Hot Interior Design How-Tos
How To: Fight Mildew Formation on Your Home's Exterior
Mildew can be the bane of a beautiful exterior paint job, marring its appearance even when the paint is otherwise in good shape. And while there’s no way to guarantee that mildew won’t eventually rear its ugly head on any home exterior, there are ways to fight it. Here are six steps you can take to combat the problem:
How To: Mat a picture for framing and hanging
Matting a picture helps it look professional, and is a necessary step if you want to frame it yourself. If you have a frame that is too large for the picture, but you love it anyway, matting will help fill it all out.
How To: Hang a picture so it is perfectly straight and level
So you have a picture you're dying to get up on the wall, but don't want to risk hanging it crooked. This video is your answer! Learn a few tips and tricks to make sure that every picture you hang is perfectly straight and level.
How To: Install your own floating vinyl plank flooring in your home
Get the hardwood look in your home! Floating vinyl plank flooring is easy to install, easier than tile or carpet. It's also fairly inexpensive! This video shows you the best way to install this versatile flooring in any room in your house.
How To: Dress up a room by adding a wall decal to your home
Wallpaper is so retro, but what if you want to add a little bit of extra color to a room? Wall decals are the answer! They're a great idea for renters or people who cannot make other permanent changes to their home.
How To: Select Home Exterior Paints
Find out if there are local restrictions on color Before you fall in love with “Brilliant Blue”, “Gauche Green”, or any other paint color, check to see if any local authority restricts the colors you can use. This is especially important if you live in an historic area, newer subdivision, or townhouse community. It’s not uncommon to find a list of “approved” colors in these types of neighborhoods.
How To: Paint perfect edges using painter's tape
Most home interior painters, professional and ameteur alike, rely on painter's tape to get around edges without splattering paint everywhere. But painter's tape allows for little air bubbles to form, meaning paint can easily seep below and ruin your work.
How To: Freeze wet paint rollers to save paint
If you've ever embarked on a room makeover mission all by your onesie (or with a nice buddy), then you know that when it comes to repainting a room, you generally have a lot of paint left over in your roller that you don't know what to do with.
How To: Create a beautiful window treatment by styling a draping waterfall valance
It's easy to create eye-catching window treatments with draping waterfall valances. So easy, in fact, that this home decorating how-to can present a complete overview of the process in two and a half minutes. For all of the details, and to learn how to style a draping waterfall valance yourself, take a look!
How To: Tile a kitchen floor with a border
In this video, we learn how to tile a kitchen floor with a border. First, you need to remove the flooring that is currently on the ground and sweep it clean. After this, lay down the paste and then the filling for the middle of it on top of the paste. Make sure this is pressed down firmly, then lay down the white paste on top of it. From here, you will be able to la down the tiles in a pattern that will make all of them line up together. Place the border around the sides and you will be finis...
How To: Lay floor tiles
In this video, we learn how to lay floor tiles. Lay the tiles in a diamond pattern, using a tape measure to make sure you have enough of them. You will need to cut the corner tiles so they fit in with the rest of them. Lay the tile adhesive down first before you lay the tiles down and make sure they are pushed down into place securely. Continue to lay the tiles down until you have covered the entire area. After this, you will lay mortar in the middle of it and then wipe it off clean to finish...
How To: Paint a kitchen cabinet
In this tutorial, we learn how to paint a kitchen cabinet. First, you need to take the cabinets off from the base using a screwdriver and removing the hardware from them as well. After this, you will need to sand down the entire area of the cabinets and then number the door so you know where to put it back at. After it's sanded, you will need to paint the entire area of the door until it's covered. Paint on another coat if you need to. When finished, let dry and then paint the other side. Whe...
How To: Make a serving tray from a picture frame
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a serving tray from a picture frame. First, grab a picture frame in a larger size that comes with glass on it and a backing. From here, you will grab some scrapbooking paper or another type of paper and cut it to size to fit on the background of your paper. Then, find two handles that you have and screw these onto the sides of the picture frame. After this, glue your favorite pictures onto the paper and then let it dry. When finished, stick this under th...
How To: Become an interior decorating minimalist
Minimalists are the opposite of pack rats. Whereas pack rats thrive on the philosophy of "more is more," minimalists belive emphatically that "less is more." And if you're a decorating minimalist, that means using the fewest decorative objects possible to achieve a satisfying and cohesive room.
How To: Hang picture frames and posters on the wall with tips from Lowe's
Until you decorate, your house won't feel like a home, but when you start hanging picture and frame on your living room walls, you should watch this video from Lowe's for some pre-hanging tips!
How To: Install faux wood cathedral ceiling beams in your home
Just because you have a cathedral ceiling in your home, doesn't mean you can't enjoy the beautiful decorative texture of wood beams. Faux wood ceiling beams are a great way to add character and warmth to a plain room. Compared to real wood, they're cheaper, lightweight and easier to install. See how to install them in a cathedral ceiling. This video gives you step-by-step instructions for installing fake wood beams, including materials and tools list.
How To: Install suspended faux wood ceiling beams in your home
If you already have basic faux wood ceiling beams installed in your home, then you may still want to go a bit further, and suspended faux wood beams is the way to go. It's decorative, cheaper than real wood, lightweight and can add character and warmth to a plain room. This video gives you step-by-step instructions for installing fake wood beams, including materials and tools list.
How To: Install basic faux wood ceiling beams in your home
Let's face it— we'd all like to have some decorative wooden beams on our ceilings in our living rooms. It's a great way to add character and warmth to a plain room. But you don't need real wood to get this look. There's a lightweight and cheaper alternative— faux wood ceiling beams. This video gives you step-by-step instructions for installing fake wood beams, including materials and tools list.
How To: Apply faux finish trim to cabinets with the Home Depot
In this DIY guide from the folks at the Home Depot, we learn how to apply faux finish trim to cabinets. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this clip can present a complete overview of the technique in about two minutes. For all of the details, take a look.
How To: Use color, texture & style in your home
In this tutorial, we learn how to use color, texture, and style in your home. When choosing a paint color for your walls, first make sure the color is something you don't mind seeing everyday. After this, choose furniture that has different textures on it. Use a combination of different flooring materials to create contrast in each of the rooms. Use plants and paintings for decoration, but have them in popping colors to make the room come together. Use area rugs on floors, this can bring the ...
How To: Design a winter themed flower centerpiece for home
In this tutorial, we learn how to design a winter themed flower centerpiece for home. First, you will use florist foam to place some winter branches from pine trees on the bottom. After this, stick some bare branches standing up on the inside. Then, you will grab some large pinecones and lay these around the side of the arrangement. From here, grab some short stem red roses and then apply these around the branches until everything is covered. This will finish up your arrangement and you can p...
How To: Make a vacation shadow box
In this video, Meg shows us how to make a vacation shadow box. First, clean your seashells with a solution of half water and half beach. Then use any other finds that you want for your vacation shadow box! Take the items, then carefully lay them out where you want them. Use push pins to place them in where you want them. Ad din a box to make it have even more depth. After this, you will be able to place these into the top of the box. From here, you can place this on your wall and enjoy your v...
How To: Make coasters or decorative tiles with photographs
In this tutorial, we learn how to make coasters or decorative tiles with photographs. To make this fun art project, you will need: glue, glue stick, paint brush, tile, picture, and scissors. After you have gathered these, cut your picture out if you printed it out. Then, apply the glue from the glue stick to the back of it and place it on the coaster. From here, apply the glue to the area around the coaster and brush it around with a paint brush. Once you have covered the entire area of the c...
How To: Design a fall table centerpiece with mini pumpkins
In this tutorial, we learn how to design a fall table centerpiece with mini pumpkins. First, place three mini pumpkins on the side of a basket. Then, place peppers around them and throughout the basket. Take a bare branch and stick that in the middle of the centerpiece. From here, take some fall type of flowers and place them on the other side of the basket to decorate with. Use different colors with oranges, purples, and greens to make it look more like fall. From here, add in some fall leav...
How To: Prep your walls for wallpaper
In this tutorial, we are shown how to prep your walls for wallpaper, which is very easy! Preparing your walls only takes a few minutes and makes applying the wallpaper easier and look a lot better. You will need: rags, soapy water, wallpaper stripping knife, and sandpaper to do this. First, you need to apply the soapy water to the current wallpaper and then take it off with the stripping knife. Once it's all removed, you need to repair any holes in the wall. Next, sand down the surface of the...
How To: Make a light bulb vase
In this video, we learn how to make a light bulb vase using any old light bulb. This is great for helping recycle old light bulbs to turn them into something beautiful! To start, you will remove the top of the light bulb with your tweezers and throw it away. After this, you will break the glass from the base, so you have somewhere to stick the flowers into. After this, discard any of the glass that comes out and then you can push the metal up on the bulb. Fill this up and then put it in somet...
How To: Make a piece of graphic wall art with Threadbanger
In this video, Meg shows us how to make a piece of graphic wall art with Threadbanger. First, gather stencils in the letters that you want. Then, place them on contact paper and trace them with a permanent marker. After this, cut the letters out and put them on the wall where you want them. Next, mark your wall with a ruler to make sure it's a straight bottom. From here, place your letters onto your canvas. Now, paint over your canvas and allow to dry. Once dried, very carefully remove each l...
How To: Find creative ways to hang pictures
Nailing a picture or a work of art to a wall is pretty easy in and of itself, but when it comes to arranging these pictures stylishly people have more trouble. It's true that you can nail pictures to the wall, but what about to bookcases?
How To: Deal with a hollow door when installing bath fixtures
This is a video tutorial in the Home & Garden category where you are going to learn how to deal with a hollow door when installing bath fixtures. Bob Schmidt shows you how to do this while installing bath accessories such as robe hooks, towel bars or towel rings. The product that you need to do this is called easy anchor. It is a metal anchor specifically designed for the right depth for a hollow core door. Take the anchor and drill it down the door until it is fairly close to going in fully....
How To: Makeover your mirror with accessories
In this video we learn how to makeover your mirror with accessories. First, grab lace, string, ribbon, fake flowers, and anything else decorative that you want to hang around on your mirror. Once you have all of your supplies, get to work! Use double sided tape to stick to the sides of the mirror so you can safely stick on all of your accessories. Start out by taping some lace or ribbon around the mirror. You can also tie some ribbons and place those as on as well. If you have fake flowers, t...
How To: Install easy instant molding with wallpaper or metallic tape
Do you want to add some zest to the walls of your home without spending a lot of money? You can do easy instant molding with wallpaper or metallic tape that will add a lot of flash for the buck, and this video will show you how to do it.
How To: Make the most out of the space in a small bathroom
If you live in a big city, chances are your bathroom isn't as big as you'd like. If you've had enough, watch this video to learn how you can maximize the space in you tiny bathroom by storing things more efficiently and even painting.
How To: Use ammonium chloride to give copper a fake age patina
Copper is one of the many material that looks it's best after it's aged for a while. If you don't want to wait five years for your copper to develop that perfect patina, watch this video to learn how you can use ammonium chloride to age copper at home.
How To: Measure a window and curtains to determine what size curtain rod you need
Most curtain rod are adjustable in length to make sure that they can be used for many different windows. Determining what size you need is still important though, and this video will show you where and what to measure to ensure that you know what size rod to buy.
How To: Hang wallpaper with tips from Lowe's
In this tutorial, Lowe's teaches us how to hang wallpaper. Wallpaper can update a room and give it personality. Make sure you prep and measure your wall before you begin to hang. Now, cut out your paper to the appropriate size for your wall, then draw a line on the wall from the corner to a few inches out of the wall. After this, apply a clear adhesive to the wallpaper if it isn't already adhesive. Now, dump them into a water box and fold the water together and let set. After this, apply the ...
How To: Tile a shower floor and curb in your own bathroom
In this tutorial, we learn how to tile a shower floor and curb in your own bathroom. To start, you will need to apply the foundation of your tile with a smoothing tool from corner to corner of each of the corners. After the mortar is lied, grab your tile and press it down firmly onto the mortar. Use your hands to press down on all the corners of the tile, then place another one next to it and continue until you reach the end of the shower. Use a straight edge to cut tiles where the are too lo...
How To: Prep plywood subfloor for hardwood & laminate with Lowe's
In this tutorial, we learn how to prep plywood subfloor for hardwood and laminate with Lowe's. Before you prep your floor, read the manufacturers direction and information on the flooring. After this, gather all of your materials and tools you need to complete the job. Then, measure out the floor to figure out how much material you will need. Take off all the carpet and base boards from the room, then clean off the floor from dirt or dust. When finished, cover the subfloor with the right type...
How To: Install a pebble tile wall with Lowe's
In this video, we learn how to install a pebble tile wall with Lowe's. First, you will need to measure out your walls to figure out how much of the tile you need. Now, lay down a drop cloth on the floor so you don't get the floor messy. Next, turn the power off and remove the outlet cover and outlet from the wall. After this, wash the walls so they are clean, then apply your waterproof sealant from top to the bottom. Apply two full coats and make sure they dry completely before you move on. N...
How To: Prepare surfaces before painting with Lowe's
In this video, we learn how to prepare surfaces before painting with Lowe's. First, you will need to place a drop cloth on the floor and apply painter's tape to all the outlets and spots you don't want paint to touch. After this, clean off the walls and remove all the dust and debris, including nails. Next, grab the paint you need along with brushes and paint rollers. Remove any wallpaper that is on your wall, then start to paint. Pour the paint into the tray, then use the roller dipped in pa...
How To: Paint with basic latex painting techniques with Lowe's
In this tutorial, we learn how to paint with basic latex painting techniques with Lowe's. First, you will need to determine how much paint you need by figuring out the room size. Next, you will need to paint the ceiling and apply blue painter's tape to all the areas you don't want paint to touch. Make sure to stir the paint before you use it and open up windows and fans to circulate the air. Cut the edges by painting around 2" inside first. Once finished with the ceiling, start cutting the ed...