Enhance your recipes and cultivate a connection with nature with herbs that you’ve grown yourself. Herbs can be grown in a large landscape or in pots on a windowsill. Whether Herb gardening is a seasonal ritual or your first edible venture, here are the essential herbs no gardener or cook should go without.

Basil  (Ocimum spp.)

Basil’s bright, showy leaves and intensely sweet aroma epitomize summer gardens and dishes. Many edible gardeners start with basil, and the number of available varieties will never leave you tired of its refreshing flavor. In fall dry or freeze it for use the rest of the year. Basil grows easily from seed or nursery seedlings.

Dill  (Anethum graveolens)

Dill is one of the few herbs on this list that does best when grown from seed. Sow the seeds through summer in full sun. It’s tolerant of rocky soil but needs good drainage and enough room to establish its taproot. Dill is an annual, but it can self-seed and will most likely return the following year. Cut back the flower heads and collect the seeds to plant where you want them.

Oregano/Marjoram  (Origanum spp.)

Oregano is another one of those herbs that really don’t put up a fuss. Plant oregano or its milder relative, sweet marjoram, anywhere that receives good sunlight and has good drainage. Harvest the leaves just when its flower buds are forming. These plants grow well from seedlings.

Mint  (Mentha spp.)

Grown in a pot by the kitchen, fresh mint refreshes everything from dressings, salads and sides to drinks and desserts with a sprig or two. It grows best in full sun to partial shade and prefers regular water. It has a tendency to spread where it’s unwanted, so many suggest growing mint in containers. Grow it from seedlings.

Parsley  (Petroselinum crispum)

New varieties are adding pizzazz to the world of parsley. Though it’s treated as a summer crop in colder climates, gardeners in warmer regions can grow parsley year-round. Be sure to choose a site with sheltered afternoons, since too much summer heat can scorch it. Plant parsley from seeds or seedlings.

Chives  (Allium schoenoprasum and Allium tuberosum)

Both garden chives and their larger, bolder flavored relative garlic chives make delicious and attractive additions to the edible garden. These easy to grow cool-season perennial herbs feature green tubular stems, topped with edible flowers in spring and summer. Grow them from seed and in full sun. Chives self-sow and can be divided every few years, so you’ll be sure to have them in your garden season after season.

Lemongrass  (Cymbopogon citratus)

Dive into the exotic edibles with lemongrass, using it to season soups, teas and more. This strappy plant will thrive in full sun to partial shade with regular water. Though it may die down to the ground in winter, it will revive in spring. Lemongrass does best in mild climates, or it can be planted in a container and brought inside. Plant cuttings or divisions for best results.

Tarragon  (Artemisia dracunculus ‘Sativa’)

A French cuisine staple, tarragon takes an herb garden beyond the basic. French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus ‘Sativa’) is prized for its culinary value, tasting and smelling similar to anise or licorice. French tarragon is a little fussier to grow, preferring afternoon shade and regular water, but is the best in terms of flavor. Gardeners in more extreme climates may turn to Russian tarragon or Mexican tarragon, which are easier to grow but less flavorful. French tarragon must be grown from cuttings or seedlings.

Common Sage  (Salvia officinalis)

With its velvety gray leaves and soft mounding shape, sage softens garden edges and fills in planter corners. Sage requires little water once established and will produce all season long in full sun or partial shade in intense heat. Harvested leaves can be dried for later use. Be aware that not all Salvia is edible, so check before you eat. Sage can be grown from seed, though seedlings tend to produce better results.

Thyme  (Thymus vulgaris)

One of the most commonly called-for herbs, thyme is also one of the easiest to grow. Plant it in a container or allow it to spread as a ground cover. Provide sun, good drainage and not too much water, and this low-maintenance edible essential will stick around for many meals to come. Like sage, not all thyme species are edible, so check before you plant. Thyme can be grown from seed or seedlings.

Lavender  (Lavandula spp.)

Lavender tops many gardeners’ lists for ornamental value alone; resilience, drought tolerance and the fact that it’s a bee magnet only further illustrate why this sun-loving Mediterranean native is a great herb garden addition. Oh, and it’s a killer cocktail ingredient. Choose from a variety of widely available species, and plant it in containers or directly in the ground.

Rosemary  (Rosmarinus officinalis)

It can be easy to forget that this tough-as-nails perennial is also edible. Seen cascading over rocky hillsides or potted on sun-drenched patios, rosemary is a garden mainstay in warmer climates. In regions that see freezing temperatures, or for cooks who may want their herbs closer than outside the back door, rosemary grows well in containers and can easily be brought inside. One whiff of its earthy aroma and you can almost feel the heat of the Tuscan countryside. Seeds are available, but rosemary does best when grown from small plants.

A small yard can hold more than a patio, a few plants and some grass. With the right design and some clever moves to visually expand your space, you can add more features than you might imagine.

In many ways, renovating a small yard is no different than tackling a larger space — you’ll still collect inspiration photos, establish a budget and hire a professional, among many other things. However, given more limited square footage and the likelihood of closer neighbors, you’ll have to prioritize what you want, think about multiuse features and consider adding screening or noise-mitigating features.

If you’re ready to renovate your outdoor space, here is how to navigate the process through the planning and conceptual phases, and how to get from your current look to one that fits your life and style.

Assess Your Existing Outdoor Space

Walk around your yard and note what’s already there. You might even consider making a basic sketch of your space, including any existing features such as patios.

Take a look at what works well in your yard. That might include a patio or deck or any paths. Are there good views you’d like to preserve? Do you have plantings or other landscaping that you like?

Indicate any trouble spots. Do you need to screen an unpleasant view or provide privacy from the neighbors? Do you want protection from overly hot areas, whether with a shade structure or additional trees? Are there issues with drainage or slopes?

Check the weather patterns as well. Are there spots where the sun is blazingly hot for a good portion of the day, or ones that are always cool or cold? Is there a prevailing wind most afternoons, or do things stay relatively calm?

Think About What You Want

Make a list of the features you would want in your ideal yard. Envision your dream space, both how it will look and how it will function. Then ask yourself some questions.

•  Who will be using it regularly?
•  Do you want an area for sports and games?
•  Would you like a great entertainment spot?
•  Is there a feature you’ve always wanted, such as a pool or hot tub, a thriving vegetable garden or a swing designed for relaxing with a good book?

Once you’ve created your wish list, it’s time to prioritize. Think about day-to-day living and how you’ll use your space. Then divide your list into the must-haves and the nice-to-haves.

Consider possible compromises that could allow you to add a few more dream items to your space. A full-size outdoor kitchen may be out of reach, both in budget and size, but a grill with a countertop or bar area nearby might be doable. You may not have room for a pool where you could swim laps, but a plunge pool or spa may satisfy your wish for a place to relax in the water.

Finally, take a hard look at your budget and determine how much you can afford to spend on your landscape renovation. You can do some research to get an idea of costs, but the landscape pro you work with will be better able to give you a realistic picture of what you can achieve with your budget. You also can think about where you’d like to invest in your landscape renovation and where you might be able to save.

Gather And Refine Your Ideas

Now comes the fun part. Find photos of outdoor spaces you like. Mix photos of full landscapes with those showing small details you admire.

At this point, don’t feel like you need to stick to photos of only smaller spaces. Images of larger landscapes can help inspire your project too. Keep in mind, though, that specific features might not be possible to include, or certain results achieved, in limited square footage.

Once you have a good collection of photos, sort through what you’ve gathered and evaluate what you like about each landscape and detail. It will give you and your designer a clearer idea of the direction you want to go in.

Find A Professional

Got your ideas and a preliminary budget? Look for a design pro to help with your project. Both landscape architects and landscape designers can provide a complete design.

There are a number of ways you can work with a designer. A design consultation can get you started, or you can hire a designer to complete a concept design or create a site plan to take you further along. Finally, your designer may also oversee the installation.

Your project may require a landscape architect if there are grading and drainage issues, retaining or structural walls, or features such as a large driveway and turnaround. Other issues that may require a landscape architect include mitigations for wetlands or protected sites, or the possibility of floods, wildfires, mudslides or hurricanes.

You also can work with a landscape design-build firm, which can carry your project from the design phase through installation. A full-service landscape design firm also may be able to provide continued maintenance once the project wraps up.

Explore Small Yard Design Ideas

A number of design moves can make a small yard feel more expansive. Consider whether any of the following options could suit your overall look and style. 

* Choose a simple palette of a few colors for hardscape, furnishings and plantings that repeat throughout the space. This will draw your eye through the yard and make the space feel unified and larger.

* Lay a path at an angle to make a narrow yard feel wider.

* Install a circular path to draw the eye around the yard, rather than through it. Having the end of a path disappear behind a landscape feature gives the sense that there are more areas of the yard to explore.

* Create a destination with a patio or a deck sited halfway through or at the far end of a small yard, rather than right outside your door. It will draw people through the space.

* Highlight a view that’s beyond the borders of your space to expand the sense of spaciousness.

Designing two distinct zones, such as a dining space and a gathering spot or a play area, gives a sense of purpose to even the smallest space. If you’re dealing with a slope, consider a small retaining wall as a design feature that also adds separation.

Tip: Two is the optimum number of zones for a small yard. It provides separation without overwhelming the space.

Decide On The Concept Design

Taking your landscape from ideas to reality starts with developing the concept design. Use your ideas to create a preliminary plan. This two- or three-dimensional drawing will be to scale and will show the new layout and major design elements. At this point, it may be fairly simple or can be quite detailed, indicating materials and plantings.

Review all aspects of the plan, from large installations to small details, to be sure you understand how the final design will look in real life.

Some questions you’ll want to ask yourself and your design pro:

* How do the various components work together, and how you will access areas throughout the space?

* Are the walkways and drives large enough so they don’t feel cramped? Is there sufficient room for features, from grills to swimming pools, and for furnishings such as dining tables and lounges?

* Does the look fit your style and work with your architecture? Is the plant palette what you want for your garden?

* Can you imagine yourself in the space?

Choose Materials And Accessories

Throughout this process, you’ll have been saving inspiration photos and you’ll likely already have an idea how you want your space to look.

Now you’ll need to select the materials and accessories for your landscape. These include everything from hardscape and plants to extra features and finishing details.

As you finalize your plans, check out your options and see how they fit with your style, your design and your budget. Things to consider:

•  Hardscape options for decks, patios, paths and retaining walls
•  Structural materials for screens, pergolas, abors, fences and gates
•  Fireplace and fire pit 
•  Outdoor kitchen and grill
•  Lighting
•  Spa and small pool
•  Water feature
•  Storage areas
•  Plant choices such as ground cover, trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers 
•  Outdoor furnishings 

Finalize The Details

Once you’ve decided on a concept plan, it’s time to get all the pieces in place. Your plan will go through several revisions as it is polished. When you have made all the changes, you will have a final plan to follow.

One of the details that will need to be considered during this process is which permits and permissions you will need, if applicable. If you’re planning a major renovation, be sure that you determine the location of gas, power and plumbing lines. These all should be carefully marked.

A knowledgeable professional will be able to guide this portion of the process, as he or she will be familiar with local planning departments, permit requirements and any other logistical issues you’ll need to address.

Hire A Landscape Contractor

If you don’t already have a licensed landscape contractor for your project, and you want one to do the installation. You’ll want to interview potential contractors and give them the scope of work, even if the plans aren’t final. Designers often can recommend contractors they’ve successfully worked with in the past. Interview at least three to get a good idea of your options.

When looking for a contractor, follow the same process as for choosing a landscape architect or designer. Also ask about insurance and bonds for any subcontractors, as well as about a contact person for questions and problems that may arise.

Plan Construction and Timeline

Before work begins, familiarize yourself with how the project should unfold and how long it will take from start to finish. Think about the disruption to your yard and access to your home, as well as about construction hours; staging areas for materials; outside contractors for electrical, plumbing and irrigation systems; and who will be your contact person for questions or problems.

You’ll also want to be aware of possible setbacks that may cause the timeline to change. These may range from weather delays to subcontractor availability to supply chain issues. Ask about backup plans if problems arise.

If you are saving part of your landscape, especially trees or bushes, ensure that those areas are marked and protected from damage, especially during demolition. 

Make A Post-Completion List

After the paving has been laid, the lighting has been installed, the plantings have been put in place and the finishing touches have been added, walk through your yard and note anything that is still unfinished. Provide the person responsible for correcting any mistakes with a list of items that need to be fixed and ask for a final finish date.

Also, you’ll want to think about and plan for maintenance. The hardscape materials and plantings will need ongoing care. Some landscape design and landscape construction companies provide maintenance services, which may be part of your service agreement with the pro. You also can ask your designer or contractor for maintenance recommendations or contacts.

The living room is one of the most heavily used, multifunctional spaces in a house. It’s commonly used for movie nights, playdates, arts & crafts, book clubs, homework, naps and more. This makes it a difficult room to keep organized and clutter free.

When tackling an organizing project you need to prioritize storage for the activity of highest need. You may consider all that takes place in your living room as high priority. To keep from getting overwhelmed, focus on creating systems that will be easy for you and your family to follow and maintain. 

What to Do Before You Start

Remove items that don’t belong in your living room and return them to their proper place in the house. Then take some time to decide what will remain and what you may want to declutter.

Determine where things will go. Most organizing projects start with planning how you want to use your space and then continue with decluttering items you don’t want or need. Consider the activities that will take place in this room. As you clean up, you’ll discover what will fit and where to store it.

Consider storing certain categories of items in another part of the house if your space is limited. For example, kids’ art supplies can take up a lot of room but are often easily corralled in containers. Perhaps these containers can live in the garage or a side closet and be pulled out as needed.

Reduce visual and physical clutter. As a general guideline to paring down, assess what you have, determine what you need or use, dispose of the excess, donate, recycle or trash and then decide on a storage method and home for each category.

You may come across items you don’t use but can’t part with, categorize these items as “sentimental” and store them away from your main space. If they’re not items you use regularly.

Managing Common Living Room Items

Blankets And Throws 

If you like to keep extra blankets handy for friends and family, store them in a lidded container in another location to be retrieved as needed. This will not only keep your entertaining blankets clean but also free up space in your living room.

Children’s Toys And Art Supplies 

Children’s toys and art supplies accumulate quickly, and young children change quickly. Get rid of the items they’ve outgrown.

Consider What Your Child Uses Now

If you have more than you need for the foreseeable future, you may want to donate the extras to someone in need. To keep your living room clutter-free, try categorizing and sorting the remaining toys and art supplies into bins, keeping only a few accessible at a time and rotating in other boxes as necessary.

Small Decor 

Be sure the decor in your living room brings you visual joy. If you have too much, you may not be able to appreciate or even remember what you have displayed. Aim to give each piece its own personal space. Remove the items you no longer love. If you still have more than you prefer, consider storing some to be switched out throughout the year.

Books And Magazines 

It can be hard to let go of reading material. However, your space is too valuable to store books that you may or may not get around to reading. Similarly, if you can’t keep up with the influx of magazines, you may want to keep only the two or three most recent issues to prevent old ones from piling up.

Plants 

Plants can give a space color, personality and life. The opposite can be true if your houseplants aren’t thriving or well taken care of. Make sure your living room offers the right growing environment for the plants you want to keep there. Relocate plants that aren’t doing well to a more suitable location.

Basic Improvements

Storage bins come in a variety of materials — bamboo, plastic, cardboard — and may work well for items you’ve decided to rotate in. If you have storage consoles or built-in cabinets, the bins can be hidden out of sight until ready for use. If you don’t have much storage space and don’t rotate items in too often, consider storing these containers in a different location.

Storage solutions can also serve as room decor. A large woven basket adds function as well as a warm, welcoming feel to the room.

Arranging your framed photos in a gallery wall or on shelves can help keep surfaces clear and create less clutter. Using frames in the same material and color will give the wall a sleek, cohesive look, while an eclectic variety of frames will feel casual and fun.

Sometimes temporary additional storage may be advantageous. If necessary, you may want to consider adding a small bookshelf, toy chest or toy organizer to keep your systems manageable and easy for your family members to maintain.

Midrange Solutions

Consider investment furniture pieces if you need permanent additional storage. A storage cabinet, armoire or media console can provide a lot of extra space. To make the most of any piece you purchase, adjust the shelves, if that’s an option, to suit your needs. Also measure the interior and using storage containers or bins that fit well. While a console or cabinet will offer extra storage space, careful space planning can ensure it doesn’t become a hidden dumping ground for miscellaneous items.

Multipurpose furniture can be a great compromise between form and function. Blankets might stow away nicely in a storage ottoman instead of in a large basket. Remotes and chargers could find a home in a coffee table with drawers. A lift-top coffee table can hide magazines and children’s art supplies.

Installing a modular shelf system in an unused or repurposed closet may help keep your living room clutter-free. If you decide to go this route, be sure to set up the closet so that returning each item to its place is fast and easy. Try to avoid stacking bins, as the extra step of moving the top bin to access the bottom bin may be a deterrent to putting things away.

Deluxe Improvements

A living room overhaul is an opportune time to address your storage needs. For custom-built furniture, have specific containers or baskets in mind or on hand to build around, instead of vice versa. The baskets’ contents can change over time as the family’s needs evolve.

Built-in window seats can increase living room storage. Before selecting the type of storage for a window seat, consider what you generally plan to store there and determine which method of storage — cabinets with doors, drawers or lift-top — would work best for you.

Work with a professional to see if there are any spaces around your living room that could be opened up for more storage, such as underneath a staircase.

If your plans include built-in bookshelves, consider if you want to cover part of the shelves with cabinet doors, as you may have some storage items you don’t want to be visible.

With a little creativity and planning, you can achieve a functional and beautifully organized living room on nearly any budget.

Freshening your house with a deep spring-cleaning right now can feel really good. If you’re ready to go beyond the basic vacuum-and-mop weekly clean, pick and choose from these deep-cleaning tasks, and get ready to enjoy your sparkling clean house.

Light Fixtures and Lamps

Ceiling-mounted light fixtures, fans and table lamps can accumulate an amazing amount of dust over time — which can dull the surface and block light. Get your light fixtures gleaming with a soft microfiber cloth or duster.

Doors, Knobs and Handles

It should take only a few minutes to go around the house giving knobs and handles a quick swipe with the cleaning product of your choice, but this little task can really make your space look cleaner. Give the front door some extra love by cleaning it inside and out with warm, soapy water on a well-wrung-out soft sponge, and dry it with a soft cloth.

Wall Scuffs and Dings

Using a damp, soft cloth and a bit of dish soap, or a product like Magic Eraser, swipe off scuff marks. Fill any dings in the wall and touch up with paint.

Tops of Window Frames

The baseboards are more likely to get cleaned during a cleaning spree, but what about the higher spots? Get out the stepladder and carefully get to work wiping away built-up dust and grime from the tops of window frames and upper moldings.

Bookshelves

Shelves full of books and decorative objects can become quite dusty. Working shelf by shelf, remove the objects from one section, dust and return them. For bonus points, declutter your books and decor as you go.

Underneath Area Rugs

Move the furniture aside, roll up the rug and rug pad, and vacuum underneath. It sounds like a lot of work, but when you see what’s under there, you might be inspired to do this more frequently!

Picture Frames And Mirrors

Clean the glass fronts of picture frames and mirrors, and wipe away dust from the frames. Don’t spray picture frames, since liquid can potentially get in and damage the photo or artwork; use a barely dampened glass-cleaning cloth instead.

Upholstered Furniture

Get out the vacuum attachments and vacuum upholstered furniture, including under and between cushions. Rotate sofa cushions when possible for more even wear.

Oven And Range Hood

If you want to avoid oven cleaners, a thick paste of baking soda and water applied and left on overnight can do the trick — wipe it off with hot water the next day. Grease and dust tend to accumulate on the range hood. Stand on a step stool so you can see what you’re doing, and clear away the gunk using warm, soapy water.

Small Appliances

Spiffing up your microwave, toaster, blender and mixer doesn’t take long at all, but the cumulative effect of gleaming small appliances will make your kitchen really shine.

Grout

Light-colored grout looking icky? Remove grout discoloration and stains by scrubbing with oxygenated bleach.

Inside Kitchen Drawers

Never mind how the crumbs got in there; the important thing is to give your drawers a fresh start now. Remove everything, wipe out the drawers and return the items.

Food Storage Jars

Storing dry goods in sealed storage containers can help them stay fresh longer and prevent bug problems. But that doesn’t mean the stuff in your jars will never go bad. Inspect the contents of your canisters for freshness, check expiration dates and toss old or stale food. In the future, remove the last bits of food, for instance, flour before filling the canister with fresh food, then put the old bit back on top where it will get used up first.

Underneath Beds And Behind Furniture

Instead of sticking with the easy-to-reach spots when you vacuum this time, really get in there and hit the hidden, tucked-away places where dust goes to hide. Any allergy sufferers in your household will be grateful for the extra effort!

Laundry Room Dust

What is it about the laundry room? The areas on top of and around the washer and dryer tend to be some of the dustiest in the house. Vacuum around the appliances and wipe down the surfaces.

Vents And Hoses

If you don’t want to get in there and clean out your dryer hose yourself, hire a pro to do it for you. Whichever method you choose, it is important to get it done, because lint buildup inside your dryer and hose can potentially cause a fire.

Kids’ Toys

Little ones — especially toddlers who are still exploring the world by putting things in their mouths — can benefit from regular cleaning of toys, particularly when colds are going around. Hard plastic toys can get dunked in warm, soapy water, kids usually enjoy helping with this; most soft toys can handle a gentle wash in the machine but be sure to check labels first. “Loveys” and special stuffed animals should be hand washed and air dried, just to be on the safe side.

Shower and Tub Walls

It’s natural to focus more on the tub floor when doing a light cleaning of the bathroom, but the walls can get just as much soap scum buildup. To maximize the cleaning power of whatever product you like to use, leave it on for at least 10 minutes before scrubbing.

Bathroom Shelves

Shampoo, lotions and soaps can leak onto shelves in the medicine cabinet and beneath the sink. Give your bathroom a fresh start by removing all products, wiping down the shelves and returning only the items you use.

Tech

Computer screens and flat-screen TVs can get spotty. Pick up a cleaning spray or wipes designed specifically for monitors, and give all your screens a cleaning. Use a can of compressed air to clean crumbs out of your keyboard.