Skills & How Tos

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.

Avoid these six very common mistakes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It has nothing to do with cutting corners.

Our friend recently bought a nice shaggy rug for her main living room but wasn’t sure if the rug should go flush against the wall or sit in the middle of the floor? This inspired us to do some research and offer a How To for properly placing a rug in different rooms in your home. Here are 3 ideas for 3 of your main living spaces.

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.

“I think anyone can do a renovation like ours.”

According to a California real estate agent.

Whether by choice or by circumstance, living alone has a lot of advantages. But perhaps one of the most subtle yet saddest disadvantages is sometimes feeling lonely. And though occasional feelings of loneliness are natural, why feel lonely when you don’t have to? There are things you can do to create a home that repels loneliness when you live solo. This is the most important one in my opinion. I think you need to throw your curtains open every day. Let the light in.

Windowsills are usually nothing more than a space for plants or forgotten tchotchkes, but they provide plenty of opportunity, especially if you can find a way to make them larger. Windowsill extenders may sound like a funky contraption, but they enable you to make more out of the smallest ledges.This can be as simple as scooting a bench or shelf in front of a window or extending your space outside through the use of a window flower box.

I love tech, but I don’t know the first thing about the pixels on my screen—well, until now. One of my pixels is dead. But I learned all about how to locate and fix defective pixels, including hot pixels (always on), dead pixels (always off), and stuck pixels (defective sub-pixels), and I’m going to share my knowledge with you. Good news: If done carefully, you can fix your defective pixel yourself, and might save you a lot of time and worries.

According to experts.

Muffle the noise and make life at home much more pleasant.

Would it shock you to know that the air you’re breathing indoors can be up to 5 times worse than the air outside? Neglecting the quality of the air you breathe on a daily basis can result in illness, allergies, asthma, and frequent headaches, and it can even be harmful to your digestive system! But you don’t have to settle for poor air quality. Here are five simple, ways for you to naturally purify the air in your home without purchasing an expensive air purifier.

Repairing medium to larger-sized holes in plaster and drywall isn’t quite as difficult as one might think. Wall and ceiling repair patches made from fiberglass and perforated aluminum are excellent solutions that help to get the job done in just a few simple steps. Did I forget to mention how easy they are to use? So easy. Upon moving into our new (very old) home, we noticed that almost every wall had a dent or large hole in it from constant contact with a door knob.

If you’re looking for a way to make your bathroom feel cleaner and brighter, try recaulking your bathtub. It takes a couple of hours to remove the old caulk and apply the new caulk, but it’s definitely worth it! Here’s how I recaulked my own bathtub in a few easy steps. Ready to give your bathtub a makeover? Great! Here’s what you need to get started.

You can find rough measurements or distances using easy-to-find items you already have on hand.

Number 5 can save you so much money in the long run.

It's better to know exactly what you're getting into.

According to “Murder House Flip” stars Mikel Welch and Sarah Listi

Goodbye kids, hello home office.

49% of renovators say it's the most stressful room to work on.

And how to keep them clean.

Here’s a breakdown of the correct wait to address mail when you’re sending it to an apartment.

Make it happen in six steps.

Home maintenance is, by definition, an ongoing process. It’s also admittedly a lot of work! To keep your own home looking and functioning its best, it helps to have a plan, a process, and, yes, a checklist.

Because budgeting for even a basic repair project can feel overwhelming.

Even if you’re well-versed and well-practiced in home repair, sometimes a job requires a professional.

If houses could talk, what would they say? Listen carefully, and you might hear them trying to tell you there’s a leak in the attic, or your plumbing is about to blow.

A trip to the hardware store for home repair materials can be both costly and inconvenient — plus, it might mean you’ve overlooked some simple hacks available to you with household items you never considered.

When it comes to home maintenance and repairs, the truth is you sometimes don’t know what you don’t know — that is, until you’re standing in your flooded basement, wrench in hand, wondering where you went wrong. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re a DIY novice or even someone whose handiness only goes as far as hanging up a few pictures on the wall; there are some tools that absolutely everyone should have on hand.