Mike Garten; Prop Styling by Lis Engelhart.
There's no better feeling than enjoying the benefits of an easy DIY project. If you've been meaning to find ways to add character and personality to your home, DIY home decor is a great place to start. Beyond just saving tons of money, rather than blowing your budget on a gut home renovation, it's fun to put your handy skills to the test. You can tackle a DIY home project over a weekend or simply whenever the creativity bug strikes.
With a basic toolkit and a few nifty craft supplies, you can complete a cheap and easy-to-make decor idea to bring new energy into any space, whether it's a high-traffic entryway or an outdated bedroom. And believe it or not, you don't even even need to be an expert crafter to complete these designs. Here, you'll find everything from an eye-catching faux concrete wall look to hand-painted wall decor.
Every one of these DIY home decor ideas is designed to put your style on full display. Plus, several of the projects we've gathered here showcase some of today's top home design trends, like embracing nature and layering pattern and color. There's no reason not to give one of these a try, if you ask us.
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.
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.
RELATED: 15 Best Paint Colors for 2022
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.
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.
RELATED: Fireplace Decor Ideas That'll Light Up Your Living Room
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
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
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: Easy Trash-to-Treasure Crafts
Stacey Van Berkel, Eric Roth Photography
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Rope Bannister
Trade a standard wooden bannister 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.
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Blanket Ladder
Because your living room isn't complete unless it has at least three fuzzy throws. Before putting this wooden ladder on display, dress up a plain blanket by creating extra-large tassels and pom-poms from thick yarn and knotting them onto the end.
Arin Solange at Home
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Wall-Mounted Easel
Here, your kid's habit of writing on the wall isn't a bad thing. This easel can be attached to any blank wall, doubling it as a place to put your kid's art on display or your grocery list in plain sight.
Andrew McCaul
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Book Side Table
Put your dusty encyclopedias to good use with this side table. To assemble, cut trim to form a box frame that fits snugly around one book, nail it to the tabletop’s underside, and paint the top. Drill a hole the size of dowel through each book’s center and glue the dowel to the center of the table's underside. Stack encyclopedias, lining up holes, and twisting (as shown). Skewer the dowel through the holes to secure them to the tabletop
Andrew McCaul
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Suitcase Table
Give vintage luggage a new purpose with this three-step DIY. Use it as a nightstand or end table, and fill it with blankets, or books, or anything else you'd like to stash away.
Get the tutorial »
Andrew McCaul
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Cork Lamp
A bulletin board goes off the wall and around a lamp base in this easy-to-follow craft. Trim a length of cork to the height and circumference of an old lamp. Notch a small hole in the back for the
cord to poke through, if needed. Peel off the backing of cork and attach it to the lamp, smoothing it down with your hands. Cut out a circle for the base’s top and attach with hot glue.
Mike Garten
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Pom-Pom Trim
Existing curtains, throw pillows, or lampshades get a fun makeover with pom-pom or fringe trim. Pick a trim color that pops against the other shades in your space for maximum impact.
Briana E. Heard
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Tissue Box Cover
Create a stylish tissue box cover that'll last beyond cold season: To make, coat a wooden tissue box cover with polyurethane three times. Cut 4 2" wide strips of veneer, one to fit each side of the box. Glue on strips and coat both sides of each strip with glue, as well as the entire box and let dry.
Briana E. Heard
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Spill-Proof Placemats
Instead of settling for kid-friendly placements that don't align with your decor, craft your own with the fabric of your choice. Cut fabric into 12" x 17" rectangles and iron. For each mat, cut two rectangles of the same size from a sheet of vinyl. Iron a piece of vinyl on each side of the place mat and trim the edges with pinking shears.
Andrew McCaul
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Coin Bank
Want to teach your kids that every penny counts? Make a coin bank out of an empty disinfectant wipes container. Clear the outside of the container and attach your own "Fun Money" label.
Andrew McCaul
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Pillow Pocket
Some call it a remote, others call it a clicker. No matter what you call it, store it in this no-sew pillow pocket. Start by cutting a pocket from an old pair of jeans. Then sandwich fusible fleece between the jean pocket and pillow cover, and iron the two layers together. Put the cover back on the pillow and cozy up for game day.
The Pinto Pony
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Ruffle Accent Lamp
See? You can fill your home with Anthropologie-inspired decor at a fraction of the price. All you need is a hot glue gun, old lamp, and linen fabric.
Get the tutorial at The Pinto Pony »