Recommendations Ideas, Tips & Guides

It seems that everyone wants to get away for summer, ditching their routines for a blissful retreat abroad. But the key to a relaxing mood all summer long might just be doing the opposite—by bringing the vacation atmosphere into your home. There are so many ancient design legacies across the world that can enhance your abode and turn it into a space you’ll never want to escape. 

If you’re looking to update the flooring in your home—whether with a simple area rug or a full swath of hardwood or ceramic tile—don’t do so without first reviewing the potential missteps that may seem minor but can set back a flooring project or even larger home improvement goals if overlooked.

Instead of filling your medicine cabinet to the brim, think about the types of bathroom items that you can house under the sink instead to save some space. While not everything belongs under the sink, there are many products that you can safely store there, experts say.

Orange ‘Fire King’ wallflowers and reddish-purple ‘Slawa’, ‘Merlot’ and ‘Rem’s Favourite’ tulips in Sarah Raven's cutting garden.

One of the biggest changes in the Gardening Advice we provide over the last few years is in relation to lawn care. The focus is now on creating lawns with low nitrate fertilisers, monitoring soil pH and using bacterial products to reduce thatch rather than mechanical scarification and in lawns with heavy ware from children etc we are introducing clover to create a greener lawn surface in both the summer and winter

As much as we love a beautiful garden full of lush greenery, it’s hard to deny that starting a garden and buying plants can start adding up in price.

Even if your vacuum cleaner has served you well for many years, all appliances have an expiration date and aren't meant to last forever. So how do you know for sure that yours is on its last leg?

Not everyone has the fortune of living in their ultimate dream home the first time around, and even if they do, their tastes and needs may change over time. So, it’s more likely that homeowners will find elements and spaces in and around the house that they feel can be improved and updated.

Let's face it: even if you're totally on top of your regular laundry schedule, you may not be taking the time to wash items that go beyond the basic essentials, which generally include sheets, clothing, dish towels, and the like.

Towels are a household item that certainly get plenty of use each and every day, and with that, you may be wondering if it's time to replace your set of go-tos.

Small bathrooms don’t have to pose a design dilemma. Although they may be short on space, a small bathroom can encourage you to get extra creative, flexing style and function in interesting new ways.

If you're looking to fake a clean home in a short amount of time because you have guests coming over soon—look no further.

Out of all the rooms in a home, a kitchen can be one of the hardest to declutter. Since kitchens are the hubs of most homes, it’s easy for clutter to accumulate over time.

Sarah Martens

Stunning florals are synonymous with springtime, and chances are, every social channel you're scrolling through is bursting with beautiful blooms. 

If you're craving a bit more color in your living room but are renting your home or are not looking to make any major, permanent changes, by no means is all hope lost.

Peter Ardito

Decorating your living room on a budget doesn’t mean downplaying your style. In fact, there are plenty of ways to give your living room that wow factor without spending a ton.

Even seasoned interior designers started their careers somewhere—and that somewhere may not have included all the decorating tips and tricks they keep up their sleeves now. That's why we asked several interior designers which decorating secrets they now incorporate into every space. Their secrets are out. Spare yourself the trial and error of decor woes, and read on for eight decorating musts designers wish they knew about sooner.

Q: My garden is suffering very badly from snail and slug damage this spring after all the wet weather. Are there any plants that they don’t like to eat that you could recommend?

Choosing to hire an interior designer is no small decision, and if you haven't ever worked with a professional in this capacity before, it can be difficult to fully determine whether a specific person is the right fit.

R: NBCUniversal / Getty Images. Left: Clockwise. Penguin Randomhouse, Adam Albright, Brie Goldman.

L: Carson Downing. R: John Shearer / Contributor / Getty Images | Design: Better Homes & Gardens

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

Paul Archuleta / Getty Images (Left); Kritsada Panichgul (Right) | Design: Better Homes & Gardens

If you feel it’s time to refresh your home, but fear the cost and work involved, think again: you don’t need to break the bank or hire a professional to revamp your home or a single room. Nor do you have to go on a shopping spree to completely overhaul your home’s decor.

The «big light» in your bathroom has its purpose. It helps you see which spots need shaving and wakes you up in the morning—but there's no denying it's a major ambiance killer when you're trying to unwind at night.

Whether you want to ramp up your home’s curb appeal for your own enjoyment or you're getting ready to sell, giving it a fresh coat of paint can surely help—assuming you choose the right colors.

PJjaruwan / Getty Images

With so many interior paint colors to choose from, it's easy to overlook a few gems. So that you can expand your radar of amazing hues, take a look at these 15 underrated paint color favorites that designers love and wish their clients would request more often.

When you stroll down the aisles of your local grocery store, you’re bombarded with various food products, each fighting for your attention. Amidst the colorful packaging and enticing claims, it can be challenging to make healthy choices. That’s where understanding food labels or the nutrition facts label comes in handy. This guide will show you how to decode food labels and make informed decisions that align with your nutritional goals.

If you think there’s no such thing as a faux pas in selecting and installing window treatments, think again. Mistakes can range from mismeasuring the window to miscalculating the occupiable space on either side of it. It can also be purely aesthetic in nature, such as using curtain panels that look ridiculously short and choppy for the window they’re dressing.

if you’re looking to jazz up a patio or fill a few pots with beautiful blooms, then growing dahlias in a container or two isn’t just a possibility – it's encouraged! You can grow almost any compact to medium-sized dahlia in a well-placed pot! Here’s how to grow your favourite dahlias in a gorgeous pot like a professional, with help from our gardening experts. How to Plant Dahlias in Pots

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

Just like that, spring cleaning time is officially upon us once again. Whether you’re an enthusiastic participant in the spring cleaning tradition or begrudgingly tackle tasks to keep your home feeling fresh, the experts have some good news for you: there are some spring cleaning tasks that you can take off your list this year. 

You don't need to devote an entire day to spring cleaning tasks to get your home into tip-top shape. Professional cleaning and organizing experts swear by the following seven chores that will have your space looking much more refreshed in just a matter of minutes. So go ahead and spend a small chunk of your time this weekend giving your sock drawer a good clean out or finally dealing with that overwhelming pile of mail.