Before beginning any home renovations, be sure to check local building code requirements to ensure maximum safety and compliance. 1. Zero-Threshold Showers Eliminate barriers and get a sleek look by switching to a shower that lacks the lip or edge of a traditional shower floor basin. “Zero-threshold showers are a huge advantage if you’re building your ‘forever’ home or remodeling a primary bathroom to enjoy indefinitely,” says Jamie Gold, a wellness design consultant....

Aida Cloth Aida is the most popular cross-stitch fabric. The threads are woven in groups and are separated by tiny holes. This creates a pattern of squares across the fabric surface that a beginning cross-stitcher can easily follow. Basting Basting stitches are long, loose stitches that can be easily removed. For example, you can find the center of a cross-stitch chart by basting intersecting lines across the fabric. Or you may need to baste layers of fabric together to secure them before sewing them by machine....

Test Kitchen Tip: Soak wooden skewers in enough water to cover for at least 1 hour before using. Test Kitchen Tip: Boil the potatoes for just a few minutes prior to threading on the skewers with the sausage, corn, and seafood to ensure all portions of this summer grilled shrimp recipe cook at the same rate. Test Kitchen Tip: Double the kabob portion size per person and serve with a cooked whole grain to push this grilled shrimp recipe into dinner territory....

Editor’s Tip: Help keep your cat pumpkin carving fresh by rubbing a little petroleum jelly around the carved areas. Editor’s Tip: To carve this Halloween cat pumpkin, flip the pumpkin on its side and cut it vertically instead.

Indulge in a quick and clever breakfast for dinner with our hearty frittata recipe. It’s packed with homey potatoes, salty bacon, and fresh kale. It’s held together by an egg mixture that adds protein and gives the healthy 5-ingredient recipe a comfort food quality. A taco-stuffed panini is the perfect infusion of flavor to complement your weeknight dinners. OK, the panini is not actually stuffed with a taco, but all the flavors are there!...

Editor’s Tip: Soaking the wooden plank in water before indirect grilling helps avoid unwanted flames. See our awesome tip for easily cutting corn on the cob. We did the calorie counting and meal planning for you! Get two FREE weeks of healthy meal plans right here!

Buy It: Lodge Pre-Seasoned 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet ($25, Walmart) Buy It: OXO Good Grips Tabletop Spiralizer ($48, Bed Bath & Beyond) Buy It: Nordic Ware Naturals Baker’s Half Sheet ($13, Target) Buy It: Lodge Enameled Cast Iron 5.5-Quart Dutch Oven ($50, Walmart)

Closet systems are structures typically consisting of shelves, drawers, rods, and storage accessories such as jewelry holders and shoe racks. A closet organizer system is an easy way to streamline your closet setup and appearance while carving out a home for every item. Whether you’re working with a tight reach-in or a sprawling walk-in, there’s a closet organizer system that will meet your needs and give you streamlined storage for clothing, linens, and more....

Buy It: 12-Cup Steel Muffin Pan ($8, Target) Buy It: Rectangular Porcelain Baker ($25, Sur La Table) Buy It: Cuisinart Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor ($100, Bed Bath & Beyond) Test Kitchen Tip: Keep cooked pancakes warm while you cook the rest by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet and keeping in a warm oven (200°F to 250°F). Buy It: Biscuit/Cookie Cutters Set of 6 ($10, Crate & Barrel) Buy It: OXO Glass Pie Plate with Lid ($15, Target) Buy It: 3 Quart Glass Baking Dish ($9, Target)

Get more landscape lighting tips!

Editor’s Tip: Make this decoration last longer by placing cardstock behind the lantern’s glass panels.

Test Kitchen Tip: Customize this Easter egg cake with your favorite spring colors. Test Kitchen Tip: Use the back of a spoon to create the design on this Easter cake recipe. Test Kitchen Tip: Make your Easter baking even easier! These cute cakes can be made in a donut pan and frozen up to one month ahead.

1. Beautiful Blues Move over, all-white kitchens. From lighter robin’s egg blue to deep, moody navy, blue is having a major moment in the kitchen. “It’s a color that’s diverse, inclusive, and, just like your favorite blue jeans, goes with nearly everything," says Erika Woelfel, Vice President of Color and Creative Services at The Behr Paint Company. With its calming properties, Erika says blue is more popular than ever in kitchens of all sizes....