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Home Improvement Basics Guides

In-depth, step-by-step education written by tradespeople and reviewed by editors. Every guide states its risk level up front.

All Home Improvement Basics DIY Projects & Repairs Kitchen Improvement Bathroom Improvement Painting & Wall Finishes Flooring & Tiling Plumbing & Electrical Roofing & Exterior Insulation & Energy Efficiency Landscaping & Outdoor Living Interior Design & Organization Home Renovation & Remodeling

Home Improvement BasicsBeginner

The Essential Homeowner Toolkit: 14 Tools That Earn Their Drawer Space

Skip the gimmicks: the measured, experience-tested list of hand tools a homeowner actually uses, with what each one is for and what to skip.

7 min readTom Beaudry

Home Improvement BasicsBeginner

How to Plan Your First DIY Project (Without Regretting It)

A calm, complete planning routine for first-time DIYers: scope, budget, tools, time — and the three questions that predict whether a project will go well.

8 min readSara Lindqvist