The #1 project with a high ROI this year? A garage door conversion. This may not sound as sexy as installing a skylight in the living room, but there’s a 97.5% return on investment for garage conversions, according to HomeAdvisor.com. It reports that homeowners have had to be more financially pragmatic about home renovations, due to the softening housing market.A garage door conversion is a sound investment because it fulfills the one-two punch of improving “both a home’s beauty and functionality,” according to the report....

To buy: $89 (was $150); amazon.com. “I live in Colorado, and it has recently gotten down to single digits at night. I can wear only a tank top under my jacket, and I’m warm, cozy, and comfortable,” began one five-star reviewer, adding: “I would buy this jacket again!” Another shopper shared, “I absolutely love this coat. It’s thick, heavy, warm, and perfect for a cold winter. It has a lot of pockets, and I feel like the quality is wonderful....

The brand recommends that when you first receive the towels to soak them in cold water for 12 hours and hang to dry; this will let the fibers expand, making the towels even more absorbent. From then on, the towels can be tossed into the washing machine. To buy: $34 with coupon (originally $50); amazon.com “Aside from the fact that these amazing towels look great in my little bathroom, these towels are awesome,” one five-star reviewer shares....

The Shark steam mop heats water in its reservoir in as little as 30 seconds to release steam that effectively lifts dirt and grime from sealed hard floors. It can even cut your cleaning time in half, since you don’t have to spray your floors every few feet or drag a spin mop and bucket throughout your home. Not only does the steam mop pick up pet messes and everyday spills, it can also eliminate 99....

The Andily Electric Space Heater is only about 8 inches tall and 5 inches wide, but it effectively heats my bedroom in under five minutes—I only need to run it for 30 minutes at a time to stay warm for the day. The ceramic coils instantly heat up in just two seconds, so I never stay cold for long. It has an adjustable thermostat and three fan settings: high, low, and fan-only....

“As they planned this house, every holiday was thought of,” designer Carolyn Kendall of Alcott Interiors says. “Family is very important to them. Their dream house had to be a cozy place to gather.” To set the stage, Kendall and architect Ron Farris shaped rooms with timeless bones: coffered ceilings, fine millwork, mullioned windows. “The Rechters like a traditional look, so we gave them a very classic house,” Kendall says....

The Btfbm ruffled sweater is one that’s popped up in my Instagram ads more than a few times, but I’ve never been able to find it—until now. The cozy sweater is wool-free and made from 50 percent viscose, 28 percent polyester, and 22 percent nylon, and it’s available in sizes S to XL in 20 different colors. Plus, it has over 1,600 five-star ratings and plenty of positive reviews. To buy: $43 (was $54); amazon....

To buy: $16; amazon.com. To use the dough-rolling bag, all you have to do is place your ready-to-bake pie pastry into the bag, zip it up, then roll it out to the size you want. The dough-rolling bag comes with incredibly convenient measurements from 6 inches to 12 inches (the bag even has equivalent metric measurements), and is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. To buy: $16; amazon.com. The bag is already naturally nonstick thanks to its silicone material, but you can lightly dust it with flour before rolling out your pie crust to minimize sticking....

To buy: $28; amazon.com. “The length is just right and it is a light, fall-like sweater that flatters and doesn’t overwhelm my small frame,” wrote a shopper who titled their five-star review: “Perfect!” Another reviewer, who was looking for a lightweight option to wear in Houston, said that the sweater is “flattering” and runs “true-to-size.” The cardigan is available in 21 bright and neutral colors, like light gray heather, oatmeal heather, and caramel, and comes in sizes ranging from XS to 6X....

To buy: $20 (was $25); amazon.com. You can also create a schedule via the Kasa app, so the plug will automatically turn on, if, say, you want your sprinkler or patio light to come on regularly at certain times even if you’re preoccupied with other tasks. Another function that will undoubtedly come in handy is its Away Mode, which will turn on your lights and any other appliances while you’re gone to appear as if you’re home, as an extra security measure....

The Lasko Household Tower Fan is beloved by people who deal with hot climates most of the year, including those residing in Louisiana, Florida, California, and Texas, to name a few. That’s because the fan is equipped with three fan speeds to deliver a steady breeze that’s cooling, even on a 90-degree day. To buy: $60 (was $75); amazon.com. Standing at 42 inches, the tower fan circulates an impressive amount of air throughout the room thanks to its wide-reaching, curved design....

To buy: $15 with coupon (was $16); amazon.com. According to the brand, this propagation station is perfect for most plants including pothos, African violets, and herbs. The set comes with an extra tube just in case one breaks in transit, as well as a tube-cleaning brush so you can make sure your cuttings aren’t sitting in moldy vessels under the sun. The wooden frame of Ivolador’s propagation station is sturdy enough to stand alone on windowsills, or even hang on the walls if you plan to use it as both a home decor piece and propagating device....

A brushed brass and white globe chandelier provides a clean and contemporary counterpoint to the dining room’s colorful wallpaper. Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs are a Scandinavian classic. A red pair provides jolts of color amid the wood ones. From there, Sklar simplified and modernized the 1914 traditional Colonial house interior by incorporating the tenets of Scandinavian style: embracing bright whites, maximizing natural light, and honoring clean-lined, functional forms. The style shies away from clutter but happily welcomes moments of color, like the Keatleys’ modern art, a yellow front door, and one very green bathroom....

Our Favorite Alternative to Toothpicks If you’re in the middle of making, say, your best-ever chocolate cake and you don’t have a toothpick to check cake doneness, a thin, sharp knife is our Test Kitchen’s favorite workaround. Look at your knife set and find the one with the thinnest blade. Then insert the blade into the center of the cake. If the knife comes out clean, the cake is done. If batter or crumbs stick to the blade, let your cake bake a few minutes more and retest with a clean knife....

Trader Joe’s just issued the following response on its website to the Change.org petition urging the company to drop racially insensitive branding from products: “We want to be clear: we disagree that any of these labels are racist. We do not make decisions based on petitions.” The statement goes on to say that the naming of products such as Arabian Joe’s, Trader José’s, and Trader Ming’s was intended to “be fun and show appreciation for other cultures....

What does ’ergonomic’ mean? Ergonomics was developed around 1950, in part because of the recognition that people are more prone to making mistakes than machines when they aren’t in proper working conditions, explains Lara Heimann, physical therapist and creator of the LYT Yoga Method. To improve efficiency and minimize error, the physical work environment had to be taken into greater consideration. Today, ergonomics aims to increase efficiency and decrease the likelihood of work-related injuries....

What is chicory root? It’s a part of a plant that comes from the dandelion family, known for its purple-blue flowers. It’s native to France, but grows all over the United States and other parts of Europe, South Africa, and Australia. Lately, much of the well-deserved hype chicory root has garnered is due to its laundry list of purported health benefits, Not to mention that its deliciously toasty, earthy flavor is reminiscent of, and therefore an apt replacement for, coffee....

Sure, a company’s culture can be reflected in its more superficial offerings, like free lunches or employee discounts—but a truly healthy, positive company culture is rooted in something much deeper. “A company’s culture is the combined values, attitudes, and goals people in a workplace share,” says Christina Hall, senior vice president and chief people officer at LinkedIn. “The most positive work cultures are aspirational and create an environment where employees feel more engaged and in tune with one another....

What Is Labneh Cheese? Labneh, frequently used in Mediterranean cuisine, is made from fermented milk (plain yogurt) strained for several hours to remove all the moisture. Its consistency is similar to whipped cream cheese. Labneh can be consumed raw or cooked into dishes. It’s also packed with protein and gut-healthy probiotics. How to Make Labneh Many grocery stores now carry labneh in the dairy section, but it’s simple to make at home....

What Is Restorative Yoga? Restorative yoga is a slower, more restful, more passive approach to yoga that’s meant to melt away muscle tension, create space in the body, and alleviate stress. Though rooted in the same discipline with many familiar, fundamental poses as other types of yoga, restorative yoga is less about building strength or working up a sweat than it is about deep mental and physical relaxation. During a typical session of restorative yoga, at home or at an in-person class, you’ll likely hold just a few—often very few—tension-relieving stretches and positions for longer than, say, energizing vinyasa yoga (which flows from pose to pose more fluidly and quickly)....