Home Improvement

Decorating with white can be intimidating. But, said designer Brian Patrick Flynn of decordemon.com, “used correctly, white lets other things truly work as the breakout stars.”

We’re told a well-designed master bedroom should be an oasis of romantic calm. It may also be where you watch television, pay bills and even set up a home office.

There are stores full of exquisite bedding. But fancy sheets, duvets and mattresses can sometimes fall short of our wish lists, in style, price, comfort or all three.

Buying furniture is an expensive endeavor, but living on a tight budget doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice your sense of style. It can be an opportunity to be creative. For those with small bedrooms, having too much furniture can make the room appear cluttered and even smaller. Fortunately, you can do without bulky items, such as a nightstand, dresser or armoire, and replace them with organizers to make the room appear more spacious.

Besides walls, there are stencils with intricate medallions for ceilings and other designs perfect for floors: Think of a curling vine pattern on an outdoor concrete porch.

As Gary Friedman, CEO of Restoration Hardware, said, “We’re coming out of a very modern, minimalist moment in design into a period where people are responding to a mix of historic periods and classical references.”

Shoppers will hunt for treasures amid acres of used goods. A few will come home with just the right vintage art or quirky piece of furniture to make their home more beautiful.

By Susan Zevon On the leafy street where I grew up, spring brought blazing forsythia and a canopy of fresh green blooms. But for me,...

Many must-do projects, such as caulking, cleaning gutters, adding insulation or preparing emergency kits, will make your home more energy-efficient, help prevent weather damage and make things easier should the power go out.

Koehl, a master gardener from Waller, Texas, bought secondhand windows and doors to construct the building that houses his roses and vegetables. Using old materials saved him money, and added interest to the structure.