I Can Fix Up My Home.com

Here's our most recent interior articles. Enjoy!

Flooring Topics

• Learn to Install Carpet over a Concrete Slab Using knee pads, a knee kicker, and a carpet stretcher, you can lay your own floor.
• Repair Creaking Stairs and Other Staircase Fixs’ Even in newer homes, it’s necessary to quiet noisy treads and risers and replace damaged balusters; here’s how.
• What Kind of Carpet is Right for Your Home? How to choose between Berber, plush, Saxony, textured and frieze carpeting.
• Environmentally Friendly Flooring Options Look for no-VOC carpet, hardwood, sustainable bamboo and cork flooring.
• How to Repair Hardwood Flooring Tips on removing and replacing square-edged or tongue-in-groove floor planks.
• Garage Floor Epoxy for a Concrete Slab A finished concrete slab comes to mind with the term garage flooring usually, however there are practical options; think epoxy, vinyl sheet goods, and rubber tiles.
• Floating Laminate Floor Installation Laminate floor sales are really heating up, overtaking tile and carpet. Learn how to install it!
• Laminate Floor Installation Tips Basic installation instructions on the box are just the tip of the iceberg. I learned these tips the hard way but they're yours for free.
• Tips For Installing Laminate Flooring FAQ, Part 1 Laminate floors are becoming more popular than hardwood flooring and they're easy to install. It's still possible to run into tricky situations. Find the gems of wisdom.
• Tips For Installing Laminate Flooring FAQ, Part 2 This is page 2 of the laminate floor installation tips FAQ. The questions all came from readers that were being their own building contractors.
• Laminate Floor Cleaning Laminate flooring is an economical, low maintenance alternative to traditional hardwood floors. Here's a look at its composition and care.
• Parquet Hardwood Floor Maintenance It's important to understand the maintenance, cleaning, and repair of hardwood parquet floors. Learn how to touch up individual floor tiles with a touch-up stick, or sand, re-stain, and refinish it.
• How to Install a Hardwood Floor Oak, Pecan, Maple, or teak, installation is a methodical process.
• Repair Your Plywood Subfloor Moisture will damage and rot a plywood subfloor. The damage is usually done before you see any signs of it. Find out how to fix it.

Bathroom and Kitchen Remodeling Topics

• Basic Layouts for Kitchen Cabinets, Appliances, and Plumbing Design patterns of kitchen cabinets, appliances, and plumbing for functionality and conveniance.
• Remodeling a Home for Disabled Homeowners The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 raised consciousness of independent living and sparked new coping products.
• Decorating the Half Bathroom with Style This project will add to home equity with a retro, French flair, or the design theme of your choice.
• Tips for Decorating a Kitchen Whether you have a modern or vintage kitchen, evaluate the current space and develop a design theme.
• All About the Kitchen Work Triangle Kitchen geometry blends food preparation efficiency with storage space and safety.
• Kitchen Design 101 How to think like an architect; consider flooring material, kitchen storage space, the psychology of color.
• Making the Breakfast Bar Your Favorite Bar Use it for dining, as a food preparation area, or to organize an open floor plan.
• Build a Walk-In Pantry for More Kitchen Storage Space A common complaint in most homes is the lack of kitchen storage space. One solution is to build a walk-in pantry.
• How to Install Base Cabinet Units Any kitchen or bathroom remodeling project calls for basic carpentry skills. Installing floor kitchen cabinet units is easy when precise architectural plans are established and followed. Prefabricated cabinets are the easiest to work with.
• How to Install Wall Cabinet Units Kitchen remodel? Built-in or prefabricated kitchen cabinet installation requires basic carpentry skills.
• Use Tile Tattoos For a New Look Transform your kitchen and bathroom tile walls in a flash!
• Make a Concrete Countertop Durable and striking, concrete counter tops can be formed and poured on site or remotely.
• Install a Kitchen Backsplash This tutorial explains how to install a backsplash above your kitchen cabinet tops and cooking surfaces using tile, granite, stainless steel, or laminate.
• Installing Butcher Block Kitchen Countertops A butcher block countertop made of rock maple in the modern or vintage kitchen combines beauty, functionality, and durability. It’s easy to maintain with oil and bee’s wax.
• Make a Kitchen Cabinet Door This article explains what a DIY’er needs to know about building kitchen cabinet doors. It discusses wood selection, finish selection, and types of hinges and hardware.
• Restoring Vintage Kitchen Cabinets California coolers, Hoosier cabinets, ceramic tile counter tops, and more.
• Bathroom Remodeling: Be Your Own Contractor Does your bathroom need a face lift? Be your own bathroom remodeling contractor! This small but functional space might not be big in terms of footage, but it has all the elements to address: floors, walls, lighting, plumbing, and fixtures.
• Install Tile on Shower Walls Ceramic tile is a traditional and very classy way to finish shower/tub walls. You can do it, no problem.

Interior Decorating and Design

• Things are Looking Up! Great Design Tips for the Ceiling Often overlooked, your ceiling can make or break your interior decorating project.
• Decorating a Kitchen around Black Appliances More affordable than stainless steel ovens, refrigerators, and dishwashers; easier to keep clean than traditional white.
• A Little Bedroom Can be Big on Style Interior decorating tips on colors that set the mood and open the space; space-saving tricks to maximize the area.
• Re-Inventing Your Interior Wooden Shutters Rather than replacing your window treatments, save money by giving them a face lift.
• Spice up Your Home with Tapestry Throws Add your personal touch by decorating with these colorful fabrics.
• Adding Style to Your Home with Clocks These large timepieces will keep you on schedule, whether on the wall, on the fireplace mantle, or freestanding.
• Creating a Superhero Wall Hanging Dress up the bedroom with vintage tin signs, inexpensive framed prints, and shadowboxes.
• Give Your Dining Room a Makeover Decorate and furnish this gathering area with paint, wallpaper, and carefully chosen furniture.
• Adding a Mini Library in the Guest Room Create a soothing, comfortable space with calm colors, sturdy furniture, and tasteful accessories.
• How to Position Your Bedroom Furniture As the most intimate room in your home, your sleeping area should be relaxing and inviting.
• How to Shop for a New Sofa Consider the size and shape, type of upholstery (leather or fabric), and your level of comfort.
• St. Patricks Day Décor Celebrate Ireland, the Emerald Isle, with leprechaun and shamrock themes.
• How to Make Fun Window Treatments for a Child’s Room Create light show curtains with old CDs or make extra storage space with pockets.
• Bringing International Décor to Your Home Decorate your interior in the style of Spain, Italy, Japan, or China.
• Color Contrasts That Make Teens Happy Bedroom interior decorating to please both parents and kids.
• Modern Alternatives to the Classic Closet Organization for clothes and more is key when storage space is at a premium.
• Designing the Perfect Pink Bedroom Use complementary and contrasting colors to brighten up a girl’s bedroom.
• Decorating a Mobile Home Because of the layout, small size, and wood framing dimensions, special interior design rules apply.
• Popular Interior Decorating Designs and Styles Choose unique a room design that reflects your personality.
• Decorating a Boy’s Room With a Snowboarding Theme Create a ski slope or winter Olympic theme.
• Letting Hollywood Design Your Media Room Decorate your home theater with a Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, or Bollywood theme.
• Create a Music Inspired Room for Children Interior decorating for the wee ones - trendy with a Jonas Brothers theme or classical with Mozart.
• Use a Feng Shui Compass Reading in Home Design Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art used to align the home for happiness, success, and good luck.
• Decorating a Modern Space with Vintage Furniture Mix retro and art deco pieces such as vintage mirrors with contemporary items for a unique look.
• Sew a Straight Line to Update Your Bedroom Decor A bit of interior decorating with fabric and a sewing machine goes a long way - window treatments, table skirts, and a bedskirt.
• Decorating your Bathroom with the Great Outdoors Learn how to transform your bathroom with a seaside, hunting lodge, or a garden theme.
• Easy Ways to Decorate a Fireplace for Summer Imitate the forest floor or set up a candle display to create an intimate atmosphere for a romantic evening.
• Furniture for a Southwestern Style Dining Room Rustic wrought iron or wood furniture with traditional Spanish or Mexican style sets the tone for southwestern style.
• Perfect Coffee Tables for Small Spaces Add essential furniture and decorating accessories to a room first, then choose the right table.
• Sophisticated Style for an Urban Loft How to achieve a classy interior decorating look on a budget with affordable contemporary art and wood floors.
• 5 Designer Techniques to Make a Living Room Look Taller Open up a living space with a ceiling mural, natural light sources, concealed storage space, and more.
• Wallpaper Illusions that are Simple and Refined Indulge in custom interior decorating with faux marble, pinstripe, and mural wallpaper rather than a solid paint.
• Sweet Decor: Candy Theme for a Baby Girl’s Room When decorating a nursery, colorful curtains and painting candy striped walls work well.
• Window Dressings in a Beige Room with Red Accents Visually balancing a room? Try interior decorating with patterned curtains with a southwest theme, stripes, solids, or accents.
• Style Ideas for Using Vases as Wall Art Wall-mounted vases filled with flowers, ivy, or aromatic candles add a stylish interior decorating touch.
• Decorating a Room around Dark Brown Wallpaper A darker shade of paper or vinyl hides drywall imperfections and fingerprints and adds a casual feel.
• Lava Lamps and Bean Bags Still in Style Get that funky 70s look and decorate your bedroom, living room, or den with retro decor.
• Black and White Baby Designs Babies love contrasting or bright colors that contribute to brain synapse development and arouse curiosity.
• Adding Light to Your Home Office Use fluorescent or incandescent light fixtures in the home office to lessen eyestrain and increase productivity.
• Tiffany Blue and White for a Teen Girl’s Bedroom Design a teen girl’s bedroom with wallpaper, linen, and accessories.
• Paint Illusions that Enlarge a Room Use simple decorating strategies painting ceilings, baseboards, and crown molding to prove that less is more.
• Why Yellow Works in the Kitchen Interior designers use neutral paint colors to open up small spaces and minimize cleaning chores.
• 5 Easily Achievable ways to Homemade Prints Dress up your home with a decoupage treatment, fabric stamping, cloth transfers, and stencils.
• Remake your Living Room with a Color Infusion Living room decorating tips focusing on paint color options, earthy colors, overall color scheme, and artwork.
• Decorating the Diminutive Bedroom with Massive Style Interior bedroom decorating techniques focusing on furniture size, efficient storage space, paint shades, and window treatments.
• Balance a Room with Faux Windows Open up and increase character in an interior space with a mural, photo, LED screen, and more.
• Create a Stylish Area for Conversation in a Great Room Learn to Make a Cozy Entertaining Area with Furniture Arrangement, the Right Accessories, and Lighting
• Interior Decorating for the Kid's Bedroom Interior Decorating for the Kid's Bedroom An interior decorating makeover of a child's bedroom is an opportunity for parent-child bonding as they decide on decorating design, paint color selection, and coordinated flooring.

Miscellaneous Topics

• Get the Real Estate Agent to Tell You the Truth The importance of having a professional determine your home equity periodically.
• Replacing Vertical Blind Slats Replace damaged components or upgrade the look of your windows.
• How to Remodel a Garage Into a Home Office Take advantage of extra space when telecommuting or operating a entrepreneurial small business.
• Unprofitable Remodel Projects During an Economic Recession Economic downturns call for belt-tightening and home equity ROI based on functionality, not luxury.
• How to Reupholster Your Sofa Yourself Save money by breathing new life into your living room furniture.
• How To Put Up Curtain Poles and Track Economical window treatments are easier to install than ever.
• Five Easy Fixes to Increase Your Home’s Value Think like a home buyer to increase your home equity and maintain your real estate investment.
• How to Set Tile on a Fireplace Surround Update your living room by adding a tile or natural stone veneer to a brick fireplace.
• How to Have a Successful Relationship with a Residential Architect Establish a construction budget and hire an architect with your style in mind.
• Pine Cones: From Winter Kindling to Christmas Decor Sustainable holiday arts and crafts making angels, garlands, dining table centerpieces, and wreaths.
• Creative Storage Ideas For the Kitchen Organize or build a walk-in pantry, choose multi-function furniture, and install a kitchen island with drawers and cabinet space.
• Reducing Clutter in the Garage Yard sales, eBay or Craig’s List, charitable donations or the dump; just get rid of it!
• Hidden Dangers of Amateur Renovation Know the risks of aluminum wiring, lead paint, and mesothelioma-causing asbestos.
• The Best Home Remodeling Tips Revealed The most successful residential remodeling contractors satisfy their customers and make money because they focus on a comprehensive set of details. The same steps apply to bathroom remodeling, kitchen renovation, or reroofing.
• How to Monitor Indoor Air Quality Inside air quality is a critical issue because increasingly, steps are being taken to tighten the home’s envelope; this increases energy efficiency. Unfortunately, this can elevate radon, carbon monoxide, and deadly black mold spores.
• Great Home Improvement Valentine’s Days Gift Ideas Are you looking for the best Valentine’s Day present ideas? Shake it up; why gift her with a dozen red roses or a heart-shaped box of chocolates with something totally unexpected and really useful? Why not a bath remodel project?
• How to Select a Contractor Builder Selecting a building contractor for new home construction or a home remodeling project is serious business. Chances are that a home improvement project is going to cost some good bit of money. This is because things must be done professionally.
• Follow my Perpetual Remodeling Syndrome Project Follow me as I slowly complete a backlog of home remodeling projects. It's either a reality show or a honey-do list. You decide.
• Testing Indoor Air Quality for Radon Gas It's a silent killer. Find out how to detect it and get it under control.
• How to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling They were once the rage, but they went out with shag carpeting and polyester leisure suits. Watch out for asbestos!
• Install a Trackless Bi-Fold Closet Door on a Laminate Floor Reader Mark Sick sent in this method he used to mount a trackless bi-fold closet door on his laminate floor. Eliminating the track is important on a floating floor system.
• DIY New Year's Resolutions Tired of failed New Year's resolutions? DIY projects don't require a diet or quitting smoking. Plan next year's DIY projects: install laminate flooring, renew bathroom tile, and more.
• How to Remove a Carpet Stain Recover from a spill with a shampooer extractor or using carpet cleaning chemicals.
• Suspended Acoustical Ceilings: Installation Tutorial A step by step guide to laying out and installing a suspended acoustical grid ceiling. It explains nailing up the wall angle (molding), installing hanger wires and the grid, leveling the grid and installing the ceiling tiles.
• Install a Prehung Door Modern prehung doors take the mystery, routers, and templates out of door installation.
• Types of Residential Baseboards What type of baseboards should you install? Here are the four basic types.