Category: Home Improvement

It’s Time to Clean and Refinish Your Wood Deck before Summer

Wood deck in process of getting re-stained with stain and brush

If the winter has left your wood deck looking weathered, worn and shabby and you’ve been ignoring it ever since, now is when you need to get your deck ship-shape before you start the summer outdoor entertaining season. The Best Time to Prep Your Deck Experts say that the best time to prepare your deck […]

Do You Need to Clean, Repair, or Replace Your Home Windows and Screens?

hand holding squeegee cleaning window with view of outdoors

Spring pollen and rainstorms can make quite a mess of your windows and doors, so you need to take some time to clean window and door glass. While it may seem like a sunny day would be the perfect time to tackle this chore, it’s actually best to do it on a cloudy or overcast […]

10 ways to attract Hummingbirds to your Backyard

Hummingbird feeding from a flower

Hummingbirds are exquisite, colorful little creatures. If there are already hummingbirds in your area, then you should be able to attract hummingbirds to your outdoor space with a garden plan that includes the right variety of plants, hummingbird feeders, nectar, water and more. In this article, we will offer the top ten tips and tricks […]

For Your May Home Maintenance Checklist: Make Sure Your AC is Going to Keep You Cool this Summer

Male technician servicing outdoor AC unit

Now that the days are warming up, it’s time to have your air conditioning system inspected so it will keep you cool through the hot months ahead. First, the Shortcuts Hook up a garden hose and spray the outside of the condenser to remove any dust that’s settled on the unit and connections. (Yes, dust […]

May is the Month to Get Ready for Al Fresco Dining Season

Outdoor patio stylish wicker with food

Weather, temperature changes, the sun, and pollen can wreak havoc on outdoor patio furniture. As we head into alfresco dining season, you want to make sure your deck or patio furniture will hold its weight all summer long. Here are some quick tips for cleaning a variety of furniture materials. Outdoor Furniture Cleaning Tips For… […]

Jack McBrayer Dishes on David Bromstad’s Appearance for ‘Zillow Gone Wild’ Season 3

Actor Jack McBrayer

A familiar HGTV face will be stopping by the new season of Zillow Gone Wild. As TV Insider reports, for Season 3, Jack McBrayer returns to tour more of the country’s wackiest and most unique homes, which premiered on Friday, May 1 on HGTV. Fans, however, will have to wait until the Season 3 finale to see McBrayer team […]

Make Your Backyard Feel Alive Again

Backyard patio and garden

After years of hardscaping taking the lead, we’re seeing a shift back toward planting as the foundation of outdoor design. Increasingly, the approach is to let nature take the lead and to choose native plants that thrive without much maintenance.  Kevin Lenhart, landscape architect and design director at Yardzen says, ““Many homeowners are looking for […]

Why not Transform Your Backyard into a “Wellness Hub?”

Woman wrapped in towel sitting in a wood-lined sauna with steam flowing around her

Increasingly, outdoor spaces have become personal sanctuaries designed to support both mental and physical well-being. As Real Simple reports, ultimately, the goal is to create a space that invites you to chill, breathe deep, and recharge. It’s a notable shift away from over-stimulation, towards curated spaces that ground you—all rooted in the rise of “recovery […]

Outdoor Living Rooms Have Become and Extension of Interior Spaces

A man and woman embrace as they stare into an artist's rendering of a future pergola-covered outdoor living room patio

From festive outdoor soirees to (much needed) solo recharging, the warm season translates to ample time spent outside enjoying your own backyard. People have always embraced their exterior spaces, but in 2026, it outdoor design feels far more intentional. As Real Simple reports, patios have become nearly indistinguishable extensions of living rooms, once-unused corners morphing into valuable […]