Bob Vila
1,193 Added | 11 Magazines | 12,164 Followers | @BobVilacom | Help You Need for the Home You Want
10 Surprising Ways You Can Void a Warranty
From laminate flooring to your HVAC system, many big-ticket home items are backed by warranties. These guarantees offer peace of mind to consumers …
Home Improvement10 Flowers That Attract Bees to Your Garden
There’s a lot of talk about bees today. Their populations are dwindling as their habitat is lost to development and their food supply is threatened …
FlowersAll You Need to Know About Rain Gardens
A rain garden is an excavated depression, surrounded on one or more sides by an earthen berm for water retention, and...
Gardening13 Amazing Floating Homes Around the World
Come summer, you can’t help but think: Wouldn’t it be amazing to live right ON the water? Well, if you lived in one of these homes, you could! We’ve …
ArchitectureLaundry Symbols and Their Meanings - A Complete Guide
Learn how to decipher laundry care symbols and properly take care of your fabrics.<p>Photo: istockphoto.com<p>Take a look at your clothing tags before your …
SewingThe Best Tiny Towns in Every State
The bright lights and swinging night life of the big city is fine for some, but others will appreciate the subtle pleasures of small town living. …
Road Trips13 Unusual Ways to Use What's in Your Spice Rack
You already know the value of spices for giving the dishes you love that perfect savory or sweet taste, but you may not know that many of the spices …
HerbsHow To Change a Shower Head
You don't need to keep showering under an outdated, cruddy shower head. Replacing it is easy—just follow this guide and go with the flow.<p>Photo: …
Home ImprovementThe 6 Best Home Improvement Projects for Summer
The clock is ticking! Don't let these idyllic, warm-weather days slip by without scheduling one or more of these seasonal home repair and renovation …
Home Improvement11 Air Conditioning Mistakes That Spike Your Bills
Nowadays, more than 90 percent of homes and virtually all businesses in America use air conditioning to beat the summertime heat. In fact, according …
Home ImprovementThe Best Way to Clean Hardwood Floors
Get hardworking hardwood spic-and-span with these safe solutions for dusting, deep cleaning, and stain removal.<p>Photo: istockphoto.com<p><b>Q: I never gave</b> …
TSPThe 10 Most Surprising Things You Can Buy at Sam's Club
Everyone knows about the bulk toilet paper and large bottles of ketchup you can get from Sam’s Club. But a lot of people don’t realize that the …
Frugal Living11 Big Ideas for a Small Dining Room
Cramped dining spaces don't have to put a damper on your family gatherings! You can still entertain with warmth and grace, and leave your guests a …
Best Portable Air Conditioner - Shopping Guide
Looking to beat the heat but unable to install a window AC? We've broken down important shopping considerations to help you choose the best unit for …
Home ImprovementLandscape Fabric 101 - The Pros and Cons You Need to Know
If you’re fed up with weeds and considering a physical barrier to those pesky plants, learn how to make it work for you.<p>Photo: istockphoto.com<p>Whether …
GardeningHere's What Your Home Appliances Looked Like 100 Years Ago
Today's pricey, high-tech gadget may be tomorrow's has-been, little more than the seed for some cooler innovation to come. That was certainly the …
Home AppliancesHow To Clean AC Filters
With just a little regular maintenance, you'll have clean conditioned air all year round.<p>Photo: istockphoto.com<p>Though often overlooked, HVAC air …
Home ImprovementThese Popular Plants Might Actually Be Bad for Your Garden
Invasive plants are a special breed. It's not that they’re aggressive, crowding out their neighbors; nor are they weeds, which are just plants that …
Gardening7 Unusual Household Uses for a Utility Knife
If you’re like most people, you probably have a handful of utility knives stashed around the house somewhere—in junk drawers, garage cabinets, or …
KnivesThese 10 Everyday Items Create Unbelievable Concrete Designs
Want to make your own concrete decor and furnishings but have no idea how to get started? Sure, you can buy concrete-specific molds from the hardware …
Concrete11 Ways You're Accidentally Inviting Burglars Indoors
Despite taking every precaution, some homeowners unwittingly attract burglars to their property. According to the FBI, the average financial loss …
Home AutomationSolved! What to Do When Your Lawn Mower Starts Smoking
Q: Recently, my mower started billowing smoke when I powered it up, so I shut it off immediately. Why is my lawn mowe...
Lawn Mowing10 Low-Cost Solutions for an Ugly Lawn
Has your lawn seen better days? From overgrown weeds to brown patches, an unkempt yard might be bringing down your curb appeal a few notches. But …
GardeningThe Most Cunning Secret Hiding Spots We've Ever Seen
When it comes to hiding valuables in your home, you don't need a massive safe bolted to the floor in the bedroom—you just need to stay one step ahead …
Hacking9 Clever Landscaping Hacks for Your Best-Ever Yard
A well-maintained yard lends major curb appeal to your home, but creating a picture-perfect lawn and garden is no easy feat. If your yard could use a …
Landscaping18 Victorian Homes We Love
Queen Victoria may have vacated the British throne long ago, but the regal and architecturally distinctive Victorian houses erected during her reign, …
ArchitectureHow To: Remove Sweat Stains
Yellowing on your favorite dress shirt or old tee typically suggests that it's time to add it to your rag collection....
HydrogenDo These 8 Things and Never Pay for Plants Again
Gardening can be an expensive habit. But if you know where to look and whom to ask, you may be able to populate your landscape with free plants, …
GardeningThe Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Your Garden
Whether you do it yourself or you pay a landscaper, maintaining a vibrant garden and lush lawn requires time, effort, and money. One way to cut back …
GardeningBrown Grass? 7 Ways to Restore Your Lawn
Fix the common problem of unsightly patches on your once lush, green lawn with this set of solutions.<p>Photo: istockphoto.com<p><b>Q: I started seeing brown</b> …
Gardening