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Love seat: A short sofa made for two. Pullout models accommodate overnight guests so your living room can pull double-duty.Armoire: A tall cabinet originally used as a wardrobe; it can also hide a bar or games and books.Sofa table: Also called a console table, it’s narrow and slightly lower than the sofa back. This makes it a good spot for a reading lamp.Parsons chair: A slim, armless, upholstered piece that can adapt to different rooms and styles....

How to Soften Brown Sugar 3 Ways Each of these methods will turn that solid brown sugar back into its original soft texture. How to Soften Brown Sugar in the Oven Place the hard sugar on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat ($8, Target). Try to spread the clumps out if possible. Bake in a 250°F oven for about 5 minutes, checking after 2 to 3 minutes to break up pieces with a fork or wooden spoon....

Test Kitchen Tip: Store the finished cookies at room temperature for up to three days. Test Kitchen Tip: If using frozen peaches, thaw before adding to the filling. Test Kitchen Tip: Look for edible flowers like lemon verbena, phlox, or rose petals in the fresh herb section of your grocery store. Make sure they’re meant for consumption.

Buy It: Multi-Size Paper Lanterns ($19, Target) To make each rocket: Editor’s Tip: Short on time? Use premade chalkboard labels ($6, Walmart) instead. Editor’s Tip: Use any cording scraps to add firework bursts to your chair covers. Editor’s Tip: Looking to save these for years to come? Coat the letters with polyurethane for durability. Editor’s Tip: Unfold the lantern a day in advance to stretch it out for easier decorating....

Test Kitchen Tip: Pour the leftover marble coating onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and top with your favorite sweet treats and/or salty snacks. (It’s also a great way to use up Halloween candy.) Test Kitchen Tip: Save time when making this fall apple dessert by turning to canned apple pie filling in place of the spiced apple mixture.

As you practice, leverage the supplies you already have at home (like knitting needles and that stash of yarn you’ve been saving for a rainy day). If you do need supplies, try out Michaels’ free curbside pickup service: It’s totally free and you never have to leave your car. Some of their yarn is on sale right now, so you can make projects no matter what your budget is. If you’re a beginner knitter or crocheter, Michaels also has knitting needles and crochet hooks (such as Aluminum Hook Set, $5....

1. Winter Is the Best Time to Buy Seeds Many vegetable garden plants can be started from seeds while it’s still cold and snowy outside. The trick, of course, is to sow them indoors and then transplant them into your garden once the soil has warmed up again in spring. Cool-weather plants, such as cabbage and broccoli, especially benefit from a jump-start indoors so they have a chance to bloom and produce a crop before the heat of summer shuts them down....

1. Define a Walkway Using grasses to line a pathway carves a pretty path for visitors to walk along to your front door or patio. They also serve as a soft transition point between the hard edges of stone and adjacent planting beds, preserving a more natural appearance. 2. Add Interest to Containers Grasses are equally as appealing in containers as they are in your yard. Layer a tall grass with shorter flowers and a lush ivy or coleus for maximum drama....

That’s where these themed snack boards come in: After you gather to light that day’s candle and observe the significance of the holiday, serve family and friends a savory latke board filled with all the traditional toppings and sides. Or, set out a festive dessert board filled with blue and white treats and gold coins for a sweet surprise. To help inspire your own charcuterie creations, these are a few of our favorite Hanukkah snack boards from Instagram....

Spicy BBQ Sauce Come summer, you could can tomatoes. Or use that tomato bounty to whip up this punchy, perfect pork or chicken topping to give your grilled fare some kick all year long. This homemade BBQ sauce recipe calls for 12(!) pounds of tomatoes and yields five pints, perfect for gifting or saving all for yourself. The pleasant level of heat from the jalapeños makes this sauce irresistible. Classic BBQ Sauce Craving a classic?...

We’re all guilty of shoving things under the bed from time to time, but optimizing this space with clever storage solutions can cut down on clutter and help you stay organized. Whether you’re storing shoes, extra bedding, or seasonal items, under the bed is a great place for items you don’t use all the time or need to access on a regular basis. These under-bed storage ideas will help you reassess the mess and find a solution that works for your storage needs....

1. Exposure to the Freezing Cold Poinsettias are grown in greenhouses to color up in time for the holidays. Then they’re shipped off to sell. You can purchase them in greenhouse pots or in arrangements or planters (like this Better Homes & Gardens 8-inch Poinsettia Live Plant with Ceramic Vase, $33, Walmart). When we take a pampered plant from a warm store through a cold parking lot to the car, it can start to lose its leaves from the shock of temperature change....

Veggie Villains Do you frequently set out sliced veggies for your house to snack on? Us, too. That’s why we were so excited when we saw this adorable platter of veggies with monster eyes from Berry and the Boards. Now that we’ve discovered these jack-o’-lantern cucumbers and monster kiwis, we’re going to be exclusively snacking on festive fruits and vegetables from October 1st ’til Halloween. Candy Corn Parfait Classic yellow-and-orange candy corn is a Halloween staple....

Step 1: Decide on a flower arrangement design. One way to guide your arrangement is to decide on a color scheme before shopping for flowers. Then, when you go to buy flowers, you know you’re picking up colors that work well together. Monochromatic schemes, which show off the variety of different hues of the same color, can be striking. For another high-impact floral design, try complementary colors that will pop against each other....

1. Switch to touchless fixtures. 2. Swap out bath mats. Fluffy bathroom rugs might feel luxurious underfoot, but plush materials can be a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and bacteria. In general, lightweight, quick-drying bath mats are a more hygienic alternative. Look for bathroom rugs made from materials like cotton, polyester, or wool that wick away moisture and dry fast. Bath mats made from natural materials such as bamboo or diatomaceous earth (which is made of fossilized algae) are naturally antibacterial and dry out much faster than fabric options....

S: Sort like with like. I: Identify what to keep. M: Make a home for it. P: Put it into containers. L: Label it. E: Establish a routine.

Buy It: Crock-Pot Slow Cooker ($25, Target)