Advice Archive | October 2025 | Homes and Gardens

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October 20th
- Experts Reveal 5 Edible Indoor Plants to Grow for Aesthetics and Flavor – And No, They're Not All Herbs
- 4 Non-Toxic, Zero-Waste Ways an Olfactory Artist and Perfumer Scents Her Home for Fall – from Danish Traditions and Gourmand Effects, to Bringing Nature Indoors
- 7 Things Designers Say You Should Never Put on Your Bathroom Vanity
- The Fastest Cleaning Trick Ever to Make Your Home Smell Like Fall – I'm Using it on my Carpets, Curtains, Mattresses, and Sofas to get my Home Festive-Guest-Ready
October 19th
- Professional Chefs Urge Homeowners to Prep these 5 Cooking Appliances Before Hosting – There's Still Time in October to Apply Their Quick Tests
- 'I Want to Come Home to Good Vibes' – Justina Blakeney Knows How to Create Mood-Boosting Decor That Feels as Joyful as It Looks
- Landscape Designers Reveal 4 Key Ways They Prep Their Gardens In October – You Won't Want To Skip These Tasks
- My Ritual: 'Having That Balance Between a Lively, Open Home and a Private Escape for Reflection Gives me Both Comfort and Energy' – Founder of Global Fashion Brand, Penelope Chilvers, on Where She Finds Sanctuary
- Fall Is an Ideal Time to Plant Fruit Trees – Here are 7 to Add This Season for Bountiful Homegrown Harvests for Years to Come
- 5 Stylish Ways Designers Store Plates To Keep Your Drying Rack Clutter-Free
- 3 Germ Hot Spots Professional Cleaners Urge Homeowners to Sanitize Before Turning on the Heating
October 18th
- Can You Plant Lavender In The Fall? These Do's and Don'ts Will Prevent You From Losing Plants Unnecessarily
- A Designer Told Me a Quick and Chic Curtain Trick That Stops Drafts Instantly – and it Won't Ruin Your Decor
- I Asked Experts How I Can Quickly Make My Yard Wildlife-Friendly Before The Frosts Hit, and They All Said to Prioritize This 1 Thing
- 5 Quick and Easy Fall Odor-Busting Curtain and Upholstery Tips – They Won’t Ruin Your Fabric and Holiday Guests Will Thank You
- Water-Wise Gardening in 2026 – These 3 Sustainable Trends Will Help Gardeners Conserve Precious Natural Resources And Keep Plants Flourishing
- 'It's Nature's Way of Signaling Calm' – Evening Scenting is a Relaxing New Fall Trend I'm Fully Embracing This Fall
October 17th
- How Rugs Really Affect Drafts – And the Smarter Way Pros Say Will Keep Your Home Warm in November
- At Anna's Table: As Soon as You Have Procured a Fresh, Ripe Fig, Pop it into Your Mouth Immediately and Savor the Honeyed Sweetness – This, for me, is the Definition of Simple Luxury
- Homeowners Urged to Undertake This Crucial Cleaning Job Before November 1 to Avoid Leaks – And the Must-have Item to Get the Job Done Properly
- How to Host an Elegant Afternoon Tea With a Modern Twist – 5 Expert Steps to a Timelessly Chic Event
- How to Care For Astilbe in the Fall to Keep Plants Healthy and Have Great Displays Year After Year
- ‘Keep the Look Tailored and Welcoming’ – 5 Things Interior Designers Quietly Strip from Living Rooms in November to Prepare for Hosting Season
- I Always Follow These 3 Steps to Overwinter My Rosemary – It's the Easiest Way to Keep It Productive in Winter
- 'A Few Passes Bring Them Back to Razor-Sharp' – Professional Chefs Reveal the 3 Things They Use to Sharpen Knives Easily for Holiday Carving
October 16th
- How To Grow a Walnut Tree from Seed – 5 Steps to Grow Your Own Nut Harvest
- 5 Fall Laundry Mistakes That Make Everything from Bed Linen to Clothes Smell Damp – And What to do About It
- The Kitchen Issue
- 6 Fall Scents I'm Shopping From Net-a-Porter – Elevate Your Home and Set the Mood for Holiday Hosting This Season
- This Is the One Kitchen Layout Experts Can’t Stop Recommending Right Now – And It's Surprisingly Perfect for Small Spaces
- 7 Of The Best Fall Mulching Materials – These Are All Free and Eco-Friendly
- How to Get the Look of 2026’s Top 3 Kitchen Trends – According to the Designers Who Shaped Them
- Boost your Radiator’s Heating with this Simple Bathroom Item – It Only Takes Seconds, but you Must Avoid this Simple Mistake
- The Kitchen Lighting 'Rule Of 3' Will Instantly Make Your Space Look Expensive – And Designers Swear By It For A Perfectly Layered Scheme
- I See Light as a Tangible Material, and By Paying Attention to It, I Can Shape and Elevate Every Corner of My Home
- This is the One Material Designers Are Choosing Over Marble in 2026
October 15th
- My Grandma Taught Me to Do This 1 Kid's Room Decluttering Trick in October that Meant Post-Christmas Clothes and Toy Storage was Always a Breeze – Now I'm Passing it On
- I Tried 3 Genius ‘High-Impact’ Fixes to Refresh then Protect my Rugs and Carpets from Muddy Winter Boots – I'm Using them Again into 2026
- A Designer's Guide to Entertaining: 'An Interlude, Not a Spectacle. A Pause Worth Protecting' – Designer Bryan Graybill on the Lost Art of Afternoon Tea
- This Soundbar Placement Mistake is Ruining Your Audio – Sound Pros Reveal the Simple Secret to Movie-Theater Quality at Home
- It’ll be Like Halloween Never Happened – A Spookily Efficient, No-Effort Mess Hack Cleaners Swear by to Save Floors from Mud, Glitter, and Candy
- You Can Overwinter Mandevilla in These 2 Ways To Enjoy Their Vivid Tropical Blooms Year After Year
- 3 Ways to Use Feng Shui Lighting for Cozy Autumn Evenings – Invite Ambience and Positivity Indoors This November
October 14th
- 5 Things Pro Cleaners Recommend Cleaning with Steel Wool – Nothing Else Does the Job as Well
- I Tried This Method of Rainwater Harvesting Without a Gutter and It Instantly Cut My Water Bill – Plus 2 Other Methods For Low Effort Water Collection
- Hitting This Button on Your Dryer Could Shave $$s Off Your Energy Bills This Winter
- 5 of the Best Cut-and-Come-Again Lettuce Varieties – All Recommended By Experienced Growers
- You Don’t Need Plastic to Keep Fall Produce Fresh – These 5 Storage Tricks Will Keep Your Veggies Crisp and Flavorful
- I Asked Chefs How they Organize Cookware for the Holidays – These are 4 Tricks and Storage Buys They can't Live Without
October 13th
- I've Just Found the Chicest $69 Smart Lock That Doesn't Scream Tech – It's Easy to Install and Renter-Friendly, Too
- I Asked a Heating Expert for 1 Simple October Fix to Stop Pipes Freezing – He Swears by this $25 Buy to Save you $100s Through Winter
- When and How to Transplant Lily of the Valley to Prevent Overcrowded and Underperforming Clumps
- My Case for Color – How to Overcome Your Fears and Use Paint with Designer Confidence
- The 7 Essential Fall Cleaning Jobs Everyone Forgets to do Before the Holidays (When it’s Too Late)
- The Fall Wardrobe Swap – 5 Pro Tips to Streamline and Tidy Your Closet for the Colder Months
- When is it Too Late to Dethatch Your Lawn? Turf Experts Reveal the Tell-Tale Signs That You've Missed the Window
- Houseplant Experts Warn Neglecting These 3 Fall Jobs Could Lead to the Demise of Your Indoor Plants – Luckily, They Take Minutes to do
October 12th
- Homeowners Urged to Put Vinegar Down the Drain this October to Combat this Weather-Related Issue
- 7 Tender Plants to Overwinter in October – Lift These Plants Before a Hard Frost to Guarantee Flowers Next Year
- What did the most on-trend kitchens look like 10 years ago? You won't believe how much has changed in a decade
- Wildlife Experts Urge Gardeners Not to Over-Tidy Yards This Fall – Discover the Vital Debris to Provide Shelter for Hibernating Frogs, Insects, and Reptiles
- Setting Up 'Launch Pads' by the Front Door is This Expert's Easy Fix for Banishing The Morning Rush for Keys and Coats
- 5 Easy Kitchen Prep Tips Chefs and Pro Organizers Always use to get Ready for the Holidays with Less Stress, Including 'Leftover Zones'
October 11th
- I asked 3 Pro Organizers What They Use to Store Away Summer Shoes and clothes – Their 7 Must-Haves Are So Helpful
- 7 Crops to Harvest in October – For Delicious Homegrown Additions to Hearty Fall Meals
- As a horticulturalist, I predict food forests are going to be the sustainable gardening trend of 2026
- October is a crucial month for lawn care, but it's not one size fits all – the dos and don'ts according to your hardiness zone
- I'm Obsessed With The Vintage Kitchenware Trend – It Brings A Nostalgic And Storied Feel To Cooking And Entertaining Spaces, And I'm Getting In On It With These Authentic Buys
- I Tried the Easy Lunch Break Decluttering Method to Blast Through My Packed Closet for my Big Fall Switch – Start Monday to be Done by the Weekend
- 'Eat-in areas' are making a much-welcomed comeback – and designers say these compact dining spaces are perfect for even the smallest kitchens
- 3 Fall Feng Shui Essentials to Make Your Home Feel Cozier Instantly – Interior Therapists Swear These Will Help You Relax With Ease
October 10th
- 'It’s Like Rotating Your Closet, But For Your Food': This Quick Fall Pantry Reset Will Help Beat the Panic Of Hosting and Get You Holiday-Ready in 5 Steps
- How to winterize raspberries in 5 easy steps – plus the exact kit you need for great harvests of fruit year after year
- Spraying this easy DIY essential oil spray around your windows in October will deter spiders – they hate the smell
- This next-gen air purifier senses when you enter a room, instantly improving both air quality and comfort
- Your home is crying out for a non-toxic fall refresh! 5 seasonal cleaning tasks pros tackle without harsh chemicals
- Pollinator strips are on our wish list for a wildlife-friendly garden in 2026 – landscaping experts share tips on how to create an intentional wild space
- 3 houseplants anyone can grow from seed – experts tips on creating a homegrown indoor jungle
- The 'difference between life and death' – home maintenance experts reveal 3 smoke alarm tests you must do in October
October 9th
- Learn from my 3 cleaning regrets – these are the tasks I wasted my time on, and what I should have focused on instead to shave hours off my chores
- Floating vanities are 2026's single biggest bathroom furniture trend – and they're perfect for small spaces. Here's why
- How I Host: A cozy fall feast with Clodagh McKenna
- Petals & Roots: This is the secret to perfectly toned, stylish floral arrangements – our expert florist shares everything you need to know about color washing with flowers
- These $11 aromatic, non-toxic 'blocks from heaven' are a natural secret weapon against moths this fall – shoppers love the 'great scent'
- If Prime Day left you feeling deflated, don't panic, as the Our Place sale just got sizzling – here are 6 non-toxic pieces I recommend shopping as a pro cookware reviewer
- My yard is overrun with squirrels, so I'm planting these 5 bulbs I know they won't eat to guarantee a bloom-filled spring garden
- Burn lavender for the instant moth-deterrent your home needs this fall to protect pantries and closets – pest pros reveals how to ensure lasting results
- Some home design decisions simply don’t matter – here’s what to stop stressing over and where to focus your energy instead
- The 5 easiest pest control plays to save your fall harvest from being nibbled before you even get to pick it
- This stylish, energy-saving ‘little powerhouse’ will help you stay warm for just $1 a day – save $$s and keep rooms you use cozy without ugly heaters
October 8th
- This affordable ceramic air fryer is cheaper than takeout (and it just might help you feel healthier, too)
- This multi-change tool transformed my gardening game – you can have all the kit you need without a big shed
- I've always thought grow lights were ugly, but these 9 make for chic decor and encourage healthy houseplant growth – plus they're all hugely discounted on Amazon, but not for long
- I'm a chef and this XL non-toxic air fryer cooks an entire tray of roast potatoes better than my oven – it's my Thanksgiving secret weapon, plus it's 43% off today
October 7th
- I'm giving my bedroom the luxury hotel treatment with this organic, breathable, and super soft bedding that actually improves with washing – it's 20% off with Prime Big Deals
- An energy expert revealed that I could slash $100s off my winter energy bills with this $17 renter-friendly draft destroyer – it's gone straight in my cart
- I'm a tall gardener and a long handled hoe is the one weeding essential I can't get through October without – it prevents pain so I can garden in comfort for longer
- 5 pre-hosting essentials pro home experts always tell their clients to replace during Prime Day for the best value ahead of the holiday season
October 6th
- Celebrate the best of the season's produce and flavor with this wonderfully comforting fall menu
- 3 easy seasonal energy shifts for your home – Feng shui pros reveal how to tweak your wealth, career, and health corners for a prosperous fall
- 5 of the hottest peppers to grow for fiery homegrown harvests – perfect for those who like it hot
- Rust is the color I keep reaching for in interiors – here’s why it always works
- I’m not waiting for Black Friday, I’m buying my Christmas tree in October – these early Prime Day deals are too good to miss
- 11 dirty things I always notice in people's kitchens during hosting season as a pro cleaner – plus, how to quickly get on top of them
- How to winterize coneflowers in 5 simple steps – for decades of perennial beauty
- 'Gently does it' – locksmiths share the key to easily fixing a frozen lock yourself this winter, and when to leave it well alone
- Symbolising rebirth and hope, peace lilies are the ultimate houseplant for bringing renewal to your home this fall – we reveal their deeper meaning
- Packed with seasonal goodness and naturally colorful, this is the simplest of side dishes to serve as part of a fall feast
- These are the 10 ways to make your small apartment look more expensive, tried and tested by interior designers
- Fire experts love this surprisingly effective and 'environmentally friendly' pantry staple for easily putting out flames in your fireplace this cozy season
October 5th
- These 5 plants are guaranteed to wow as they unexpectedly paint your yard in fiery hues in fall – and we have expert tips on how to grow them
- Think before you prune in October – here are 7 plants you should never cut until spring
- Experts warn that failing to clean this nasty part of your fridge daily will 'transfer oils, dirt, and bacteria' all over your home during hosting season
- For a lighter, yet flavor-packed seasonal dessert, you'll want to bookmark this recipe for easy fall hosting
- How to stop condensation on windows overnight this winter – 10 expert-approved ways to win this annoying cold-weather battle
- An 'amazing tool I never knew I needed' – this $22 set makes cleaning your coffee grinder quick and easy
- The art of the autumn border – how to create fall color, texture and movement that perfectly encapsulates the season
October 4th
- This wonderfully crisp and fragrant tart is a true celebration of the season in dessert form – you'll struggle to beat it for fall hosting
- Did you know the best antique finds can depend on where you live? Here's what experts say to look out for – and where
- This is when to make your final mow of the year before winter sets in – for the healthiest lawn next spring
- This $18 holder instantly stops annoying sheets from slipping off in the middle of the night – happy shoppers say they're a 'total game changer' for undisturbed sleep
- October is the ideal time for this 1 pruning task that can help your trees survive winter
- Save time and easily tick off your fall to-do list! My military father taught me task stacking as a child – now my chores take barely any time
- October is bulb planting prime time – gardening experts say to get these 7 bulbs in the ground now for an explosion of spring color
- This super simple seasonal cocktail is refreshing, fruity and elegant – it's my new go-to for fall hosting
- I picked just 33 items of clothing to use for the next 3 months – it’s totally transformed how I'll use my small closet space in winter
- If you have a small kitchen, designers urge you to make this one key design decision
October 3rd
- Experts swear by this one fall compost boost – it supercharges soil, speeds up decomposition, and keeps compost active in winter
- I predict a sell-out! With four furry dogs at home, this Miele is the only vacuum cleaner I swear by – and it's now reduced by $209
- 11 items cluttering your kitchen drawers that you need to get rid of before Thanksgiving hosting – pros say it will make cooking easier
- October is the best time to control asparagus beetle – discover the 1 job to do this month that can make a big impact
- The ultimate Thanksgiving checklist you'll return to in 2026 – practical room-by-room pre-hosting tricks to stave off seasonal stress and hosting chaos
- The ultimate guide on how to prevent and get rid of mold and mildew in your home – expert-approved tips for every room and surface
- On the grill or in the oven, this seasonal roasted pumpkin is a colorful and hearty addition to fall mains
- Composting made stylish – the chicest ways to compost without ruining your yard this fall, with tips from a sustainability expert
October 2nd
- 'Insanely easy to set up': This smart-home air-quality bundle is essential for staving off illness over the holiday season – 1000s bought it last month alone
- Wildlife experts urge gardeners to do these 5 things to help pollinators and birds in fall – they're all easy and will transform your yard into a safe haven
- Fall is the ideal time to cut back hostas – how to prep and protect them for winter
- The 9 steps I follow when I start to design a kitchen, ensuring success every time
- 6 sustainable reasons to install a rain chain – for a practical yet pretty fall garden upgrade
- Add living art to your walls this fall with these 5 houseplants you can mount – plus tips from an expert on how to successfully care for them
- This low-lift, crowd-pleasing main is an affordable yet impressive dish for fall hosting
- Simple but essential – I would never live in a home without these smart plugs that instantly slash my energy bills (and they're half price right now)
- As an expert horticulturalist, here's how I divide verbena in fall – to get more out of this hard-working perennial plant for free
- 7 outdated kitchen trends designers want to leave in 2025 – and what you should be doing instead for 2026
- These small but mighty $6 odor 'superheroes' are the answer to musty storage spaces this winter – over 11,000 happy shoppers agree
October 1st
- My four-week decluttering challenge easily banished chaotic clutter and got my home ready for the holidays, stress-free
- These are the 5 easy tips you need to follow to make your entryway look more beautiful for fall
- I'd lost hope in reviving my dehydrated plants until I discovered mushroom water – an organic tonic you can make yourself, and it's not as crazy as it sounds
- 8 design rules for a tailored bedroom that feels timeless, stylish and serene – and the pitfalls experts say to watch for
- My easy zoning method prevents contamination in my kitchen – it's the food-safety secret I swear by in an OCD household
- The ultimate fall decluttering list: 20 things you own too many of and why you should let them go, guilt-free right now
- An ornithologist reveals where hummingbirds overwinter in the US – plus tips on how to help them if you live in California, Texas, or Florida
- My $7 secret for perfectly dust-free radiators – this quick task also slashes my winter energy bills, too
- How to pick apples perfectly – this simple 3-step technique is all you need to know to harvest ripe fruits time after time
- 'Pet owners need this' – this $19 baseboard cleaning tool keeps busy homes 'clean and dust-free,' according to shoppers
- At Anna's Table: Heading into fall, I'm always surprised by the complete turnaround at the farm stands – we go from heirloom tomatoes to crates groaning with every variety of pumpkin in paint-perfect shades