Natalie Francisco
Expertise
Houseplants, Gardening, Sustainable Living
- Natalie is a plant lover with over 30 plants in her collection. She's full of tips and tricks to keep any plant happy in your home.
- She's always interested in completing DIY projects that are functional, look good, and save money.
- Natalie loves finding sustainable swaps to make her everyday life more eco-friendly.
Experience
Natalie started writing articles while at Rutgers for the WRSU radio station. While there, she reported on all things music and photographed concerts. Since then, she's also written for The Odyssey Online and NJ Spark. Natalie has always loved everything gardening and enjoys sharing her expertise on how to keep plants happy. She appreciates all interior design styles but prefers an eclectic home filled with trinkets and houseplants.
Education
Natalie graduated with a B.A. in Journalism and Media Studies from Rutgers University. While there, she minored in Music.
House Digest uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the always-evolving conversations surrounding design and home trends, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert takes and tutorials from our talented team.
As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
Stories By Natalie Francisco
-
Dealing with permanent marker stains is tough. However, what if we told you a certain dairy product could help remove them from fabric? Here's how.
-
Slippery hangers that can't hold garments is a common issue. Luckily, there's an easy way to make your hangers slip-proof; all you need is a hot glue gun.
-
Pests can destroy fruits and vegetables in your garden before they've fully ripened. Learn how to protect your produce with a simple pantyhose hack.
-
Your garden is the perfect place to get creative. Check out this DIY project that transforms a lawn chair into a garden planter for a unique new look.
-
Rusty garden tools seem to come part and parcel with a gardening hobby, but they don't have to. Here is how to keep your items looking brand new.
-
You may think that any hose setting will get the job done when watering your plants, but there's one you should avoid. Here's what to use it for instead.
-
Potting your houseplants in a colander rather than in a regular pot is a fun DIY, and doing so can actually be very helpful to the health of your plant!
-
This gardening hack involves using olive oil on a terra cotta planter. Here's how olive oil can be used effectively on this particular form of earthenware.
-
Apple peels can be a great benefit for your garden. Instead of throwing them out, you can use them to help grow a beautiful and healthy garden.
-
Spoiler alert: unless you're living in a specific part of the world, you can't grow them naturally. But there are two other ways to get black roses.
-
One way of being eco-friendly is to use your eggshells as plant fertilizer. But it's not as simple as just mixing them into the soil. There's more to it.
-
Not only can Epsom salt soothe a sore back, but it can also help your cucumbers thrive. Here's what makes it a great supplement and how to use it in the garden.
-
Got more seeds than you know what to do with? Dive in to discover how to ensure their proper storage until the next season (or beyond).
-
Every time you use a kitchen sponge, food particles get stuck in it. And the fact sponges stay moist for a while makes them the perfect home for bacteria.
-
Cardboard egg cartons also make for great seed starters.
-
Since line art requires you to simply sketch the outline of the art that's in front of you, you don't need to be a professional to do this for your home.
-
Bored of the ordinary-looking bedframe that came with your IKEA bed? Follow this TikTok video to spruce it up and add some earthy tones.
-
Orchids need the most fertilizer when they are growing from spring to summer. Here's how to ensure your orchids are living their best lives.
-
Laundry stripping is typically done using Borax, giving your items a brand-new look. However, a more mild solution can be created with vinegar. Here's how
-
Pottery Barn has beautiful decor pieces, but they can be expensive. Luckily, you can turn an inexpensive flower vase into a Pottery Barn dupe with this hack.
-
You're going to need a paint stripper, a pressure washer, and the proper protective equipment. Pressure washers have a strong spray, so you need to be careful.
-
Plexiglass is an excellent alternative to regular glass. It looks similar and is very durable, however, you should avoid cleaning plexiglass with Windex.
-
You will need a vacuum cleaner but don't use it directly. Even with the right attachments, you can damage your machine for good.
-
A lush, green lawn starts with sowing the seed correctly. Learn the best way to sow grass seed to avoid patchy areas and get even coverage and strong growth.
-
Window screens need to be cleaned at least twice a year. Otherwise, dirt will build up and transfer onto the glass when it's windy or raining.
-
Green tea is an excellent fertilizer because of all the nutrients it has. It's perfect for plants because it's high in nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.
-
Anyone who's played around with spray paint knows that they can sometimes get blocked. Here's how to fix a blocked can of spray paint so you don't waste a drop.