Here's a smart idea for keeping bedroom curtains neatly contained: it's the no-tie-back method. A set of sheers hung directly behind each curtain provide a privacy screen when drawn. When not in use, they can be tied neatly around each curtain. A very pretty alternative to the standard tasseled tie-back, no? – Casa Sugar

Windows still firmly shut against the cold? If so, you're probably yearning for a breath of fresh air. Let Tipnut's clever bed sheet laundering ideas get you through, bringing fresh, summery-scented bedding to your room all year round. Jasmine plus bergamot? Vanilla plus ginger? Simply heavenly equations! – Tipnut

I confess: there was once a time when I hung pictures by pounding a nail into the wall with the heel of my shoe. But as I tackled more projects around the house and worked with different tools, I started pounding nails the right way: with a hammer. And then different hammers (did you know there's a different type of hammer for just about any job you're doing?). My days of shoe hammering are long gone.

Of all the hammers in my toolbox, these are my three favorites:
- A standard 16oz. claw hammer is just the right size for basic household projects like hanging pictures, removing loose nails, and installing hardware.
- A tack hammer comes in handy for craft projects like reupholstering tag sale finds, adding small trim to furniture, and assembling homemade wreaths.
- A rubber mallet is useful for tapping together loose furniture, assembling pre-fab pieces, and loosening stuck windows (Tip: If you don't want to spend the money on a mallet and you have an old tennis ball around, cut a slit in the ball and fit it over the head of your claw hammer. This will soften the hammer's blows and make it safer for those delicate projects.)

Over the years, I've picked up and thought up lots of handy hints you can use while pounding through projects. Here are some of them: