Giving your home a makeover doesn’t have mean spending tons
of money. With cooler weather ahead, and the kids heading back to school, it
will soon be the perfect time to knock out a few simple projects. If you’ve got
the time and energy to spare, it’s a lot more fun and a lot more rewarding to
come up with some great DIY
projects to improve your space. The thousands you could otherwise spend
making over just one room can go a whole lot further when you’re working with
found objects, repurposed materials, and hardware store finds!
First, as you’re getting started, it probably makes the most
sense to work on one room or project at a time. Otherwise, you’re bound to get
overwhelmed and give up halfway. After all, there’s no doubt that if you really
want to do a DIY home makeover that really looks good, you have to put in a lot
of time and effort. So choose a room and then get your creative juices flowing
with some of these starter ideas.
1. Check your home for any items that aren’t regularly being
used or that are a bit on the ugly side. These can be remade or repurposed to
better other parts of the house. For example, if your current bedroom set is
one of the simple IKEA models, you might make it livelier with a new coat of
paint for everything. Or get some fabric or wallpaper and add in some key
highlights, for example, in the dresser drawers and on the backs of the
bookshelf panels.
2. Strip paint from ugly furniture. Give everything a fun new
coat of paint in a bold color, or a rustic chic distressed look with just a bit
of varnish
or wood darkener over the exposed surface.
3. If you have any furniture that you are considering getting
rid of, try to think of ways to repurpose the pieces instead. For example, an
old bookcase could become a shoe and toy rack for the kids. An old dresser
could be disassembled so that you can use the old drawers to hang on the wall
to hold spices, cosmetics, books, or toiletries in the bathroom, while the body
of the dresser can be used for shelving or can be taken apart and reassembled
into a side table or desk. Add some modern
items to these repurposed pieces of furniture to give your space a fresh new
look. You can put some unique art pieces on a shelf, for example.
4. Head to the hardware store and collect free samples of paint
swatches, carpet, or wallpaper. Many places will sell old samples of these
materials for very cheap, as well. They can be used to make lots of interesting
and different projects. For example, use a star-shaped hole puncher to cut stars
from the paint swatches and hang them as a mobile. Or frame the wallpaper or
carpet samples to make a very different kind of wall art or collage.
5. Use old bottles, jars, and corks for decorations. Paint old
bottles and jars or cover them with layers of collaged tissue paper for a nice
stained glass effect. Use them for holding your toothbrush, flowers, or pencils.
Corks can be used to make a DIY corkboard, once you’ve collected enough. Just
get a shadowbox
or frame and glue the corks into place. Add in a fun design by painting and
arranging some of the corks in the frame.
6. Head to the thrift store to stock up on some fun and funky
items that you can use to dress up your home. The key to incorporating funky
thrift store finds? Make sure you have a kind of theme for your home. For
example, a few colors like pink and gold, or a theme like Paris. As you find
items at the thrift store, imagine ways you can repurpose them to add some
decoration to your home. For example, look at old mugs, teapots, and other
cookware items that can be repurposed in your garden. Collect a few eclectic
items, give them a new coat of paint, and use them for your plants.
7. Head to the hardware store and see what cool projects you
can accomplish with the things you can find there. For example, you might buy
up the parts and pieces to make your own stepping stool, side table, or mini
ladder. You can simply grab some paint in interesting colors and make
your own wall art.
8. Use found objects in unique ways. An old rake head or piece
of driftwood could become a key hanger for the door. An unused old suitcase
could become a toy chest for the living room. Old drapes could be turned into
tea towels or a table runner.
As you are trying to come up with your own DIY redesign projects, try to look
around your home with new eyes. What items are you not really using? What
spaces are being neglected? What spots just don’t feel like they’re flowing
quite right? Once you have a sense of what your space is lacking or what
resources aren’t being utilized, you’ll get a sense of direction for your own
new home redesign projects.
I have not. We just recently finished a major remodeling project and I haven't had much time for anything. I would like to try something now for fall. I will have to give one of our ideas a try.
I love DIY projects, but this has been the first summer in as long as I can remember where I haven't done one single project. That is quite sad really…
I rarely do anything myself. For me it's easier to pay someone else to do it 🙂
These are awesome ideas. I like it when the things that you are about throw can be used in another way.
I haven't but plan to when we move on the 24th. I love DIY and can't wait to get my kids rooms done! – jeanine
Awesome ideas. My great DIY project was buying a bowl from Dollar Store and adding spring flowers to it.
Such Great Ideas I Really Need To Do More DIY Projects I Enjoy Doing With The Kids They Love Doing Them Thank You Sharing!!
I really want to refinish a piece in chalk paint. That will be my next DIY.
These are all good ideas. I like hunting for goodies at thrift stores.
I have not. We just recently finished a major remodeling project and I haven't had much time for anything. I would like to try something now for fall. I will have to give one of our ideas a try.
Those are some great tips! I love the idea to find uses for things that they were not intended for!
all of these are great tips, I am always looking for new DIY ideas and believe you have given me a new way to look at thinks
These are awesome ideas. I like the idea of giving things a new purpose! I need to do more of it!
I love DIY Projects. I've been looking into Wall Art and some of them are pretty amazing and super easy to do
Now this would be fun to get started on. I haven't done any major DIY decorating since the holidays.
My wife loves to do home projects so I will share this with her.
These are great ideas! I always want to be more crafty and am not sure how to get started so thanks for supplying some ideas of things for me to try!
I'm not very crafty but your list gave me some great ideas, thanks!
I am constantly redesigning my home. I love decorating and changing things up
I have not been doing any projects this summer – this fall and winter I have a list of things to do.
I love DIY projects! This is a great list. I tend to start many projects…and then not finish them, but this is inspiring me to get moving!
I love DIY projects, but this has been the first summer in as long as I can remember where I haven't done one single project. That is quite sad really…