How to Choose the Right Curtain Length, Plus Tips for Measuring

While shopping for curtains, it’s important to choose a length that complements your lifestyle and design choices. Want more design inspiration? The width of the curtain should align with the window opening. The Spruce / Jacob Fox Below, we’re sharing more information about specific common curtain length styles as you prepare tohang your own. This ensures that your window will look well-dressed and not too sparse. It’s important to also factor in where yourcurtain rodwill be placed above the window when accounting for width....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 168 words · Anthony Bell

How to Choose the Right Flower Fertilizer Type

Youll see bags, bottles, powders, granules, pellets, sprays, and concentrates. Furthermore, youll discover an increasing number of organic and earth-friendly fertilizers. Learning more about your options can help you pick the best food for your flowering plants. The Spruce / Letícia Almeida For example, a10-10-10 fertilizercontains 10 percent of each N-P-K nutrient. A 10-30-20 fertilizer contains three times the amount ofphosphorusthan nitrogen. Disadvantages include the risk of over-app, whichcauses burning, and the absence of anysoil-improvingqualities....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 310 words · Lynn White

How to Choose the Right Interior Paint Finish

And with them come several questions you’ll need to answer. The Chemistry of Paint Finish Paint glossiness is determined by the chemistry of the paint. High-glosspaintshave more resins and less pigment. The Spruce / Michelle Becker Flat paints, on the other hand, have more pigment and less resins. Paint finishes are available in both latex and oil-based. The surface can have a slightly chalky feel to it. The Spruce / Ellen Lindner...

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 232 words · Kathryn Parker

How to Choose the Right Mortar Type: Composition Types vs. Types S, N, O, M, and K

The best mortar types and their use depend on the tool and the design specifications for the project. Each pop in is composed differently, each with varying strengths and applications. It can be mixed at different ratios for strengths reaching 2,300 and 3,000 psi. The Spruce Lime gives punch in S its water-resistant properties, as opposed to mortar mixes with lower ratios of lime. It typically achieves 750 pounds per square inch (psi) strength within 28 days....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 243 words · Trevor Smith

How to Choose the Right Shower Light

Zac Gudakov / Unsplash Showers tend to be dimly lit spaces. But safety, cleanliness, and design are also benefits of shower lighting. Its easier to keep a shower clean when it’s possible for you to see all of the surfaces. Zac Gudakov / Unsplash Shower lighting alsoenhances the designof your bathroom by highlighting the aesthetics and different zones in this multi-purpose room. Read on the learn more about shower lights and how to choose the right one....

May 4, 2025 · 3 min · 483 words · Allison Knox

How to Choose the Right Size for Your Chandelier

Lifestyle Production GroupforHouse of One A chandelier is more than just a utilitarian light fixture. “Chandeliers are the jewelry of a room,” designerGeorgia Zikasstates. However, most designers are not opposed to bending the rules just a bit. Lifestyle Production GroupforHouse of One “I dont have a strict requirement on chandelier sizing,” notes Mary Patton ofMary Patton Design. “In fact, I generally prefer intentionally larger chandeliers.” Kim Coombs ofKBCO Designadds that choosing a chandelier for a given room doesn’t simply come down to measurements....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 142 words · Rebecca Rice

How to Choose the Right Size for Your Front Door

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto A homesfront doormay be one of its most important features. Before shopping around, grab the measuring tape and measure the dimensions of the door you’re replacing. Standard Front Door Sizes There isnt a ton of variance in front door sizes. The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto The standard size for a front door is 36 x 80, or about 3 x 67. Be sure to measure the thickness of your existing door....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 311 words · Patrick Hartman

How to Choose the Right Type of Petunia

Nitsan Merchav / EyeEm / Getty Images Petunias have been garden favorites for decades. Theseannual flowersbloom almost nonstop throughout the summer. Traditional petunias (Petunia x hybrida) from the Solanaceae family favored cool weather and needed constantdeadheadingto continue blooming. Nitsan Merchav / EyeEm / Getty Images What Is Bed Edging? Grandiflora Petunia Frederic Didillon / Photolibrary / Getty Images Grandifloras are one of the oldest varieties. The flowers can be single or ruffled doubles....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 409 words · Ryan Lam

How to Choose the Right Type of Recliner

However, when it comes to recliners, one size does not fit all. This guide can help you determine what you’re looking for to best match your individual needs. What Is a Recliner? Westend61 / Getty Images Recliners are upholstered armchairs that can be tilted backward, usually with a footrest that extends out in front. Sometimes the chairs fail, whether it’s a mechanical, electrical, or aesthetic issue. The cost to repair could be nominal....

May 4, 2025 · 4 min · 769 words · Patrick Rodriguez

How to Choose Wall Art for Living Rooms

you could focus on one focal point piece of art or create a gallery of symmetrical or complementary frames. If you have a piece that you absolutely love, you want the eye to go directly to it. Think about placing that artwork on the first wall you see when you walk into the room. The Spruce / Marty Baldwin It will make an immediate statement the moment you enter the space....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 314 words · Andrew Murphy

How to Clean & Remove Stains From Marble Countertops

And, you probably have a box in your fridge or kitchen cabinet already. check that to finish with a clean, dry cloth to avoid any leftover soap residue. Warning Never use a scrubber or scrub brush on marble, as it can scratch the surface. The Spruce / Ana Cadena Instead, use a damp rag or the soft side of a sponge. Be careful not to scrub, since doing so could damage the surface....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 207 words · Vanessa Zamora

How to Clean 4 Types of Shoes Properly

Don’t use newspapers because the ink can transfer to the inside of your shoes. Not all fabric shoes should be tossed in the washer. Make a Cleaning Solution Mix one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in two cups of warm water. The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija Stir well until combined. Scrub the laces, rinse thoroughly, and remove any excess water with a microfiber cloth. Let them air dry before lacing your shoes back up....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 311 words · James Vargas

How to Clean a Bathroom Exhaust Fan the Right Way

This bathroom workhorse is under-appreciated and often overlookeduntil it begins to sound like an airplane taking off. Since this is so important to your bathroom, it’s equally important to clean it often. Learn how to clean your dusty bathroom fan the right way to keep it quiet and working properly. The Spruce / Sarah Lee But, if you use that bathroom every day, these are good guidelines for cleaning the exhaust fan....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 259 words · David Kelly