Decorating on a Budget

A "before & after" bonanza of reader-submitted projects, organized by budget.

It’s Spring! Time to build your planter boxes! Here’s a quick video how-to from our ever-lovely garden expert, Ben Gould. It’s Spring! Time to build your planter boxes! Here’s a quick video how-to from our ever-lovely garden expert, Ben Gould. From Ben: • The Star: Ben Gould happened upon his passion for gardening when trying to find the most inexpensive way to travel the world through the WWOOF program in Belize and India.

Your backyard’s new best friend may be the humble, lowly cinder block. What it lacks in pizzazz it makes up for in versatility, durability and affordability. Each one costs a little more than a buck and, with some imagination, can be used in countless ways to add function and flair to your outdoor space.

We’ve see the IKEA BEKVÄM stool in every room of the house, but Kylie shares a hack that I have never seen before. With a few modifications (and nice new coat of paint), see what Kylie now uses it for in her kitchen these days, and the problem it solves… As you can see, the stool got an extra story with just a few pieces of wood and some screws. Now her daughter Matilda can get in on all the action, without asking to be held.

We’re asking readers to share how much they spent on a given item, project, or upgrade in the home. We hope this information proves helpful to anyone needing to get a basic sense of how much something costs, and how much you can expect to pay to hire someone. If you can, let us know the type of system you chose, how large your space is, and specify materials vs. hired labor if needed. Approximates are fine. Since costs vary, your region of the country is always helpful too!

Suzanne saw potential in IKEA’s popular BESTA shelf, and not just as vertical storage. When flipped and tweaked, she was able to make it into something else entirely. Keep on reading to see the pretty remarkable transformation… This might just qualify for a hack and a half. Using the IKEA BESTA as a base, Suzanne custom created a DIY tufted banquette that’s sophisticated and stylish (and offers extra hidden storage as a bonus).

We’re asking readers to share how much they spent on a given item, project, or upgrade in the home. We hope this information proves helpful to anyone needing to get a basic sense of how much something costs, and how much you can expect to pay to hire someone. If you can, let us know the type of linoleum flooring you used, how many square feet you installed, and specify materials vs. hired labor. Approximates are fine. Since costs vary, your region of the country is always helpful too!

Kevin rounded up some old wooden pallets by driving around to various warehouses, and through Craigslist. He had a project in mind, and just needed a bunch that were roughly equal sized. Want to see what he did with them? This impressive reclaimed wood backyard deck is the result! After measuring the space, he laid the pallets where he wanted the deck to be. Starting with the first row, Kevin lined up all gaps and used pavers to level and support the pallets.

Spring has sprung, and you know what that means: antique fair season is in full swing. People crowd into these markets, hoping to find the treasures buried amongst all the junk. But the truly clever DIYers and repurposers out there know that sometimes, the junk IS the treasure. These DIY ideas from our video archives will have you looking at the flea market in a whole new light. 1. Turn old sheets into new curtains. 2. Repurpose an old rake head. 3. Turn a vintage shoe form into a lamp. 4.

We’re asking readers to share how much they spent on a given item, project, or upgrade in the home. We hope this information proves helpful to anyone needing to get a basic sense of how much something costs, and how much you can expect to pay to hire someone. If you can, let us know the type of carpet you chose, and how many square feet you installed, and specify materials vs. hired labor. Approximates are fine. Since costs vary, your region of the country is always helpful too!

We’re asking readers to share how much they spent on a given item, project, or upgrade in the home. We hope this information proves helpful to anyone needing to get a basic sense of how much something costs, and how much you can expect to pay to hire someone. If you can, let us know the type of laminate flooring you used, how many square feet you installed, and specify materials vs. hired labor. Approximates are fine. Since costs vary, your region of the country is always helpful too!

We often turn to IKEA for cheap storage options, which makes their basic wardrobes a popular item in a lot of homes. Clever DIY projects and hacks pop up as people discover ways to upgrade the units to look more expensive and custom-built in their spaces. Here are 8 great projects to think about yourself: Designer Tommy Smythe updated his PAX doors with molding and vintage knobs. Combined with the sleek black paint, this new storage looks high-end and beautiful.

Does this kitchen look familiar? It is the Apartment Kitchen. I believe it was installed in every apartment built between 1978 and 1995. It is difficult to hate the Apartment Kitchen — it just is. But there is not much to love about it, either. So when One Kings Lane editor Kerstin, who had the Apartment Kitchen, met stylist Megan Pflug, who was looking to do an “easy but stylish” kitchen before and after, she jumped at the chance. Yes — it is the same kitchen. I know.

I recently came across these cheery fruit templates from Mr Printables. Designed for children’s play kitchens and grocery stands, they would also make colorful decorations in a kid’s rooms (think mobiles and garland). I also imagine these sweet fruits as fun centerpieces for outdoor summer parties. Templates include: apple, pear, banana, pineapple, kiwi, lemon, watermelon, strawberry, raspberry and blueberry. You can find them here.

Unlike painting, tiling isn’t as quick and easy as it looks. Tiling is for those who enjoy tedious, repetitive perfectionism. And I can’t say that I do, but in the end, the three days that turned into three weeks (seriously) was all worth it. Clean white subway tile transforms spaces — all in such a timeless way. So, before you start mixing the thin-set, check out the lessons I learned about how to tile your bathroom.

Planning to plant a full garden or even just a couple of pots for your window sill this spring? Here are 10 clever marker DIYs so you can label them in style. TOP ROW1.Gilded Garden Markers2.Soda Can Plant Markers 3. Painted Rock Garden Markers4.Ceramic Tag Plant Markers 5. Painted Popsicle Stick Garden Markers, DIY from Aimee Bee BOTTOM ROW6. Clothespin Plant Marker7. Spray Painted Magnetic Letter Garden Markers 8. Twig Seed Markers9. Chalkboard Garden Markers10.

Tiffany loves thrift shopping and regularly brings home furniture that’s seen better days. This $5 table looked a little worse for wear, but nothing that a couple of coats of white paint couldn’t fix. When disaster struck, the tabletop veneer got ruined, and Tiffany was forced to find a new solution…. Since the top wasn’t salvageable, Tiffany made an entirely new one!

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?

Upholstery is one of the those projects you start with really good intentions, but they often peter out before the piece is totally done. Sibylle knew that recovering her newfound loveseat would be a pain in the ass, and decided to go a totally different route. Behold! A painted upholstered sofa! Yep, Sibylle went to town on both the wood AND the fabric parts. Using textile medium, and matte black paint, she transformed this vintage loveseat into a more modern piece of furniture.

Patrick is an avid DIY’er, but you’re about to see the toughest job he’s ever taken on. It wasn’t for the faint of heart, and he should’ve asked friends to help, but after a week of hard work, he transformed his hardwood into the floors he always wanted… Can you believe he planed his entire hardwood floor BY HAND? No, neither could I. But plane it he did, and therefore Patrick wins the award for DIY endurance. Hands down.

Earlier this week, I showed you my newly renovated sink and backsplash area in my kitchen. If you’re interested in learning how to remove and install your own sink, follow these steps to complete the process yourself! A new kitchen sink that fits both width, length and depth of the existing space Plumber’s putty Your brand new sink!

Kitchens can be daunting and expensive to remodel, yet they remain the room people want to renovate the most. Whether you’re on a tight budget or a renter with constraints on what you’re actually allowed to do, the kitchens shown here are excellent examples of what can be achieved by simply painting cabinetry, removing cabinet doors, swapping out lighting or hardware, or upgrading appliances.

Once again, you don’t have to be a trained woodworker to make something for your home. Armed with some wrapping paper, reader Angelica did something quite clever to this basic table lamp… She went for the gold! For this simple project, cut strips of wrapping paper at the height of the lamp shade and about 2.5 inches wide. Apply Mode Podge on the back of each strip and affix the wrapping paper onto the lamp shade, pressing smoothly to remove any air bubbles.

“Decorative art isn’t necessarily created just by bona fide artists. Everyday folks can get in on the action too, and make custom work for their walls. We asked our house tour residents to tell us about their DIY art projects, and the results are endlessly impressive. 1. Above, a Southwestern rug-inspired painted canvas from Kathryn & Perry’s “Have Less Do More” Apartment: My proudest DIY has got to be our little dining nook/statement art wall!

It’s rare when the words IKEA and Dubai appear in one sentence. Dubai, with its reputation for luxury and modern excess, hardly calls to mind budget furniture. However, UAE resident Jacqui wanted to insert a least a hint of glamour into this old Blue Hemnes dresser, and bring a little glitz to her master bedroom. Here’s her hack… She started by painting the dresser a dramatic jet black, then added a nailhead trim around all the edges. Spray painted gold knobs complete the look.

You know the saying: give someone a fish and they eat for a day. But teach that person to fish and they eat for a lifetime? Wise words, and completely applicable to IKEA hacks. Because, we can show you good examples of “Before & After” projects all day long but, sooner or later young lady, you’ll find yourself standing in front of a broke-down MALM dresser and you won’t know what to do. And then where are you going to be? Huh? Can you answer me that?

Nearly a year ago, I wrote about how moving from San Francisco to rural Illinois would change my economic reality. Some friends even assumed that it was so cheap to live in the country that I wouldn’t have to work at all! My plans actually changed a bit, and I’ve spent the last 8 months in one of Illinois’ small towns (Pop.

I am always on the lookout for new hanging planters, but I usually find them to be out of my price range or just not quite right. Recently I spent an evening searching online for DIY versions, and I rounded up 15 tutorials based on the old school macramé planters of the 70s. There are plenty of ideas to inspire you, using a variety of materials — rope, cording, leather, brass fittings, even t-shirts.

This office credenza is all business. It’s gray, it’s functional, but pretty it is not. Owner Joanne took this cabinet to task, refinished it in about 4 hours in her driveway, then found a better place for it. Want to see? What was all business in the front, is now a party in the back. The formerly buttoned-up credenza fits nicely in her nook, and is now the perfect furniture host. It holds drinks, stores glasses and wine, and blends in nicely with the rest of the home.

Last year, I spent a bunch of money on annuals and perennials for my small backyard plot. This year, I’ve vowed to be more like my dad, who always jump-starts his garden indoors (see above). To that end, I’ve bought some flower seeds and begun my research. Costs add up quickly at nurseries, and the savings of seeds versus plants is obvious. The five flower seed packets I bought, including low-fuss zinnias and bachelor’s button, cost $10 and change.