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Staying warm this winter

Winter is finally here. So what's the best way to keep your house - and your family - warm? We ask the experts.

Draw the line on curtains

Good curtains may be expensive, but they can transform a room from drab to fab instantly. Here's how.

Get organised in minutes

Are you swimming in a sea of clutter, unfiled paperwork, laundry, kids' toys? Break down jobs into small chunks, with time limits.

Sorting laundry

To say it's exciting to load piles of clothes into a washing machine and iron countless collared shirts would be a bit of an overstatement.

Get your paint in order

A little housekeeping when you're painting can save hours of hassle, not to mention expense, later.

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The pleasure of cleaning

The mess will return again tomorrow, yet we clean up every night. Not simply out of duty, but because it makes us feel good.

Slobproof your home

Decorate for the way you really live, not to impress the neighbours.

The endless chores of housework

I am not a natural born cleaner. I was the flatmate who rarely cleaned, avoided my duties, and disappeared instead of mopping the kitchen floor.

Gardening: Citrus TLC

This is a good time of the year to do a bit of maintenance on your citrus trees. Here's how.

Oh. This again. The dreaded question. After the birth of my son, one friend offered me a hard drive full of movies to help pass the time. Another, who came to visit when my son was six weeks old, said she couldn't wait to be relaxing at home with a baby.

Small steps to getting organised

Rather than getting overwhelmed at the sight of a huge pile of mess, set aside a few minutes at a time to make a dent.

Get 2013 organised

As with other resolutions, most people start out strong and then lose their motivation when they don't see immediate results or because they are trying to do too much at once.

Women and DIY

Putting aside the irritating assumption that grown women will only purchase power tools in a colour associated with toddler girls, the trend speaks to an economic reality.

Boxing Day madness

It's possibly one of the most exciting shopping days of the years, but if you are venturing out to the mall today, make sure you are prepared.

Christmas on the cards!

Totally forgot to send out Christmas cards? Don't panic- we found a quick easy way for you to get it done right now!

Pick the right tradesperson

The electrician's got the 'flu' and the plumber is at his grandmother's funeral - again. How to find a good tradesperson?

Housework a health hazard

Work around the house is a big source of accidents and injuries, so think twice before picking up that mop.

Neutrals the new pink or blue

Parents 'don't want to compromise their home's sophistication just because there are children in it', according to an interior designer.

Avoiding salmonella salad

Kitchen sponges are havens for faecal bacteria, the kitchen sink has more germs than a toilet seat and the dirtiest surface in your house is the chopping board, a microbiologist says.

The curse of the mummy wars

OPINION: For mothers the decision to work or stay home is a financial one and it isn't made alone.

DIY battle scars prove costly

Home DIY is something many Kiwis like to think comes naturally, but last year it cost us $300m.

Family friendly flooring

At some point most of us dream of updating or renovating the family home. If you are considering replacing your flooring you may wonder what's the most suitable flooring to withstand a family.