To prevent sewage backup in your yard, it’s important to have your tank pumped every three to five years. Also, beware of the drainfield, because this is where your wastewater is filtered by the soil. Since this section of your lawn is a crucial process to your water management, avoid planting any trees or shrubs. Planting close to the drainfield is risky, because the roots can destroy the septic tank or clog the drainfield.

Monitoring and managing your septic tank can prevent costly repairs. After a septic tank fails, it can take months or years before your yard looks normal again.

Using the extra wood to create a few homemade bird or bat houses is an easy way to reuse your wood scraps. All you need is a handsaw, nails, a hammer and paint. Remember, the more bats you have nearby, the less insects such as mosquitoes will be around to annoy you.

Another simple project is to create a small seat to attach to trees so squirrels can eat corn. Just remember to add a nail to stick the cob on.

For more creative projects, make ornaments and decorations for the upcoming seasons. Also, larger sheets of wood can be turned into trays or cutting boards. If you have been meaning to mulch your yard, chip your supply of wood into mulch to revive your flowerbeds. Once you start thinking of ways to reuse your wood, unique ideas will come to mind.

Since there are a variety of designers who create organic sheets, duvet covers and comforters, it’s easy to find a suitable set to match your room. Plus, if it’s been 10 or more years since you have purchased new bedding, it’s time for a change. Patterned or brightly colored bedding can enhance a room’s style and mood.

Instead of cozying up to sheets that were made from fibers treated with pesticides, you can sleep without worry and enjoy the new look of your bedroom. If your guests have sensitive skin, organic bedding is a considerate amenity too.

A pullout table is a simple way to have a dining table for one, especially if you just purchased your home and don’t have the money for a proper kitchen table yet. You can pay about $200 now and save up for the $700 or more table. Plus, if you take you’re work home with you, now you have a quiet spot to complete it.

The Presto Pull-out Table is a rolled out tabletop, which is housed in a cabinet. For a sturdier design, the leg assembly is sold separately but required. Once you get a better table, you can use this pull-out table as a serving table.

Drop-down shelving brings the shelves to eye level so you can see and better reach the things you need. This particular unit uses a gas spring and a mechanical advantage design, which allows you to easily pull the cabinet down and push it back up. It is 34” wide x 35” high x 10” deep with a powder-coated finish.

Cabinets like these can make life in the kitchen, laundry room, garage and basement easier. You can store anything from breakfast food to cups or cleaning products. Even installing one shelf like this in the kitchen near the dishwasher can make putting dishing away an easy chore.

Incorporating modern technology into a formal sitting room is possible if the equipment can be stowed away when it’s not in use. For example, a pull-down viewing screen can be installed above the fireplace, so you can pull it down when you want to watch a sporting event or movie. When the screen is put away, a traditional piece of artwork can fill the space and complete the look of the room.

Additional electronic equipment such as a DVD player, speakers, etc. can be stored in traditional glass-faced cabinets with interior lighting. This will create some contrast.

These are just some ways that you can have a balance of modernism and traditional style in one room.

The adjustable wood pull-out organizer shown below for spices can make finding your basil easier. If you’re spices were readily accessible, you would most likely not end up buying extras of what you already own. This model is designed for full-height base cabinets, but it has adjustable shelves and chrome rails to keep everything in its place.

Slide-out options for trash cans are ideal if you have a large family, because you can store more than one garbage container under the counter. This will reduce your need to take the trash out so much. There are also slide-out cabinets for hand towel storage, which makes taking baking sheets out of the stove and washing your hands more convenient. Or you can designate a cabinet for plastic and glass containers, which always seem to lose their lids.

The Reznor V3 series model is gas-fired and available in 14 sizes. The 30,000-125,000 BTUH gas input are approved for homes. In addition, the UDAP heaters are 82-83% energy efficient. Since these heaters can be suspended in the corners of your garage, it makes them less visible. The model for 30,000 BTUH runs under $1,000.

There are several advantages to direct-vent heaters. First, the flue gas vent can be easily installed through the ceiling or wall to the outside. Second, sealed combustion heaters are the safest option. Third, they burn outdoor air, which reduces back-draft.

Instead of avoiding your garage in the autumn or winter months, you can actually enjoy your workshop or office and even wash your car whenever you need to.

Finlandia Sauna has a precut sauna package, which includes everything you need to build a sauna. You can find these kits online, and the sizes range from 3 x 4 feet to 12 x 12 feet. The less expensive kits often have hemlock, spruce and fir interiors. If you can afford the pricier kits, they have cedar or redwood walls and other amenities such as light fixtures, back rests, towel bars and timing controls.

Saunas use dry heat and need at least 110-volt household current. This is a priceless addition to have during the winter months when it seems like you can’t get warm enough. Plus, instead of owning a membership to the gym, you can create a spa right in your home.

When you have guests over or if there is a loud celebration going on, your dog will have a safe place to retreat. Plus, if you’re worried about accidents when you’re away, preserve your carpets and put your dog in the kennel for a couple hours until you return.

Another wonderful amenity to add to your mud room is a hand-held shower hose or sprayer, because you can wash your dog with ease. It can also come in handy when you need to rinse off muddy shoes or fill up a watering can to hydrate your indoor plants.