Stay cozy this winter and make yourself at home with Home Network. All winter long, you can find Home Network at various fun and exciting spots around Toronto and the GTA. Home Network will be taking over the Bentway Skate Trail and Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest. Read on for everything you need to know about these unique offerings: 

Where Can You Find Home Network Around Toronto?

Home Network will be at the Bentway Skate Trail and Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest this winter. 

Related: What to Watch on Home Network This Winter 

How Long Is the Home Network Activation at the Bentway Skate Trail and Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest?

Get ready to feel the festivities as the Bentway Skate Trail starts on December 29, 2024 until January 1, 2025, while WinterFest began November 16th and ends on January 4, 2025.

The Bentway Skate Trail

Address: 250 Fort York Blvd., Toronto, ON

Head down to the Bentway and enjoy the perfect winter day by skating underneath the Gardiner Expressway. After grabbing a pair of free rental skates and enjoying a couple of laps along the trail, stop by the Home Network lounge for a relaxing, cozy winter-themed break. It’ll feel like you entered your own lakeside winter retreat without actually leaving the city. There will also be ice sculptures and other Insta-worthy photo opportunities. 

Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest

Address: 9580 Jane St., Vaughan, ON

About 45 minutes outside of Toronto, step into an immersive winter wonderland and experience the season’s magic at WinterFest. Set foot in the Jack Frost Igloo Village where each igloo is equipped with a fireplace, comfy seating and holiday takeaways. If you’re feeling hungry, try Flavour Network‘s special topping funnel cake while relaxing in the igloo.  

Related: Welcome to HomeNetwork.ca!

Why Should You Check Out the Home Network Activations This Winter?

There is no place like home and at Home Network, that’s definitely true. Stay tuned for the launch of the Home Network channel coming this December 30th. By visiting these winter activations, the door is open with free food, fun activities, great memories and the opportunity to see a sneak peek of Home Network. This channel will be your new favourite station for everything related to heartwarming renovations and inspiring design challenges.     

What Is the Cost of Admission?

Admission is free at the Bentway, however, you will need to purchase tickets for Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest. Ticket prices start at $30.

Don’t put off decluttering your home for another minute! If you’re looking for speedy, easy and effortless ways to declutter parts of your home — minus the hassle — organizational expert Sarah Colussi has you covered. 

From tips on where to start to not thinking twice about items and focusing on the end goal, here’s how to declutter your home fast in 30 minutes or less.

Step 1: Tackle One Area at a Time

Start small and tackle one area at a time. Decluttering can be an overwhelming process for a lot of people, especially if you’ve never done it before or have many items. “Baby steps [are] key. By doing one small area at a time, you are making the process more manageable and less daunting,” Sarah explains. Try to declutter daily, weekly or bi-weekly. 

Decluttering once a week is suggested so it eventually becomes part of your lifestyle and routine. “My home is 90 per cent decluttered and I still make it a weekly habit,” Sarah says. 

Pro Tip: Everything should have a designated home — this will keep surfaces clean and tidy. 

Step 2: Set a Timer for 30 Minutes

Setting a timer allows you to focus on the task at hand. It forces you to go quickly and “think less.” For drawers or cupboards, set a timer for 20 to 30 minutes. “You don’t want to get stuck in a slow process of deciding what to keep and what to toss,” Sarah says. All decisions should be swift when going through your items, ensuring you don’t linger on them. Chances are the longer you sit on one item, the less likely you’ll want to get rid of it. 

Related: Spring Cleaning — Tips, Tricks and Mistakes to Avoid

Step 3: Keep a Donation Bin Handy

Have a cardboard box ready when you start decluttering and going through items. It’s helpful in distinguishing what you want to get rid of and is perfect as a donation bin. Aim for it to be filled up each week, or whenever you declutter. 

Pro Tip: Keep boxes from online shopping orders or groceries as your donation bin instead of recycling them. 

Step 4: Lay Everything Out on a Flat Surface

Pull everything out of your drawers or cupboards and lay them all out on a flat surface. This will let you easily see everything as you go through them. Aim to touch items once with the “One Touch Rule.” “Rather than putting it down and having to move or touch it again later, be sure to put it back where it belongs the first time around,” Sarah explains.

Pro Tip: If you use your hairdryer in the morning, don’t put it down because you’ll need to touch it again later. Instead of putting it down, put it away as soon as possible — one touch. 

Related: How to Organize Kitchen Cupboards to Optimize Your Storage Space

Step 5: Be Ruthless!

This is probably the most important rule of all. If an item isn’t an immediate “yes” then it’s a definite “no” and belongs in the donation bin. “Get rid of the guilt when it comes to keeping sentimental items and old gifts,” Sarah suggests. 

Step 6: Keep the End Goal in Mind

Once you’re done decluttering, put all the items you’re keeping back in their designated homes. The goal is to have some space left, so just because you have some room left over, doesn’t mean you have to fill it. “Keep the end goal in mind. Just remember how good it will feel with less clutter, [because it means] less stress and less cleaning,” Sarah adds. 

If you repeat this process often, you’ll fall in love with your home again and taking care of it will be a breeze.  

Looking for more inspiration? Check back for more tips and tricks from our experts who are ready to answer your burning home questions. 

Advent calendars are a timeless holiday tradition that makes for magical childhood memories. If you want to opt for sustainable Christmas decor that you can reuse for future holiday seasons, this is the perfect year to make your own wooden DIY advent calendar. Follow these easy steps for an heirloom-worthy craft that you can pass down for generations.

Materials:

• 2’ x 4’ Sheet of Plywood
• Jigsaw
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Coarse and Fine Sandpaper
• Lint-free cloth
• Wood stain
• 24 Mini Clothes pegs
• Ruler
• Wood glue
• 24 Canvas favour bags
• Black fabric marker or permanent marker
• Faux greenery
•  Picture hanging strips

Instructions:

Step One: Use a jigsaw to cut the plywood into a triangle shape, with each side roughly 28 inches long. Then, use a measuring tape and pencil to outline the triangle shape before cutting.

Step Two: Sand the edges with coarse sandpaper until smooth.

Step Three: Sand all surfaces with fine sandpaper.

Step Four: Wipe with a lint-free cloth to remove any sawdust.

Step Five: In a well-ventilated area, apply wood stain to one side of the triangle and the edges.

Step Six: Once it’s dry, glue 24 mini clothes pegs onto the triangle. Use a ruler and pencil to mark where each clothes peg will go to ensure the formation is even.

Step Seven: With a fabric marker (or permanent marker), write numbers 1-24 on the canvas bags. Write them all in unique ways for an extra whimsical touch!

Step Eight: Fill the canvas bags with treats and goodies for the lucky recipient. (Ours is full of dollar store items like balls, toy cars, and stickers for a playful toddler!)

Step Nine: Attach the wooden triangle to the wall with picture hanging strips.

Step Ten: Hang up the canvas bags on each of the clothes pegs.

Step Eleven: Add sprigs of faux greenery throughout for a festive pop of colour.

Step Twelve: Let the countdown to Christmas begin!

Unexpected bad weather can cancel out even the best-planned afternoons. Stay prepared with this indoor-friendly DIY. Painting clay pots is a low-pressure DIY that can be done alone or with family and friends (it’s all-age appropriate, too). Replicate our design or try something new — your design options are endless!

Materials Required:

• Clean cloth
• Terracotta pot
• Acrylic paints in colours of your choice
• Multiple small to medium paint brushes
• Paint mixing tools
• Paint pen

Instructions:

Step One: With a clean cloth, wipe the surface of the terracotta pot. Paint won’t adhere to a dirty pot.

Step Two: Pick your paints and create your palette. We used a combination of green, black, white and yellow.

Step Three: Paint fluid shapes onto the pot. This is easier than it looks! Use a small angled brush to help get crisper lines. Be careful not to paint outside of the lines, but if you do, no problem: The design is abstract so mistakes are just happy accidents!

Step Four: Once dry, use a thick black paint pen to draw leafy shapes. You can also use permanent marker.

Step Five: Let the painted planter sit overnight outside, by a window or in a well-ventilated room. This will allow the paint and marker vapours to dissipate. Be careful not to place it in too much sun, or the paint can fade. Once the fumes have dissipate, add a cute plant and place it wherever you like it!

Photos and video courtesy of The Craft Aisle.

As the weather cools down and we begin spending more time indoors, there’s truly no better time to start a new hobby. If you’re looking for a fun and affordable way to tap into your creative side this winter, hand embroidery might be the perfect craft for you. With the number of unique templates and designs you can find online, you’re guaranteed to find a pattern that’ll inspire you to get started. But before you begin, it’s best to familiarize yourself with the basic stitches. Here are five easy stitches to learn that will give you a great head start on this fun craft. 

Materials Required:

• Embroidery hoop
• Embroidery-friendly material (canvas or cotton)
• Embroidery floss
• Needle

Related: This DIY Macrame Lion is the Sweetest Homemade Gift Idea for Newborns 

Instructions:

How to Do a Running Stitch

• Step One: Start from behind the embroidery hoop and come up through the material.
  Step Two: Make your first stitch by going back through the material.
  Step Three:Leave a space about the same length as your first stitch before coming up through the material.
  Step Four:  Make your next stitch the same length and go back down through the material.

How to Do a Split Stitch

• Step One: Start from behind the embroidery hoop and come up through the material.
  Step Two: Make your first stitch by going back through the material.
  Step Three: When you come back up through the material, come up and through the previous stitch splitting the two threads in the middle.

How to Do a Backstitch

• Step One: Start from behind the embroidery hoop and come up through the material.
  Step Two: Make your first stitch by going back through the material.
  Step Three: Leave a space about the same length as your first stitch before coming up through the material.
  Step Four: Go back through the material at the endpoint of your previous stitch.

How to Do a Blanket Stitch 

• Step One: Start from behind the embroidery hoop and come up through the material.
  Step One: Start from behind the embroidery hoop and come up through the material.
  Step Two: Begin your first stitch by going back down through the material slightly above and to the right of the first point of entry. Instead of pulling the thread tight, leave it loose.
  Step Three: Come back up through the material in line with the initial point of entry, making sure the loose thread from the previous stitch is around your needle. Pull to tighten.

How to Do a Chain Stitch 

• Step One: Start from behind the embroidery hoop and come through the material.
  Step Two:  Make your first stitch by going back through the material at the same entry point from the first stitch. Don’t pull the stitch tight.
  Step Three: Come back up through the material at your desired stitch length and through the loop.
  Step Four: Pull tightly to secure.

Photos and video courtesy of The Craft Aisle 

Your bedroom is your escape from everyday stress, making it one of the most important places in your home. However, designing the bedroom retreat of your dreams isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Since choosing art for the bedroom is particularly challenging, why not make your own?

This stylish and modern circle decor DIY adds a trendy touch to any room, but we especially love how it looks when it’s hung above the bed. Without further ado, here’s how to create an easy, timeless piece of art you will adore for years to come.

Materials:

• Embroidery hoops
• Yarn (multiple colours)
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Picture nails
• Hammer

Instructions:

Step One: For this DIY, only the interior of the embroidery hoop is needed. Remove the outer hoop.

Step Two: Find the centre of the hoop and attach one end of the yarn using a hot glue gun.

Step Three: Wrap the yarn up to the top of the hoop and secure it with hot glue.

Step Four: Continue to wrap the yarn from top to bottom. It’s important not to overlap the strands.

Step Five: As you get to the curved part of the hoop, attach each strand at the top and bottom with hot glue.

Step Six: Once you’re at the ends of the hoop, ensure the yarn covers the hoop by adding extra hot glue along the edge.

Step Seven: Repeat on as many embroidery hoops as you desire.

Step Eight: Once you’re happy with your pattern, secure the hoops together with hot glue. For extra security, you can tie a clear fishing line between the hoops as well.

Step Nine: Hang on the wall using small picture nails – one per hoop should do the trick!

Watch this step-by-step guide on how you can create this stylish & modern DIY art piece.

Related: 10 Design Tricks to Make a Small Bedroom Look Bigger 

Photos and video courtesy of The Craft Aisle