Project Ideas

Learn these six common stitches and you can apply them to a myriad of projects.

IKEA always for the win.

These are common problems with surprisingly simple solutions.

Some simple chores now can prevent much bigger projects (and costs) in the future.

You deserve extra prep space and additional seating, too.

Ban those plug-in air fresheners for good.

Muffle the noise once and for all.

You can put away your drill now.

No pumpkin guts were harmed in the making of this decor.

We love to write about clever, multitasking furniture designs for small spaces, but the downside to a lot of these pieces is that they come with hefty price tags. If, like a lot of people, you’re living in a small space and have a similarly small budget, the good news is that there are a lot of DIYs out there for hardworking, flexible furniture that you can make yourself. Here are 11 of our favorites. Above, a custom table created for this tiny beach house seen at VT Wonen.

There's an upside to everything.

Save your money for other splurges.

Sometimes there’s just nothing better than a simple change of color. And, when it comes to giving furniture and decor a brand new lease on life, for the least money and effort, the hands-down winner is spray paint. I’ve tried a lotta lotta spray paint, and recently found my new favorite. It’s easier to think of things I haven’t spray painted—my dogs, maybe—than all the things I have.

I never quite felt like a real adult until I framed my first piece of art. All through college, I pinned giant collages of unframed art to my walls like a life-size scrapbook. Post-grad, I’ve slowly started framing my favorite pieces. Custom framing is expensive, so I scour thrift stores for well-made frames with glass and hit up my local art supply store for the rest of what I need to do my own custom framing. Ready to get started?

The kids love it.

The tiniest, most adorable kitchens you ever did see.

That old world charm is just a few DIY days away.

Perfect, temporary solutions for all over your house.

A whole new world of paint will open up to you.

Here's what we learned.

Activated charcoal and aloe are the two darlings of the beauty world right now, showing up in drugstore products, high-end cleansers and DIY recipes alike. This homemade face mask recipe combines the two star ingredients into the simplest skin detox around. Remember those blackhead-removing strips that were so fun as a teen? Consider this their trendy, grown-up cousin. So, what is activated charcoal, anyway?

Zip ties are just one of those things that seem to have an infinite amount of uses. Obviously, they’re good for tying groups of things together, but that can mean so many things. Once you read these 11 uses for zip ties, you’re probably going to want to buy a huge stash to have on hand. You know how your shower drain only gets clogged on Monday mornings when you’re already running late for a meeting and didn’t shower all weekend?

Living in a house (especially an older house) is a noisy business. Cabinet doors slam shut. Floorboards creak. Doors squeak on their hinges. What to do (besides moving) if you’re a person who loves peace and quiet? We’ve got a few ideas. Most American houses are made from wood, and over time, wood can expand and contract. Squeaky or creaky floors are caused by the wood subfloor separating from the joists beneath.

Make a space that can do it all!

Here's what you didn't know.

Think outside the frame.

Get more mileage out of your well-loved basics.

Turns out there's more than one way to skin a couch.

How to paint plastic without it chipping, cracking or flaking.

Let’s face it, baseboard radiators are ugly. They’re boxy, often institutional beige, and they tend to accumulate scuffs and splotches of rust. But baseboard radiators do serve an important purpose, and those of us who rely on them to heat our homes are more or less stuck with them. Fortunately, there are ways to work around these wall-space-hogging eyesores, and painting your baseboard heater covers to match your home’s walls or trim is a great place to start.

According to HGTV experts.

An easy way to give your home a little bit of old-world charm.

See what your workspace could look like...

While one-of-a-kind, wood-burning fireplaces bring undeniable warmth to a room, fake fireplaces can bring just as much ambiance – just in different ways. Of course, some faux fireplaces are downright drab, but with the proper DIY skills, the mantel can become the stand-out piece of your living room.

Whether you can't afford a new bed or just want to give your current bed a bit of a romantic makeover, here's a plethora of DIY ideas for a canopy bed.

Longtime renters, take note.

Waste no more!

From "I feel comfortable using thumbtacks" to "Let me get my power tools," we've got a little something for everyone.