Below is a list of factors that contribute to a carpet’s overall quality. No single factor should be viewed in isolation. Rather, it is the proper mix of all of the factors that will provide the best performance, durability, and longevity. It can be easy to believe that a higher face weight represents a more durable carpet, but this is not always the case​ because several things influence a carpet’s weight....

Nothing brightens a room like fresh-cut flowers, whether it’s a gorgeous arrangement that fills a vase or a single bloom. And like other decor, flowers go through seasonal and annual trends. So what flower has the most power this spring? We talked to two experts to get their take on what’s new and what is new again. “The design trends for spring are clear: Flowers are more important than ever to help lift our mood, inspire our creative expression and deepen our connection with nature and our own self-care journey,” says Carrie Waggoner, experiential and workshops manager at Flowers for Dreams....

Now that their furniture has become a reality, those criteria are still the same, but they’ve also encountered another need: donating all of the proceeds from their sales to families in Ukraine. “We are helping right now even more than we can afford, from our own funds, from company funds," says Ishchenko. “I wouldn’t say that we promise to donate some percent of our profit. To be honest, we donate everything....

Melissa Horne is all about female empowerment. And if you scroll through her Instagram feed, read through her blog posts, or find yourself fortunate enough to chat with her firsthand, you quickly realize how much that passion to empower other women drives her in business and in life. It just so happens that we were, in fact, fortunate enough to hop on a call with the founder of 8 by Design (and mom of six!...

Quick Build Contest To play this game, you can use large boxes that have been wrapped or decorated in a pixelated print as your Minecraft blocks. Divide guests into two teams and give them each an equal amount of building blocks. Set a timer for five minutes and challenge them to a quick build contest. Have an adult or older child judge the buildings when the time is up. Farm Animal Scavenger Hunt Send party guests on a hunt for the farm animals they usually search for and gather in the game of Minecraft....

In our household, it’s not uncommon for little ones to wake up in the wee hours of the morning, run to our room, and pry our eyes open while jumping on the bed. If being woken up against your will—at an ungodly hour, nonetheless—sounds familiar, then maybe a toddler alarm clock can make a difference in your morning routine. Devices like the Mirari OK To Wake! Alarm Clock and Nightlight will not only wake your kiddos up with a soft light, but they also function as a form of entertainment while they wait for you to get them dressed or prep breakfast....

Read on below to find the best home product for every Zodiac sign. From record players to card games to essential oil diffusers, there’s something on this list for every sign.

The fact that PEX tubing comes in really long rolls makes it quicker to install because there are fewer fittings to connect. If you are thinking of installing PEX tubing, the two main challenges are getting the necessary tools and finding the right fittings needed for the job. Most local hardware and home improvement stores will carry a nice selection of PEX fittings, but double-check this before you plan any big projects....

You spend a lot of time in your bed, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t treat yourself to a duvet cover like the Luxury Sateen Duvet Cover Set from Parachute. While it isn’t as showy as silk, it will give your bed linens a boost you never knew you needed. To put this duvet cover to the test, my partner and I slept on it for a week straight—and the results changed my whole outlook on sateen for good....

The overarching Calathea genus is sometimes referred to as peacock plants, but it’s the Makoyana that is officially known by this common name (and sometimes also as cathedrals windows). This is down to the fact that the eye-catching patterns on the broad leaves resemble the famous birds tail feathers. The foliage patterns come in a variety of hues including green, cream, pink, white and gray. The stems are always a reddish-maroon shade, and the underside of the leaves are dark purple....

Here are some house and roof color combinations that look stunning together. The historic Roseland Cottage (1846) in Woodstock, Connecticut is a landmark example of Gothic Revival architecture with a color scheme right out of the Victorian pattern books. The siding is coral, the trim is plum, and the shutters black. Every historic period has its preferred palettes. To find historically appropriate color combinations for your old house, refer to popular and historic color charts....

The first thing to realize is that bolting is a problem for you, not for the plant. For the plant, bolting is perfectly natural and desirable. The leafy vegetable’s very reason for living is to reproduce by forming seeds, which is what happens when bolting occurs. But this conflicts with your own desire as a gardener, which is for the plant to produce, not seed, as many of those tasty leaves as possible....

Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Purpurea’ makes for a good rock garden plant or edging plant. It also can work at the edge of a woodland garden, provided there is sufficient sunlight. Purple wood spurge blooms in the spring, in fact, that’s the time of year when all the magic happens for this plant: it’s also when it should be divided, or when its seeds should be planted. The growth of purple wood spurge can vary significantly, but the typical size at maturity is 12- to 36-inches tall, with a spread of about 1 foot....

Slab jacking, in brief, means to lift one side of a concrete slab from below to re-level that slab. While this idea sounds attractive—no breaking up and disposal of concrete required—it is not quite as simple as it first appears. Dry-Dock Boat Analogy Imagine something heavy—a boat in dry-dock. Resting, it weighs several thousand pounds. Your objective is to raise it three feet. Since you do not happen to have a crane handy, the simple approach is to put water under it....

Design and Installation Ring Alarm is a no-frills system that primarily uses cameras for security. Ring makes affordable outdoor and indoor cameras that have built-in lights, motion detection, sirens, and a two-way talk capability. Getting an early warning about somebody lingering around your home is one of the most important security measures. Ring says that installing contact sensors, a motion detector, and control panel only takes about 15 minutes. All the components come in the box already paired to one another....

There are a number of reasons why an electric yard tool like the RYOBI RM480e Electric Riding Mower might appeal to you when shopping for a lawn mower. Maybe you’re looking for ways to be more eco-friendly, or perhaps you’re tired of doing maintenance on your gas mower. Regardless of your reasoning for considering a battery-powered mower, there’s undoubtedly one big question on your mind: Will it get the job done?...

Turkish towels have seen a resurgence in popularity. They date back to the 18th century, where they were used in hammams or Turkish baths. Serena & Lily, a company known for higher-end home decor, offers a plusher and more decorative twist on the traditional fouta or Turkish towel. The towel is made from 100% Turkish Aegean cotton, which is highly praised for its softness, absorbency, and durability. Assessing components like design, texture, and absorbency, I determine if the Serena & Lily Fouta Bath Towel is worth buying....