Homeowners' desire to extend their outdoor time well into the night is driving the trend towards more creative outdoor lighting.

With the current down economy and tight mortgage lending rules, building your dream home can be difficult. Finding an affordable home is often critical, and at the same time, more homebuyers are looking for ways to go green. Despite a common belief that green construction adds to home costs, new technologies can help provide an affordable, quality home you can feel good about owning. Home design and construction software plays a key role.

Ask anyone if they have ever taken on a home plumbing project by themselves and they will likely say that they have. But how involved was the project? Plumbing is now easier than ever for do-it-yourselfers, thanks to new products and technologies.

When preparing your home for the golden years, there are many ways to ensure that each room in the house is comfortable and secure, so you can live safe, sound and solo.

Enjoy your home today and make it stand out from the rest in the future by considering these DIY home improvements.

Feel like you're outgrowing your home? How about extending the use and value of your house by taking full advantage of the outdoor space that surrounds it?

There's no need to abandon a love of wood floors in an effort to "go green." Reclaimed wood floors -- salvaged from Industrial Revolution-era mills and factories, barns, piers, and other structures -- offer homeowners a way to do their part for the environment without compromising on style or durability.