Building a deck frame with angled or clipped corners also helps you avoid a boxy look by softening the edges. The angles make it more challenging to lay joists and give your deck the support it needs, but it’s not an impossible task. We’ll walk you through the entire process, including how to level the beams and attach angled joists. Follow the steps below to learn how to angle corners and joists when building a deck frame....

Interlocking-block walls don’t require a footing, but some styles require you to set the first course in a trench to hold the bottom of the wall in place. Cut the slope back 12 to 15 inches from the rear of the trench to leave room for gravel backfill and a drainpipe—a must for retaining walls. Save the topsoil and use any extra as fill elsewhere in your landscape. To lay a 3x16-foot wall, expect to spend 10 to 20 hours....

Before you begin, determine the width and location you want for your DIY outdoor bar, since the block units are very heavy to move when finished. Once assembled, paint parts of your bar legs as desired with water-base paint for a finished look. From there, work your way up building the rest of the bar using the diagram. In-between each layer should be concrete glue. When you are done, the top layer should have two concrete blocks on either side....

Whether you opt for a full-on party with friends or a casual movie night with the kids, these festive ideas will help you count down to midnight in style. No matter who surrounds you, they’ll enjoy our ideas for a New Year’s Eve spent at home, including our top suggestions for how to celebrate virtually with out-of-town loved ones.

If you already know the magic of your trusty slow cooker, but you’re not sure how to return the love by way of a thorough cleaning, don’t fret. Here’s a step-by-step guide to cleaning your slow cooker so it’s prepped and ready for making those delicious meals. How to Clean a Slow Cooker You might be tempted to treat stuck-on stains with harsh cleaners, but all it takes to clean a slow cooker are a few simple household ingredients that you likely already have on hand....

Use our tips to learn how long to boil crab legs, so they’re cooked to perfection and sure to impress. Because they’re almost always precooked, boiling crab legs is a cinch for your next fancy dinner. All you need to do is serve them with melted butter (always, butter!). How to Boil Crab Legs Thawing crab legs is the first step when there aren’t fresh crab legs available (yay for you if you can get them fresh!...

What are Mussels? Mussels are marine bivalve mollusks that are sold live with tightly closed shells. The creamy-tan meat is tougher than the meat of the oyster or clam and has a delicious, slightly sweet flavor. The most abundant type of mussel is the blue (or common) mussel found along the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts. Known for its dark blue shell that is 2 to 3 inches long, mussels are generally available year-round....

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee Before you begin making cold brew, you’ll need the following materials: Coarsely ground coffee beansCold waterCreamer or milk (optional)2-qt. pitcher or glass jarFine-mesh sieveCheesecloth or coffee filter Our base cold brew recipe uses 1 pound coffee (about 1-1/2 cups) and fills a 2-quart container (six 6-ounce servings). Test Kitchen Tip: Ground coffee can be added in any ratio you like for cold brew coffee, but we like to use 1 to 2 Tbsp....

Legginess is not just an awkward phrase some plants go through before they blossom. It’s a sign the plant is straining to position its leaves in the sunlight, enabling it to produce enough energy to stay alive. Reaching in the direction of available rays, stems grow longer and thinner and drop leaves that the plant can’t support with its limited food reserves. Fortunately, with a few smart interventions, you can help your houseplant regain its lushness....

How to Hang String Lights Outdoors Follow our step-by-step instructions for mounting string lights along your deck, porch, or patio. What You Need String lights and bulbsLadderPencilDrillWood-bearing drill bit slightly smaller than your screw eyesScrew eyesMini metal carabinersOutdoor extension cordOutlet timer, if desired Step 1: Select Anchor Points Lay string lights around the perimeter of your deck. Visualize where you want each strand to hang, and adjust lights until they’re in the desired position....

True board-and-batten is made with vertically installed wide boards and narrow battens fastened over the gaps between the boards. In appearance, board-and-batten siding can look rustic or modern, depending on how rough the lumber is and its finish. The most common arrangement uses 1x10 boards and 1x2 or 1x3 batten. You can also use 1x8 or 1x12 boards and 1x4 battens. To seal out moisture, the boards should be in sound condition and free of open knots, and the battens should lap at least 3/4 inch onto the boards on both sides....

Consult with your inspector to see whether you need to tear off the old roofing or if you can reroof over the existing roofing. Use flashings approved by your building department. Modified-bitumen roofing may have a granular surface as shown here or it may be smooth. If you install the smooth product, cover it with aluminum coating. These steps show a “torch-down” method, which looks a bit scary but actually is not too difficult....

Thanks to our Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen’s years of practice in the cookie-making department, we’ve got some easy tips you should always follow. We’ll help you determine whether you need to bake your cookies on a greased or ungreased cookie sheet and share how to let them cool long enough so they won’t break. Then, come Christmastime, you’ll have dozens of chocolate chip cookies, layer bars, and more flying off the pans....

There are plenty of benefits to composting, such as enriching the soil we use for gardening. You also can reduce up to 30 percent of the things you normally throw in the trash by composting food scraps and yard waste instead. When composting at home, it’s important to sift your compost to separate the organic material that’s suitable for gardening and the stuff that still needs some time to decompose....

If you check out social media, sweet potato toast is everywhere. On Instagram, the #sweetpotatotoast has more than 33,000 posts. Tik Tok users are also sharing their creations, including one of my favorites, vegan actress Tabitha Brown. There are a few different ways to prepare your potato. You can microwave sweet potato slices and then pop one in the toaster, or you can boil whole sweet potatoes, slice them after, and then toast them....

When you’ve stitched both long edges of each panel, evenly space your pressed tabs across the short edge. Our panel was about 50 inches wide, and our tabs were 5 inches apart. Pin the tabs into place on the front side of the fabric with straight pins, raw edges up and right sides together with the panel. Then, pin the facing piece in place on top of the tabs and the panel, raw edges up....

How to Make Kettle Corn Step-By-Step Learning how to make kettle popcorn is easier than you might think. Like any homemade popcorn, it can be dressed up however you like it while it’s cooking or topped off with extra goodies when it’s done. The first step to making kettle corn is getting the oil ready and popping the popcorn kernels on the stove: Line a large baking sheet or tray with foil; set aside....

How to Sew a Simple Bag Supplies Needed ¼-yard cotton fabric (straps)Fabric shears or scissorsTape measurePencil or pen⅔-yard cotton fabric (pockets)2 10¼×14¼-inch rectangles thin, firm batting1-yard cotton fabric (lining)IronIroning boardQuilter’s pinsSewing machineThread6-inch sewing gauge Finished Tote Bag Tips Bag size: 8×10×4 inchesQuantities are for 44/45-inch-wide, 100 percent cotton fabrics.Measurements include ¼-inch seam allowances.Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated. Step-by-Step Directions With a few simple sewing skills and these how-to instructions, you can create your own six-pocket tote bag....