Sherry and John Petersik insist they knew nothing about fixing up a house when they bought their first place in 2006. Since then, they’ve earned their home-renovation chops and a slew of fans who follow their progress through their blog, Young House Love.

Now they’re sharing even more ideas through Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home Some Love (Artisan Books, $25.95 in hardcover).

The Petersiks’ goal is to make home improvement less intimidating and expensive while still producing first-class results. They’ve compiled doable projects and tips designed to give their readers not just ideas, but confidence.

Q&A

Q. Does it help to add a Christmas tree preservative to the water in the tree stand?

Research shows it’s not necessary, said Eric McConnell, forest product specialist with the Ohio State University Extension. It won’t keep the tree fresh longer than plain water.

What is important is to never let the cut end get dry in the stand, because then it will seal over with resin and lose its ability to take up water, McConnell said. Slice about a half-inch off the bottom of the trunk just before putting it in the stand, and use a stand that can hold plenty of water. McConnell said the stand should contain one quart of water for each inch of trunk diameter, and you should always keep at least about a gallon of water in the stand.