
A Beautiful Mess, Bless'er House
Your home should be a reflection of your personality and sense of style, which means filling it with colors, materials and artwork that you love. Sure, you can splurge on some of your favorite store-bought pieces, but what better way to curate the perfect space than by tackling a few DIY home projects? Beyond saving tons of money, these DIY home decor ideas will put your creativity to the test. Time to break out your toolkit and a few nifty craft supplies!
Don't worry: you don't need to be an expert crafter to recreate these designs. We've found a project for every skill level, whether you want to start small with a DIY craft idea (like make your own shelf or succulent planter) or go big with a full room makeover. Ahead, you'll find ideas for creative accent walls, DIY wall decor and reclaimed furniture. If you're looking for an easy way to repurpose the materials and accessories you already have at home, we've included a few genius upcycling ideas — hint: a chic cabinet made from shutters.
These Pinterest-worthy decor ideas will put your personal style on display, whether you prefer modern, rustic or eclectic interiors. Bring new energy into your home by starting with an outdated living room, simple bedroom in need of a makeover or awkward nook that isn't living up to its full potential.
Niña Williams Blog
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DIY Wallpaper
Use a kitchen sponge and a little paint to transform a plain white wall. Just dip the straight edge of the sponge into paint, then press it against the wall. Here, bloggers Niña Williams and Cecilia Moyer group the lines in threes, using a level to ensure straightness.
Doug Petersen
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Reclaimed Space
Use pages of your favorite book to add a touch of whimsy to any space. This alcove in a modern farmhouse also features a Dr. Seuss quote, cut out of vinyl, up the stairs. "It invites you to give yourself over to the world of imagination found in a good book," says designer Emily Clark of Clark & Co. Homes.
A Beautiful Mess
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Frame-Filled Accent Wall
Create a statement accent wall by hanging frames of different shapes and sizes, then cover everything with a fresh coat of paint — preferably something bold. Tip: keep it affordable by gathering your frames from antique and thrift stores.
David Tsay
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Ladder Clothing Rack
Put your wardrobe on display by turning two ladders into a chic clothing rack. You'll also need two wooden planks for the shoe platforms, as well as a wooden rod for the top.
Amanda Walker
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Hidden Television
Mask a TV with a bold roll-out tapestry, whether you go for florals, an abstract print or something neutral.
Bless'er House
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Faux Wood Dresser
About one hour of effort and $30 worth of contact paper later, this chic dresser was completely transformed. Add new hardware, and you've got a whole new piece of furniture.
Kaley Elaine Photography; Interior Design by Mimi Meacham of Marian Louise Designs
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Decorative Pinboard
Gather your favorite cards, photos or even your child's artwork for a seasonal display that'll add a personal touch to any room. Go for a store-bought frame or make your own. Start by hot-glueing small bulldog clips to a wooden frame, then place it in a spot that's easy to access so you can update the arrangement as often as you'd like.
Cherished Bliss
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Hanging Succulent Planter
Create a beautiful display for your succulents. Start by covering an unfinished wooden crate in a coat of bright white paint — or another color of your choice. Use leather strands to secure a mini succulent in place.
Erika LaPresto
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Cabinet Made From Shutters
Use a set of old shutters to make a chic piece of furniture, like this decorative cabinet used for storing board games and extra throw blankets. Paint the finished product in a sleek shade.
Mike Garten
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Colorful Bench
Bring a tufted bench back to life with a fresh coat of paint and a cushion upholstered in playful floral fabric. Finish the look with a few coordinating throw pillows.
Mark Lund
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Boat Oar Headboard
Go for a custom headboard, like this coastal-inspired one that brings the beauty of the beach inside. Use planks of driftwood or recycled oars to recreate this look.
Xin Lu
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Painted Arch
Atlanta-based DIY enthusiast Xin Lu painted an arch in her trendy guest room using Behr’s Green Balsam. “Most of my house is gray, so I used the arch wall as an opportunity to go for a bold color,” she says. “It’s a fun feature whenever our guests see it.”
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
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Painted Console Table
That plain old console table that's been collecting dust in your attic? Yes, it can easily be turned into a conversation starter. Cover it in a bold paint color, like this fuchsia shade, for a design-forward look.
Mike Garten; Prop Styling by Lis Engelhart.
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Wallpapered Cabinet Doors
If you're looking for a fun way to "paint" with wallpaper, revamping old cabinet doors with graphic wallpaper is the perfect project. Don't forget to switch out the hardware, too!
RELATED: 15 Removable Wallpapers That'll Temporarily Transform Your Space
Laurey Glenn. Designed by Ashley Gilbreath of Ashley Gilbreath Interior Design
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Coffee Nook
Bring a dose of elegance to your morning routine by setting up your very own coffee nook. Designer Ashley Gilbreath dreamed up this coffee station, complete with built-in shelves for things like mugs and stirrers and whimsical wallpaper for a touch of drama. But the best part is behind the curtain, where machines and cords are kept out of sight.
RELATED: 20 Coffee Bar Ideas to Make Your Kitchen Fit for a Barista
Bless’er House
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Autumn-Themed Gallery Wall
Embrace the beauty of the fall season with an unexpected gallery wall showcasing colorful leaves of all sizes and shapes. For a cohesive look, stick to one frame style.
Sarah Baker
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Tiled Fireplace
Get inspired by designer Carissa Miller of CC + Mike Creative and let a geometric tiled fireplace steal the show in your living room. Patterns in varied sizes and similar colors, including a framed print of bold lines and argyle-style pillows, can add to the look.
Jennifer Hughes
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Console Nightstand
Tired of traditional nightstands? Take a cue from designer Alison Giese and put a low-profile console table to work. Style it with accents like mirrors and art of different scales to make it a focal point in your bedroom.
Jessica Alexander
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Floating Shelves
Make room for natural light and an assortment of your best decor finds by installing wall-to-wall floating shelves, like Pure Salt Interiors' Leigh Lincoln did in this Los Angeles home. When styling objects, consider introducing a variety of materials, heights and shapes to create interest.
RELATED: Creative Bookshelf Decor Ideas That Are Full of Style
Buff StricklandGetty Images
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Vertical Garden Wall
Of course, potted plants look great on an outdoor table, but there's also room for an unexpected display as well. Simply dress up a wooden slat with small potted plants to boost your deck's visual appeal.
RELATED: Best Places to Buy Plants Online
Frank Frances
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Rope Shelf
Hang gritty rope, like jute, from a Shaker rail with round pegs to create a shelf that fills a wall with style and function.
Michael Mundy
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Upgraded Blinds
Rather than settling for basic horizontal blinds, take things up a notch. Strips of colored fabric tape can give your blinds a custom look.
Kylie Fitts
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Faux Concrete Wall
Bring different textures into your space by painting a concrete-inspired wall. Once you gather your gray paint, dry paintbrush and lint-free cloth, follow a forgiving buffing technique until you nail your desired look.
RELATED: How to Paint a Room in One Day
Mike Garten
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Half-Painted Art
Go halfsies on paint in a variety of coordinating paint colors to turn garage-sale art into a bold colorblock display.
RELATED: Creative Upcycling Ideas That Are Also Budget-Friendly
Stacey Van Berkel, Eric Roth Photography
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Rope Banister
Trade a standard wooden banister for jute or Pro-Manila rope to match your home's nautical aesthetic. After anchoring brackets to the wall or individual posts, secure the rope from the top to the bottom of the stairs. Then unravel both ends to create a more relaxed look.
Morgan Levy
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Plant Pedestal
Paint a wooden pedestal in any solid color of your choice, and then use it to play up different heights in your space with stacked books and fresh greens.
Society Social
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Secret Shoe Storage
Keep your entryway clutter-free by covering shoe cubbies with a fabric table skirt. Dress the top of the table with flowers, trinkets and other stylish decorative accents.
Alison Gootee/Studio D
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Star Rope Mirror
This stunning star mirror looks intricate, but it's surprisingly easy to DIY if you follow the step-by-step guide. An added bonus: It costs less than $25 to make.
Get the tutorial »
Mike Garten
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Nautical Vase
Jute rope turns a cheap vase into a statement piece. It's as easy as it looks: Simply, hot-glue jute rope around a vessel for a beach-ready look.
Briana E. Heard
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Chic Cabinet Tray
With paint and a pair of drawer pulls, a salvaged cabinet door becomes a makeshift cheese board or TV dinner tray. To make, fill holes in the board with wood filler and let dry. Sand and paint the surface, pre-drill holes and screw in handles.
FAQs
How do you decorate your house on a low budget? ›
- Use what you've got. You don't need to whizz off to the shops; rearrange what you've got. ...
- Declutter. ...
- Go neutral. ...
- Throw in some black. ...
- Go to different parts of town. ...
- Use your imagination. ...
- Split costs with a stylish friend. ...
- Shop wisely and well.
Most likely, any vertical blinds in a house make it look a little drab. Other things that you'll find in a dated living room are heavy fabric curtains, out-of-date fabric designs, broken or discolored blinds, and fringed trim. Consider replacing any heavy materials with lightweight, natural fabrics like linen.
How to decorate when you are poor? ›- Change Things Up With Paint. ...
- Thrift. ...
- Use A Pallet. ...
- Upcycle. ...
- Use Paper. ...
- Get Creative With Storage. ...
- Shop Your Own Home. ...
- Embrace Garbage.
You'll see lots of curved chairs, sofas with gently sloping arms, and round poufs in velvet, linen, and nubby boucle fabrics. In addition to natural wood tones and vintage pieces, we'll also see a return of black accent pieces. Marble furniture and accents will also be popular in 2022.
What is the 80/20 rule in decorating? ›It's called the 80-20 rule and it's very simple: if you decorate 80% of a room in neutral colors, you can get very colorful with the other 20%.
How can I make my home beautiful with simple things? ›- Choose calm colours. ...
- Purge, purge and purge some more. ...
- Bring in natural elements. ...
- Bring special items out in the open. ...
- Let the light shine in. ...
- Carve out a special spot just for you. ...
- Make it welcoming. ...
- Make it warm and cozy.
- Bath bombs and handmade soaps.
- T-shirts and printed merchandise.
- Jewelry.
- Curated gift and subscription boxes.
- Candles.
- Sweets.
- Art and prints.
- Digital products.
- Resin and polymer clay jewelry.
- Tufted rugs and mats.
- Textile dyeing.
- Paper flowers.
- Home fragrance.
- Ceramic or clay plant pots.
- Face masks.
- Vintage upcycle.
- Poor presentation and too much clutter. ...
- Loud colours and quirky decor. ...
- Your home's curb appeal. ...
- Odours. ...
- Sub-par DIY renovations. ...
- Illegal home improvements. ...
- A general state of disrepair. ...
- Outdated kitchens and bathrooms.
A Pleasing Color Palette
Choose bold, bright, neutral or serene, just make sure the colors are complementary. Give thought to the walls, decor, flooring or floor coverings, and furnishings and accessories. Everything should work together, creating a space that visually pleasing, no matter the style or the color scheme.
What home decor makes your house look dated? ›
- Too Many DIY. View in gallery. ...
- White Appliances. View in gallery. ...
- Small-Scale Furniture. ...
- Over-the-Top Drapes. ...
- Built-in Entertainment Systems. ...
- Textured Ceilings. ...
- Frosted Light Fixtures. ...
- Wallpaper Borders.
- Remodel the kitchen. Updates to the kitchen pay off. ...
- Upgrade the appliances. ...
- Boost the bathrooms. ...
- Remodel the attic or basement. ...
- Get decked out. ...
- Boost curb appeal. ...
- Improve energy efficiency.
- Add a pool. 7.3% $22,000.
- Finish a Basement. 6.6% $22,000.
- Add up to a 3rd Bedroom. 6.2% $20,000.
- Add a Full Bathroom. 5.7% $18,000.
- Add Living Space. 5.3% $17,000.
- Full Kitchen Remodel. 4.8% $15,000.
- Convert Existing Sq. Ft. to a 2nd or 3rd Bedroom. 4.3% $14,000.
- Full Bathroom Remodel. 3.7% $11,000.
Update your home's finishes.
Some experts argue that a fresh coat of paint throughout your house can increase the home's sale price by as much as 5 percent. Other simple upgrades, from replacing old light fixtures to changing out your front door, can also give your home a nice bump in value.
'House Poor' Defined
When someone is house broke, it means that they're spending too much of their total monthly income on homeownership expenses such as monthly mortgage payments, property taxes, maintenance, utilities and insurance.
- 01/7Do not do these things. ...
- 02/7Impulse purchases. ...
- 03/7Drive less, walk more. ...
- 04/7Not planning your grocery shopping. ...
- 05/7Eating out. ...
- 06/7Not making use of sales. ...
- 07/7Smoking.
Large-scale accessories like lamps, mirrors, and pieces of furniture are great, but small accessories can also do the trick. Antique boxes, sculptural wall sconces, or even antique picture frames can give your room a certain je ne sais quoi that makes it look like you spent more than you really did.
How do you decorate when you have no style? ›- STOP: The best thing for me to do when I want to decorate but I don't like anything I have or where I put it, is to STOP. ...
- Walk Away: ...
- Window Shop: ...
- Buy An Inspiration Piece: ...
- Start With A Blank Slate: ...
- Create A Pinterest Board: ...
- Ask Someone Else: ...
- Book Stores/Magazines:
Generally this would be the living room, or any other room where you both entertain guests and spend a lot of down time.
Does decorating help with depression? ›The great news is that research suggests that we can actually design spaces to soothe stress, inspire well-being, and even control our moods. The idea is something called “environmental psychology”, which is a branch of study that explores the relationship between our surroundings and our behavior.
What is the decorating trend for 2023? ›
In 2023, home décor and design trends are primed to shift into earthy, texture-rich territory via brown and wooden furniture, handmade pieces, neutral color palettes, and bespoke touches that lend warmth and character to a space.
What is out of style for 2022? ›Insider asked two style experts to share which fashion trends should be left in 2022. Denim-on-denim looks and camo-print clothes are both fading, as are larger sunglasses. They also said high-waisted pants were being replaced by mid- and low-rise varieties.
Is Grey out of style 2022? ›Neutrals are never really out, but bright white and cool gray definitely are. Instead, they're evolving into creamier, earthier hues, says Gena Kirk, VP of Design Studio at homebuilder KB Home.
What is the rule of three in decorating? ›The rule of three says that things arranged in odd numbers are more appealing, memorable, and effective than even-numbered groupings. Three seems to the *the* magic number, but (as I mentioned previously) 5, 7 or 9 works nicely as well.
What is the triangle rule in decorating? ›A Decorative Triangle is when you place three items with the goal of them visually connecting. Once everything is in place, you should be able to draw a line between the pieces and create a triangle.
What is the 60 30 10 rule color? ›What is the 60-30-10 Rule? It's a classic decor rule that helps create a color palette for a space. It states that 60% of the room should be a dominant color, 30% should be the secondary color or texture and the last 10% should be an accent.
What is the easiest product to sell from home? ›- Soap. It can be an excellent opportunity to produce homemade soap and launch your business brand. ...
- Bath Bombs. ...
- Lip Balm. ...
- Body Scrubs. ...
- Perfume. ...
- Soap Dispensers. ...
- Milk Bath. ...
- Face Powder.
- Sweet Treats. Cookies and candies and cakes, oh my! ...
- T-shirts. If you're not exceptionally creative, t-shirts may be the ideal things to make and sell. ...
- Bath Bombs. People love artisan bath bombs. ...
- Candles. ...
- Jewelry. ...
- Subscription Boxes. ...
- Enamel Pins. ...
- Lip Balm.
- Glassblowing.
- Tufting.
- Stained glass art.
- Terrazzo.
- Crochet.
- Dried flower arranging (the eco-friendly kind)
- Polymer clay everything.
- 1) Cupcake Wrapper Wreath.
- 2) Clothespin Wreath.
- 3) Napkin Wreath.
- 4) Yarn Heart Wreath.
- 5) Quarantine Cardboard Art.
- 6) Wine Cork Vases.
- 7) Napkin Flowers.
- 8) Encyclopedia Flowers.
What are some good personal projects? ›
- Making My Own Clothes.
- Learning to crochet baby hats and donating them.
- Learning to Play A Difficult Song on an Instrument.
- Learning to Code.
- Creating a mural.
- Learn a new style of dance and perform it.
- Modifying different variables in photography.
- Develop a flipped learning series.
What is the 60-30-10 Rule? It's a classic decor rule that helps create a color palette for a space. It states that 60% of the room should be a dominant color, 30% should be the secondary color or texture and the last 10% should be an accent.
How often should house be decorated? ›The interior designers all agreed that you should think about decorating bedrooms every three to four years as trends are always changing and your room will look outdated. Certified Rightmove blog contributor, Andrea Morgan, said: 'Most people tend to decorate at least twice within eight years.
What is the most popular color for interior doors? ›White has always been the standard for interior doors. Most people opt for this neutral color to give the space an overall clean look. White can be matched with any other color, letting you customize your door and making it easy to change the color scheme of your home.
What accent color goes with GREY? ›'Cool greys are best paired with cooler colour schemes, such as blue, green, and light purple, while warm greys better complement reds, oranges, and yellows. For fans of the monochrome look, incorporate different shades of grey, alongside white and black, to create depth and visual interest.
Should every room in the house be the same color? ›As a general rule of thumb, you should never paint your entire home one singular color. That isn't to say that you can't use the same color in some capacity throughout your entire home; however, it shouldn't be the primary wall color in every room.
How do you decorate when you're poor? ›- Change Things Up With Paint. ...
- Thrift. ...
- Use A Pallet. ...
- Upcycle. ...
- Use Paper. ...
- Get Creative With Storage. ...
- Shop Your Own Home. ...
- Embrace Garbage.
- Use Shelves to Fill Empty Wall Space.
- Using Mirrors To Fill Empty Wall Space.
- Fill Empty Wall Space With Framed Wallpaper or Wrapping Paper.
- Get Creative With Paint To Decorate Large Wall Space.
- Fabric is A Great Filler For Empty Wall Space.
- Strategically Place Furniture to Take Up Wall Space.