Amelia Lawrence

See how to transform the simple MALM into something more.

Don't let a blah kitchen get you down - pretty it up with one of these DIY projects.

I spy with my little eye another IKEA hack done right. If you scored high on the Spot the IKEA Quiz, I have no doubt you’ll be able to spot this IKEA piece turned high-end Scandinavian home decor. This project, along with many like it, further proves how a simple change in perspective can dramatically alter the success of a space.

Headboards have served a lot of purposes over the course of time. They protected us from drafty winters and uninsulated walls, they served as a symbol of opulence and luxury, and most recently, they have provided storage and overall aesthetic to bedrooms everywhere. So in keeping with the theme of functional and aesthetic furniture, we’ve created the easiest and most inspirational headboard of all time and using just one simple material!

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.

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’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.

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.

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.

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.

Whether you’re in a prime location to see the solar eclipse or not, this easy wall sconce is a sight to see, and it doesn’t require any protective eye wear. This project is the perfect way to add layers and depth to your home lighting (can anyone say hygge?!). To top it off, it requires absolutely no wiring, and no outlet. Count me in. With the simple push of a button (or remote) you can enjoy your own “eclipse of the home” for far beyond 2 minutes and 40.1 seconds.

I’ve been on a lighting kick lately. Maybe it’s because I just re-read The Little Book of Hygge. To me, light — whether it’s natural or created — is king when it comes to your home. Not all of us have floor-to-ceiling windows or an expansive budget for beautiful light fixtures. And many DIY lighting projects require at least a little bit of electrical wiring. Not in the case of this Paper & Stitch IKEA globe light hack, though.

Remember the good ole days of decorating your locker with neon magnets, stickers, and magazine cutouts of Will Smith, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and the like? Lockers were like our own little slice of personality-heaven in a world where we were told when to learn math, when to eat, and when to turn in our shoebox dioramas. I’m here to say those lockers days don’t have to be over just yet.

I’m seeing blue everywhere these days – kitchen cabinets and islands, sofas, and curtains, to name a few. What about adding those stunning blue hues to your walls? And no, I don’t mean with paint. You may have heard of an old technique called cyanotype printing. It’s been around, well, since the 1800s, and has since stretched from a practical means of making blueprints, all the way to various forms of art in the printmaking and photography world.

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?

One of the greatest intersections of design happens when function and taste meet. Even more so is finding the sweet spot between functional kid-friendly toys and tasteful decor. In an age full of plastic, heavily-branded games, and now fidget spinners and glitter slime, it’s hard to imagine a world where toys and games can double as home decor. Unless, that is, you purchase an expensive artisanal alternative, or make your own.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.