Project Ideas

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

Finally give your kitties the privacy they desire.

Because we know you want plants EVERYWHERE. (We do, too.)

It'll even save you money on cans of paint!

The breakfast bar may have started out as just a place to scarf your morning cereal, but as anyone who’s ever been in a home with one can attest, if there’s a kitchen island with seating, that’s where everyone will be hanging out, guaranteed. They’re great for people who love to cook too.

It's time to rethink this narrow, but mighty, spot.

This lighting fix is a dream for renters (and homeowners!).

Ready to give one a go? Start here.

When I first took a virtual tour of the charming prefab homes from the Swedish company LEVA Husfabrik, almost every room had an element that made me think, “Hey, I could make that!” Not only did the ideas seem doable, but also beautiful, minimal and supremely functional for small spaces. When you’re debating your next DIY project, scroll through these homes for inspiration, or choose one of the five projects on my wish list.

It is a good time to love tile. Beautiful patterns and shapes abound. But unfortunately for those us on a budget, a lot of the most beautiful tiles are just way too expensive to use for a whole wall, a floor, or even a backsplash. So we’ve come up with some creative ways you can incorporate just a little bit of that amazing tile you love, so you can enjoy its loveliness without breaking the bank.

If you’re looking for a relatively painless, low-cost way to update your kitchen, and have ever been on the internet, you know that painting your cabinets is the way to go. Honestly, I can’t think of better dollar-to-dramatic improvement ratio on any other project. And the news gets better: It’s way easier now than it was the olden days, before the miracle of chalk paint.

Unless you remodeled your kitchen from scratch, with a custom layout and cabinets, it’s probably not perfectly suited to your needs (I’m looking at you renters). But, there are still lots of ways to configure your space—and especially those plain basic boxes on the wall—and make it work for you today. Take note of this clever project that squeezes every drop of storage out of your cabinets, especially those shorter ones above the fridge and stove.

I was warming up to make a bunch of wagon wheel coffee table jokes — most referencing When Harry Met Sally — when I realized this is actually a mill wheel. We’ll just have to appreciate this project for what it is: an approachable, unique upcycle of a neglected old piece of equipment. Here’s how this project came to be, according to Roxanne of The Honeycomb Home: While at a flea market, an old wooden wheel caught my eye. The seller said it may have been from a grist mill.

You are probably losing money right now, without even realizing it. If you’re less than pleased with your recent home energy bill, don’t fret. There’s room for improvement and savings. Heating accounts for the largest portion (45 percent) of our energy bills, according to the U.S.

Your kitchen is only so big, so if you’ve run out of storage room, it’s time to make the space work harder and be more efficient. It’s easy to miss potential, but look closely and you’ll find lots more opportunities to store essentials and clutter. Here are five ways we often get it wrong, and how you can quickly remedy your kitchen mistakes.

Cooler weather means wearing jeans frequently, and wearing jeans frequently means wearing jeans out more quickly than you ever thought possible. If your favorite pairs are ripping, fraying, or just showing more wear-and-tear than you’d like, these 10 DIYs will keep them functioning and looking fabulous all fall. If you want a basic fix without adding too many distracting elements (these are jeans after all), try this tutorial on how to add a denim patch inside your favorite pair.

Good design is in the details—no matter how small. Today we’re here to shine the light (pun intended) on those white plastic light switch plates that are so commonplace, they’re often overlooked as permanent fixtures. No matter what your style, we promise there’s a wall plate that complements your home design better than the existing smudge-prone standard. All you need is a screwdriver and a few bucks, so start swapping.

Over the years, we’ve shared a lot of money-saving projects, large and small. If you can make something at home easily and cheaply, why wouldn’t you? Save some cash and flex those DIY muscles with these ten ideas for things to make rather than buy, from the Apartment Therapy and Kitchn archives. Your wallet and your home will thank you. Household cleaners. Ban chemicals from your home once and for all, and save pennies too with these recipes for eco-friendly cleaning products.

Even if you got stuck in there for a whole afternoon (and, let’s be honest, who hasn’t?), you might still never see every little thing the IKEA marketplace has to offer. Take, for instance, the untreated wooden magazine file the Swedish retailer likes to call KNUFF. It’s affordable and so unassuming you might miss it if you weren’t looking for it, but the KNUFF can be used for a whole host of things around the house.

Costco’s vast selection of items has been well-documented, and anyone who’s a fan of the discount megastore knows it sells more than half-gallon tubs of mayo and toilet paper in bulk. While some of its more… unusual… offerings (think: caskets) get lots of attention from media outlets, the store stocks a whole host of housewares and home improvement items that rival what you’d find in a Home Depot or Lowe’s.

New year, new kitchen.

Sure, you could buy him a tie or golf ball cufflinks or whatever, but wouldn’t he rather receive something made with love by his talented offspring? Here are 10 Dad-worthy projects from our archives, plus 5 imminently edible and giftable recipes from The Kitchn… TOP ROW: How To Make a Mid-Century Style Dog Bed: Just face it, you’ve been replaced. Your inbox is full of dog updates and your dad’s wallet is full of puppy photos instead of your old school portraits.

Drop cloths are sturdy fabric, come in a basic neutral shade, and are readily available for little money at the hardware store. Need I say more? Okay, then I will. Drop cloths look remarkably similar to linen, so you can get that relaxed, coastal, or rustic vibe for less. Check out these 50+ projects to get the look… A hand-printed rug, done by Poppytalk, with a Sharpie! I love this super colorful painted and sponge-pattern rug that Nellie Bellie made.

We all know that catalogs aren’t real life, but they can be excellent sources of inspiration to mine for your own home. IKEA has one of the best ones out there, and their 2019 edition (out this week!) is chock full of ways to add color, interest, and texture to your walls. Here are some clever and creative painting ideas to steal. Here, IKEA uses two complementary paint colors for the walls: a dusty blue and pink.

As long as the tap turns on, you don’t really think about your water. But you may have a problem that shows up in other ways, and hard water is one you should definitely pay attention to.

Look past all the stylish and affordable furniture and accessories in the new 2019 IKEA catalog, and you’ll also see some pretty smart and awesomely affordable decorating ideas as well. Get inspired by these design-savvy home hacks hiding in those glossy pages, all of which are very doable on a very small budget. Since this is most definitely a catalog shoot, chances are very, very good that you’re not looking at actual board and batten on the walls.

Last month we asked how much readers spent buying and installing a new water heater in their home. And you told us! We hope this information gives a basic sense of how much this new appliance costs, and how much you can expect to pay when hiring someone. Keep in mind, this is general and prices most likely vary in cities versus more rural locations, etc…Although this gives you a rough idea, you should always seek multiple quotes for any work done in your home.

Many of us have spent the last six months daydreaming about warm weather, so let’s spend these last few cool, rainy—snowy?—weeks preparing for all the basking and lounging we’re sure to be doing soon. Here are 10 projects that will help you spruce up your outdoor space, whether you have a huge backyard and a fully stocked toolbox—or just a fire escape and a dream.

With the warm season starting, I’ve become obsessed with all things white. So I’ve returned to my rental white walls in the bathroom, which feels so fresh and clean for summer. Check out the results below. I used the same color on the baseboard and moldings so I didn’t need to worry about that clean line of paint as the color changes (the most frustrating part of a painting job to a self-proclaimed lazy perfectionist).

Just because I’ve come to terms with my home’s imperfections doesn’t mean I don’t obsess over my inspiration boards. The latest addition is this incredible makeover of an Austin bungalow. The owners, Britt and Dan, waited five years to tackle their remodel, and the result is a beautifully modern and calm home awash in white. And yes, I’m jealous much.

Living in a home where you can’t make any permanent changes can be frustrating, but clever apartment dwellers know that just means it’s time to get creative. Here are some of their go-to moves for turning even the most cramped, outdated, characterless spaces into a cozy, personality-filled home. Hint: It doesn’t involve buying all new furniture.

“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!

I’ve been having a bear of a time finding a set of side tables that fit next to my couch and don’t look terrible. I also love a good DIY project — especially one that can be finished over a weekend — so I was pretty excited to see this cool set of DIY side tables made from IKEA cutting boards and plumbing pipes.

We got a sneak peek into Greg and Ashley’s bathroom remodel back in April, when the couple was still in the thick of the project. After checking in on their progress, we discovered that the bathroom is now ready for a full unveiling!Greg and Ashley have been tracking the progress of their house renovation on their blog 7th House on the Left. When we peeked in at their bathroom last April they had just finished ripping out all the old stuff and installing the new tile and vanity.