This 1970s House Gets Updated on a Budget Thanks to Creative DIY Projects
Name: Megann Gresham, husband, two children, and two dogs
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Type of home: House
Size: 2500 square feet
Years lived in: 11 months, owned
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Boho, modern, industrial, vintage mix.
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Our home is an ever-evolving, comfortable reflection of our family. Different rooms showcase our different preferences and styles, but still blend and flow. What was (and is) important is that the spaces encompass form and function. We never wanted to have a home where we constantly worry about spills or tracking dirt on the floors, yet have spaces we can still admire and be proud of. We also didn’t have a large budget to renovate this ’70s built home the way we would like, so it’s literally chock-full of DIY projects and works in progress.
What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room in the house is really a toss up between the upstairs living room and the guest bedroom. The living room has amazing windows and lighting, a bold brick fireplace I painstakingly painted green (by hand), houses some of my favorite plants, and most importantly, it’s where we spend time together as a family. I feel completely and totally at ease in the space—which is also why I typically choose to work there each day (I work from home).
But the guest bedroom was such a labor of love. I decorated it multiple times and couldn’t get it right! I finally decided to participate in a $250 refresh challenge to remake the space. I think I channeled every creative bone in my body to completely transform the room into one that I absolutely love. We built the bed frame, my husband welded the wall art, I built the shelving unit—we did everything ourselves and it’s a complete reflection of what I love.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I actually went to Target tonight to scope out the clearance racks and found two throw pillows for my stepson’s room, which I’m currently in the process of refreshing! Yesterday I hit a thrift store and found an awesome wooden butterfly wall hanging for my daughter’s bedroom. My two favorite places to shop!
Any advice for creating a home you love? You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a home you love! DIY it. Hit the thrift stores. Stalk Facebook Marketplace. Remake old furniture into something new and amazing. Throw a few (or an excessive amount) of plants in the mix. Get creative! But most importantly, make a space you love and feel at home in!
