Amelia Lawrence

Growing up in the South, I had never heard of such things like radiant flooring, heated towel racks, or steam rooms for bathrooms. But as a current resident of the North, I’ve learned that a life without warm towels and heat lamps is a life I don’t want to be a part of.

Decorating every room for the holidays may feel a bit excessive and certainly does not fall under the Festivus-for-the-Rest-of-Us mentality, but don’t be a Scrooge. I personally believe it’s fully possible to celebrate the good tidings of great joy, while embracing the tinsel and thrills that often come along with the season. I also believe you can embrace the tinsel and thrills on a budget. So I gift to you a quick guide to affordable (and DIYable) holiday decor to fill every room.

Growing up, I remember the time leading up to Christmas being weeks that my mother had the makings of her annual gift baskets strewn throughout our infrequently used formal dining room. Baskets or buckets, Carrs crackers, pepper jellies, candied pecans were a few of the items. Oh, and rolls and rolls of cellophane and ribbon.

December is practically here and that means you better get your holiday gifts in order. So if you can’t craft your own modern masterpieces, how about buying something handmade instead? We’ve pulled 20 of our favorite finds from Etsy, and guess what? They’re all under $50. Of course planters are on our list. If you know a plant-lover (or you’re trying to convert someone), this is a great gift to get you started.

We don’t all have the luxury of housing an eight-foot Christmas fir in our homes, and even if you do have room, you may not want to deal with the hassle. Regardless, there are so many options out there that won’t leave you feeling cramped in your small space. And need I mention, they won’t leave you with pine needles and sap all over your carpet. If you can forgo the scent of a real tree for something a little more apartment-friendly, these are the projects for you.

Here are some fun ways to reuse them.

Step. Up. Your. Step. Stool. Game.

When it comes to making your own art, there is no shortage of project ideas. If you have artistic tendencies, you can likely take any idea or inspiration (online or IRL) and turn it into something worthy of that much-coveted spot on your gallery wall. However, if you have less-than-artistic tendencies, those ideas may be more likely to become Pinterest Fails than framed masterpieces. And that’s okay. My advice when it comes to DIY art is this: know your limits.

Meet Liz Corkery, a Sacramento-based artist who founded and runs Print Club Ltd., an online source for fine art silkscreen prints. Through Print Club, Liz works with other artists to create and sell limited edition works on paper, but she also has a deep love for cooking and entertaining so has combined those interests in this beautiful set of hand-printed napkins.

Not everyone is a fan of curtain pull backs and that’s absolutely respectable. I myself am a fan of straight hanging panels. But if you’re drawn to this look or want to give it a try here are 7 DIY projects to inspire you. (Above) Let’s kick things off with these wood bead tie backs. They fit in with the popular Scandi design trend and will cost you less than $15 for the set. If you want to add a little more color, you can always paint or dye the beads before stringing.

If you’re like me, you’ve always had a growing pile of shoes in your vestibule/ entryway/mudroom. Which normally wouldn’t be an issue except that the shoes are now boots – they take up more space, they track in more mud, and they can take a bit longer to dry out after a good rain or snow. So what do you do with all of them? How do you solve the growing boot dilemma this time of year?

We’ve shown you some stylish DIYs for your pooch, but let’s not forget about the cat lovers. Sure our cats may not give us their undivided attention, or the tail-wagging welcome of a dog, but it’s important to give them a home that feels like home. Whether it’s a cozy crochet cat cave, a handmade toy, or a realistic climbing tree in the living room, our kitties need (and deserve) to be spoiled.

Get an early start on the gift giving this year.

November 1st marks the start of Prettypegs’ PrettyHackathon Auction. Why should this interest you? Well, if you’ve been holding onto those less-than-perfect or basic IKEA pieces in hopes of giving them new, exciting life, we’ve just found the ultimate source for makeover ideas and inspiration.

Here’s something that will slow you up in the morning: piles of loose shoes that you have to paw through looking for a matched pair, or a table cluttered with stuff that’s camouflaging your keys. Stop being underprepared and overwhelmed in the morning by giving yourself a dedicated and organized place to store your stuff. You might just be able to get out the door faster. Adding a set of hooks is an easy and affordable way to create instant storage in any entryway, big or small.

A strange phenomenon occurs when temps drop below 50º. It’s like all of a sudden we need all the blankets, all the boots, all the knitted sweaters, all the fall things, right now. We put away our summer clothes in exchange for things a little more comfortable and cozy. So why not carry the trend on over into your home – starting with the living room – with fuzzy rugs, woven blankets, warm lighting, and sweet scents?

If you’ve ever stepped foot into a SoulCycle studio (it’s okay to admit it, this is a safe place…), you’ve been hit with the alluring, invigorating, and obviously soulful scent of Jonathan Adler’s citrusy grapefruit candle. If you’re more like me and consider your daily exercise doing lunges with bags of groceries up 6 flights of stairs at the end of each day, then maybe you haven’t experienced this tantalizing scent…at least not yet.

If you’re one of the many who adopted a shelter animal this month (or even if you’ve had your trusty pal for way longer), it’s important to make sure your new family member feels at home. If you’ve got a crafty bent, you don’t have to rely on what the pet store has to offer — take a look at these diy projects which add style to your home and bring comfort and fun to your pooch.

See how to transform the simple MALM into something more.

These days, I prefer weekdays to weekends when it comes to my IKEA trips. Why, you ask? Well, as if it isn’t obvious, it means less crowds and more leisurely wandering the aisles, sans pressure. What am I looking for exactly? Maybe I have a simple list of items I need for a closet makeover, but then I spot a serving bowl that would make a perfect pendant light. Or I go in for some picture frames then can’t help but notice a kitchen cart that would be the perfect bar cart.

We’re in full-blown Halloween mode, and that means you better have your costumes in order. And what better idea than to get the whole gang in the Halloween spirit! You don’t have to be Chris Pratt or Zoe Saldana to pull off this costume idea. Each family member can be their favorite Guardians of the Galaxy character with a little DIY-ing and a lot of items you probably already have. See how Home Stories A to Z made their’s.

No more hanging around in the donation box – give them a new purpose!

Just because Halloween is focused on candy-crazed kids and kooky decor doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it, too. There’s still time to trade in your Jack O’ Lanterns, candy corn, and cobwebs for something a little more grown-up, so check out these 13 ideas and make the most of this fun holiday season! 1. Use cheesecloths instead of cobwebs. If you’re going to decorate, go for an updated look like this tablescape from DesignLoveFest (above). 2. DIY some pretty pumpkins.

With the launch of their latest Winter Collection of textured throws, warm candles and confectionery goodies, IKEA aims to help add a little magic to the holiday season. But the company hasn’t forgotten the most important part of gatherings — comfortable seating. If spare chairs don’t have a place in your small space, consider another option: temporarily transform your stools or side-tables into the perfect perch for your guests.

Your urban rental will almost certainly include a bedroom (or sleeping area), a bathroom (heaven forbid you have to live college dorm style!), and a kitchen (no matter how small, it still counts), but to have a designated dining room is about as common as having a designated bathtub for washing your dog.

When it comes to Halloween, you can truly never go wrong with the classics. Black and orange decor, hand-carved jack-o-lanterns, and fall foliage are the ultimate nostalgia-inducing elements this time of year, and we’re okay with that. So if you’re into tradition, this project is for you. Make your own no-sew felt banner to welcome all the neighborhood witches, warlocks, and monsters for some good old fashioned trick-or-treating!

For the minimal and modern decorator, Halloween decor doesn’t have to scare you. Go for muted tones and more understated details, like this easy to make a celestial moon garland that can easily stay up way past the last trick-or-treater. Air dry clay in white Circular cookie cutter Rolling pin Parchment paper Gold paint Toothbrush Gold jump rings for jewelry 1. On a piece of parchment paper, roll out your air dry clay using a rolling pin. The clay should be about 1/4-inch thick. 2.

What do you get when you mix Edgar Allen Poe and a bit of glam? A bewitching style that’s all about rich blacks, candles, and skulls. And if you’re into skulls, you’ll be into this quick and easy DIY. Using silicon skull molds and plaster, you can add the perfect garland accent to your Halloween spread, or leave it up and keep your glam goth game strong all year long. Plaster of Paris Silicon skull ice mold Eye hooks String Bucket Paint stirrer or similar 1.

Halloween is imminent, which means the costume aisles will soon be picked over. Do you go for the sweaty hotdog costume, or that last pair of cat ears? Our vote is no — not when you can make your own with a little help from 2-day shipping and your own closet. See what shows are inspiring us this Halloween season, and get to trick-or-treating! If Gilead gives you the creeps, you’re not alone.

Wall weavings have certainly made their way around the DIY and craft circles the last few years, and for good reason. Whether weaving is your job (I mean, just look at the craftsmanship over on Etsy), your lifelong hobby, your meditation device, or just a one-time thing, the results are often stunning. And that, to me, is reason enough to give it a go. If the word “weaving” intimidates you, not to worry.

Spice up your entryway, bedroom, or hallway with a bold statement piece that’s sure to mesmerize and beautify. The blush pink fringe is the perfect pop of color, and the sleek shape has “chic” written all over it. See how to make your own, from cutting your own custom mirror to dip-dyeing the perfect fringe, with this helpful tutorial.

I first fell in love with leather scaling way back when I saw a gorgeous Sara Larsson Scandinavian piece featuring the technique. There was something about the way the pattern, texture, and neutral colors worked to make a fairly unassuming wardrobe feel substantial, luxurious, and covetable. With this easy tutorial, you can add that same bit of Scandinavia to your home and furniture using affordable pre-cut leather coasters. You heard me…coasters!

I collect empty liquor bottles. Why? I guess part of me hopes to find a way to repurpose them into something beautiful. With liquor bottles coming in all shapes and styles, it’s hard not to want to keep them around. I’ve seen restaurants repurpose them for serving tap water in style or as flower vases or candle holders. All great things, but why not reuse your liquor bottles to store, wait for it, more liquor?

Don't let your storage bore.

Maybe you’ve been eyeballing a roll of Pottok Prints wallpaper but can’t fathom spending hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars covering the walls of your living room. Or maybe you’ve recently wallpapered your bathroom and have a few extra feet left over. Regardless, if you love wallpaper, and have the urge to add texture and pattern to your space, you’ll love these DIY ideas using wallpaper samples, leftovers, and single rolls.

Construct - or deconstruct - the perfect home accents from a stool.