if the robust design and claims of cleaner, faster cuts justify the cost.

The Magnolia founder’s first “mini reni,” aka miniature renovation, shows off the designer’s skill at completely modernizing an outdated space.

How Did Joanna Gaines Make Over This Small Space?

On the heels of Joanna Gaines’ garden cottage, the designer shared the recent mini renovation on her Magnolia blog and has also shared some inspiring Instagram videos of the project coming to fruition in time-elapsed clips.

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A post shared by Joanna Stevens Gaines (@joannagaines)

According to her Instagram post from Jan. 31, Gaines took the project on and completed it in less than a week. “I recently helped a couple with a simple home refresh. We had a tight construction budget and less than a week to complete,” wrote Gaines. “I love flips like this—approachable, fast and minimal work but still high impact.”

Gaines’ mini reno was a considerable feat for a one-week deadline, and the space was a blank canvas for a couple who had yet to move in. With her team, she completed a living room, a dining room and a bedroom.

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A post shared by magnolia (@magnolia)

The dining room started as a “plain white box” and became a visually interesting space, thanks to Gaines’ decision to install “1×6 boards and crown molding, both painted gray with a satin finish.” Since the budget was small, Gaines also painted the door the same gray and tied the look together with a stylish chandelier and velvet curtains.

The bedroom and the living room got similar dramatic transformations, with finishing touches like wallpaper, a chair rail and a bold paint color, including some ceiling paint. The stand-out room is the living room, with moody green paint on the walls and ceiling, a modern sculptural chandelier and gorgeous textiles like a soft, cozy rug, finished with some houseplants.

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A post shared by Joanna Stevens Gaines (@joannagaines)

One thing is clear—Joanna Gaines is a genius at envisioning spaces large and small.

Other Small Space Decorating Ideas

Are you looking for more decorating tips for small spaces? Make sure to avoid these common small space design mistakes and take a look at these inspirational ideas.

• Add extra lighting fixtures such as wall sconces or LED lighting strips to bring more light into your small spaces. More light makes a room look bigger.
• Try vertical stripes on wallpaper to make your walls look taller.
• Paint a low ceiling in a light or medium tone to make your ceiling appear taller.
• Window-sill-level draperies are better for tiny spaces.
• Look for utilitarian furniture, such as ottomans with storage or coffee tables with drawers.
• Swap your traditional bedside table for a floating option to gain more floor space.

But what if you didn’t even need to go to the farmer’s market to harvest those beautiful blooms? More and more gardeners are opting to start their own cut flower gardens—gardens of flowers meant specifically to build bouquets with—and reaping the benefits. Not only do you get the freshest flowers possible, but you also are likely to find a sense of fulfillment in growing your own blooms.

Fortunately, starting a cut flower garden is now easier than ever! Here’s what you need to know about growing your own long-stemmed flowers.

What Do I Need to Start a Cut Flower Garden?

To get started, all you really need is a suitable patch of yard space that receives ample sunlight and some nourishing potting mix. Some gardeners like to grow in-ground, while others prefer using raised beds or containers. If drainage or quality are particular issues for your soil, we recommend using raised beds.

Once you’ve determined where your cut flower garden will be and what vessels it might grow in, it’s time to source seeds for the flowers you wish to grow.

What Are the Easiest Flowers to Grow in a Cut Flower Garden?

When acquiring cut flower seeds, it’s important to take into consideration what flowers may grow best in your climate. Be sure to check your plant hardiness zone and compare it to the zones listed on the back of seed packets.

From there, you’ll want to mostly select hardy and half-hardy annuals, according to Louise Curley, a gardening expert from Amateur Gardening magazine. These varietals are often called “cut and come again” flowers, as they produce more flowers after you pick them. Some excellent self-replenishing choices include cosmos, zinnias, scabious and sweet peas. Other pertinent annuals are sunflowers, calendulas, bachelor’s buttons, larkspurs, pinks and gladioluses.

Once you’ve selected the “backbone” of annual cut flowers, you can fill in your garden with bulbs, biennials and foliage. Beautiful beginner-friendly bulbs include dahlias, daffodils, lilies and hyacinths. Biennials could include foxgloves, hollyhocks, stock, and sweet william, while foliage could include greens like euphorbia, bells of Ireland, or bupleurum. By planting a variety of blooms, you can ensure you’ll have cut flowers in spring, summer and fall.

How Do I Plan and Space My Cut Flower Garden?

Before you plant any seeds, it’s a good idea to design your garden bed first. Using some paper and a pencil, draw your garden to scale, envisioning where you’d like the flowers to be. Take into account their “spread” ranges as listed on the seed packets, as well as their heights—some taller varieties may provide useful shade for shorter varieties that thrive in less direct sunlight. Additionally, make sure to include plenty of paths in the garden so that you can easily access each plant for watering, weeding and cutting.

How Do I Plant My Cut Flower Garden?

Once you’re satisfied with your paper layout, it’s time to plant. Mark your placements in your flower beds and remove any interfering weeds. Then, till your soil with the potting mix, organic material, and some fertilizer. When you’re ready to sow the seeds, consider staking taller flowers, or planting them somewhat close together to support each other. Then, plant the seeds according to the instructions on the back of the seed packets.

How Do I Maintain a Cut Flower Garden?

For the most part, caring for a cut flower garden is like caring for any other garden: be sure to water, weed and fertilize regularly. However, you’ll also want to build time in your routine for deadheading, or pinching off flowers from the plant just below where the base of the flower meets the stem. This will allow the plant to focus more of its resources on longer-stemmed blooms.

Additionally, be sure to let a few flowers go to seed to replenish your seed supply for the next growing season. To collect seeds, just place a paper bag over the bloom, shake it so that the seeds fall inside, seal closed and label with the plant variety.

How Do I Harvest a Cut Flower Garden?

Before you start cutting stems, be sure to have a big bucket full of cool water on hand to plunge the freshly cut flowers into. Then, use cutting shears to trim off flowers at the intersection of their stem with the main plant’s stem. Be sure not to leave any part of the flower’s stem behind. Store the cut flowers in your water bucket for at least a few hours or up to overnight. Then, cut the bottom of the stems at an angle, arrange them in a vase, and fill the vase with another dose of fresh water. Refresh the water each day and give the flowers a fresh cut every few days. That’s it!

So, what are you waiting for? A beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers is right at your fingertips, just in time for spring!

Because traditional down comforters are filled with the down feathers of geese or ducks, the feathers can bunch up and flatten when washed due to moisture and soap residue, and it’s not fun trying to spread them back out. Even if you have a down alternative comforter, which is typically filled with polyester or rayon, you may still experience some unwanted bunching. Luckily, if you know how to wash a down comforter properly, you shouldn’t have any problems. It’s easier than you’d think!

How to Wash a Down Comforter

Per appliance brand Whirlpool, you should wash your comforter two or three times a year if you use a duvet cover. Keeping a duvet cover or sheet over your comforter will keep it cleaner longer, and you can launder the cover more regularly. If you don’t keep a cover on your comforter, you should wash it every couple of months.

Other experts list a longer period of time between washes. For example, sleep experts at the Sleep Foundation state you may only have to wash a down comforter one to two times per year if you keep a duvet cover on it. Since down comforters are delicate, only wash yours when it needs it. If your down comforter is brand new, Whirlpool argues against using it straight out of the package due to the potential presence of “trace chemicals” or other irritants from the manufacturing process.

Washing a down comforter, also called a duvet insert, requires a few mindful steps:

1. Check the care label: Before you launder your down comforter, check its care label. If your comforter has especially delicate fabric (like silk) and the tag recommends having it laundered at a dry cleaner, then you should take it to a local cleaner. If the label has at-home care instructions, you’re good to go.
2. Repair rips: Next, look for any rips or tears that would cause its filling to come out in a wash cycle. Sew those up if you find any.
3. Treat any stains: Spot-check your comforter for any stains. You should pre-treat stains with a stain-removing solution. If you find blood stains or pet urine stains, use an enzymatic cleaner to treat those. When spraying your stains, lift the fabric of the comforter away from the fill and let it sit for at least 10 minutes.
4. Load it into the washing machine: If you’re using your washing machine, check that it has enough room to handle bulky loads. If it fits well, you’re in the clear. Make sure it isn’t bunched up on itself.
5. Put your detergent in: Select a mild detergent. You may want to find a down-specific detergent. Less is more for your down comforter.
6. Fix your settings: Use your washer’s gentle or delicate cycle with warm water (not hot) and an extra rinse cycle to ensure all the detergent residue gets rinsed out.
7. Run and wait: Once it’s washing, wait for it to finish its full cycle.

You can also wash a down jacket at home following similar steps.

How to Dry a Down Comforter

How you dry your comforter is just as important as how you wash it. Follow these steps carefully to complete your laundering cycle:

• Make sure your comforter has enough room in your dryer: You want it to dry completely to avoid mildewing. Down feathers have a specific scent when wet, so don’t be alarmed by the strong smell.
• Set your drying setting to low or delicate: Odds are, your instincts will be to use a high dryer setting, but if your dryer gets too hot, it can damage the down feathers.
• Stop your dryer every so often: Between your drying cycle, open your dryer to break up your comforter’s lumps. You may also want to add wool dryer balls, which can speed up the drying process. Take it out of the dryer and shake it every half-hour or so to help keep the clumps at bay.
• Be patient: It can take a few hours for your down comforter to completely dry. Down comforters are bulky, so a slow drying process is normal.

Things to Keep in Mind

Other things you should know to ensure your success:

• Most experts don’t recommend air-drying your down comforter due to the increased risk of mildew.
• Avoid dry cleaning—the harsh chemicals can damage your down comforter. If you need an expert cleaner, ask your local dry cleaners if they can launder the item, not dry-clean it.
• Because down comforters are at risk of mildew, you must make sure your comforter is completely dry. If mildew or mold takes hold, breathing it is dangerous, so you should take your comforter to an expert cleaner if this occurs.
• Don’t use too much detergent. It can coat the feathers and cause them to flatten and clump together.
• Don’t use any fabric softener. Fabric softener residue will cling to the comforter’s fill and, again, cause clumping and loss of insulation.
• Don’t let your dryer get too hot—check the temperature during your comforter checks to keep it from damaging the fill.

Down comforters aren’t the only items that require special care. Check out these laundry tips for hard-to-wash items. If you struggle to launder your clothes and are tired of shrinking and damaging your favorite pieces, read these laundry tips for washing your clothes, including how to fix shrunk T-shirts.