Better Homes and Gardens April 2022

BOLTS FROM THE BLUE Paint isn’t permanent—though sometimes it feels like it is if you factor in costs and the work. That’s why figuring out a new color scheme for a room or an entire house can leave us paralyzed with indecision. Creating a harmonious palette in a vacuum is challenging, so many of us play it safe with shades of white-on-white or neutrals. But even then, which white? What counts as a neutral? How do I best branch out to pastels or primaries? I have a terrible time coming up with a color scheme on command—like when you’re stumped for a word and the more you try to ferret it out, the more blank your head feels—so I don’t even try. Instead, I move on and think about or do something…

OUTDOOR TRENDS Deck out your yard with smart ideas for designing a front yard made for socializing, growing a pollinator-friendly garden, and planting edible containers for the patio. BHG.com/GardeningTrends [SWEEPSTAKES] Win $25,000 to create your dream backyard. Enter at BHG.com/25kBackyard for a chance to win. Details below. Home Fix-Ups to Do Now Spring is prime time to tackle items on your to-do list. Our guide gives you info on DIY projects such as starting a kitchen remodel, power-washing surfaces, and updating windows or lighting. BHG.com/SpringUpdates Color Confidence presented by Sherwin-Williams Create a fresh, soothing space with the Sherwin-Williams 2022 Color of the Year, Evergreen Fog SW 9130. Try it out with color chips and peel & stick samples. swsamples.com Tune in to Then & Now Join us in the BH&G studios for a good-natured recipe throwdown on our new YouTube video…

SOW GOOD Get a bulk bag of native seeds. Package up a handful and pass ’em out. How? Fold up that supermarket circular or reuse old envelopes. 30 DAY CHALLENGE April 1–30: Join Team BH&G at earthmonth.ecochallenge.org. You’ll get ideas for how (and why) to shift to more Earth-friendly habits and reminders to keep you motivated. It doesn’t have to be official. Just take ownership of your favorite walking routes and tidy up as you rove. 22 April An Earth Day challenge: Go the day (or the whole week!) waste-free. What you can’t recycle or reuse, set aside to see how much you regularly discard. Surprised? Share and Share Alike Enter the circular economy with a friendly swap meet. The key to enthusiastic participation? Choose a category that matters to your pals. Movie Night! A low-stakes way to get in the…

Most of us think we know how to recycle, but our bins say otherwise. In the U.S., just 32% of items that can be recycled end up in the proper bin. The EPA’s goal is 50% by 2030. Here’s info to help us get there. Plastic Bottles Anything that has a neck for a screw-on lid is likely recyclable, says Mitch Hedlund, executive director of Recycle Across America. But double-check your town’s rules. Most recycle #1 and #2 plastics (find the number in the little triangle on the bottle). But there are seven total numbered plastics, and rules vary widely. Recycling your #5 yogurt container in a city that takes only #1s and #2s does more harm than good. Caps? Screw them on unless the label or your town says otherwise. Cardboard Gooey cheese…

If you’re new to rain capture, here’s what to know. ● SIZE Standard barrel sizes: 50, 65, and 80 gallons. ● HARDWARE We like a sturdy solid-brass spigot for filling up watering cans. Placement should be low on the barrel but allow for easy can clearance. ● DRAINAGE Check for a hose-accessible drain placed near the bottom of the barrel to easily access every drop of water (remember to empty it before first freeze). ● LID You’ll want a tight-fitting screen lid to keep out mosquitos and debris—and curious pets and kids. ● OVERFLOW Look for an overflow spout or hose near the top of your barrel to redirect excess water away from your foundation. It can be added later as a basic hose-connected diverter kit, but it’s nice to start with one. The smaller…

[BY THE NUMBERS] Trees 1923 “Surely, we should try to replace what we have used. Let us plant more trees this spring. They are more expressive of American ideals than the eagle that adorns our crest.” 1927 Mark family births, deaths, or big events by planting a new tree. “It will deepen the family’s love for home surroundings,” we said then. No yard? Gift trees to national forests through thetreesremember.com. 1989 “It’s better to plant a tree than to curse the smog.” Click here for our updated tree-planting guide. [ALL TOGETHER NOW] A SLIGHT MISTAKE “Three little children across the way, Were hard at work on Arbor Day, Their spade was sharp, And the soil was fine, The tree was a dear little baby Pine. But it never will grow, For oh, dear me, They have…