Repaint living room walls, roll out a colorful area rug, or change throw-pillow covers to refresh your space without having to change up the furniture. Gray works well with a wide variety of colors, ranging from soft pastels to deep jewel tones, so the upholstery will adapt well to other changes around the room. You can consider your gray sofa a solid investment piece that will remain complementary even as your tastes and decorating style change....

Get more ideas for repurposing flea market finds. Additional Joy Sometimes you don’t even need to do anything to showcase pretty, classic windows. Here, an original wall was left in place so the old windows could shine through to a new addition. The leaded glass provides an extra element of beauty to the country-chic room. Use this old window art as inspiration for other old window crafts. Follow the trend, and convert an antique decorative piece into an old-window coffee table....

Fences help keep your neighbors from seeing into your yard. They also provide a sense of enclosure and safety, making them a perfect option if you have children: Fences keep kids in and strangers—or animals, such as dogs—out. If you choose to build a fence to add privacy to your landscape, select a material and style that complements your home. Here’s a hint: If you want to create a private space in your yard, look around before you build a fence....

To help you make your own autumn decor, we gathered eight gorgeous fall wreath ideas that all start with the same affordable grapevine wreath ($6, Michaels). Take a look below to discover your favorite, then learn how to make a grapevine wreath multiple ways with our simple instructions. Fashion one of these gorgeous fall wreaths to display on your front door, above your fireplace mantel, or in another prominent spot around your home....

1. Know what you want before hiring a contractor. As the client, you are the one driving the process. Before speaking with contractors, spend time thinking about your goals for the project, such as what it might look like, the amenities you want, and so on. If you don’t know how to translate your goals into specific features or products, hire a design consultant or a design-build firm that can offer that service....

Buy It: All-Clad Nonstick Sheet Pan ($38, Bed Bath & Beyond) Buy It: Nordic Ware Baking Sheet ($13, Target)

Test Kitchen Tip: Swirled lollipops and plastic spiders make easy Halloween cake toppers. Editor’s Tip: Roll out black gumdrops, cut into triangle shapes, and assemble on the Halloween cake to create an edible jack-o’-lantern, or use a tube of chocolate frosting to pipe on the final touches. Buy It: Nordic Ware Jubilee Bundt Pan, ($45, Williams Sonoma)

Set Up a Build-Your-Own Hot Dog Bar Nothing says summer like a hot dog right off the grill. Make it something truly special with a delicious spread of creative toppers—it’s the perfect DIY dinner for kids and adults. A variety of condiments, fresh veggies, cheese, and herbs means there’s something for everyone. You can also experiment with adding unexpected flavors and textures to your toppings bar. Slice and prep your ingredients ahead and you’ll be ready for easy al fresco dining in no time....

Wild Strawberries Wild strawberries, also known as alpine strawberries, are much, much tinier than the strawberries you see in the grocery store. The plant features large, lobed leaves and tall stems that hold the fruit above the foliage. Gorgeous white flowers appear in the spring and fruit appears throughout summer months. Beware: deer and rabbits love to nibble on these plants, so put a fence or netting around them for protection....

Get the plan for this DIY birch log coffee table. Nailhead Trim Coffee Table It’s easy to upgrade a thrift store or flea market find. Paint a secondhand coffee table a fresh shade before lining the edges with nailhead trim. Rather than pounding in the individual nailheads, use nailhead trim purchased on a roll. Simply hold the trim along the edge of the table and tap finishing nails into the predrilled holes....

See how to make a wheelbarrow fairy garden.

Without a clear objective, it’s easy to become overwhelmed amid a thrift store’s sprawling aisles of home goods and racks crammed with clothing. But with the right shopping strategies, you can uncover some amazing finds at unbeatable prices. We turned to expert secondhand shoppers— Kat Steck, the Los Angeles-based thrifter behind The Junkyard Journals, and Bronwyn Tarboton, who runs NYC Trash to Treasures—to hear their best thrifting tips. Read on to learn what to look for at thrift stores, how to find the best deals, and more secrets to successful thrifting....

Plants Suggestions for a French Kitchen Garden Plan 1 ‘Safari Yellow’ marigold 2 Thai basil 3 Anaheim pepper 4 ‘King Richard’ leek 5 ‘Emerite’ pole bean 6 ‘Tomatoberry Garden’ tomato 7 Genovese basil 8 Garlic 9 ‘Plato’ zucchini 10 Nasturtium 11 Okra 12 Loose-leaf lettuce 13 Cutting celery 14 Jalafuego pepper 15 ‘Double Zahara Strawberry’ zinnia 16 ‘Orange Banana’ tomato 17 Dinosaur kale 18 ‘Valencia’ tomato 19 ‘Long Green Improved’ cucumber 20 Sweet alyssum 21 Scarlet runner bean 22 Sweet basil 23 ‘Rainbow’ kale 24 Purple bush bean 25 Tall zinnia 26 Mixed butterhead lettuce 27 ‘Granny’s Bouquet’ zinnia 28 Flat leaf Italian parsley 29 Spanish lavender 30 ‘Chocolate Cherry’ tomato 31 Romaine lettuce 32 Red oakleaf lettuce 33 ‘Fairy Tale’ eggplant 34 Lemon basil 35 ‘Kentucky Colonel’ mint...

The Flexi Hose is unique in its design that allows it to automatically expand up to three times its original length when water is running through it. The hose shortens back when the water is turned off, meaning it can be stored in a tidy, compact space when not in use, like under cabinets or even below the sink. Though lightweight, those latex layers provide flexibility that prevents the hose from kinking while also serving to protect it from thorns, sharp corners, or your pet’s curiosity....

½ of a small papaya Olive oil ¾ cup butter, softened

Angelonia Color Combinations There are a variety of angelonia selections to choose from. Some series boast the largest bloom size, while others offer dwarf plants (perfect for container culture). One of the more recent developments in angelonia breeding are seed-grown varieties. This option helps to lower production cost and offers quality plants at inexpensive prices, as well as a good variety of color options. One of the most acclaimed series of angelonia is Serena....