April 2014

Live in Color

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iPad edition: Bonus videos

Win $25,000 to Add Color to Your Home

Blog we love

COOKING COUPLE Maria and Josh Lichty have always loved cooking together, so the highest priority for their 2008 wedding was the food. Because no caterer stood out to them, they made all the food themselves.

Curb appeal made easy

PAINTERLY PARTY

Gather your girlfriends, grab some paint supplies, and get to work creating a masterpiece. The bonus? Guests go home with one-of-a-kind artwork to remember the day.

The real deal

Swatch out

Spread the word

Swap meet

InstaFresh

Pass the mic

OVER EASY

Dish Fulfillment

ST. LOUIS

The city continues to be a gateway for unique ideas and tasty trends.

Tune In

Meet: Ophira Eisenberg

Check out these sound ways to pump up your listening pleasure.

Tech it out

Check out these sound ways to pump up your listening pleasure.

Perfect pair

Grays and blues set the tone for a Texas cottage that's a little bit modern, a little bit traditional.

Life in bloom

In home and in fashion, color is taking a turn, and the mood is energetic, fresh, and sophisticated. Blues are key, warmed by nature's green, yellow, and lavender. Better Homes and Gardens translates this inspiration into a palette for 2014 that's pretty, comfortable, and truly livable.

Playing with color

Get creative with your combos and have a little fun! Our pros reveal their favorite mixes-- and tell you how to use them in your home.

Palette pointers

Her long-term devotion to white walls, notwithstanding, Dimitra Anderson spices things up with juicy colors, like tangerine and cornflower blue, that look even better together.

10 things to love All Decked Out

A family put a new roof over their heads by turning their back deck into a coastal-inspired covered porch.

Frame Work

Spot-On Order

Carve out a corner-- or slice of counter-- for an on-the-fly workstation. It's perfect for sorting mail, jotting notes, or planning appointments.

Fresh greens

A lush tapestry of chartreuse turns a once-neglected driveway into a leafy urban oasis.

Spice of Life

Easy to grow, pretty to look at, delicious to eat-- chile peppers add zip to your garden and your dinner table.

Crazy for Color

The Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden manager shares her know-how for creating a rich palette in your border.

RAINBOW CROPS

Containers 101

Compact spring shrubs

IN ONE THE PINK

To-do list

April is the ideal time to add trees and shrubs to your landscape. Bigger is not always better. Smaller specimens often catch up to larger ones within a year or two.

The best of everything

Every year, more than 80,000 consumers take part in our Best New Product Awards, voting their top picks in four categories: household, food, beauty, and health. Get the goods on some of our favorites here.

Test drive: DietBet

When I stepped on the scale last fall to find myself 8 pounds heavier, I decided to try DietBet (dietbet.com), a site where you put down money in a wager that you'll lose weight.

Game changer: Huggable Hangers

Allergy relief: Timing is everything

A HEALTHIER WAY TO... Paint a room

Jog bras

Family time: Travel with purpose

Money matters: Surprising tax deductions

Do one thing better Pack a Suitcase

Fit everything you need into your carry-on and sail through security with these pro tips and products.

The good kid project Community Spirit

Where do I fit in? That's the big question children grapple with as they figure out who they are and who they want to be. A strong sense of community is key to this process, especially because studies show that a feeling of belonging boosts self-esteem, problem-solving and social skills, and even academic performance. An important first step: making your child feel like a valued member of her very first community-- your family. When your children know you trust them, they're more likely to make good decisions.

Get crafty Flowers Forward

Volunteer Vacations

Do good on your next getaway! Travel to one of these four destinations to lend a hand-- and lift your family's spirits to a whole new level.

NEW! Buddleia InSpired Violet

Shrimp

Make these protein-packed crustaceans the stars of your eat-well strategy. They're healthier than you think!

I Did It!