When it comes to home improvement, you need information you can trust. Inside each issue of The Family Handyman, you’ll find see-and-solve expert repair techniques, a variety of projects for every room and step-by-step, do-it-yourself photos.
Like a lot of people, I became obsessed with houseplants in 2020. Spending more time than usual at home, with my main form of entertainment consisting of combing the aisles at Lowe’s and Home Depot, I snapped up nearly every plant I could find. Fiddle-leaf figs. Philodendron. Monsteras galore. They all found prominent display places—everywhere and anywhere. Flash-forward to today, and my home is just as green. And, happily, I’ve picked up some new skills, from potting to propagating. Now, if you’ve got tips on how to not overwater your plants, this is a skill I’ve yet to master—so I’m all ears! Tending to plants can truly be a full-time hobby. And there are always ways to take your passion to the next level, as proved by our cover project.…
It’s easy to jazz up a bedroom, proved two hobbyists. On a shoestring budget, they took headboard building in different directions: one sleek and regal, and one glam and art deco. While the results are different, both add up to an upgrade that anyone can do in a few hours. And the Winner Is … Fit for a Queen! To crown a champion, these projects were judged on a range of criteria, including: • Budget: Gilded Age With less than $100, this headboard was achieved with poster board, fabric and gold foil tape.• Quality: Fit for a Queen A lumber frame, thick foam and batting make this one built to last.• Ease of Build: Fit for a Queen No complicated measuring here—just layering of materials, with gold embellishments for flair.•…
Now Trending • Gear Up • Mini Makeovers Gone are the days of only using pegboards to hold your spare screwdrivers. The perforated hardwood is proving to be quite versatile in any room of your home, hoisting everything from plants to spices to spare keys. For a real showstopper, use pegboard to create an entire accent wall, where it can display art and household essentials with equal panache. The latest we’ve heard, seen, tested and tried…
Classic Multitool Gets an Upgrade The Leatherman Wave+ isn’t your average pocketknife. This 4 x 1-in. powerhouse—an updated version of the original Leatherman Wave—boasts 18 useful tools, from needle-nose pliers and spring-action scissors to a saw, a diamond-coated file and a can opener. The onehanded opening mechanism makes features like the pliers and knife quick to access, though others require two hands to open. Once you’ve accessed the tool you need, a locking mechanism springs into place to make sure it stays put. No matter how I used this tool—sawing small pieces of wood, screwing together furniture, bending and crimping wire—its parts didn’t budge. Notable upgrades to the Wave+ include ergonomic improvements like rounded edges and thumbholes in the retractable blades, as well as dual-purpose replaceable wire cutters. If blades…
GET INSPIRED The Un-Boring Home Office When you have an inspiring home office, work doesn’t have to feel like work. Here are some design ideas (one’s as easy as hanging pictures on the wall!) you can run with to make this room both pretty and productive.…
1. Industrial Lamp Made of metal, with a wood base, this lamp is the workhorse any office needs. It’s made for E26 standard light bulbs, with a curvy twist: They hang Edisonstyle. Create a more glowy atmosphere for Zoom calls or just enjoy it for the pop of color it adds to your desk. Bonus: It has a rotary switch for ease. $25, walmart.com 2. Colorful Pens Jotting down notes (or doodling) is more fun when you think beyond the average ballpoint pen. Erin Condren’s Gemtones Gel Pens are perfect color-coding companions for your planners, notebooks and journals. With waterbased gel ink, they give you clean, precise lines and a smooth, easy writing experience. $19/6-pack, amazon.com 3. Laptop Case If you’ve got MacBook scratches that can’t be removed with…
