Katie Nolan

Gretchen is a writer, marketer, and entrepreneur based in Texas. A former garden editor and designer with the Austin American-Statesman and Lexington Herald, she is passionate about succulents, herbs, and fruit trees, as well as lighting, energy efficiency, and all things home.

Browse the app store and you’ll find dozens of useful apps for homeowners—but most of us don’t have the phone storage for them all. So which ones are worth the download? Keep reading to learn our eight favorite phone apps for the home.

Christmas decorations, TVs, and exercise equipment are often deeply discounted in January. We’ve laid out some of the best deals to shop.

Rest easily knowing that the quality bed frame you’re sleeping on didn’t break the bank.

Find out if this hack for clean, fog-free mirrors lives up to the TikTok hype.

Trying to keep up with what’s popular in home design? These 13 old-school trends are in demand once again.

Winter is an expensive season. Between the holiday festivities and seasonal maintenance projects, you’re sure to feel a squeeze on your wallet. This year is particularly pricey for homeowners. Inflation and supply chain issues are upping the prices for home necessities—including heating costs. The U…

We all know that plastic isn’t exactly eco-friendly, so if you want to do your part to protect the planet, the best course of action is to reduce the amount of plastic waste you generate. But if you happen to have a used plastic bottle lying around, your best option is to recycle it—unless you’re in a particularly creative mood, in which case you can use it as the basis for a crafty DIY project.

Made to Last: 8 Creative Ideas for Building Sturdy Furniture and ... - Bob Vila

Fill your home with fall scents that evoke the best parts of the season.

Not getting a good night’s sleep? These bedroom accessories will help you fall asleep—and stay asleep–so you wake up feeling fresh and rested.

Draw inspiration from the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Arches, and more. Discover five stunning color palettes inspired by America’s national parks.

Getting ready to give your house a deep cleaning? From the shower to stove to the dusty corners in between, you’ll need the right supplies to fight dirt and grime. If you’re not sure what you need, take a look at this list, compiled with insights from real professional cleaning services. After all, who knows cleaning better than professional cleaners? Below are eight products that cleaning pros always have on hand. Take a look and see which ones you might want to add to your cleaning caddy.

Some happy homeowners are perplexed by the tiny house craze, while others are ready to trade in their full-size homes for a taste of the tiny life. Regardless of which end of the spectrum you’re on, you’ll have to agree that this architectural trend has brought forth some truly charming and sometimes ingenious designs. Here are our top all-time picks, from the practical to the wacky—it’s all here.

How can you kick back and relax on your deck if there’s stuff everywhere? Keep outdoor spaces neat and essentials handy with attractive furnishings that...

As one of the largest retailers in the United States, there’s not much that Walmart doesn’t offer. From the fun to the functional, the budget-friendly store has you covered. While the price tags are nice for the pocketbook, it is easy to lose track of what you’re adding to the shopping cart. We gathered a mix of practical and playful household products—and a few in between—to grab the next time you’re at Walmart. Every item is $10 or less, so even if you do stray from you shopping list, you won’…

Gardening is meant to be a relaxing activity that connects you with nature as you beautify your yard—yet crowded nurseries and finicky flowers can make the hobby feel anything but. To save you from frustration, we rounded up the easiest plants to care for that you can buy on Amazon. All are carefully packaged potted plants, so you can skip long store lines and cultivating seeds. The next time you’re stocking up on goods from Amazon add these foolproof plants to your shopping cart.

Maintaining a manicured yard requires effort, patience, and the right tools. If you’re responsible for the landscaping chores at your house then you should already have the basics—rake, hose, mower—but there’s a whole other world of gear out there that’s designed to target specific problems and make your work a lot easier. Check out these creative tools you can call upon this spring, summer, and fall.

Thanks to changing economies, changing technologies, changing tastes, and a host of other factors, it can be a struggle for any company—even the most iconic ones—to stay afloat. Sadly, these once-thriving American businesses just couldn’t keep up with the times and had to call it quits.

After a busy holiday season, shopping may not be at the forefront of your mind. But if you didn’t get everything on your wish list, or if you’ve made a New...