Huff was born in Gowrie, Iowa, and was educated at the University of Iowa. Before turning to writing full-time in 1946, he served as editor of Better Homes and Gardens and Look magazines. As a freelancer, Huff produced hundreds of ‘How to’ feature articles and wrote at least sixteen books, most of which concerned household projects. One of his own biggest projects was the design and build of a prize-winning home in Carmel, California, where he lived until his death.