For months, industry experts have kept a close barometer on the fashion world, trade shows and other key indicators to help forecast home decor trends for the coming year.  And the weather report is in.  Within a prevailing climate of personalization, the outlook is both spirited and sassy, serene and stylish.

The next time your oven overheats or your washing machine wilts, don't call the repairman. Think about what happened last time you did that.

Each year, house fires claim the lives of more than 4,000 adults and children across the country. Another 20,000 suffer life-altering injuries. Sadly, many of these victims (about 57 percent) had functioning smoke alarms in their homes.

The rising cost of fuel is going to hit a lot of Americans hard this summer.  According to the motor club AAA, gas prices are 18 percent higher now than they were this time last year -- and recent reports indicate we can expect them to go up another 25 cents per gallon by the end of the summer.

Unless you built your home in the desert, chances are you need to think about your rain gutters. Ignore them for long, and you'll get a reminder of why water is considered the most powerful element on Earth.

In-ground backyard pools are a great addition to any home. They not only add a focal point to your yard, and increase your resale value, they also keep the entire family entertained. What better way to spend a leisurely weekend afternoon than lounging by the pool with the kids?

Summer is the season of the "do-it-yourselfer." Handy homeowners come into their own as the weather warms and they can embark on all those home improvement and maintenance tasks that languished all winter. Painting tops the list for many homeowners; it not only protects your interiors, painting is a great way to liven things up.

Chances are you'd rather sit on your deck and drink an iced tea instead of spending a weekend refinishing it. But the fact is that regular maintenance of your deck will help it last longer and look better. To get the best results, make sure you choose the right products.

Most homeowners know seasonal maintenance is a must. Spring is the perfect time for routine maintenance checks on many areas of your home. But how do you decide what needs to be done, and in what priority?

Feel like you're trapped in your own house?  Unable to navigate through a constantly growing sea of stuff? Whether it's clothes, paperwork, tech toys, sports gear, hobby tools - or all of the above and more - our possessions need a place of their own, so our homes and our lives are easier to manage.