Home Ideas

Fresh herbs add depth to recipes when added in the beginning and brightness at the end. They add color to otherwise drab-looking pasta, and can be used as a sauce for everything from grains to meat and veggies – pesto or chimichurri, anyone? As beautiful as herbs are, they don’t last long, but here’s how you can store them and use every last leaf.
What’s the difference between tender and hardy herbs?
Tender herbs include leafy varieties with soft stems, like basil, parsley, cilantro, and dill. (Mint can be classified as a tender herb, too, but we’ve found that it can be stored well like a hardy herb, too!).
Hardy herbs include types with woodier stems, like rosemary, thyme, and oregano. They’re also the ones that require less water to grow. Think: Rosemary growing in the clay-like soil of the Mediterranean and oregano growing on the sandy mountains of Greece.
Where should you store herbs — on the counter or in the fridge?
Tender herbs benefit from being treated like live flowers and stored in water at room temperature – the fridge’s temperature and air can bruise bare, delicate leaves (two exceptions: Parsley and cilantro can stand up to the cold; just loosely cover dry leaves with plastic before stashing in the fridge). To help them last longer, change the water every couple of days and discard wilted stems.
Keep hardy herbs dry in the clamshells they’re sold in, or wrap in a damp paper towel and store in an open baggie in the fridge. If stored in water, hardy herbs can become waterlogged. Check on them every couple of days: They’ll last longer if you occasionally change their wrapping and throw away wilted pieces.
Should you wash your herbs before storing?
You should. Plus, if you wash them before storing, you’ll be likely to use them when you’re cooking. It’s important, however, to dry your herbs well before wrapping and storing, to prevent them from getting wet and moldy.
To wash tender herbs, hold by the stems and plunge the leaves in cold water. Shake to dry. You can be a little less careful about drying when storing on the counter because the herbs will dry naturally in an upright position.
To wash hardy herbs, swirl around in cold water and lay flat on a clean dish towel. When dry, transfer to a damp paper towel and wrap in bundles before placing in an open baggie in the fridge. Both of these cleaning methods allow dirt and debris to fall to the bottom of a bowl without leaves being bruised from running water.

Step One
Swirl woody sprigs in cold water and spread on a clean towel to dry.

Step Two
Wrap the herbs in a slightly damp paper towel.

Step Three
These bundles keep leaves protected and hydrated to stay fresh longer.

Step Four
Store in an open plastic bag in your fridge’s crisper drawer.

How long do fresh herbs last?
Depending on how you store them, some herbs can last up to a couple of weeks while others should should be used right away. A few other factors contribute to their longevity, including the quality of the herbs when you buy them and how dry or unbruised they are before you store them. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
Tender herbs
Basil: Up to 1 week
Cilantro: 1 week to 10 days
Parsley: 1 to 2 weeks
Dill: 1 week
Mint: 3 to 4 days
Chives: Approximately 1 week
Hardy herbs
Rosemary: 2 to 3 weeks
Thyme: 2 weeks
Oregano: 1 to 2 weeks
How to store fresh herbs in the freezer
To store herbs long-term, fresh herbs can be frozen — but don’t just toss them in a baggie! If you do, they’ll likely freeze together and form ice crystals that will drain and muddy their flavor when they defrost. Instead:
Thoroughly dry herbs (water droplets will cause splattering during cooking) and chop them.
Add herbs to an ice cube tray and fill with oil before freezing through.
Use the frozen cubes when you first start cooking the way you would normally heat oil in a pan, or stir in at the very end to finish.
How to dry herbs
Fresh herbs may be dried or dehydrated so they can last for up to six months when stored properly. To dry herbs, wash and dry them completely, then use a dehydrator on a low temperature (95ºF to 105ºF) to draw moisture out of the leaves until they crumble in your hand. The amount of time varies based on the herb: Tender herbs will dehydrate faster than hardy ones. Store dehydrated herbs in a small, airtight container in a cool, dark place.

10 Herbs You Can Grow Indoors Year-Round

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Teaching your little one to sew has never been easier (or more fun!). More

We’ve got apple. We’ve got pumpkin. We’ve got cinnamon. More

Maintaining an organized home just makes life easier. When everything is in its place, you can move through your day with ease. Who wouldn’t want that? That’s why we’re taking you inside some of the most organized — and stylish — spaces crafted by some of our favorite design influencers and tastemakers. Get ready to take inspiration from the Organization Chronicles.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and when you’re a mom of five, this is even more true. Consider the case of Atlanta-based interior designer Erika Ward, who admits it was imperative for her recent kitchen renovation to be conducive to her active lifestyle, especially now that she and her husband are working more from home.
Ward craved a comfortable yet stylish cooking space that would make it easy to prepare meals but also encourage her kids to assist with the clean-up afterwards (a.k.a. every parent’s dream). “My main concerns were how to control the clutter so the kids can help, how to make the surfaces easy to clean, and how to make it look pretty,” Ward says of her practical design vision.
Ward got her wish, thanks to a timeless design scheme with brilliant storage solutions. Here’s how she created her well-organized kitchen:
Maximize Cabinet Space

Rustic White Interiors

Rather than replacing the kitchen cabinets, Ward took the sustainable route and opted to salvage them. She enlisted a professional to give them a new look with a hard coat finish that complemented the overall design scheme, which Ward says “takes inspiration from the Caribbean” with its watery blue backsplash. Once the aesthetic part of the job was handled, pull-out drawer systems to store large pots and pans were installed in the kitchen’s lower cabinets. Concealing them in drawers was also a simple way to free up visual space in her kitchen.
Make Use of Under-the-Sink Storage
Under Ward’s sink is a drip tray to protect the cabinets from leaks and spills, as well as a pull-out drawer for garbage and recycling. A trash system of this nature is especially great for kids who are beginning to learn the value of self-reliance and accountability. “As you are encouraging your children to take on more responsibility at home and help out with chores, having this organization system helps them to know where things go,” Ward says.
Minimal Floating Shelves

Rustic White Interiors

There’s more than enough cabinetry in Ward’s kitchen, but there are a select number of frequently used items that made sense to keep within reach. The perfect solution? A pair of open shelves on either side of the range hood for a canister of lemons, a few of her favorite cookbooks, and a collection of dishes. But this sleek shelving solution doesn’t just serve a functional purpose—introducing this form of symmetry in the design scheme is visually appealing, too.
A Mounted Spice Rack

Courtesy of Erika Ward

Regardless of your design aesthetic, mounting your spice rack might work well for your kitchen setup. Ward loves nothing more than experimenting with recipes and testing different spices, so she made the decision to mount her assortment right on a cabinet door. “When you don’t take advantage of that interior door space—especially if you are lacking storage—it is a missed opportunity,” she says.
Having a well-organized kitchen can not only help you to make the most of your space—it’s also a great way to include the entire family in maintaining it and find more joy in cooking, even if you consider yourself an amateur chef.
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Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, here’s what you should look for. More

William Hereford

Spare rooms often become catchalls: They might house your WFH setup, your home gym yoga mat and weights, boxes of Halloween decorations that don’t fit anywhere else and, crammed in the middle, a bed for guests. While there’s no shame in getting the most out of your square footage, there’s so much to be said for offering a thoughtful, well-appointed room for overnight (or longer) visitors.
You only need a few pieces of furniture, great bedding, and charming accents, and you can have some fun with it. Think of it even as an opportunity to deploy an aesthetic that differs from the rest of the house, to make it feel like a special destination.
With on-trend decor and furniture in a range of styles, The Home Depot makes it easy to overhaul this room on a budget. For an extra homey feel, channel a stately bed and breakfast with vintage-inspired pieces — here’s how.
Look for furniture that calls to mind the past — you can’t go wrong with rich wood tones.

William Hereford

William Hereford

Bright white walls and low-profile furnishings have enjoyed time in the spotlight recently, with minimalist décor superseding moodier, more intimate settings. But the tide is turning toward a richer palette, with layers of the past and present mingling together.
To cultivate a look that reads vintage but not old, lean into darker tones that add extra character and warmth to a space. Try wood furniture with a heritage vibe: a gracious bed with a carved headboard in a deep ebony finish, a chest of drawers with antique-like bronze hardware and a sturdy side table that could pass for being built by a grandparent. Think sophisticated bungalow or chic country cottage, without any of the ruffles.

Bellmore Ebony Queen Bed
homedepot.com
$699.00

Daytona Regal Walnut Rectangular End Table
homedepot.com
$167.16

Cambridge Brown 3-Drawer Dresser
homedepot.com
$409.45

Cooper Mixed Material Luggage Rack
homedepot.com
$91.60

Layer neutral pillows and blankets over crisp white sheets (the combination never fails).

William Hereford

The easiest way to make a bed feel like it’s from a five-star hotel is to outfit it with crisp, white percale sheets and a matching blanket. Instead of a duvet, opt for a quilt to add texture and heft. Layer on a cashmere blanket for a subtle color contrast, and choose a variety of throw pillows in the same palette.
In order to create a pillowscape that doesn’t overwhelm the bed, limit yourself to four colors or patterns and don’t go overboard with numbers. For example, on top of the standard pillows on a Queen-size bed, layer two larger square Euro-style pillows in a stripe print that mirror the texture of the quilt, and then pop in two accent pillows in a dusty rose. Finish the look, if you’d like to add more, with two one-offs: an extra-long, soft grey lumbar with a leather strap detail and a grey and white stripe.

300 Thread Count Wrinkle Resistant American Cotton Sateen 4-Piece Queen Sheet Set in White
homedepot.com
$39.98

Legends Paloma Cotton Textured Queen Quilt in White
homedepot.com
$429.00

Oversized Faux Cashmere Stone Plaid Acrylic Fireside Throw Blanket
homedepot.com
$27.99

Alternate Blocks Grey and White Geometric Hypoallergenic Polyester 18 in. x 18 in. Throw Pillow
homedepot.com
$30.69

Edinburgh Mid-Century Modern Gray Pillow
homedepot.com
$21.10

Add a lounge chair for wake-ups and wind-downs.

William Hereford

Boulevard Cafe Camel Leather-Like Metal Chair
homedepot.com
$136.92

A place to sit — that is not the bed! — is a must in a guest room. It offers an element of separation between sleeping and daily life, and provides a spot to relax (plus a separate seat keeps “outside clothes” off the bed).For a classic Americana look, choose a leather piece that complements the wood furniture and adds warmth to the room. Avoid chunky club chairs; while comfy, they can take up too much space and crowd the room.
Instead, look for a chair with a slimmer silhouette, like this option with a blackened metal frame and burnt orange cushions. Not only does the plump seat make for the perfect reading nook, but it’s an ideal place to drape a jacket or set your handbag.
Frame up art in a mix of sizes for a collected feel.

Hanging art is the quickest way to make a space feel homey and lived-in. For maximum impact, go for a gallery wall. If the idea of finding and organizing enough pieces for a whole wall may seem intimidating, never fear: the best part of a gallery wall is that it doesn’t have to be perfect. With multiple pieces in varying sizes, you don’t have to fret about perfectly centering every single frame. Choose a starting point, be it the center of the wall or one side, and build from there.

Antiqued Bronze Framed Acrylic Painting
homedepot.com
$89.00

“Simple Fern IV” Framed Giclee Print
homedepot.com
$126.36

“Divided Horizon I” by Jennifer Goldberger
homedepot.com
$48.99

“Aged Paper Vintage Feather Identification Print” by Daphne Polselli
homedepot.com
$32.99

To keep with the old-but-new aesthetic, seek out a variety of portraits and botanical prints that masquerade as if they were salvaged from an old library or estate sale. Use color cues from elsewhere in the room — the bedding, perhaps — to inspire a cohesive art palette, and keep things simple with matless frames.
Dot the space with vintage (or vintage-inspired!) accessories.

William Hereford

In a hotel, it’s the small details that make a room feel special — the custom soap dispenser, the hand-painted light pendant, smart-looking cabinet pulls — so don’t skimp when it comes to the finishing touches. Now is the time to hit the flea markets or dig into your grandma’s attic for fun and quirky additions, like a carved teak tray repurposed as a catchall for jewelry and coins, a ceramic vase filled with fresh-picked wildflowers, or a crate of thrift-store vinyls.

Parker Bluetooth Suitcase Record Player with 3-Speed Turntable
homedepot.com
$52.66

Wooden Record Crate
homedepot.com
$33.07

Brown Square Wood Trays
homedepot.com
$17.47

Oil Rubbed Bronze Counter Balance Desk Lamp
homedepot.com
$44.97

Round Quartz Metal Alarm Clock
homedepot.com
$13.05

If you’re not one for thrifting, or prefer new to old, The Home Depot has a surprisingly deep collection of vintage-inspired decor, like this cute mint green table clock, a bluetooth speaker disguised as a record player, or an industrial elbow desk lamp.
Prop styling by Olga Grigorenko. More

What’s under your feet (or however you get around) is as important as anything when it comes to home. That’s why this fall, we collaborated with The Home Depot on an A to Z guide that’ll give you the confidence to make flooring choices you’ll love. Check out the A to Z handbook here.

Water finds its way onto floors throughout a home, whether via that post-shower tip-toe, a dripping colander, or rain-soaked galoshes.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to protect flooring against the wrath water can unleash (mold, mildew and decay, oh my!), no matter what kind of material is underfoot. Whether you are installing tile, laminate, vinyl or hardwood, here are methods and products — all of which you can find at The Home Depot — that can bring peace of mind when water is present.

Tile
Tile is often seen in bathrooms, entryways and mudrooms not just for its good looks and durability, but because it’s often fairly impenetrable to water, particularly if it’s porcelain tile (for more on it, visit the letter P). The grout that fills in between tiles, though, is porous and susceptible to water damage — it needs a little additional help in repelling moisture.

RedGard 3-1/2 Gal. Waterproofing and Crack Prevention Membrane
Custom Building Products homedepot.com
$143.00

A waterproof membrane that’s added between the substrate and the tiles is key for providing the strongest line of defense against floor damage in a tiled room, followed closely by treating your grout with a specialized grout sealant, which works to create an impenetrable barrier against damage not only from water, but any type of sudsy shampoo (or other chemicals). Sealed grout should last between 5 to 10 years without needing another coat, so think of this as an afternoon’s worth of work that’ll last almost as long as a new roof.

Laminate and vinyl
Laminate flooring companies pride themselves on creating products that stand up against stains, scratches, spills and other flooring disasters. And, as many satisfied customers will tell you, they definitely live up to the hype. When it comes to water damage, though, most laminate flooring is “water-resistant” (not easily damaged by water), not totally waterproof.

SimpleSolutions Medium Tone Laminate Floor Sealant
Pergo homedepot.com
$10.28

This is a situation where product guarantees, manufacturer protocol and the warranty vary greatly from brand to brand, so it’s important to read the fine print. A large portion of “water resistant” laminate can hold its own against daily household spills if the liquid is cleaned up immediately. Some companies recommend using a sealant around vulnerable areas (like kitchen counters and dishwashers) to further prevent water damage. In large part, though, laminate will still buckle and warp when faced with any major flooding incident — a broken pipe, a leaking washing machine — and that isn’t covered by the warranty: something to keep in mind when choosing where laminate should go in your home.
And what about vinyl? Many engineered vinyl planks are already 100 percent waterproof, making them a strong choice for bathrooms and basements. And if you’re looking for an extra layer of security (or your subfloor requires it), consider installing a waterproof membrane or underlayment.

Hardwood

Hardwood is, without a doubt, the most finicky of all flooring when it comes to water, moisture or humidity. That’s why applying a finish on hardwood floors is critical for both their longevity and beauty as the years roll on.

1 Gal. Clear Satin Ultra Thick 2X Water-Based Floor Polyurethane (2-Pack)
Varathane homedepot.com
$108.96

A polyurethane finish (either oil or water-based) is a smart option for protecting hardwood floors because it stands up well against the puddles and splashes of life. Some engineered hardwood is treated with a water resistant sealant by the manufacturer, so double-check the warranty before purchasing so you know how to properly care for it.
And don’t forget to waterproof any outdoor wood floors! All decks, porches and sitting areas should be treated with an outdoor-specific wood sealant in order to guarantee you’ll be able to enjoy your backyard oasis for years to come. More

What’s under your feet (or however you get around) is as important as anything when it comes to home. That’s why this fall, we collaborated with The Home Depot on an A to Z guide that’ll give you the confidence to make flooring choices you’ll love. Check out the A to Z handbook here.

Grease tracked onto tile after working in the garage. Science experiments gone awry in the kitchen. Muddy paw prints on the living room carpet. There are countless ways that messes find a way inside our homes.
Fortunately, most situations that seem like a major mess at first glance are actually not too tough to deal with, as long as you don’t let them linger. Below are five tools — affordable, handy workhorses you might not think are as crucial as they are, all of which you can find at The Home Depot — that will ensure your floors stay in tip-top shape for years to come. (For even more information about cleaning ideas for different types of flooring, don’t forget to reference their specific letter in the A to Z Flooring Handbook.)

Tool: Boot Brush
The first thing a cleaning expert will tell you about keeping floors neat is to ban outside shoes from coming inside the home.

Boot And Shoe Scrubber
Sontax homedepot.com
$22.87

“That is my number one [piece of] advice: Take your shoes off at the door,” says Carolyn Forte, Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Appliances & Cleaning Products Lab. “You may not want to ask guests to take their shoes off, but even if the family itself has [the] habit, it does an amazing job of keeping floors looking better.”
But if there are holdouts among your ranks, or guests don’t quite understand what the hubbub is all about, general contractor Mark Clement of MyFixitUpLife suggests purchasing a shoe and boot brush and parking it right outside the entryway. Ideally, it’ll encourage anyone coming inside to clean off their shoes before entering your home. (Placing welcome mats where shoes can be wiped outside the front door can also help mitigate any superfluous dirt.)

Tool: Wet-Dry Mop
Ditch the dirty mop water and bucket for good with a wet-dry mop, like the GH Seal holder Swiffer Sweeper Dry and Wet Mop. This tool can clean up dust and debris that collects on hard surfaces when in the dry mode, then seamlessly switch into its mop version for bigger jobs, for which wet cloths are attached.
There are even products that come with a built-in spray system for cleaning solution if you’re working in a larger space but still prefer a tool that’s lightweight and more streamlined than a traditional mop. (Yes, please!) Both the wet pads and dry pads from wet-dry mops can be tossed after use, making clean up a breeze.

Tool: Surface-Specific Cleaners

Bona Stone, Tile & Laminate Floor Cleaner Spray, 32 oz, 32 Fl Oz
Bona homedepot.com
$7.97

When it comes to cleaning, it’s always best to follow manufacturer’s instructions and the advice of experts, lest you end up with a messy mistake that can’t (easily) be undone. While flooring isn’t a place to improvise with whatever cleaning products you might have on hand, there is often some overlap for which types of flooring they can tackle.
The cleaning process for laminate floors is a good example. “Many cleaners that are safe for hardwood are safe for laminate, too,” Forte notes.
There are also cleaners that pull triple-duty for laminate, stone and tile. (Tip: if you’re looking for an extra layer of protection to make cleaning even easier down the line, consider applying a sealer to appropriate flooring styles, like tile.)
And if you’re an allergy-sufferer, there are cleaning products, like Bona’s Free and Simple for hardwood, that are specifically formulated without dyes and scents.

Tool: Microfiber mop

O-Cedar Dual-Action Microfiber Flip Mop with Telescopic Handle
Brand: O-Cedar homedepot.com
$12.97

Spills turn into stains on floors when they’re not dealt with in a prompt manner, making time seriously of the essence whenever an accident occurs. Whether the mishap takes place on hardwood, laminate, vinyl, or tile, a microfiber mop is a tool you can turn to for its multi-use properties: try it dry for capturing dust in tight spaces, damp for general cleaning, and wet when spills occur.
To use one effectively, Forte recommends working on a small, three-foot square section at a time: Apply the cleaner you are using, mop it with a microfiber mop, and then let it dry. Also take care to buff off any cleaning residue that might linger on top of floors and give them a cloudy look. The goal is a floor that’s spic-and-span, but also shiny.

Tool: Stick Vacuum
It’s not news, per se, but outside of one-off disasters, regular attention and care will keep your flooring in pristine condition for years. One of the best ways to accomplish this is regular vacuuming at least once a week, and a stick vacuum is the space-saving, lighter-weight way to make this task as easy as possible.

V11 Torque Drive Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
Dyson homedepot.com
$699.00

“Dust and dirt is abrasive: if you look at sand, dirt and grit, it’s sharp,” Forte explains. “If you walk on that stuff day to day, it can eventually dull the [floor’s] finish.”
Stick vacuums can often pack the same punch as their bulkier canister counterparts (particularly for apartment dwellers or people living in smaller homes) and have some serious perks, including cordless models, versions specifically designed to tackle pet hair and the ability to convert into a handheld model to clean effectively in crevices.
If you have carpet in the house, it doesn’t hurt to call in the pros once a year or so. “Besides vacuuming and removing spills, it’s important to have wall-to-wall carpets professionally deep cleaned every 12 to 18 months,” Forte advises. “Professionals can reapply a stain protecting coat that will help carpets look good longer.” More