Family Handyman

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. This “living…

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.• Fun Factor: Fit…

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 become dull…

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 a microcloth, it’s time for a…

1 CUT PLYWOOD TO SIZE Cut a 24 x 14-in. piece of ¾-in. plywood. (This will be your desktop). Use a table saw to make the cut (a circular saw will work if you don’t have a table saw). 2 MARK AND CUT THE APRON SIDES Cut a 1x3 to 14 in. to match the depth of the plywood top. Cut both sides, and glue and nail them flush with the top and edges of the plywood. 3 FASTEN THE BACK AND FRONT APRONS Mark and cut these parts the same way you did the sides. Hold the 1x3 flush to the corner and mark the other end. Glue and nail the front and back pieces so they overlap the sides. 4 ATTACH THE LEG HARDWARE Place the hardware in the corners, drill pilot holes and screw them…

Use Wall Space Make your walls functional by mounting a corkboard, whiteboard, chalkboard or magnetic surface to the whole wall. Use this to pin current projects, inspiration, calendars, to-do lists, memos and more! Put Paperwork in a Pot Lid Holder Borrow from the kitchen! Use a kitchen pot lid stand to organize your desktop’s most current paperwork. A simple wooden dowel–style holder can easily be painted to match your decor. Put a Tag on It Label bins, drawers and containers with gift tags for an attractive yet functional way to stay organized. After-Christmas sales are a great time to get gift tags cheap, or you can find inexpensive yard sale tags year-round. Use Shoeboxes for Storage To make sure you’ve got room for everything, try this easy closet storage hack: Fill clear plastic shoebox containers, like Walmart’s…