Blog Posts by This Old House Magazine

Sure candy and costumes are fun, but Halloween just isn't complete until you trick out your house with some truly frightening decorations. But where to find 6-foot spiders or a lawn full of ghosts? Don't fret, little ghouls. This Old House has scoured the shops to bring you these truly terrifying decorations that'll make your Halloween haunt the scariest on the block. -Karen Ziga, This Old House online

See all our Halloween decoration picks at thisoldhouse.com!


1. Skeleton Yard Flamingos
And you thought ordinary plastic pink flamingos were scary! These molded black Skel-A-Mingos are sure to get you a few double-takes this Halloween.
See where to get them here.

MORE: Black Crow Welcome Mat


2. Creepy Kitchen Brushes

Even the mundane chore of dishwashing deserves a ghoulish touch when the spirits are out. Clean up after your Halloween party with one of these festive helpers-which are both cute and durable enough to last long after All Hallow's Eve.
See where to get them here.

MORE:

When the leaves start piling up this fall, don't sweat it. Follow our advice and be ready to turn that age-old chore into, well, less of one.

1. The Best Leaf Blowers Money Can Buy
Our TOH-tested, high-powered yard-clearing arsenal will make fall yard clean up less of a chore. To make things easier this fall, we tested four categories of blowers-gas-powered blower-vacuums, electric blower-vacs, cordless blowers, and backpack blowers-to find the ones that stand out. The right tool for your yard depends on how much work the leaves leave for you.

See more reviews on new leaf-wrangling machines to choose the one that's right for you.


2. Reinvent the rake with these innovative designs that make easy work of clearing clods, leaves, and pebbles

Watch: How to Winterize Shrubs.

3. Pick the right multihead string trimmer for pruning, tilling, dethatching, aerating, and more.

MORE: 10 Best Trees and Shrubs for Fall Color

4. Shop the 10 best yard machines for a beautiful fall landscape,

This kitchen-drawer essential is a cook's secret weapon for keeping food from sticking, but check out these other slick ways they can be put to use. -Jennifer Stimpson, This Old House magazine

1. Garden with it: Clean Garden Tools
Rub spades and other hand tools with a balled-up piece of wax paper; the roughness loosens grime, while the wax coats the metal to help prevent rust.

More: 12 Deadliest Garden Plants

2. Clean with it: Sweep Up Dirt and Dust
Cut a piece of wax paper the size of a cleaning cloth and attach it to a wet/dry mop (like a Swiffer) to catch dirt in high-traffic areas.

MORE: Wackiest Yard and Garden Products II

3. Organize with it: Funnel Hardware
Coax wax paper into a cone to guide finishing nails, nuts, or other tiny pieces of hardware into lidded jars or other small containers.

MORE: 10 Uses for Chopsticks

4. DIY with it: Ease a Door That Sticks
Rub wax paper along a door's edge to keep it from jamming in the frame.

MORE: 28 More Reader Tips That Save Time and

The drafty season is upon us. Beef up weatherstripping, insulation, and more to slash utility bills this winter!


1. Weatherstripping
Sealing gaps around doors and windows can make your home feel warmer-and save you 10 to 15 percent on your energy bills. we've broken down the most common options by material and profile so that you'll know just what to install to chase away the chill. See our Essential Guide to Weather Stripping.


MORE: Step By Step: How to Make Your Doors Draft-Free with Weatherstripping


2. Insulation
Get an insulation education and learn about everything from foam, to fiberglass, and the oft overlooked parts of your home you should fill.


MORE: Discover new green insulation material options


3. Honeycomb Shades
Introduced in the 1980s, honeycombs are built on a simple concept: Trapped air is an insulator that can conserve your hard-earned heat. See which styles we think are high performers and also qualify for a 2011 federal energy tax credit when installed inside a

These easy outdoor projects will help you enjoy your yard longer...into this cooler season.
Build a fire pit. You'll be melt marshmallows and nibble s'mores while you lounge in an Adirondack chair, feet propped up on the rock ledge. All it takes is a few days to build your very own ring of fire. Don't have time to build? Compare Portable Fire Pits. See how features stack up for high- and low-ticket copper models

Steal screened-porch design ideas from this gallery of inspirational spaces that take indoor comforts outside.

Make an old-fashioned tree swing with this family-friendly step-by-step project.

Add a charming walkway in a weekend and create a safe gravel path to guide guests through your gardens.

Build a small deck now that the heat of summer has passed and milder weather allows for comfortable outdoor DIY.

Put in a handsome stone sitting wall and create a border that does double-duty as a place to perch.



More Early Fall projects on thisoldhouse.com:

Create an Ornamental Garden

One trick to saving on stylish home furnishings is to browse teen- and kid-focused retailers. Many of these shops offer significant savings over their grown-up counterparts but stock items that look just as sophisticated. Need proof? Here, see three of our picks. -Danielle Blundell, This Old House magazine

See all of our picks at thisoldhouse.com!


1. Pillows

Known for its stylish patterns, Dwell Studio carries a kids' line with adult appeal-and most cushions, like this geometric one, cost less than $40. Find the pillow online here.

MORE: 75 Easy Spruce-Ups Under $75








2. Upholstered Seating

Trendy teen chain Urban Outfitters offers housewares that rival older sibling Anthropologie's-but at a fraction of the price. Stick to the furniture section, which includes this slipper chair in a classic ikat print. Find this chair online here.

MORE: 28 More Reader Tips That Save Time and Money







3. Storage

Among the bevy of playful options at Land of Nod (Crate & Barrel's
children's emporium),

Upgrading your kitchen needn't cost a fortune. See how painted cabinets, stylish task lighting, vintage fixtures, and clever storage ideas can create made-to-order looks for less. -STAN WILLIAMS, This Old House magazine

See all 28 Thrifty Ways to Customize Your Kitchen on thisoldhouse.com!

MORE: Paint kitchen cabinets to refresh a tired old space at a fraction of the cost of refacing or replacing.


1. A Cheery Retro Look: Showstopping Sink

Make an old farmhouse sink, such as this mid-century minty-green one, the centerpiece of your kitchen cleanup zone. Find one at a salvage yard for as little as $175. Inspect carefully for scratches, chips, and rust spots, and buy in a condition you can live with; you'll be hard-pressed to find a pro who can repair the surface and bake on a new porcelain coating.


MORE: Get unique fixtures and house parts at deep discounts by learning how to navigate architectural salvage yards.


2. Warm and Inviting: Targeted Task Lighting

Install mini pendants over an

Freelancing? Working from home? It's hard to get into work mode without a space that's dedicated to, well, work. You'll want to create an area that fosters productivity and limits distractions, without making part of your home look like a corporate cubicle. Here are some examples of breathtaking home offices for you to steal ideas from, including paint colors, storage solutions, and more. __Tabitha Sukhai

More on home offices from thisoldhouse.com

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in Your Home Office

Outfit Your Home to Help Your Kids Study Habits

Kitchen Office Design Ideas