Stylish, functional patio furniture is a must for entertaining and relaxing outdoors. And while there are a plethora of offerings for outdoor dining and seating sets, patio chairs, tables, benches and more, you may get more enjoyment from building a unique piece yourself.

Here’s a short video featuring popular DIY blogger Ana White and Home Depot associate Wendy that will show you how to build an outdoor coffee table for your patio, porch or wherever you need a place to put your feet up, or set things down.

The table is easy to build, as you will see in the video, but you will need to have a few basic tools and materials on hand. In addition to boards, wood screws and wood glue, you’ll also need a few power tools, including a circular saw, a drill, and perhaps a cordless nailer. Don’t worry if you don’t own some of the tools on this list. Your local Home Depot Tool Rental Center will be happy to let you use ours for a few hours.

Download the printable instructions for this outdoor coffee table when you’re ready to get started, and don’t be shy about emailing us photos of your awesome new outdoor coffee table when you’re done.

And if you’d like to brush up on your home improvement skills, The Home Depot offers free weekly workshops for DIYers of all ages and experience levels.

For more inspiration to help you transform the look of your deck, patio and other outdoor living spaces, check out our Style Challenge series, including the Patio Style Challenge, and the special Adirondack Challenge edition.

Check out more DIY and home improvement videos here on the Home Depot blog and on The Home Depot’s YouTube channel.

Elegant DIY headboard from the Home Depot Style Guide

Whether you’re seeking to design a glitzy, romantic bedroom with a towering presence or something simpler but no less stylish and intimate, DIY headboards allow you to alter the perception of the room. They can make ceilings appear higher, rooms seem larger, and serve as a dynamic focal point. Perhaps more importantly, building a one-of-a-kind headboard is an opportunity for you to lay down your own unique style marker in the most personal space in your home.

If you have been thinking about designing and building a new headboard for your bedroom, we’d like to share a few headboard ideas from around the web for you to sleep on.

Image via Freshome

A bedside table with a small stack of good books to read before drifting off to sleep is not an uncommon sight in most bedrooms. But rarely will you see someone using their favorite tomes to create a decorative masterpiece on the bedroom wall. We were completely laid out by this DIY headboard idea.

Images via Shelterness (clockwise from top left), Colony Palms Hotel, Better Homes and Gardens (plywood and faux bois), and Demilked

As you can see, there are no rules when it comes to dreaming up ideas for designing your headboard. Although the size of the room, ceiling height and overall style you’re trying to achieve will factor into the choices you make, the option are endless, particularly when it comes to materials.

You don’t even have to spend a lot of money to achieve spectacular results. A thrifted antique mirror, an intricately patterned area rug, or a simple piece of plywood — unfinished or given a faux bois treatment with decorative paint tools — are all inexpensive headboard ideas that can give your bedroom a touch of something special.

Image via Desire to Inspire

In the photo above, dark paneling with raised moulding detail covers an entire wall. It’s not just a masculine statement of design, but also a bold way of melding an accent wall into your DIY headboard design. This is also a good look for any well-appointed man cave.

A DIY scalloped headboard from the Home Depot Style Guide

Headboards have quickly become a popular DIY project, with a multitude of styles, shapes and ideas for bedrooms of any size. This example from the Home Depot Style Guide highlights the many ways you can bring more warmth and intimacy into a large bedroom with details like paint, moulding, rugs, wall decor and a Moroccan-influenced headboard built by your own hands.

Download the printable instructions on how to build this scalloped headboard, and don’t be modest about sharing a few photos with us to show everyone how crafty you can be.

See more inspiration and ideas in our Places series here on the Apron Blog.

Add a beautiful stone accent to an outdoor walkway. Here are the step-by-step instructions for this Stone Medallion Garden Path. We have printable instructions that you can download, too.

Skill Level: Beginner
Time: 2-4 hours
Cost: $55-$65 for each medallion
TOOLS & MATERIALS

• Landscape border project kit
• Leveling sand
• Polished pebbles
• Miter saw
• Hammer
• Tamper
• Hand trowel
• Broom
• Measuring tape
• Work gloves

Step 1

This project is intended to be inserted into a pre-existing walkway, and the steps are for one medallion. Clear a spot for the medallion form, and use the tamper to tamp down the soil, leaving a firm foundation.

Create a square border that will contain your pattern by anchoring six 18-inch strips of the landscape border. Use the stakes included in the kit for anchors.

Four of the strips will make the outer boundary of the square. The remaining strips will be used to form the rest of the pattern.

Step 2

Next, form a cross in the square, creating four equal quadrants.

Use a miter saw to cut four additional, shorter but equal length sections to form a diamond shape in the center.

Secure all sections of border by hammering the stakes into firm soil.

Step 3

Add leveling sand into the form, filling it up about halfway.

Use a hand trowel to smooth the sand, leaving no gaps. The sand should be about 1 inch deep.

Step 4

Separate the polished pebbles into individual colors, and then place them into the sections, creating a pattern.

Consider the colors and sizes of the pebbles when you create your mosaic pattern.

Step 5

Tamp the stones to seat them firmly into the sand and sweep the project with a wide, soft broom to settle the sand and polish the finished product.

Stand back and admire your lovely Stone Medallion Garden Path.

Download the printable instructions for this DIY project and get started! 

If you have questions about this or any other home improvement, gardening or DIY project, post them on our online How-To Forums for an answer from a Home Depot associate.

Take a look at more DIY projects here on The Home Depot blog. 

Adirondack chairs have been around for over a century. This iconic piece of patio furniture is perfect for lounging around on breezy warm days at the beach, by the pool, or out on the deck or patio. The original version was made from a solid piece of wood cut into 12 pieces. Today Adirondack chairs are available in a wide variety of materials, including plastic as well as many types of wood. You can purchase one of these chairs, as you would any other patio furniture, and relax very comfortably in your decision. Or, you could easily build your own and experience the singular pleasure that comes from creating something with your own hands.

The choice is yours, of course. And if you’re up for building your own Adirondack chair, here’s a video featuring popular DIY blogger Ana White and Home Depot associate Wendy to show you how. This project was one of our free monthly Do-It-Herself Workshops held a Home Depot stores across the country.

Aside from a few tools you may already have around the house, for this project you’ll need:

• 3 – 2×4 @ 8 feet long
• 1 – 2×2 @ 6 feet long
• 4 – 1×4 @ 8 feet long
• 2 1/2”, 2” and 1 1/4” wood screws
• Wood glue suitable for oily wood and exterior projects
• A compound miter saw for making angle cuts
• A jigsaw for cutting the arched back of the chair

If you don’t currently have those saws out in the garage – no problem, your local Home Depot Tool Rental Center will be happy to set you up with what you need while you build your Adirondack chairs.

Download the printable instructions, complete with a detailed cut list for the wood for this Adirondack chair and a footstool when you’re ready to get started, and don’t be shy about emailing us photos of your awesome new patio chair when you’re done.

For more inspiration to help you transform the look of your deck, patio and other outdoor living spaces, check out our Style Challenge series, including the Patio Style Challenge, and the special Adirondack Challenge edition.

Check out more DIY and home improvement videos here on the Home Depot blog and on The Home Depot’s YouTube channel.

Image via Vintage Junky

In a world where kids — little ones and big ones alike — spend far too much time indoors, passively gazing at the wonders of the digital universe, we’d like to lure them back into the real world to take a flight on the original playstation.

No one knows for certain how long it’s been in existence, but the swing set has surely been around as long as there have been trees and vines and kids to swing from them.

Think about it: Save the rubber ball, is there another object that has provided more fun to more kids than the swing?

Well, if you’ve forgotten how awesome it is to soar on a swing set, or to careen through the air on a tire swing, we want to put some play back into your playtime with swing set ideas for your backyard.

Home Depot customer favorites: Lifetime A-Frame Deluxe Swing Set (clockwise from top left), Gorilla Playsets Sun Valley II and Outing III, and Lifetime Adventure Set

Playing on the swings is always more fun when you share the experience with others. We’re happy that so many of our customers feel the same and shared their photos with us. Keep uploading them!

Image via Only From Scratch

So you built a pergola in the backyard and then thought to yourself … what now? We bet you did not know that it’s a great architectural structure for a DIY swing set. With a pergola in place, you can create the perfect playground. All you need are swing hangers, a couple of swing seats with pinch-proof vinyl rubber coating, and maybe a few bags of rubber mulch for ground cover and color.

Images via Sheryl Salisbury Photography (clockwise from top left), Jose Villa, Chelsea Flower Show, Casa Katrine and threetwentyeight

Is there a better way to unwind on a warm day than enjoying the rhythm of your own unique swing? Whether it’s reclaimed from pallets, a romantic swing built for two, or just a colorfully painted old chair supported by rope, a DIY swing is not beyond your reach.

Image via Inhabitat

Normally we would never endorse the cutting down of such a magnificent tree to be used as a play thing. But the Chopstick concession stand and swing set created by Visiondivision for the Indianapolis Museum of Art fused art and nature in an unexpected and responsible way.

The entirety of the 100-foot yellow poplar tree was used in the construction of this public playset. The bark was used for shingles, tree limbs for legs of chairs and tables. The roots became teas and toincs sold at the concession stand, and the leaves and flowers were used for decoration. In short, nothing was wasted. And look at what was gained by the entire community.

See more inspiration and ideas in our Places series here on the Apron Blog.

A lush, green, healthy lawn is the foundation for your home’s overall curb appeal. And, with the proper watering, feeding and maintenance, your lawn will surely attract many admirers. The right sprinkler or irrigation system will not only keep your lawn attractive and well-hydrated, you’ll also waste less water and help preserve one of our planet’s most vital resources.

With the wide range of lawn sprinklers and irrigation systems currently available, we asked Coach Dave from The Home Depot Community Forums to give us a short video overview of some of the more popular models. From the oscillating and rotating sprinklers that many of us played in as children, to the all too familiar impact sprinklers that shoot constant streams of water across the lawn, to those sneaky in-ground automatic sprinkler systems that always seem to pop up just when you least expect, we cover all your options.

Plus, you’ll learn about planning and installing an in-ground sprinkler system as well as become familiar with the various types of timers, valves, PVC pipes and fittings and sprinkler heads that can be used to set up these systems.

For more on lawn sprinklers, be sure to check out our sprinklers buying guide, and for all your other lawn care and outdoor power equipment needs — from mowers, trimmers and edgers, leaf blowers and more — visit us online or at your local Home Depot store.

We have more videos here on the Home Depot blog and on The Home Depot’s YouTube channel.

For the last month, the Patio Style Challenge has brought you gorgeous outdoor spaces designed by some of our favorite design and DIY bloggers. Whether it’s a lovely DIY deck or a small-space spruce-up, we’ve been inspired by all of the helpful tips that our bloggers have provided.

In this week’s Inspired board, we’ve pulled together some of the popular outdoor accessories and products that our Style Challenge participants used to create the outdoor space of their dreams!

TOP TO BOTTOM:

You may have seen the grilling station that blogger Whitney of The Curtis Casa created on her back deck. She used the Char-Broil Gourmet 2-Burner TRU-Infared Propane Gas Grill. Just next to the grill, you can see the wall-mounted vertical planter that Whitney filled with herbs.

Chassity of the blog Look Linger Love furnished her front porch with a large dining table, and she used hanging ferns to bring fresh greenery to the space. The perfect accent on a classic Southern front porch!

Grace of A Storied Style created a beautiful space on her front porch where she and her family can enjoy a big family meal. She used both the Martha Stewart Living Wales sunburst mirror and a garden stool from our Garden Center as accessories in this space, and we just love the way it turned out!

Though her space was small, Alex of Things That Sparkle didn’t hesitate to inject her urban balcony with colorful accents and functional accessories. We love the way she used two wooden trays to turn her cushioned ottoman into a coffee table.

Tobe of Because It’s Awesome used turquoise throw pillows in addition to the Hampton Bay Collette Fire Pit and two Adirondack chairs to give her backyard patio a relaxed feel.

Browse all 18 spaces featured in the Patio Style Challenge for more inspiration for outdoor accessories and everything you need to make your patio fabulous.

Get lots of inspirational ideas and inspiration boards featuring products from homedepot.com and our sister site, Home Decorators Collection – along with irresistible finds from around the web.

I have admittedly gone succulent crazy! I am not a gardener and struggle to keep any plants alive, whether it’s indoors or outdoors. But I have found my gardening niche with succulents. They are fabulous plants because they are so hardy, low maintenance, and lend themselves to creative DIY projects! I first made a mason jar mini-succulent garden, but had a hard time stopping with just one garden. So, I kept going! Lol.

 

Here are 3 more creative succulent arrangements that take 5 minutes or less to make:

Birdcage Planter

This may be my favorite succulent garden yet. Succulents don’t need a lot of water or soil, and they can be planted in shallow containers. I had been wanting to incorporate a birdcage into our freshly redesigned dining room and just hadn’t gotten around to it. Then, as I was trying to come up with creative ways to use succulents, I was struck with how amazing this combination could be!

Materials Needed:

• Birdcage
• Succulents, Cacti
• Rocks
• Soil
• Plastic planter liner

After buying my fabulous little birdcage, I realized all the wire in the base would be a problem, even with my pot liner. So I traced the base of the birdcage onto card stock, cut inside the line, and placed the circle in the base of the birdcage. While not real fancy, it kept the rack from falling through with cage.

Next, I placed rocks around the edges of the bottom and put the liner in the center. I wish I had bought a flat liner instead of this curved one, but it worked okay in the end.

I then added a thin, loose layer of soil in the liner, prior to adding the plants.

Last, but not least, I added the succulents and cacti. I put the cacti in the back and kept them in their plastic planters to help them not fall over.

That was insanely easy! It now sits in my window seat in our dining rom and looks so cheerful! Its been 3 weeks and they haven’t dies yet. I think it’s a record for me.

Chalkboard Planter

After I finished my birdcage planter, I had a bunch of left over succulents (I went a little crazy at the Big Orange, obviously). One succulent planter and one aloe plant came in pretty ceramic planters – I bought them in the planters because it was cheaper than buying smaller individual plants but I wasn’t really planning on using the planters themselves. But there they sat, and I didn’t want them to go to waste.

I first removed the plants from the cute, pink ceramic bowl and washed it off. After it dried, I grabbed some painter’s tape and taped off the top of the bowl.

Fortunately, we had nice weather here in Baltimore, and I was able to go outside to spray paint. I used Chalkboard spray paint that I already had on hand, and sprayed the outside of the bowl. A little paint got inside the bowl too, but no big deal since it will be hidden by plants.

After the paint dried, I added a little chalk art and put the plants back in. Again, a super quick way to update and personalize any planter!

Burlap and Rope Planter

Adding a touch of your favorite fabric, rope, burlap, or ribbon is a QUICK way to freshen up a plain planter!

Red is not a present color in my dining room, but I did like the pop of color and didn’t want to spray paint it. Instead I grabbed some burlap ribbon, rope, and hot glue that I had already on hand and wrapped it around the planter.

I love the touch of rustic against the red! Plus, since the plants are inside, I don’t have to worry about the fabric getting wet.

Thanks again, Jocie! Jocie lives in Baltimore with her husband, Ethan and two young daughters. Ethan runs One Project Closer (OPC), a site dedicated to providing free guides to help you DIY like the pros. You’ll see more of Jocie’s DIY tutorials on The Better Half, the craftier part of One Project Closer.

Want to learn more about container gardening, get more succulent arrangement ideas, and get hands-on experience? Register for a FREE Do-It-Herself workshop. Our succulents DIH Workshop happens at your local Home Depot on Thursday, May 16, 2013 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm. The Home Depot hosts FREE Do-It-Herself Workshops on the third Thursday of every month. For the most up-to-date information visit our workshops page. 

Be sure to follow our DIH Workshop board on Pinterest for more do-it-herself ideas, tips and inspiration. And check out more projects and tutorials from our DIH guest contributors here on The Home Depot blog.

Image via Especiarias

Today’s artificial grass has grown leaps and bounds in terms of appearance, feel and composition. Whereas the earliest iterations of synthetic turf looked both cheap and plastic, the quality and variety of synthetic grasses available now has improved dramatically. You can get artificial grass that looks late-summer long or manicured, or get short turf grass in dark or light shades of green. And better still, it’ll never need mowing, aerating, watering or fertilizing.

Now, in truth, there has been more than a little disagreement over the growing use of artificial grass in residential landscaping. Many concerned about the environment argue that plastic grass is just another petroleum product that contributes to our growing global CO₂ problem and will end up as more trash clogging landfills. Other environmentally conscious observers counter that the pollution caused by fertilizers, gas-powered mowers, trimmers, blowers and the like are far worse – not to mention the huge amounts of water needed to preserve these pristine natural lawns.

We’ll let you settle that debate among yourselves. Our only intent here is to perhaps alter your view about the possibilities for artificial grass, just like this incredible image from Especiarias did ours.

What is artificial grass? A man-made surface composed of polyethylene-blend fibers tufted onto a polypropylene backing, artificial grass is often called artificial turf, AstroTurf and synthetic or fake grass.

What are some of the cool properties of artificial grass? It looks like real grass, and with some of the most recent advances in the technology and manufacturing process of artificial grass, some of it even feels like natural grass. It’s also low maintenance, requires no watering, mowing or fertilizing, and is nearly impervious to the elements.

How is artificial grass used? Artificial grass has been used most often in arenas to cover athletic fields and for a variety of commercial applications such as flooring for event spaces.

What can you use artificial grass for? Anywhere or any way you might use natural grass, you can use artificial grass — as well as many other ways you may not have thought possible.

Not convinced? Check out the rest of this post.

Home Depot customer Jaybird’s condo courtyard makeover using StarPro Greens Centipede artificial turf

We love it when customers share their project success stories. On a shady plot at the entrance to his condo where grass simply refused to grow, Jaybird from Little Rock, Ark., installed StarPro Greens Centipede artificial grass. And with the addition of a stunning sculptural fountain and landscape lighting, he transformed his courtyard from meh into a space that is truly marvelous. Well done, Jaybird!

Images via Pinterest/Andy Porter (clockwise from top left), Decor Hacks, Silo, Dirt Simple/Deborah Silver and Essence Of Events

Leftover pieces of artificial grass can definitely be used to make entertaining things like comfy chairs, DIY house numbers, jewelry, garden art and inviting decorative accessories that can be placed all over the home.

Image via Sandy Skoglund

Conceptual artist Sandy Skoglund created this visually arresting work with artificial grass, sculpted epoxy resin dogs, and live models using her trademark tableau photography technique. In a 2008 interview with Luca Panaro, she commented: “I see myself naturally attracted to some very artificial things … . To me, a world without artificial enhancement is unimaginable, and harshly limited to raw nature itself without human intervention.” Perhaps this too explains our surreal affinity for this most unnatural turf.

Image via Apartment Therapy

Artificial grass makes the perfect landscaping for backyard playsets and playhouses. And, as both Julia and Gary enthused to Apartment Therapy, “The kids love all of it and we especially love the artificial lawn as it requires zero maintenance.”

Meet the Material is a series designed to introduce you to some of the everyday goods sold at The Home Depot. Is there a material you’d like to know more about? Just let us know in the comments!

This DIY Hanging Bed project is perfect for a back porch or summer home. Here are the step-by-step instructions. We have printable instructions that you can download, too.

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 8 hours
Cost: $350

Tools and Materials

• 4 3/8-inch x 6-inch eye bolts
• 8-foot long 4 x 4 posts
• 8 double shear hangers
• 4-pack 3/8-inch fender washers
• 4 8-foot long 2 x 4 posts
• 4 corner brackets
• 4  joist hangers
• 1 box 10d joist hanger nails
• 2 9 oz. tubes adhesive
• 4 x 8 x ¼-inch sanded pine plywood
• 3 8-foot long 1 x 6 pine posts
• 1 pack 1 ½-inch finishing nails
• 1 pack 1 ½-inch common nails
• Tack cloths
• 1 quart Behr Exterior Latex Primer
• 1 quart Behr Exterior Gloss White Paint
• 4 3/8 x 5-inch eye bolts
• 8 pack 3/8-inch bolt washers
• 4 2-pack 2-inch S-hooks
• 2 15-foot packs #135 chain
• 7 5 x 38-inch bunk bed mattress
• 6-foot step ladder
• Measuring tape
• Carpenter’s pencil
• 3/8-inch VSR drill
• 3/8-inch drill bit Screwdriver
• 15-inch hand saw
• Caulk gun
• Claw Hammer
• Chalk line
• 9/16-inch combination wrench
• 2/32-inch nail setter
• Paint brush tray kit
• Framing square
• Work gloves
• Safety glasses

Shop the items for this project at The Home Depot.

This project is intended for open joist or open rafter ceilings. Access to these structural members is needed to construct braces suitable for supporting the weight of a bed and its occupants. Finished ceilings will need to be opened up and later repaired.

The bed uses a standard twin size bunk bed mattress, which is 75 inches x 38 inches. You will be constructing a supporting frame of this size using 2-inch x 4-inch lumber, and wrapping the frame sides with 1-inch x 6-inch pine boards, which will keep the mattress in place. Because this bed hangs, it can swing somewhat, so avoid placing it near walls or other furniture.

Disclaimer: Local law in your area may contain specific codes or ordinances that may affect or place restrictions on your project. You are advised to consult with your local authorities before starting this project.

STEP 1

Measure the joist spacing where the bed will hang — either 14 ½ inches or 16 inches on center joists, or 22 ½ inches or 24 inches on center joists. Cut four pieces of 4 x 4 post lumber to that length.

Using the double shear hangers and joist hanger nails, secure the 4 x 4 braces you have cut to the ceiling joists. Each pair of braces should be spaced 75 inches apart so that you are able to drill vertical holes in each brace with a spacing between 28 inches and 34 inches. If you have open rafters, you can mount these braces higher up into the space for an improved appearance. If you plan on refinishing the ceiling, these mounts will need to be flush with the bottom of the joists.

STEP 2

Using a 3/8-inch drill bit, drill one vertical hole in each 4 x 4 brace. This is where the hanging eye bolts will go. These holes should be centered in the width of the brace, but can be drilled anywhere along its length so that the eye bolts will be located in a rectangle sized about 76 inches x 30 inches. As noted above, the width can vary as needed more than the length.

STEP 3

Push each 3/8 x 6-inch eye bolt through its hole. Place a 3/8-inch fender washer on the threaded end, and then thread on its nut. Tighten the nut with a 9/16-inch wrench, using a screwdriver placed through the eye to keep it from turning. The eyes should be parallel with the length of the bed frame location.

STEP 4

To begin frame construction, cut your 2 x 4 lumber into two 75-inch pieces and four 35-inch pieces. Two of the 35-inch boards will be on the ends of the bed, while the other two will be inside support members.

Using joist hanger nails, attach the four corner brackets to the two 35-inch end pieces. These are located on the inside of each board at each end, placed flush with the very end of each board.

STEP 5

Using joist hanger nails, attach the four joist hangers to the 75-inch boards. These are located on the inside of each board 25 inches away from each end, forming the mounts for the inside frame support boards.

STEP 6

Apply adhesive to the end of one of the 35-inch support boards, place it in the hanger, and nail it in. Repeat this with the second support board.

Apply adhesive to the other ends of these support boards, and place them into the hangers on the opposite 75-inch rail. Nail these in.

STEP 7

Apply a bead of adhesive to both ends of one 35-inch end support, and set it in place at one end of the frame. You can now nail in the corner braces to the long frame rails. Repeat with the second end.

STEP 8

Cut the ¼-inch plywood down to mattress size: 75 inches x 38 inches. Mark the plywood 25 inches from each long end, and use the chalk line to make two lines. These will correspond to the inside support board locations.

STEP 9

Apply a bead of adhesive along the top of the 2 x 4 subframe, including the end and support boards.

STEP 10

Place the plywood on top of the frame, and use the 1 1/2-inch common nails to secure it to the boards. Space the nails about a foot apart and include three nails for each inside support along the chalk lines you drew.

You now have a finished supporting subframe, which should be the same size as your mattress.

STEP 11

Cut your pine 1 x 6 boards into two 75-inch pieces and two 39 ½-inch pieces. These will provide a finished look to your bed, as well as hold the mattress in place.

STEP 12

Apply a bead of adhesive to one long side of your subframe, and attach a 75-inch pine board to it using six to eight finishing nails. Use your nail set to punch the finishing nails flush with the pine board. Repeat this process with the other side, and then with each end.

STEP 13

Measure and mark hole locations for the bed eye bolts. There are two of these on each end of the bed, 5 inches in from the corner and 1 inch up from the bottom edge.

Using your 3/8-inch bit, drill these four holes through the pine boards and the 2 x 4 frame boards.

STEP 14

Use your tack cloth to remove dirt and dust residue from the sides and plywood top to prepare for painting.

Prime the bed frame and plywood with Behr Exterior Latex Primer. This primer needs a minimum of one hour drying time before painting over it. If you have the time, four hours is better.

Paint the bed frame and plywood with Behr Exterior Gloss Paint. We chose white, but you can have any color you desire mixed for you. Allow at least one hour drying time.

STEP 15

Attach the bed frame eye bolts through the holes you drilled before painting. Use the regular 3/8-inch washers and the supplied nuts, and tighten the same way you attached the ceiling eyes. The eye bolts should be oriented vertically.

STEP 16

Use the S-hooks to attach each eye bolt on the bed to the end of each chain. One at a time, lift the bed and hook the chain to a ceiling support. The bed height you choose is a matter of personal preference, but keep in mind who will be using the bed. It should be hung level regardless of height.

Surplus chain links should be at the ceiling end rather than hanging off the bed. The chain lengths were chosen for ceiling heights between 8 and 9 feet. If you have a higher or sloped ceiling, you may have to adjust the chain lengths that you purchase. This chain can be purchased in any length you desire at Home Depot stores.

STEP 17

Place the mattress inside the frame.

And now you have a Hanging Bed you made yourself. Congratulations!

Download the printable instructions for this DIY project and get started! 

If you have questions about this or any other home improvement, gardening or DIY project, post them on our online How-To Forums for an answer from a Home Depot associate.

Take a look at more DIY projects here on The Home Depot blog. 

The security of your home is absolutely the last thing you want to think about while enjoying a much needed vacation. So, before you pack up and take off, we’d like to pass along a few vacation safety tips to help protect your home and property while you are away.

In this short video, Home Depot Community Forums associates Coach Dave and Mike the HDAnswerMan dispense a little common sense advice on security measures you should take before your getaway. From the basics like locks for securing doors and windows to using indoor and outdoor timers to control lighting, sprinklers and more, they cover everything you need to consider to ensure your home’s safety while you’re on vacation.

If you want to beef up security even more around your home before you leave, you can find many of the latest home security and surveillance systems online and at your local Home Depot store.

We have more videos here on the Home Depot blog and on The Home Depot’s YouTube channel.

  If you have come to think of the gazebo as some small ornamental structure stuck in a remote corner of the garden where the occasional wedding is staged, you might want to rethink that. A gazebo can certainly provide an idyllic view of the happy couple on their special day and make a nice backdrop for pictures of the newlyweds and their retinue. But gazebos can also be enjoyed for so much more. Thomas Jefferson often referred to the gazebo as the summerhouse. They are the perfect spot to get away, sit, relax, unwind and enjoy the wonders of nature. And if the Hamptons, Martha’s Vineyard or Kauai are out of the question this year, here are a few ideas for summer homes within reach of your own backyard.

Images via Houzz (clockwise from top left),Thrifty Decor Chick and HGTV

A soft-top gazebo canopy can transform any deck, patio or outdoor area into a plush, inviting home for the summer. Add sumptuous area rugs and lighting together with a fully functioning outdoor kitchen and you may never want to go inside again.

Image via The Hampton Designer Showhouse

You might even consider turning your gazebo into a colorful potting shed with comfortable bench seats. It will make a homey retreat for enjoying quiet time with your orchids.

Image via Flair To Remember

The best summer homes always seem to evoke a sense of mystery, adventure and endless anticipation. Gazebos offer you an opportunity to create indelible memories of summers spent just outside your back door.   See more inspiration and ideas in our Places series here on the Apron Blog.

Here’s a clever Mother’s Day idea: Give her a Home Depot gift card on a plant stake.

Include one with a plant from your local Home Depot store. A living plant can symbolize the nurturing and care that a mother provides, so it makes a particularly apt gift for Mother’s Day. Choose a flowering plant that blooms in your mother’s favorite color to make a big impact.

And add the Home Depot gift card to make your Mother’s Day gift do double duty. The plant serves as a personal expression of your gratitude, and because it lets her choose a gift for herself, the gift card ensures that your mother will find something specific to her interests.

No matter if your mother loves gardening, home improvement, interior design or landscaping, she will find something to love at The Home Depot. The Home Depot Gift Card has no monthly fees and never expires, so Mom can take her time to find exactly the right piece for her project.

This Mother’s Day, give the mother in your life a gift you know she’ll not only appreciate, but also use.

Looking for a plant to hold up a gift card stake? Check out the Flowers, Plants & Trees at the Garden Center. For more great Mother’s Day gift ideas, take a look at our helpful guide at the Home Depot Gift Center.

It’s the outdoor season again and The Home Depot has an exciting lineup of new patio furniture collections designed to bring more comfort and style to your outdoor living space. So, if you’ve been thinking about replacing an old or worn patio set, or you’re considering a new one, now is the time.

In this short video, Home Depot associates Stacey and Jennifer will show you some of the features and innovations of our new patio collections for 2013. This year’s collection includes a diverse and stylish array of dining sets and seating sets, ranging from the traditional look of the Fall River, Edington and Westbury collections, to the Barnsley, Woodbury and Madison sets that have a more contemporary appeal.

Each of the collections is available in multiple configurations, allowing you to combine dining and seating sets with chaise lounges, accent tables, ottomans, umbrellas, firepits and more to create a coordinated look tailored to your outdoor lifestyle.

After you’ve finished watching the video, you can shop these collections and all of our patio furniture — and find everything you need for outdoors – online and at your local Home Depot store.

We have more videos here on the Home Depot blog and on The Home Depot’s YouTube channel.

This gorgeous old home in Savannah, Ga., gets an A+ for curb appeal, so we couldn’t help but break down all of the elements that contribute to this sweet home’s charm and style. Below are some suggestions for getting this lovely look on your own.

TOP TO BOTTOM:

One of the most noticeable elements of this fabulous home’s front porch is the hanging pendant light over the front door. We love the way the hexagonal shape of the pendant works with the angles in the architectural pediment. Plus the dark color really pops against the crisp, white moulding. For a similar look, we chose the Filament Design 3-Light Hanging Lantern. It’s a dead ringer for the pendant above!

The paint colors can’t be ignored on this charming home. Though the home’s architecture is traditional, the blue and yellow color palette feels playful and young without being too over-the-top. To get this look, chose Behr’s Blue Chaise (#550D-6) for the house paint and Glidden’s Dusty Gold (GLY31) for the front door.

Greenery is always a must for a front porch, and we love the way red and pink geraniums in assorted terra cotta pots are staggered all the way down the stairs. These warm colors perfectly complement the blue and yellow paint.

One of our favorite elements of this front entryway is the creeping Confederate jasmine that covers the iron pillars. Confederate jasmine is a flowering vine that can be found throughout the Southern city of Savannah, and it has the sweetest smell. What a pleasant way to welcome friends and family to your home!

Get lots of inspirational ideas and inspiration boards featuring products from homedepot.com and our sister site, Home Decorators Collection – along with irresistible finds from around the web.

In our Style Challenge series, we ask some of our favorite bloggers from around the web to surprise us with their ideas for creating a stylish and functional space using Home Depot products as a starting point.

When we saw the incredible progress that Dana of the blog House*Tweaking and her family have made on their 1950s fixer upper (which they affectionately call The Underdog), we knew she would be the perfect addition to our Patio Style Challenge. She put together a gorgeous outdoor dining area that’s perfect for her young family and for spending quiet time with the hubby after the kids are asleep. Check out  her clever way to hang bistro lights and the DIY art piece made from scrap wood, too. 

Last year my husband and I spent most of our free time renovating the inside of our fixer upper just so it would be livable. With most (but not all!) of the major interior projects completed, we were really excited to finally show the exterior some TLC.

This past fall we had two plain Jane concrete patios installed at the back of the house. One patio sits just off our dining room, and our hope was to turn it into a family-friendly outdoor dining space. Our style is simple, modern and cozy, and we wanted the patio to reflect that. The Home Depot was kind enough to hook us up with a few pieces from the Hampton Bay Walnut Creek Collection. I chose a table and bench with straight lines to go along with our “no fuss” style. More importantly, the table and bench are completely maintenance free. We’re a busy family and don’t have time to fret over needy outdoor furniture!

To keep the furnishings from looking too matchy, I mixed the table and bench in with pieces we already had on hand and also in with a few new things. We are so happy with the results!

Now the patio is a great family hangout. We like to eat dinner al fresco whenever possible. When my two older boys are in school, I take my baby’s high chair out to the patio. She has a snack. I drink my coffee and catch up on email. It’s almost turned into my outdoor office.

One of the first things I did for the makeover was paint the french doors a moody inky gray (Behr’s Evening Hush exterior paint in satin) to contrast with the red brick.

I picked up a hanging basket, spray painted it gold and plopped in a bright green leafy plant to pop against the dark doors.

My favorite part of the patio is this little sitting area with the bench. The garden stool was one of those items we already owned, but it was bright green and needed a face lift. I used Rust-Oleum’s flat white spray primer and gold spray paint to give it a more sophisticated look. (And it matches my baby’s sandals! Go figure.)

Drawing inspiration from Ariele Alasko‘s uh-MAZing work, I had an idea for a modern art piece to break up all the red brick.

I drew up a sketch of the design I had in mind and my husband brought it to life using wood salvaged from our interior renovations. So, not only does the outdoor art look great, it holds special meaning for us as well.

It’s mounted on treated plywood and sealed to protect it from the elements. Luckily, this area is north-facing under a deep eave and doesn’t receive direct sunlight or rainfall. We attached the DIY art to the brick wall with concrete anchors.

I topped the outdoor dining table with a simple centerpiece of succulents and white containers for a cohesive look that flows with the adjacent dining room’s decor.

When the weather allows, I love opening up the French doors. The two spaces together feel like one big dining room!

We still have some landscaping to tackle, so to liven up the boring concrete, I planted various pots full of greenery.

When I was coming up with a plan for the patio, I knew I wanted to be able to string globe lights from the house for a festive night look. Sadly, there aren’t any outbuildings or trees in our backyard to attach strands of lights to, and I didn’t want to sink poles into the ground permanently. Together, my husband and I came up with these portable light poles. They are fencing top rails cut to size, anchored in a concrete base and topped with a looped end cap. We secured the string lights to the looped end with zip ties.

To be honest, we weren’t sure how the portable light poles would work but they work amazingly well! They are sturdy enough not to topple or lean when lights are strung from them (or even during thunderstorms) yet they are light enough to move around. My fast-thinking husband even sank eye bolts into the concrete bases to tether them if needed but we haven’t had to resort to that.

After the kids are in bed for the night, we’ve been known to sneak out to the patio for mini date nights. The globe lights set a romantic mood and provide just the right amount of ambiance. We don’t even feel like we’re home!

Sometimes we have a late dessert or a sip of wine. Tea lights are always lit.

Once the kids are out of school for the summer, we’d love to host an evening family party with our friends and their kids. Strings of globe lights = instant party.

Cheers!

Dana is the author, decorator and photographer behind the blog House*Tweaking. Nearly two years ago, she and her husband did the unthinkable. They ditched their McMansion in exchange for a small, dilapidated 1950s ranch complete with termite trails in the original shag carpeting. They call it The Underdog. She says it’s not their dream house. Instead, it’s the house in which to pursue their dreams. 

To furnish her outdoor dining area, Dana used a Patio table and  Patio bench from the Hampton Bay Walnut Creek Collection from The Home Depot.

For more backyard patio decorating ideas, see other Patio Style Challenges as well as our Style Challenge pinboard on Pinterest.

Style Challenge is a series of posts from guest contributors who aim to bring you fresh inspiration and ideas for your home and garden using a single Home Depot product as a starting point. Dana received pieces from the Hampton Bay Walnut Creek Collection from The Home Depot and a gift card, but The Home Depot provided no other compensation. The opinions and ideas Dana expressed are her own.

As a talented designer, we knew Hannah Maple would come up with some terrific small backyard ideas for this year’s Patio Style Challenge, so we were delighted when she agreed to join in on the fun! Little did we know she would be moving to a new home in downtown Lexington, Kentucky just weeks before tackling this project! She lets us in on exactly how she turned her long neglected little urban courtyard into a bright and beautiful space for relaxing and entertaining. 

Being that revamping spaces is very much my passion (and also my career), I was beyond ecstatic when the amazing staffers at Home Depot asked me to partake in their 2013 Patio Style Challenge. After all, I pretty much live for the outdoors (yes, even work there at times), and to say our newly acquired, city-centered courtyard had been well-ignored is a bit of an understatement. But, the Mister and I aren’t afraid of a bit of hard work, and were confident that a little elbow grease would more than spruce up this potential-laden patio space.

So, here’s a glimpse at the before:

Eeek–it’s bad, right? Like I said, the previous owners didn’t quite see its potential. And…there were a few challenges.

See those heinous, splinter-ridden boards on the old windows? They were challenge #1. So, handy hubby and I doused them with paint and built a simple trellis out of inexpensive lumber, which I painted the most gorgeous blue/gray (Winter’s Day by Martha Stewart for Glidden, at The Home Depot).

Challenge #2 came in the form of red paint. It had LOTS of red paint. Everything seemed so dull and lifeless. I immediately knew I wanted to add more contrast into the outdoor space to make that gorgeous brick wall stand out and to make our little walled-in backyard feel so much lighter, brighter…and airier.

See the result?

Remember those dreary, boarded windows that once dominated the brick wall? Just look at what a coat of paint and a little ingenuity can do. Someday those trellises will be draped in vines, but patience is most definitely a virtue!

Now, being that our courtyard dates back to the 1800s, I wanted to keep it relatively classic. In fact, here’s a peek at my inspiration for the makeover! But, with that said, I couldn’t help but throw in some unexpected elements. That red wooden fence was pretty blah, and was just screaming for some alternating stripes! And those vintage rattan peacock chairs just had to find their home in the courtyard. Their height is perfect for that massively tall brick wall, and they add life and interest to an otherwise boring, expansive surface.

Now, the Mister and I entertain quite often, and, when we do, there’s nothing that I love more than piling in around an uber cozy table. Aren’t those meals just the best?

That’s exactly why I created a little nook for the Hampton Bay Shelburne dining set in aqua that The Home Depot so generously provided to me (that I love!). So, for interest (and to amp up the cozy factor), I added in an outdoor bench (that I already owned), and decked it out with an array of plush outdoor pillows. I also lined the brick wall closest to the dining nook with potted cypress from The Home Depot’s Garden Center. I love that they add a layer of softness to the space!

And, speaking of softness and interest, I knew I wanted to outfit our table with a gorgeous, drapey linen. But, tablecloths tend to be expensive (okay…the amazing, vintage, ethnic cloths that I love are pretty spendy), so I decided to make my own with an affordable (but durable), polyester white tablecloth and a hand-carved, Indian block stamp using black, outdoor-grade paint.

So isn’t the Hampton Bay Shelbourne dining set the most gorgeous hue of aqua? I don’t typically gravitate towards uber-bright pieces of furniture, but I absolutely love the pop of color the set lends to the courtyard. That’s not to mention the gorgeous slatted backs of the chairs, and the slight curve of their arms. How I love those good design details!

Aside from decking out the outdoor dining space, we added loads of interest to the overall courtyard area. I’m a sucker for gorgeous plantings, so we built planter boxes to line our very back stone wall, and to edge our back porch (as seen below). These particular boxes will house all of our summer culinary herbs, as Hubby and I are pretty avid cooks.

The addition of the dining bench meant we had an extra aqua chair, which makes for the perfect shaded reading spot on our back porch.

Doesn’t it feel uber-secluded with the addition of outdoor drapery? Yes, folks–it’s actually just inexpensive 6 x 9-foot canvas drop cloths from the painting section at The Home Depot!

Doesn’t that aqua chair meld perfectly with my antique folding screen? And, just beyond the boundaries of our little back porch lies the dining and fire pit area (yes, we will be taking year-round advantage of this!):

The most-perfect setting for a little al fresco coffee and breakfast soiree with good friends, no?

So, thanks to a little inspiration…a lot of planning…and loads of elbow grease…our city courtyard is finally in tip-top shape for this gorgeous spring weather! I’m quite excited to exclaim that my morning coffee and blog time will never be the same. It’s so fun to nestle into the corner, pour a good cup of brew, and start my work days in such an inspiring space. And when that long-awaited weekend rolls around, we’ll be hosting breakfast after breakfast (okay…lunches and dinners, too…) in our amazing little courtyard, around our amazing little patio table.

Hannah Maple  is the creative mind behind Hanna Maple Studio. Her blog Maple + Shade is what she calls “a digital treasure-trove that documents the most note-worthy inspirations and design musings that we happen to encounter.” She and her husband live in Lexington, Kentucky, and have been avidly working to revamp a little historic cottage in the heart of downtown.

To decorate her small courtyard, Hannah used the Hampton Bay Shelbourne 5-Piece Dining Set from The Home Depot.

For more small backyard ideas and inspiration, see other Patio Style Challenges as well as our Style Challenge pinboard on Pinterest.

Style Challenge is a series of posts from guest contributors who aim to bring you fresh inspiration and ideas for your home and garden using a single Home Depot product as a starting point. Hannah received the Hampton Bay Shelbourne 5-Piece Dining Set from The Home Depot and a gift card, but The Home Depot provided no other compensation. The opinions and ideas Hannah expressed are her own.

Create a walkway with a unique, random pattern using brick-style pavers. Here are the step-by-step instructions. We have printable instructions that you can download, too.

Skill Level: Advanced
Time: One weekend
Cost: $240

Tools and Materials

• 200 4-inch x 8-inch pavers (4½ pavers per square foot)
• 20 bags sand paver base
• 6 bags paver leveling sand
• Measuring tape
• Stakes
• String
• Shovel or tiller
• Transplanting hand tool
• Paver wet saw tool rental
• Vibratory plate compactor tool rental
• Tamper
• Broom
• Gloves

Step 1

Determine your project area, paver size and type, and quantities required. For our purposes we will be creating a path 10 feet long and 3 feet wide using 4-inch x 8-inch pavers.

Since we know the length and width of the path we’re creating, finding the square footage is a simple matter of multiplying the length (10 feet) by the width (3 feet), giving us a total area of 30 square feet. Our path is curved, and pavers are cut irregularly, so there is no exact science as to how many pavers you’ll need, but this gives you a general idea.

Before laying the pavers, prepare the area by plotting out the path and clearing away any grass to a depth of around 4 to 6 inches. Using a measuring tape, stakes and string, mark out the course and finished elevation of the path. Then, using a shovel or tiller, begin clearing the area. A transplanting hand tool will help prepare the area along the edges of the path.

Step 2 

Use a shovel or tiller to fill in the path with paver base at a depth of about 4 inches, which means you’ll need about 20 bags of paver base. With the paver base in place, use a tamper to level out and settle the base. You may want to consider renting a powered tamper for larger areas.

Step 3

After finishing off the paver base, apply a layer of leveling sand at a depth of about 1 inch. Just as before, tamp the leveling sand into place. You will need about six bags of
leveling sand for your path.

Step 4

Cut some of your pavers into smaller, angular pieces.

These will give your Brick Path a unique visual appeal. Use a paver wet saw, which you can rent from your local Home Depot store.

Step 5

Start placing pavers in the path. Use a combination of pavers you’ve cut and whole pavers. Place them randomly, at various angles, and aim for a more-or-less even distribution of sizes. Use these to cover an area of about 80 percent of your path.

Consider doing this part in short sections, rather than laying all the stones at one time. This will help avoid unconsciously following a pattern.

Step 6

Once you’re happy with the way your first paver stones are laid out, start filling in the gaps with more custom-cut pavers. You don’t have to cut these pavers so precisely that they fill each gap entirely. Just cut them in the approximate shape of each gap, so as not to leave any noticeably bare areas in the path.

Step 7

Now that the pavers are in place, put a thin layer of paver sand on top of them. Run a vibratory plate compactor over the top of the pavers. This will set the pavers further in the ground, and ensure that they are all level with each other. Your Home Depot store can arrange a vibratory plate compactor rental for you.

Use a broom to sweep any remaining sand into the cracks.

And now you have a gorgeous brick path you created yourself!

Download the printable instructions for this DIY project and get started! 

If you have questions about this or any other home improvement, gardening or DIY project, post them on our online How-To Forums for an answer from a Home Depot associate.

Take a look at more DIY projects here on The Home Depot blog. 

Designer Lauren Liess is known for the crisp interior spaces she creates and the way she infuses each space with a touch of nature. She applied her design skills to the backyard of  her Northern Virginia home for our Patio Style Challenge, and came up with a comfortable and cozy space suitable for entertaining or relaxing with her active family. Read on for her simple and creative backyard patio decorating ideas.

Our family pretty much lives outside when it’s warm.  (And honestly, we’re out there a lot when it’s cold too.) My husband Dave and I have three boys and a dog so being outside is a necessity. When we found our new house this past summer, we fell in love with the yard and the outdoor spaces. This past fall, when we moved in, we ate most of our meals outside on the back deck at a big table we have, which was great, but we had nowhere to really veg and relax. When we were contacted by The Home Depot to be  a part of their Patio Style Challenge, I was SO EXCITED because we’d been dying to create an outdoor lounging space/ living room next to our deck dining area. This was just the push (and help!) we needed to get it done.

Here’s what our space looked like before:

We decided to add a stepped flagstone patio just outside of our kitchen that would fit right next to our existing deck and dining table:

Once the patio was in, it was time to set up our Home Depot sectional!!! We selected the Hampton Bay Beverly Sectional, which is a nice smaller-sized sectional. We purchased additional Beverly chairs to make a massive sectional– perfect for the five of us to spread out on, and of course, for entertaining too.

I loaded our sofa with pillows and blankets – I’m a total nester and love snuggling up.

Some of the fabrics I used are from my own hand-drawn line of textiles, like the Fern quilt on the back of the sofa, the chartreuse paisley here…

… and this buttercup pillow here:

My inspiration for how I styled this shoot came from my love of gardening. Even though I’m pretty terrible at it (I’m trying!!) it’s something that I really love doing, especially with my boys. We’re in the midst of starting a veggie garden so I took my inspiration from that.

I love the feeling in the old French carrot/root chart I have in my kitchen and thought it was appropriate since it’s very early spring, and we’re just starting to plant now.

Green’s my favorite color and I love it paired with natural materials and colors. Terra cotta pots are a staple around here too. I love them just as much when there’s something growing in them or when they’re simply empty and waiting…  Our house is always full of midstage projects, but I think there’s a sort of beauty in that anticipation too. It’s rarely perfect around here. (Only during photo shoots! )

It’s still fairly cool here (In Virginia, just outside Washington, DC), so we’re starting with root vegetables and lettuce:

…and a couple of snapdragons from The Home Depot because my boys love playing with the “dragon heads” and making them roar and talk:

We’re trying out some lettuce in pots because we still need to be able to bring the plants indoors on cold nights. My little guys, Christian (5) and Justin (3) love projects:

Our baby, Luke (or “Louie,” as the poor kid’s been getting called) usually hangs out and watches with Daddy:

And Ashby loves her little spot:

When we were deciding how to arrange our furniture, I knew we wanted to be facing the kitchen and our yard so we could supervise our boys from a sitting position. (A-mazing!) Here’s a view of our yard, where you can see them taking a cruise in their jeep:

I love the lines of the Beverly sofa… They’re clean and classic and work well with our contemporary home:

The “rattan” is actually a coated metal, which is really pretty and looks like it’s going to hold up well. I love mixing old and new, so I added in a pair of vintage rusty garden chairs:

They work really well in our patio because their shape is really interesting and sculptural –providing a little juxtaposition with the straight basic lined of the sofa. But you can virtually see right through them so they don’t block the view of the yard at all.

I added a graphic indoor-outdoor rug we already had along with an old wood coffee table and vintage garden stool so that the patio really feels like “us.” We’ve been having so much fun with our new outdoor living space. It really feels like an extension of our home.

I’ve had outdoor sofas before, but never one this big or comfy. It’s just perfect for snuggling up…

And relaxing with my family…

We love it!!!! Thank you so much to Home Depot for including us in this (very generous!!) and fun Patio Style Challenge!!

Xoxo,

Lauren

Ps- I had to share a little drawing Christian made of the snapdragons after our family photoshoot:

Soon after I took this photo, he added a laser-shooting airplane to the scene. But it was sweet for a moment.

Lauren Liess describes herself as “a wife, mom and decorator with a textile collection.” She writes about decor, food, life and more on her blog Pure Style Home. She’s also the creative force behind Laura Liess Interiors in the DC Metro area.

To furnish her backyard patio, Lauren used the Hampton Bay Beverly Sectional with additional seats from The Home Depot.

For more backyard patio decorating ideas, see other Patio Style Challenges as well as our Style Challenge pinboard on Pinterest.

Style Challenge is a series of posts from guest contributors who aim to bring you fresh inspiration and ideas for your home and garden using a single Home Depot product as a starting point. Lauren received the Hampton Bay Beverly Sectional from The Home Depot and a gift card, but The Home Depot provided no other compensation. The opinions and ideas Lauren expressed are her own.

Healthy, fertile soil and lots of TLC are the keys to productive gardens and lush lawns. That’s why it’s important to test your soil every two to three years. Soil testing provides essential information about your soil’s pH (its acidity or alkalinity) as well as a measure of other nutrients essential for plant growth.

The soil tests will also indicate the type and amount of feeding or fertilization your soil may require. With this knowledge in hand, you’ll be able to add the proper soil amendment, in the right amount, to keep your plants and the environment healthy and thriving.

Many local extension services offer free or low-cost soil testing. But if you’re like many of us and don’t want to wait on the test results, you can do your own lab work with an inexpensive soil testing kit.

To show you how easy soil testing is, we asked Coach Dave from The Home Depot Community Forums to demonstrate how it’s done. All you need is the soil test, a little distilled water and some dirt from your lawn or garden. In probably less time than it will take you to watch this video, you will have your results.

Here’s a piece of advice Coach Dave left out: Take your soil sample from a depth of at least 4 inches for the best results.

So, before you go adding fertilizer and other amendments willy-nilly in preparation for the planting season, get to know your soil. Giving your soil the right kind and amount of nutrition will yield healthier plants – too much can lead to problems in your garden and for the environment.

We have a lot more DIY, home improvement and gardening videos for you. Check out the videos here on The Home Depot Blog and on The Home Depot’s YouTube channel.