Painting a ceiling? Invest in an extension pole, safety goggles and a painter's cap. And use ceiling—not wall—paint. It comes in a variety of colors, all specially formulated to:

Diffuse light from lamps, windows and other sources of illumination

Have a flat sheen so the ceiling will have an even appearance

Offer better spatter resistance for overhead rolling

Prep the ceiling before painting. Remove any dust or grime, as this can make it virtually impossible for paint to adhere. Mildew and water stains will bleed through even the best of paint, so it may be necessary to use a stain-blocking primer before painting. Oil-based primers work best for water stains while shellac-based primers are more effective against smoke or nicotine stains. Finally, be aware of any cracks, mars or dents which may need to be smoothed out to prevent artificial light from being reflected off ceilings.

Keys to superior ceiling results are careful, thorough preparation, priming, and the use of quality paint.

Add c

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Updating your kitchen lighting is an affordable way to enhance your kitchen’s atmosphere while improving its functionality. Refresh the look of your kitchen and tailor it to your lifestyle by choosing the right type of lighting. Whether you’re looking to add a decorative touch with stylish fixtures or save money with energy-efficient lighting, The Home Depot has all of your kitchen lighting needs covered.

Follow these four simple steps to decide which type of lighting is right for you:

Step 1. Know Your Space. Different areas of your kitchen have different lighting needs. Before you shop for fixtures, determine which of the following key types of lighting your space requires:

Ambient lighting: General illumination that sets the mood of a room, from bright lights to a mellow glow.

Task lighting: Focuses on a specific work area where tasks are performed, such as a sink or countertop.

Accent lighting: Highlights a focal point or an architectural feature, such as a painting or china cabinet.

Dec

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Whether you're going for a complete overhaul or just adding a few decorative touches, updating bathroom tile is a quick and easy way to give powder rooms and master and guest bathrooms a new look while adding lasting value to your home.

Tools and Materials

Tile cutter	Square-notched trowel	Margin trowel
Rubber mallet	Rubber float	Beater block
Tile	Grout	Caulk

Ceramic. Crafted from a mixture of clay and earth, ceramic tiles can be glazed in a variety of beautiful finishes. Inexpensive and easy to install, these tiles are fairly low maintenance, apart from needing a good grout scrubbing now and then. When using ceramic tiles that are 12 inches or larger on a bathroom floor, consider setting them on a 45-degree angle to make the area appear more spacious. Our guide to laying floor tiles offers step-by-step instructions.

Porcelain. Porcelain tile is fired at a higher temperature than ceramic, making it more durable and less prone to staining and abso

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Crafting projects aren't just for kids. They're fun ways for adults to express their own creativity and burn off steam.

When making plans for December, the time of year most steeped in giving, gifting and getting together with friends, it's clear that hosting a crafting party is a great way to spend time together with friends while crossing something off your to-do list by creating homemade decorations or gifts.

"Crafting parties are about bringing people together in a non-stressful situation," said Jade Harrington, a craft blogger and frequent crafting party host. "Creating crafts is actually a great ice breaker and it's always fun to see how people react to what others are making."

Harrington said successful crafting parties are better the more organized they are. That means creating invitations, décor and drinks that all match a theme.

Planning for the Party

Start by selecting the featured craft and then making a sample, so your guests can visualize the final product and you'll kno

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Some DIY projects are perfectly suited to wintertime. Chemicals used some in DIY projects may perform better in winter temperatures. It may be psychologically easier to set aside a weekend to complete a DIY project when the weather isn't teasing you outdoors. If there's heavy work involved, some projects may be more comfortably performed without summer's heat adding to the misery. And then there are DIY projects ideal for winter because they give you a head start on spring.

Jumpstart Spring Planting

Whether it's beauty or bounty your spring plantings are designed to accomplish, winter is the perfect time to start seedlings. By the time it warms up outdoors, you'll have plants ready for transplant. Flowering varieties may already be in bloom, offering an instant yard pick-me-up when spring comes.

What you need for this DIY project is soil, seeds, containers, and possibly some targeted lighting. Check seed packets for information on how long it takes from sowing to transpl

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When the subject of resale value is raised, the number one room experts recommend improving is the kitchen, followed closely by the bathroom. Kitchens sell homes because they are popular gathering places for the whole family, and because cooks enjoy working in a spacious, attractive environment. Kitchen upgrades can increase your home's value without breaking the bank or requiring months of construction, so it might be time to give your kitchen a new look.

Paint

The easiest and cheapest kitchen upgrade is a fresh coat of paint. This goes for walls, moldings, and cabinets, depending on your personal aesthetic. Feel free to get creative if you want a unique look for your kitchen. You can use contrasting but complementary colors to create a faux wainscot, for example.

Choose colors that work well with the colors already present in your floors, countertops, and backsplashes, unless you plan to replace them as well. Kitchens usually work well with light, cheerful colors, though

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For most renters, apartment living means a constant crusade for maximizing square footage, opening up floor plans and squeezing just one more pair of boots into the closet. Scavenging more space is a quest without glamour—or at least it has been until recently. Whether it's because architects have become infatuated with high-design spaces the size of closets or because tiny apartments puts less strain on the environment, or because, duh, the rent is way cheaper, there's never been a time when living small has been more en vogue. Super-small apartments, when designed well, cater to an intrinsic human desire to watch gizmos and extensive forethought (see: NYC's origami apartment) create rooms out of thin air. But no matter how futuristic and swanky or mind-bending the micro dwelling, there's always the issue of...Read More »

No matter which holidays you celebrate this season, it's likely that food is a highlight of the festivities. Family and friends love to gather around the table to chow down on their favorite holiday dishes.

Make your dining table the center of your celebration with these festive DIY centerpieces. Put them together yourself before your guests arrive, or get them involved and start a new holiday tradition. The combination of a delicious meal and festive décor is a surefire way to make holiday memories around the dinner table.

Use ornaments in new ways. Instead of hanging all those ornaments on your Christmas tree, save a few for the table. Combine ornaments in your favorite holiday colors in a decorative bowl and place in the center of the table. If you don't have decorative dishware, try a wicker basket or even an every-day serving bowl. The shiny ornaments will immediately dress it up.

For a more modern look, choose ornaments in one color to dress up the table. Stack them in a clear bo

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Decorating for Christmas is a big deal in my office. Every year, we drag the Christmas decorations out and sort through what we still want to display and what might just be junk. Doing this year after year, and adding in all the new decorations we're given as gifts, we end up with a lot of leftover decorations.

What if you could reuse some of those old ornaments, tins and candles to make new and improved decorations? Here's a list of homemade decorations that are perfect if you want to recycle old decorations — or are just looking for a good craft project.

Vase centerpiece

This is probably the easiest DIY project you can make with some old ornaments. Grab a clear vase or large bowl and throw some multi-colored ball ornaments inside. To complete the look, grab a few extra branches from your Christmas tree and create a wreath around the base of the vase or bowl. To secure the shape of the wreath, simply hot glue the branches together.

DIY ornaments

Make the most of all those little toys

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There's a lot to love about Christmas, but most kids would agree the best thing about the holiday is the gifts that come along with it. Whether they believe in Santa or not, they know that come Christmas morning there'll be a little something under the tree waiting for them.

This season, put the kids to work creating a place to house all those toys. With some paint, stencils and a little creativity, kids can create a unique DIY toy box to store the spoils of Christmas. You can use a plastic storage tote or a store-bought wooden toy box that has not been stained. If you're particularly handy, you can build the wooden toy box yourself.

Once you've chosen the box, it's time to get creative. Have the kids choose the motif, but try to avoid holiday-themed colors or stencils. It will look great on Christmas, but in the middle of July the Santa-themed toy box might be more of an eyesore. Instead, encourage kids to think of favorite animals, plants or movies they'd like to showcase on the box.

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