Spruce Ideas, Tips & Guides

Moving is stressful. But moving into a cramped dorm room you’ll be sharing with a roommate for studying, sleeping, hanging out, and eating ramen noodles is next-level hectic. Not only do you have to quickly unload a carload’s worth of stuff to get you through the semester so someone else can take your parking spot, but you’ll likely have to deal with weepy family members while at it.

When creating a beautiful outdoor space, you often start with an empty space. Expansive backyards, empty decks, and beautiful front porches are easy to fill with plants, lighting, and furniture.

One major rite of passage for any thrifter is attending their first estate sale. Unlike shopping at a flea market, you get to peruse one person's life collection.

Cleaning the house makes you wish for a magic machine that can do it for you. And turns out, you have one right in your laundry room—the washing machine, of course.

Since heat naturally rises, most homes with a second story face unbearable temperatures in the summer months. This can make your surroundings almost impossible to lounge in or sleep in (after all, who likes sleeping in buckets of sweat?)

When it comes to cleaning and organizing methods, I find the ones I use the most are the ones that give some loose structure to get you started, but then easily segue into a bigger cleaning and organizing session.

Perfecting your garden is a process of trial and error. And sometimes, when you’re in the thick of it, it’s nice to call in an expert for some sage advice or words of encouragement.

Every gardener knows that when the weather warms, it's weed-killing season. Weeds can harm your garden and lawn and steal nutrients your precious plants need. On top of that, they take away from the outdoor aesthetic you've worked hard to create.

If you've dealt with stubborn stains that won't budge, don't get down about what you're doing wrong. While you can try all kinds of laundry hacks, from dish detergent to pantry staples to stain removers, the answer might be more straightforward: it actually might come down to the temperature of your water.

New bed sheets are always a luxury we can't wait to sleep on. If you're like us, you can't wait to pull out your new sheets, make your bed, and get a good night's sleep (once you've narrowed down your favorite bed sheet type, of course).

As far as all of the pieces that make up a bedding set go, pillowcases are the most important to keep clean. Your pillow makes prolonged contact with your hair and skin oils—and, if we're being honest, sometimes drool.

There are so many great gardening hacks out there. From using eggshells as fertilizer to creatively sourcing free plants, we all know you can create a stunning outdoor space with plenty of things you can't buy at your standard garden center.

We love heeding advice from the pros on pretty much everything when it comes to home organizing. From top tips for minimizing clutter to advice for clearing out an overstuffed closet, professional organizers know best.

Dearest gentle readers, are you dreaming of a day frolicking through pastel flower beds, idling away in romantic gardens? Well, if you’ve caught the latest season of «Bridgerton», that wouldn’t be surprising.

One of the most satisfying gardening jobs is laying mulch for the first time. When done well, it creates an instantly defined, crisp appearance to your garden beds, and can make any landscaped area look polished and beautiful. 

When bugs and critters are ruining youral fresco dinners, backyard plants, or countertop fruit baskets, it's tempting to turn to DIY pest solutions that promise to banish them in an instant.

If you’d asked me a decade ago how I fare with houseplants, I would have told you, without question, the answer is horrible. Every plant I brought home seemed to die, no matter what.

“Adulting” catches up to you subtly, like getting excited about a good linen napkin or choosing takeout on the couch over a crowded bar. For Victoria Justice, part of embracing her adulthood is reflected by her love of laundry day. 

Right now, my house is in a state of limbo. Between two small children, our fairly extensive cottage renovation, and life in general, it makes me want to deep clean everything while also fearing there’s no real point. At least, not until we’re out of limbo. 

While we love keeping an eye on what’s trending in outdoor decor here at The Spruce, we’re also well aware that just because something looks great doesn’t always mean it's worth buying.

Planting and maintaining a thriving garden isn’t all knowledge and natural instincts—there can be an element of luck, too. Your plants’ success can be out of control with influences like rain, wind, and other weather. But fortunately, one elements can be managed to a certain extent: water.

Turning a house into a home can be expensive, taxing, and, worst of all, disappointing. Nothing stings quite like doing research, trying things out, and ending up spending a lot of money on a big home purchase that doesn’t live up to your hopes.

Home fragrances have the ability to transform any space into a lively tropical oasis or a grounding abode, which is why it's so important to find the perfect one that fits your lifestyle and design aesthetic.

Houseplants are great, but finding space for them can be tough. Have you ever thought of suspending them from the ceiling? But not with that boring way of hanging planters–try out these plant chandeliers indoors.

Decluttering your space is simple in theory: just sell, donate, or discard/recycle anything you don’t use or need anymore. But it's the practice of that simple theory that can be hard. 

A deep clean of your home calls for a celebration—that takes a lot of time and energy! But, even with sparkling-clean surfaces surrounding you, there are some commonly missed (but very dirty) spots around your home.

Most contractors will tell you that re-tiling a bathroom floor is a costly endeavor. Fortunately, you can save your money and opt for peel-and-stick floor tiles instead—these are our secret to an instant bathroom refresh.

In an ideal world, storage space would be unlimited. Or, better yet, in a truly perfect world, extra space would appear the moment you realize you need more of it.

Our homes are our sanctuaries. They're the place we return to at the end of each day to feel most relaxed and at ease, and as cliché as it may sound, a clear space promotes a clear mind.

If you’re lucky enough to have a backyard deck, you likely want to maximize that extra square footage. But before you purchase new seasonal furniture or decor, keep in mind that if you want them and your deck to last, some items should only earn a temporary spot outdoors. 

’Tis the season of home improvement, and Yelp is here to offer you the trendiest ways to upgrade the interior design of your home.

In a perfect world, we'd all have a nice healthy-sized budget for adorning our outdoor spaces. But interior home projects and repairs pile up, and our shelter often takes priority over the outdoors.

How you clean your house is as personal as how you decorate it, but there’s one thing everyone can agree on. For a healthy, happy home, regular bathroom cleanings are a true must.

While doing a deep clean or a massive decluttering can be both satisfying and rewarding, most will agree that it’s generally better to tackle your chores on a regular basis. But if you’re trying to create a weekly schedule, where to begin?

As the spring and summer sun arrives, it’s easy to dream of the fun you’ll have in your yard, from the barbecues and the cookouts to the cozy cocktail parties on the patio. But where there’s warmth, one very unpleasant and uninvited guest often swarms: mosquitos. 

Whether you're planting blooms for bouquets or fresh fruits and vegetables to enjoy this summer, one thing is certain: you won't be the only one interested in what's growing. Garden pests will like the look of your new plants just as much as you do.