Flowers aren’t the only way to add natural color to your home. Many popular houseplant varieties rarely flower indoors but have stunning foliage in a rainbow of hues. While some are rare and expensive, many colorful houseplants are easy to find and afford. Here are the best non-flowering houseplants to add color to your home.

Tradescantia

There are many plants in the tradescantia family and most of them sport beautiful multi-colored foliage. Some of the easiest to grow are the tradescantia zebrina, nanouk and purple heart. These options grow long trailing vines with purple, pink and green leaves. They do well in low light, but the more sunlight they get the more dramatic the colors.

Fittonia

Fittonia, also called “nerve plant” or “friendship plant,” come in several colors including shades of pink, red and white along with their distinctive green nerve-like leaf pattern. These are easy to grow and care for, especially for those who have trouble knowing when to water. Fittonia will lie down flat when thirsty and perk back up within a matter of hours after watering.

Croton

Crotons are a tropical plant with distinctive long slender leaves sporting multiple colors. Some varieties have yellow, orange, red and deep purple all at once while others are mostly green. Crotons are easy to maintain as long as they get enough sunlight. Otherwise, their leaves will lose their wild colors.

Ficus Tineke

Also called the variegated rubber plant, ficus tineke produce large leaves with unique splashes of green, cream and pink. Like the other members of the ficus family, tinekes can grow into full trees indoors when the conditions are right. They thrive in bright indirect light and a regular watering schedule.

Oxalis

Related to common ground sorrel, the oxalis triangularis will add color and drama to any interior space with its rich purple leaves that almost resemble butterfly wings. Oxalis bloom indoors fairly frequently as well, producing small pink flowers that complement the darker foliage.

Caladium

Caladiums are the stars of many colorful tropical gardens, ranging in colors and patterns on large, delicate leaves. You’ll find caladiums in all shades of pink, red and white all combined into eye-catching variegation patterns. These plants thrive in high humidity, so if you are in a drier climate a humidifier will help make sure they provide your home with dramatic color all season.

As houseplants become more popular, even more colorful cultivars are being discovered and produced every day. Take a trip to your local garden center or nursery and you will find lots of options for adding color to your home.

When you plan to tackle DIY projects around the house, it’s important to have the right tools for the job. You’ll find several construction tools designed for these kinds of projects, but which ones do you really need? While some projects might need more complex tools or tools for a specific purpose, such as demolition, other projects just need a few or more simple tools. Your DIY toolbox should have all the following construction tools, so you’ll have the basics for any project you decide to work on.

Tape Measure

Tape measures are among the most common kinds of tools used for DIY projects. You’ll need to pull out your tape measure to take measurements for a wide range of projects. Wondering how long or how large you need your workbench or built-in desk to be? Not sure if you should make a closet deeper or wider? A tape measure can help you get started on the plans for your DIY projects.

Screwdrivers

Screwdrivers are another commonly used tool for DIY projects. You’ll need to use your screwdrivers to put screws in place when you’re doing construction projects at home. You might also need a set of screwdrivers to remove screws as you’re changing your home.

Hammers

Hammers come in different sizes and types, and you’ll probably won’t need every kind for your DIY project. However, you should at least have a basic hammer available for driving nails into wood or other materials when you’re building something. When choosing a hammer for your toolbox, select one that has a smoother face, since these are less likely to leave dents.

Wrenches

Wrenches are used for many tasks when you’re doing construction projects, such as gripping, loosening and tightening objects such as bolts and pipe fittings. You might need a pipe wrench for a plumbing project, or you might need a socket wrench for a different type of DIY project. Keep a set of wrenches on you, and you’ll always have the right type handy when needed.

Circular Saw

When you’re working with wood, such as building shelves or sheds, a circular saw is a must. These saws allow you to make clean cuts in wood, so that you won’t end up with roughly cut pieces you might not be able to use.

Cordless Drill

Cordless drills are essential construction tools when you need to make holes or put fasteners or screws in place. You can use a cordless drill for several kinds of DIY projects in almost any part of your home. With this power tool, you can quickly and easily make holes where needed and secure fasteners and screws.

Photo by Mabel Amber via Pixabay

You can walk into some folk’s homes and feel the chaos, while in other homes, all you see is clean. There must be a secret to keeping a house picked up without the aid of a housekeeper, right? Right! People whose homes always appear tidy have habits that keep them that way. Here are some of those habits that you can adopt in the kitchen to keep it clean.

Clean While Cooking

Instead of leaving pots or chopping boards to soak, wipe them with a soapy sponge and give them a quick rinse or pop them in the dishwasher. Pans left to soak after a meal become onerous and tempt you to leave them until morning. Cleaning them right away means the food particles wash off more quickly too.

Find a Great Broom or Dust Mop

If you hate the tool, you’ll hate using it. Instead, try out a couple brooms or even microfiber dust mops to see which one you like best. Run it over the kitchen floor at the end of the day, and you’ll wake up to a clean kitchen.

Tuck Away Small Appliances

Toasters, mixers, the slow cooker or Insta-pot all clutter up room on your kitchen counter and gather dust and food debris. Keep them out of sight on a pantry shelf and just pull them out when in use. They stay cleaner and ready to use, and your countertop sparkles.

Hide the Mess

Open shelving adds a beautiful dimension to a kitchen, but when the shelved items don’t naturally stack, they look messy. Hide things away in deep drawers or cupboards that don’t match or rest awkwardly. Use your shelves to display pieces you love, or that stack artfully.

Do These Daily

Wipe the refrigerator doors daily to keep fingerprints at bay, and while you’re at it, take a moment to get the shelves too. Then, ditto with the microwave. Keeping fingerprints and food spills wiped up every day helps avoid the significant cleaning days so many people dread.

Stop the Spills

Well, you can’t always stop spills, but you can stop most spatters. Keep a cover handy for the microwave so that those little “pops” don’t become big messes. If little ones consistently spill milk from a gallon jug, pour some into a smaller container for them to use.

Keeping your home picked up when you have it on the market is essential for a lower-stress selling experience. If you need other ideas about preparing your home for sale, ask your professional real estate agent.