Home Projects

If you’ve ever thought, “what was I thinking when I picked out that color?” while staring at your kitchen mixer, this DIY might just be for you. For around $10 you can repaint to freshen up or completely change the look of your mixer —a pretty sweet alternative to shelling out a few hundred bucks for a new machine!

Paper mâché is an art form usually reserved for kids and camp goers, but why should they have all the fun? Whether you’re prepping for a fiesta and need to make a piñata, or you’re just looking for a fun creative outlet, paper mâché is a great way to get your hands dirty creating cool art.

A cyanotype is a photographic process that produces a cyan blue print. The print can easily be made on a large variety of materials, so I wanted to see what would happen when experimenting with fabric. It worked! The process wasn’t that much different than if you were to use paper, so if you’ve ever tried that method, you’re a step ahead of the game. The best way to come by the chemicals needed for the process is to purchase a kit from Photographers’ Formulary.

Handmade soap is an easy and effective way to add a personalized touch to your bathroom. Whether you’ve got sensitive skin and want to know exactly what ingredients are going into your soaps, or you want to give your guests that ’boutique hotel’ experience while they’re staying with you, it’s fast, fun and totally worth the investment. You can purchase soap making kits that come with everything you need, or gather your supplies individually.

Dying textiles is a great way to give new life to an old blanket or pair of jeans. If you’re working on a small item, a plastic bucket is ideal, but if you’ve got something sizable like a quilt, a large enough container to properly cover and agitate the item in can be difficult to come by. You already knew you could use a top loading washing machine, but did you know you can also use your front loader? Well, you can!

Homemade candles are fun to make and are great gifts that can be personalized by picking out specific containers and scents. Don’t want to fuss with a double boiler and a bunch of candle-making equipment? Don’t have to! Make thoughtful, personalized, homemade candles using just a microwave. I made my candles two ways: with color, and scented (both ways are illustrated below).

No matter how much effort is put into a well decorated room, an old yellowed light switch can totally distract from the overall design. At less than $2 a pop, you have no excuse not to replace them! It’s an easy, low budget fix that can add major appeal to a room. Screwdriver Needle nose pliers New light switch Okay, so before you do anything, get to your circuit breaker or fuse panel and shut off all electric in the room where you are working.

For the times that you just can’t find that perfect drawer pull (or the times that you can, but don’t feel like dishing out the $$), knowing how to make your own is a great skill to have. So round up the troops, (seriously, how cool would army people drawer pulls be!?), gather your supplies and get to work! Plastic toys from the dollar store or thrift shop are great pieces to start with.

Project by: Christina of andchristina Location: Philadelphia, PA Last year my boyfriend (now fiance 🙂 and I bought our first house (a rowhome in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia) and we’ve spent the last few months transforming the first floor, mainly the kitchen (check it out here!), and also building this breakfast nook in the main living area.

Every so often, someone sends in a project that 100% reaffirms my belief in the power of paint along with good diy and decorating skills. This is one of them. Take it away (and OMG, amazing job!

Bring a slice of coveted MCM home decor right to your desktop with these miniature bullet planters. Made from upcycled plastic Easter eggs and a few pieces of wire, this simple DIY will make your cute cubicle the envy of the office. 20 gauge jewelry wire Plastic easter eggs Tape Scissors or wire cutters Needle nose pliers Nylon jaw pliers (optional) 1. Cut three 6″ pieces of wire. Straighten as much as you can with needle nose and nylon pliers. 2.

Project by: Erin’s Mom and Dad Location: Wilamette Valley, Oregon My parents live in a small rural town in Oregon Willamette Valley. My younger brother and his wife live nearby, but my sisters and I are all spread across the country. We try to visit as often as we can, but it’s quite a journey with little ones, so we manage to make one trip a year.

Project by: June Location: Hertfordshire, UK Our hallway was dark and dull, looking grubby and tired.

Project by: Ana Location: Seattle, WA The one thing I love and appreciate most in life, besides my baby son Magnus and awesome husband Jordan, is working with my hands. The process of creation amazes me every time, and I look down at my hands and thank them for being healthy and strong, then I realize I should thank my eyes, brain and heart for caring on an artistic drive in me year after year.

Project by: Katherine Location: Wichita, KS When we moved into our almost century-old house five years ago we were in the throes of planning a wedding (in the backyard of that house) and so a lot of things got the quick and dirty treatment. The dining room was one of those things. A coat of paint on the walls, a craigslist table and chairs, and a CB2 light fixture and call it good! This past fall, my father-in-law gave us a massive amount of books and along with them, several shelves.

Project by: Karen We just moved into a 1929 Tudor bungalow. The kitchen is small and has only one window. The upper cabinets made the room seem darker. In addition, they were hard for me to reach (I’m 5’2″). So I took them out and replaced them with open shelving in gloss white. The room was instantly brighter. I added storage in the pantry to make up for the lost cabinet space. So I took out the upper cabinets and replaced them with open shelving in gloss white.

Project by: Taylor Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Just days before my scheduled c-section, we were finally finishing our daughter’s nursery. We wanted a room with lots of contrast, personality and DIY touches. We also knew we were working with a small space and so we wanted our choices to be high-impact and make a smart use of our limited floor space.

Project by: Negar of Space Harmony Location: Vancouver, Canada This is an interior design and renovation we did for a client, a professional and avid skier who wanted his 1600 three-level town house to feel like a chalet. Because of the space limitation and ceiling height, we couldn’t use the real bold and robust materials used in chalets so we created an “modern chalet” instead! Our goal was to create the same cozy and comfortable ambiance on a smaller scale.

Project by: Molly of Awfully Big Adventure Location: Austin, TX This project focused on taking my tiny, boring, popcorn-ceilinged living room and turning it into a cheery, comfortable place to come home to- all on a serious budget. Using mainly Ikea, Craigslist, hand-me-downs, and tchotchkes galore, the living room came together and is now a colorful, eclectic space far from the oatmeal box it once was.

Project by: Samantha Location: New York, NY It was actually my boyfriend who picked out our temporary apartment in midtown Manhattan – at the time I was still living in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, I did not have the time to fly to New York by the time he moved in, in order to help him out. Hence, I had to order most of the necessary furniture online and have it delivered to an apartment I hadn’t even seen yet which was a bit of a challenge and risk.

Renovation by: Wendy Location: Nevada City We wanted the look of a stacked stone accent wall in our bathroom. However, we were unable to find a stone veneer that would fit behind our toilet. We decided to use reclaimed pine which we got from used pallets. We cut approximately 350 pieces of wood into different lengths and depths all with the same height (2.5 inches). We used a very strong floor glue to adhere the pieces of wood to the wall. After the wall was complete, we painted it a light gray.

Renovation by: Courtney and Brent Location: Houston, Texas When we moved into our house there was one thing about our living room that bugged us. It was the inset in the wall next to the fireplace. It was intended for the TV but we knew how we wanted the room to “flow” and found it awkward to have the TV off center and next to the fireplace. So we set up the living room how we wanted it with the TV on the long wall and left that space empty.

Project by: Emily and Erica Refinishing the main stairwell was just one small component of the year-log, full scale, gut-renovation of our 1900’s Greek Revival house in Providence, RI—but as the staircase is the first thing you see when you come in our front door, we wanted it to be a striking feature.

Project by: Kelly Location: Athens, GA I recently became obsessed with this wallpaper pattern called “Cuben” made by Flavor Paper. I saw a photo online of how someone had used it in a kitchen. Unfortunately the wallpaper is a little out of my budget so I decided to attempt to recreate it in my own kitchen with paint. I measured my walls and plotted out the design on graph paper. I used a yard stick and a level to get all the lines penciled onto the wall.

Project by: Kate Location: Des Moines, Iowa My husband and I moved into our little house in Des Moines (in a historic area called Beaverdale, full of houses from the ’30s) in July, and were very excited to start bringing some personality into the place! We liked the olive green walls of the living room and dining room, but realized shortly after hanging stuff up that we needed more color in the space.

Chris and Julia’s daughter was growing up fast, and they needed a baby gate for their soon-to-be-mobile child. Not thrilled with the readymade options they saw in stores, they devised this custom option for the top of their stairs. The plexiglass makes it less conspicuous than others out there, and the special size works nicely for their extra-wide staircase.

Alison Dahl Kelly shared photos and the story of her amazing kitchen and dining room makeover with us. Take it away, Alison: Purchased in 2009, our artfully restored 1880’s townhouse has been taken apart and put back together again, restoring some old and adding some new. What attracted us to buy this house were the still-intact original details—parquet flooring, tin ceilings, marble fireplaces, built-in cabinetry, his and hers vanities.

Renovation by: Sofia Location: Toronto, Ontario When we purchased our house 4.5 years ago, our basement had a lot of potential with large windows and a beautiful backyard view. The operative word here is “potential” as the space was completely unlivable at the time. The primary objective of the entire basement renovation — and especially this bathroom — was to do it stylishly on a budget.

Renovation by: Alicia Location: Orem, Utah This project was such a drastic change and so much fun! This was months in the making – between backorders and busy summers, we were finally able to finish my friend’s master bedroom! From basic and drab to classy and chic, it was a fun and drastic reveal! When I did the first initial consult, my friend said she never really thought to decorate her master. It’s a HUGE master bedroom and had so much potential!

Makeover by: Wendi Location: Seattle, Washington The room had looked the same (horrible) for 18 years. After my divorce, I decided it was time for a change. The project was done over the course of the summer this year, with the main costs being paint and trim. Though I did not set a budget or keep track of the total, the project was relatively inexpensive.

Renovation by: Douglas Huebner Location: South Orange, New Jersey I’m a Realtor in South Orange, NJ and I have an investor client. I’ve helped him buy a couple of houses in the area for him to restore and resell. On this particular project he let my wife and I do the renovation. I became the General Contractor / Project Manager and my wife did all the design work. We did a complete renovation.

I am such a sucker for vintage scarves. I cannot resist them. They are little pieces of wearable art that can also look great around your home. For just a few bucks you can transform your throw pillows by adding unexpected pops of color and texture — and there is absolutely no sewing involved at all so you won’t have to ruin your lovely scarf! Vintage scarves Throw pillows Rubber bands or ribbon 1. Gather a few small throw pillows from around your home.

Project by: Louise Location: Utica, New York We live in a 1930’s Dutch Colonial house in Central NY. The second-floor bathroom (the only one with a bathtub) was a disaster when we bought the house and stayed that way for several years. The room is extremely narrow. And to make things worse, the previous owner installed a vanity so large that there was no space to move around in there. The renovation had to be affordable, so the toilet, tub and sink had to remain in the same spots.

Project by: Kara and Matt Location: Charlotte, NC This past spring we purchased a 1960’s style brick ranch that aesthetically was still stuck in that decade. The home had great bones, but like most houses built at that time, contained lots of tiny “living” spaces, like a small L shaped kitchen, a super dark paneled den and a long, narrow living room.

Renovation by: Oneiric Projects Location: Los Angeles, CA This developer redo of a house is worth a peek for your own potential projects. It’s fully updated but still charming, especially when it comes to not only preserving but improving upon its major vintage curb appeal. Details about the renovation from Oneiric: New energy efficient windows preserves the 1919 style while providing ample natural light into the home. Original front door and peephole provides a warm welcome to visitors.

Makeover by: Paige Location: Naperville, Illinois My husband and I just finished our latest project: updating our main bathroom for under $250. We went back and forth about doing a larger renovation in here, but in the end we decided to work with what we had first. If we could get it to look great with minimal labor for us, then why not try it? We replaced the counter top (which was veined with purple!

Project by: Sarah & Chad Location: Montreal, Canada We thought we were going to take a break from renovating our 1950s attached house in Montreal after completely gutting the kitchen and updating the whole main level but a leaky toilet derailed our plans.

Justin sent us before, during and after photos of his recent bathroom makeover: I bought my condo 2.5 years ago and the upstairs half bath was pretty awful. My girlfriend and I did a ton of research on materials since we wanted to go with a more modern renovation. No timeframe, but we needed it done sooner than later considering we’re talking about cohabitation.

When faced with an outdated kitchen, it’s a natural reaction to want to go for the gut and simply start with a clean slate. It takes a a good eye and plenty of design confidence to recognize a situation where not everything has to go and instead, successfully build on the old, seen-better-days bones of the room.

I’m on a DIY framing kick right now, and dealing with all the artwork I’ve accumulated in the past year. I’ve also discovered rare earth magnets, which are proving very handy for various projects (like this wall organizer). Put the two together and you get a cheap and custom way to temporarily hang artwork that’s easy to swap out when you’re ready to display something else.

As renters, we take what we can get, and what we often get are miniscule (or non-existent) entryways and a lack of built-in storage. This multi-faceted organizer has a variety of ways to hang your stuff — coats, bags, and umbrellas — so they are at your fingertips as you head out the door, and stay tidy when you come back in. As a neat bonus, it also has a magnetized area for keys. You can learn how to make one yourself, right after the jump!

This inexpensive painting ($40 on eBay) needed a frame, but I didn’t want to invest the money in an expensive custom job. After doing a little research, I came up with a DIY floating frame that’s simple and modern, and very easy to make. This particular painting was done on a masonite board, but the plan can be modified for wrapped canvas as well. 1″ x 2″ lengths of wood (in actuality they are about .75″ x 1.

Yesterday I showed you the “before” condition of this poor little table, which was used outside by its previous owner and left to rot and weather. Today I’m showing you how to paint faux marble to use as a replacement table top for any project you have in the works. This is a very easy technique that takes hardly any time or money to do. Round wooden top or decorators table Black paint White paint Sealer Regular paint brush Sea sponge Small feather 1.

While in the process of diy-ing a bathroom renovation, I discovered a key process “secret” worth learning. Laying the perfect bead of caulk might not sound very exciting, but is an essential process to know for any home owner. My first attempt to lay caulk wasn’t so bad. I was trying to seal an apron sink we just put in the kitchen. My caulk work turned out nicely, but, boy, was it tedious, not to mention super messy!

I get obsessed with things I see on Pinterest, and this padded headboard (okay, the whole place) is one of my recent fixations. I like the modern, streamlined look of it— but that it’s also more relaxed than a lot of the tufted, nailhead DIY headboards I see all the time.

Piping (or welting if you prefer) adds a nice detail to DIY upholstery projects, and gives added tailoring to cushions and headboards. Choose the same color as your main upholstery fabric, or a fun contrasting color for more zip. It’s also easy and quick to make.

These simple and sweet Easter baskets, made from sugar and string, are a great DIY project for the upcoming holiday. Reader Krys shows you how her grandmother used to make them when she was growing up. Read on to learn to make them yourself: 3 cups sugar Acrylic spray Lace or ribbon (optional) 1 spool crochet thread (350 yards) 3-9 inch balloon Approx.

When remodeling a bathroom, consider adding a recessed shower shelf into your design. It’s a practical and streamlined way to add storage space for shampoos and soaps, without taking away elbow room. Built-in shower niches are also a great alternative to gunky corner shelves and rusty shower caddies. For all of you DIY renovators, read on to learn how to build a shower shelf of your own.

Applying grout is always exciting. It’s the final touch to all of your hard tiling work, and much less tedious and time consuming. (If you missed it, see my earlier tutorial on how to tile your shower.) Yet, there are still some steps to ensure the longevity of your grout lines and the lifespan of your tiles.

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.

You’d never know it, but this Mid-Century Modern credenza was once disguised in flat white paint. For twenty bucks, it was really hard to resist buying it and testing my skills at striping off paint. Learn how after the jump… 2 quarts paint stripper Mineral spirit Miniwax Wood Finish Stain (I used English Chestnut) Rags Rubber gloves Goggles Mouse Sander 150 grit mouse sander refill Paint brush Plastic putty knife Toothpick Screw driver Respirator 1.

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!

I’m a big fan of DIY lighting projects— once you get the basics down, an entire world of lamps, sconces and pendants open up to you. Here’s everything you need to make this industrial-style swing arm wall sconce. A pair would look really nice on either side of your bed, wouldn’t it? For this project, I purchased all supplies from Grand Brass.

If photo shoots make you cringe, then Lisa’s Lego-themed family portrait might be more up your alley. It’s cute, but not TOO cute. See how she did it…. Lego Minifigures IKEA Ribba Frame Heavy Cardboard Command Strips Scissors Glue Stick Hot Glue Gun 1. To make the mini figurine family, choose the right hair, heads, bodies and legs (and dogs!) from your Lego stash.

I’m a bit preoccupied with black and white. While always a classic pairing, inspirational black and white images have been popping up everywhere recently — like this recent roundup of entryways. Lucky for me, my 1910 apartment has a fantastic vintage black and white bathroom. It also has a bit of an odd 18″ angled wall that was screaming for a DIY solution! I chose to create a wall pocket organizer using vinyl chalk cloth, in part because you can write on it (how fun!

When Paul’s not busy restoring vintage items, he’s down in his basement workshop crafting leather goods for his etsy shop. Most projects are made to fill orders but, every once in awhile, he makes personal projects as well, including this super simple valet. Here’s how to do it yourself: Skill Level: Easy Time Required: 1 hour Project Cost: $20-50 (depending on size and tools used) When choosing your piece of leather, pick something thick and firm enough to hold its shape.

Nothing gives me motivation to spruce up the house like sending out invitations! In preparation for a small birthday party with a few girlfriends, I’ve nearly turned this house upside down. I rearranged the furniture in both living spaces, swapped out a coffee table and some pillows, and got new lamps. Thanks to the Cure, there is also new greenery.

As DIY projects go, this is one of my favorites. A photo of one popped up here on Apartment Therapy last year, and it’s been in my crosshairs ever since. I love this shelving system because it’s simple, yet pretty, and can be configured in multiple ways. It’s also very easy to make, with a little precision and patience.

With an average savings of over $15/window during heating season, insulating your windows with plastic film makes whole lot of sense—especially if you live in an old, drafty house. And if you have any windows that don’t open, keep those insulated year-round for extra savings on cooling costs during the summer months. Here’s how. Window insulation kit Extra window tape (optional) Ladder Scissors Measuring tape Hairdryer An extra set of hands (optional) 1.

Katherine sent us in photos and floorplans of the update of her West Loop loft. This is a hardworking condo — it is home to a (new) family of three and during the day also accommodates two employees as a live/work space…..and the After!Here is Katherine’s info on the update: We had to overcome a dated warehouse conversion of a beautiful masonry and timber loft building. Views were compromised by the fireplace and tv alcove dividing the kitchen and living area.

Name: Gene, Heidi and Baby WyethLocation: Downtown — Brooklyn, New YorkSize: 1,285 square feetYears Lived In: 2½ years Gene recently shared his home through a House Call Gene’s Graphics & Color: Geometric Art Collection — and I couldn’t wait to share more! A perfect kick-off to our Art, Craft & Collection month, this Brooklyn family’s loft is oozing with exciting art and Gene shared one of the most extensive resource lists (including all the art!

This small space features a music room, guest bed, as well as an arts and crafts corner. Wow!

This apartment dweller gave his space the first-class treatment.

Every single one of these says, "come on in!"

Sorry Costco, but I don't buy Saran Wrap in bulk anymore.

Looking to cook up some style in your own home? Get inspired by our favorite kitchen redos of the year.

Yes, you can grow bulbs inside! Here's how.

These aren't going anywhere.

Painted accent pieces can add charming touches for your home but can be less than charming if painted incorrectly. The process might not seem difficult at all- apply paint, dry, repeat- but if you want a clean, professional finish, there are a few more considerations and steps involved. When painting a really nice piece, you need to put in just as much effort in the prep and sanding stages as you do in the painting stages.

Winter is rough on our floors from wet snow, mud and more, especially on our carpets and rugs. This Weekend Project is about giving one carpeted room or rug a deep, thorough clean that will make your whole space feel invigorated and refreshed. Experts suggest that you deep-clean rugs and carpet at least once a year. This weekend, knock out one spot in your home really well.

You'll want to rainbow everything once you see this transformation.

A couple Benjamins and a little elbow grease make for one stylish bathroom redo.