You can’t eliminate dust during construction, but there are ways to contain and remove as much of it as possible

Dust is everywhere, all the time. But during a remodeling project, it’s particularly abundant — and potentially hazardous. All sorts of nasty stuff gets kicked up while demolishing walls, taking apart cabinets and removing tile. And it’s not for the faint of heart. Waste from bugs, mice, spiders and bats; silica from drywall; lead particles from old paint — if it was in your walls or subfloor, it’s probably going to be in your home (and lungs). Unless, that is, your remodeling crew has a solid strategy for containing and removing the dust from your home.

“Construction can produce inhalable respirable particles that are regulated pollutants; they’re unhealthful, so it’s entirely appropriate to do some kind of mitigation when doing construction activities,” says Brett Singer, an indoor air quality scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. There are several strategies for doing this, and if dust is a concern to you, it’s important to have a conversation with your contractor when taking bids to determine how they plan to contain construction particles. Here are some things to think about before having that talk.

There’s no need to overcomplicate decorating your little one’s bedroom — here’s a simple guide

Designing kids’ bedrooms can be fun. For designers it’s typically the room in which we get to turn the decorating volume up and go a little crazy. At home it’s important to keep in mind practical elements, including storage and future use, while also making sure your little one’s personality shines through. These five steps will help you create a room that is just as rewarding for you as it is for your child.

See how to use French doors, white paint, draperies and more to brighten a space and trick the eye

They say you never know what you had till it’s gone, and that’s certainly true for windows. When dealing with a windowless room, you really start to miss the natural light and appreciate the openness they bring. But whether you’re planning a little corrective construction or just a quick fix, there are plenty of ways to bring that same feeling to your basement, den, kitchen and more.

One project yields some universal truths about the remodeling process

Some good friends of ours just finished a master suite remodel. On the whole it went well: on time, on budget and generally to their satisfaction. Still, the process and execution were less than flawless, and as I listened to what didn’t go exactly to plan, I realized that other people could benefit from considering many of the lessons my friends learned before they embark on their own projects.

Put the family back in your family room with a colorful mural, photo gallery or table ready for your gang’s favorite game

The family room is where you go to relax, watch movies, play games and hang out with friends — which makes it a great place in which to loosen up, decorating-wise. Create a fun, welcoming atmosphere in your family room by incorporating one or more of these 15 playful features, from photo murals to game tables.

We love our neutrals, but with spring in the air, they might just need a little lift

So many of us couldn’t live without the classic, workable and fresh modern palette of neutrals. The easy-on-the-eye blend of white, cream, beige, stone and pebble colors is a fail-safe bet from the moment you step through the front door. But if the change in season has you itching to update, there are plenty of simple tricks to try out on your neutral palette to give it a lift without a drastic change. From adding color to layering textures, you can easily boost your neutral spaces with these inspiring ideas.