Continue the Tour: Check out the beautiful primary bedroom in the Real Simple Home (psst…you’re not going to want to miss the gorgeous feature wall!). Go Bold with a Moody Wall Color The first thing you notice when you step into the office (see it up-close in the 360° video tour) is the dramatic paint color. The surefire way to give any room a fresh new look is to brush an unexpected color on the walls....

For more campfire recommendations, visit realsimple.com/campfire.

Enter: duck, a bird similar yet completely different. Duck is richer than chicken. It has something similar to the mineral, steaky quality of read meat. It also has a thick, fatty skin that crisps beautifully and renders fat that provides an ingredient you can use to crisp other foods, like potatoes. Zooming out to the big picture, cooking duck feels special. If you’re new to duck, here’s how to approach the two easiest and most widely available cuts: whole animal and breast....

The key here is to make sure your wine is 100% submerged in the ice water. If the top of your bottle of bubbly is sticking out in the open air, the first glass or two will still be warm. Another smart trick is to wrap your bottle with plastic wrap to protect the label (otherwise you’ll be staring at a soggy picture of Napa on a pricey bottle of Chardonnay)....

“A dirty mattress can be a hub of bacteria, as mattresses can accumulate dust mites, bacteria, mold, dead skin, dirt, and different allergens over time,” notes Kathy Cohoon, a cleaning professional at Two Maids and a Mop. Michael Rubino, a cleaning expert and founder of HomeCleanse, adds that keeping your mattress clean not only improves your well-being and sleep quality, but it can even improve the lifespan of the mattress and promote better indoor air quality....

How to Buy a Turkey The best way to shop for a turkey is to look for one that weighs between 12 and 14 pounds. Within this weight range, your turkey is big enough to feed about eight guests with a ton of leftovers. If you’re planning on cooking a larger bird for a bigger gathering, don’t go above 15 pounds. In this case, it’s better to roast two smaller birds, which will guarantee evenly cooked and succulent perfection all around....

The History of the Chignon The origins of this simple yet sophisticated style can be traced back to ancient Greece; it was also popular during the Victorian era, and again during World War II. These days, it’s a staple look on the red carpet, but is also a style that can easily be recreated at home, and is amazingly versatile. “It’s a classic style that’s constantly evolving and modernizing,” says Leonardo Manetti, master stylist at Rob Peetoom Salon Williamsburg....

Before starting to cut your bangs, gather your supplies: You’re going to need a comb, a couple of large hair clips, and a pair of sharp, pointed stainless steel scissors that are about 6.5 inches long. “The craft scissors that your kids cut paper with aren’t going to cut it, literally, and neither are tiny cuticles scissors,” says Carrion. (You can get a good, inexpensive pair online or at a drugstore....

What You Need Wrapped giftCurling ribbonTapeScissors Follow These Steps 1. Measure out the length and cut the ribbon. Use curling ribbon—the serrated type found in card shops, craft stores, and some supermarkets. To measure out the amount of ribbon you need, loosely wrap ribbon around the box about six times. Cut the ribbon, then gently slide it off the box, holding it looped together like a lasso. 2. Tie a knot in center of the lasso....

What Is Black Garlic? Black garlic is garlic that’s been kept in a consistently warm and humid environment over a long period of time. This results in dark, rich, jelly-like cloves that are capable of adding a serious punch of umami to any dish. Undergoing the Maillard reaction—a chemical reaction between amino acids and sugars that results in the browning of a food—garlic transforms from a pungent, spicy allium to a mild, sweet, tangy ingredient similar to balsamic vinegar or tamarind....

To bring a tunneled candle back to life, pop the candle in a 175-degree oven for about five minutes. The distributed low heat helps melt the wax, making it smooth and level across the top again. Pro tip: Keep candles away from walls, because heat or soot can leave an unsightly black mark. Instead, use a candle snuffer—like Madala Candle Snuffer ($7; amazon.com)—to extinguish the flame. Snuffing keeps the wick in place, prevents that post-burning smell, and eliminates dangers associated with blowing on hot wax....

Reader question: My lashes are ruined from years of lash extensions. How can I make my lashes grow faster? - Laura Irene If you weren’t inherently blessed by the eyelash gods, maintaining long lashes can feel like a perpetually uphill battle. Sure, you can resort to eyelash extensions or falsies, but that only increases the chance of your actual lashes snapping off, not to mention the ensuing dryness that contributes to more breakage....

Rare—120°-125°F Medium Rare—130°-135°F Medium—140°F-145°F Medium Well—150°F-155°F Well Done—160°F-165°F Seared Steak Recipes Once you nail the basics of searing steak, you can build flavor with sauces and rubs, like our classic Pan Seared Steak Au Poivre or add a Cocoa and Espresso Rub. Seared steak is the perfect base for Seared Steak with Cauliflower Puree or served alongside Sesame Steak Fries.

Here’s everything you need to know to put together a perfect one. RELATED: You’ve Been Serving Champagne All Wrong—Here’s How to Do It Right

The answer? American ingenuity. Enter microwaved “baked” apples, a simple, no-frills, convenient, and healthier take on a dessert flavor that’s—despite originating from the faraway mountains of Kazakhstan—quintessentially home. Cooking apples in the microwave is an amazing hack to capture that rich, buttery, cinnamon-y flavor without the fuss of making a pie crust, committing to a big portion, or waiting in front of the oven. Microwaving baked apples is more energy-efficient, too, than waiting for a cavernous oven to heat up and letting it run for an hour....

So, we’ve asked experts for advice on how to get a proper quote, negotiate for the competition’s lower rate, and communicate effectively so that you can score the best deal possible. Ask for a well-explained quote Before booking any service, or hiring anyone to work for you, it’s important to ask for a quote. “Be sure it’s detailed, and if there’s an expiration date for that quote, make sure you understand that clearly as well,” says Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews....

Start With a Clean Slate If you’re wondering if you have to pull everything out of your cabinets, the answer is yes. But stick with us. We get it! This part sounds like a lot of work but it’s worth it in the end. “Organizing your space is also an opportunity to clean your space. Take everything out and wipe down those cabinets!" Hines says. “Additionally, this is a chance to get your eyes on and make decisions about everything living in your cabinets; there is so much we don’t see because it’s piled in and hidden,” she explains....

Arranging Fridge Shelves: What Goes Where

To buy: Double Hang for O-Box 1 Drawer, $110, wayfair.com. To buy: 24-pocket shoe organizer, $15, bedbathandbeyond.com. To buy: Real Simple 6-shelf hanging sweater organizer, $20, bedbathandbeyond.com. To buy: Small mid-heeled shoe boxes, $8 each, containerstore.com. To buy: Stick It! silicone monthly planner, $13, shop.threebythree.com.

It’s never too late to start. If you’ve got a ninth grader, tuck $250 a month into a high-yield bank savings account. In four years, you could have more than $12,500. Consider upping that percentage if your kids take on regular after-school and summer jobs in high school. And make it a family project to scope out scholarships long before senior year. Go to Cappex for a free database of scholarships....