Skills & How Tos

You'll find quick fixes, plus how to know when you need to call a pro.

Are you guilty of any of these?

This project might sound intimidating, but it’s actually pretty forgiving and great for beginners.

The tool promised paint prep time that was four times faster, so I put that claim to the test. Here’s what I thought.

These string light/planter combos are super easy to pull together and completely renter-friendly.

Here’s your June astrology reading.

Changing up a lampshade can be a quick and easy way to transform the look of a room, but finding the perfect lampshade can be a challenge. IKEA offers a wonderful selection of lampshades at reasonable prices, but they have uno fittings. Uno fittings are a large threaded ring in the middle of the fabric shades top tripod. According to Flip The Switch blog, uno fitters are commonly found on small and medium shades, and less frequently on large and over-sized shades.

The Macbook Air and the Macbook Pro laptops are both known for their best in class touch pad. Accurate and smooth to the touch, nothing really compares. Love your Macbook touch pad? Find even more reasons to love it and pick up a stylus for tablet style pen input on your Mac. Pair it with a software package that takes advantage of the capacitive touch pad and stylus compatibility.

If you’re an avid baker, then you probably rely on that little light in the back of your oven. The oven light helps you make sure everything is rising and browning like it should, whether you’re baking a batch of blueberry muffins or loaf of banana bread.While you may have a tried-and-true method for cleaning your oven, what about changing the oven light? Needless to say, if you’re absolutely lost when that little bulb burns out, you’re in the right place.

Finally, an excuse to buy all the quirky thrift store figurines your heart desires!

If you have a sample pot of paint, you can pull off this project.

One TikToker turned plain white renter walls into something unexpected and sophisticated.

Sometimes there’s just nothing better than a simple change of color. And, when it comes to giving furniture and decor a brand new lease on life, for the least money and effort, the hands-down winner is spray paint. I’ve tried a lotta lotta spray paint, and recently found my new favorite. It’s easier to think of things I haven’t spray painted—my dogs, maybe—than all the things I have.

It would fit right in at Barbie’s Dreamhouse.

Learn from my mistake!

There’s a reason black is a classic: it’s dark, it’s beautiful, it matches with almost everything. And it’s a great way to add a little contrast, drama and depth to an interior that needs a little extra pizazz. Here are six weekend painting projects that will add a little bit of black — and a whole lot of style — to your home.

It looks intimidating, but all you need are the right tools and a little patience.

If you'd like to share your home style with Apartment Therapy readers, read on for some tips for taking better photos of your home so you can stand out and get featured.

This DIY is perfect for art lovers on a budget.

You never know what you'll find in your next home renovation.

These investments are perfect for our "for now" home.

According to a real estate pro.

No black and white tiles here.

Make sure it looks perfect in any type of weather.

It's not just an upcycle — it's a *glow-up*-cycle.

Apartment Therapy is looking to feature a creative professional like yourself who has a workspace inside their home that could use some professional paint upgrades as part of our partnership with a major paint brand.We will give three readers a workspace paint upgrade in their homes. Apartment Therapy’s paint experts will work with the readers to select the paint colors for the paint upgrades, documenting it all in a before-and-after photo shoot (you will not have to be on camera).

You'll need a paper template, painter's tape, and a little patience.

Why you need a “landing strip” for your home.

Here's how to whip it back into top shape.

And keep at it all year long!

Here’s how.

According to an expert.

For one thing, It’ll help minimize clutter.

In a classic Friends episode, Ross convinces Chandler and Rachel to help him move his new couch up a few flights of stairs in lieu of paying the delivery charge. A hand drawn sketch and a few “pivots” later and, of course, the couch is stuck in mid-rounding-the-corner. When moving your own furniture, there are a few ways of getting your sofa around those tight corners.

Changing out a light fixture can be an easy, relatively quick way to update a room, and it can often make a dramatic difference. Here’s a quick guide on removing the old fixture, leaving just what you need to connect your new one. • safety glasses• circuit tester• screwdriver• step stool or ladderInstructions1. First, shut off the power at the breaker or fuse box.

Applying fabric to a wall with liquid starch is a great solution for renters and commitment-phobes alike. A bit time-intensive, yes, but the results are just about as good as it gets. And unlike some wallpapers, you can take it with you when you move! This kitchenette turned walk-in closet (old house, used to be multiple apartments..) had great light and was begging for some inspired design.

Here are five common reasons why it just won't stop making noise at you.

This little detail is the difference between good and great.

Living in the city has it’s advantages—none of which are awesome McMansions with pre-fab home theater spaces. But if you’re a movie buff, you can still fake that luxe home theater look. All you need to do is take on a few quick fixes in your living room.Get the theater vibe by painting your room with dark colors, like burgundy or navy blue. As a bonus, the images on your screen will look better because the light won’t reflect off your new dark walls.

Don't let your artistic skill-level prevent you from creating your own masterpiece.

And how to fix them.

So you’re on a high from last night’s Oscars and finally ready to set up a proper home theater, huh movie buff? Well, you’ll need more than a projector and comfy chairs. It’s a common misconception: You can’t just aim your projector at a bare white wall and drool over your $1,800 projector’s stellar picture. To get the best viewing experience in your home theater, follow these tips for painting a projection wall. Paint it proper.

Our bedroom TV has been in need of a little upgrade for several years now, so we’re using the excuse of hosting a Super Bowl party to finally take the plunge. We’ll grab a new, compact HDTV for the bedroom—but first, it will pay its dues by supporting a sports-bar-style 2-TV setup in our separated living space. Stoked? Sure, but we know that we’ll have to troubleshoot a few things to make sure we’re getting the best image from our new TV.

Tarp and painter's tape won't always save you.

It's about so much more than just citrus.

Your next bathroom or kitchen remodel will look *that* much better.

Expert tricks to take your next DIY project to new heights.

No more scratched, scuffed, or chipped paint!

Here's what we learned.

Skip the tape, and try this painting trick instead.

We know that folks are pretty divided over the concept of a flatscreen over the fireplace — there are concerns about the aesthetics of this location, as well as proper viewing angles and the impact heat may have on your tv performance. But, let’s say you have decided that it is the way to go for your room and are now facing the second part of the equation — how to place it just right.

Getting un-stuck from your Christmas tree's sap is easier than you think.

A whole new world of paint will open up to you.

It has nothing to do with cutting corners.

It's so simple I was actually face palming as I watched it — and all you need is painter's tape!

Activated charcoal and aloe are the two darlings of the beauty world right now, showing up in drugstore products, high-end cleansers and DIY recipes alike. This homemade face mask recipe combines the two star ingredients into the simplest skin detox around. Remember those blackhead-removing strips that were so fun as a teen? Consider this their trendy, grown-up cousin. So, what is activated charcoal, anyway?

Zip ties are just one of those things that seem to have an infinite amount of uses. Obviously, they’re good for tying groups of things together, but that can mean so many things. Once you read these 11 uses for zip ties, you’re probably going to want to buy a huge stash to have on hand. You know how your shower drain only gets clogged on Monday mornings when you’re already running late for a meeting and didn’t shower all weekend?

Living in a house (especially an older house) is a noisy business. Cabinet doors slam shut. Floorboards creak. Doors squeak on their hinges. What to do (besides moving) if you’re a person who loves peace and quiet? We’ve got a few ideas. Most American houses are made from wood, and over time, wood can expand and contract. Squeaky or creaky floors are caused by the wood subfloor separating from the joists beneath.

www.apartmenttherapy.com chicago how-to how-to-make-an-ottoman-slipcover--085993> click thumbnails for larger picsProject: Ottoman SlipcoverTime: 2 1/2 hoursCost: $20.00 excluding extra set of legs No question about it, the little straw ottoman is already as cute as can be. It can however, go to work for you doing double, or even triple duty with help from a slipcover and a change of legs.