ArcaMax

Decking the halls can put a lot of strain on our homes. Thick garlands, heavy strands of lights, glittery ornaments, and bulky Christmas trees can leave behind stubborn messes and unsightly damage after the holidays are over. Amid an already busy season, the last thing you need is the headache and expense caused by scratched floors, chipped wall...Read more

When you’re learning how to put lights on a tree, you figure out pretty quickly that hanging Christmas tree lights is easy. Getting the lights to look just right and taking them down at the end of the holiday season, however, is much harder.

First, what not to do:

Many times, people make the mistake of putting their lights on the Christmas ...Read more

Bathrooms are notoriously short on storage. While many have a medicine cabinet or even a well-equipped vanity with a combination of cabinets and drawers, a built-in closet allows you to store more. Bathroom closets are especially helpful in keeping towels and toiletries within close reach if your home lacks a linen closet.

Create the ultimate ...Read more

It’s easy to forget to clean your furniture every once in a while, but cleaning your wood furniture takes extra care and some maintenance. In order for your wood furniture to last a long time, you’ll want to clean it properly — unfortunately, it’s a bit easy to potentially damage your nice wood furniture.

“Wood is naturally porous and...Read more

“Update the bathroom” lands on many home to-do lists, but if a major remodel isn’t on the horizon, it’s a task that often gets pushed for years. All of those “someday” tasks are all too easy to procrastinate. But there are tons of ways to refresh a bathroom without retiling or tearing down walls. Start simple with a can of paint or ...Read more

Don’t break out the knee pads and scrub brushes just yet. Whether your floor is laminate or tile, linoleum or cork, we’ve got the simplest and safest ways to keep them looking spotless and new. Follow these guidelines for the right cleanser, the best tools, and the ideal technique for your specific type of flooring.

1. Cleaning a hardwood ...Read more

As the seasons change, so should your cleaning routine. You might already conduct an annual spring cleaning, but it’s just as essential to refresh your home once summer comes to a close. Fall typically brings cooler weather and more time spent indoors, which can mean increased foot traffic, dust, and debris. It also signals the approach of the...Read more

Changing your bedding for the season isn’t a requirement, but it does have benefits if you’re inclined to make the swap. The first thing to know is that you don’t necessarily need to change your bedding four times a year. To update seasonally, take a twice-yearly approach (think: spring/summer and fall/winter). Or if you just want to get ...Read more

There’s always the good, the bad and the ugly, even for pumpkins. These members of the squash family produce fruits in all different shapes, sizes and colors; there are huge ones, tiny ones, stumpy ones, tall ones and even bumpy ones. With so many pumpkin varieties and characteristics, it’s hard to tell which pumpkin is the best bang for ...Read more

You don't have to lift a brush to brighten up your spaces with color. Vibrant window treatments, furnishings, and accessories are simple ways to add a little color to your decor.

1. Mix it up.

Throw pillows are a simple way to add a splash of color and comfort to any room. Mix and match to create dynamic contrast. In this example, chevron ...Read more

One of the most frustrating things about houseplants occurs when a normally healthy plant starts looking sick — perhaps it wilts, drops its leaves, turns yellow or worse — and you’re not sure why. Here’s how to deal with 10 common houseplant problems so you can get back to enjoying your thriving, happy indoor jungle again.

1. Problem: ...Read more

Looking for some beautiful small home office ideas? Get in line. As more people opt to work remotely (or ditch their traditional corporate jobs to become their own bosses), it’s becoming possible to work from anywhere with a solid Wi-Fi connection. If you don’t want to drop a lot of money on a fancy co-working space — or several cups of ...Read more